Rangers manager Washington remorseful about cocaine use

Baseball Betting Lines

03/17/2010 - Surprise, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington released an apologetic statement Wednesday regarding his cocaine use during the 2009 season.

Washington, 57, just finished his third season with the Rangers and led the team to an 87-75 finish in 2009, the club's first winning campaign since 2004.

"I am truly sorry for my careless, dangerous, and frankly, stupid, behavior last year," Washington said. "I am not here to make excuses. There are none. I fully understand that I disappointed a lot of people -- my family, my players, coaches, as well as the team's leadership, especially (president) Nolan Ryan and (general manager) Jon Daniels, as well as young people who may have looked up to me."

Washington also detailed his offering of a resignation letter following the drug test in which he tested positive.

"Shortly after I (used cocaine), MLB notified me that I would have a routine drug test," Washington said. "Before even taking the test, I notified the league about the drug use. Right after that test, I told Jon Daniels and Nolan Ryan about my shameful behavior. I offered them my resignation.

"They asked a lot of difficult questions. Remarkably, these two men, after a lot of thought and prayer, allowed me to stay here through last season. However, they also directed me to immediately begin MLB's drug treatment program, which is a thorough and exhaustive process, and it includes the administration of drug tests at least three times a week."

Washington added that he completed the drug treatment program. He also stated that his usage was an isolated incident as opposed to a continuing problem.

An earlier SI.com report said that under MLB, Washington was considered a first-time offender and went through counseling that's mandatory for non- players who fail a test or admit to drug use. MLB policy mandates managers and coaches be subject to random testing once a year. But while the report said Washington was cleared to have his testing scaled back to that level, he voluntarily will continue the increased testing.

Washington was hired as the Rangers' manager in November 2006. In three seasons with him at the helm, Texas has gone 241-245.

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SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

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