Ben Collins Race In V8 Enduros, Stig coming to drive at Bathurst?

On popular motor sports betting show Top Gear, some say he is the anonymous driver called "The Stig". All we know is he's competing in this year's V8 Super car endurance races.

On Wednesday, Jack Daniel's Racing announced English endurance racing specialist Ben Collins will pair up with veteran Nathan Pretty in the team's No.15 Holden for the annual endurance races at Bathurst and Phillip Island.

Collins, a professional stunt driver, has long been rumoured to be the Stig, with English newspaper The Telegraph claiming he had mistakenly outed himself in January.

The show fiercely guards the identity of the Stig and it's believed Collins could be sacked if he did admit he was the popular character.

The first Stig, stunt driver Perry McCarthy, lost the job after outing himself in his book Flat Out, Flat Broke, published in 2002.

Regardless of his secret identity, Collins will definitely be behind the wheel at this year's Bathurst 1000 and Phillip Island 500 events.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity to race in V8 Supercars with Jack Daniel's Racing," Collins said.

"Phillip Island and Bathurst are two circuits that every driver would love to get the chance to race on, especially Bathurst, which is such a famous race.

"I drove a Holden V8 Supercar earlier this year and these cars are sensational. They're very demanding and the level of talent and professionalism in this category is very high."

Collins, who worked as stunt driver on the latest James Bond movie Quantum of Solace, comes to Australia with extensive racing experience.

Among the 34-year-old's achievements are testing sessions with Formula One team Ascari and the American Red Bull NASCAR team.

Todd Kelly, who will partner brother Rick in the team's other car, said he was delighted to have such an experienced crew in their second vehicle.

"Endurance races like Phillip Island and Bathurst require a combination of pace and consistency, especially when it comes to 161 laps at Mount Panorama," Kelly said.

"Ben has achieved a lot in endurance style racing and he will be a real asset to our team as we tackle our first endurance events.
"It's fitting that he's paired with Nathan because the two of them are both noted endurance specialists.

"It's great to have two guys with such pedigree in our No.15 Jack Daniel's Commodore." The Kelly brothers finished second at both Bathurst and Phillip Island the last time they teamed up in 2006 and two-time Bathurst winner Rick Kelly said the pair are confident of a good result.

"The endurance races have been a major focus for our team and Todd and I can't wait to team up again," he said. "When we ran together in 2006 we finished second at both enduros, so we've definitely got some unfinished business this year."

This year's endurance races begin with the Phillip Island 500 from September 11-13 before the Bathurst 1000 is held from October 8-11.

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Online Cricket Betting Odds: Ponting backs under-fire Johnson

Australia captain, Ricky Ponting says with cricket betting odds, under-fire bowler Mitchell Johnson will not be made a scapegoat after England's 115-run win in the second Ashes Test.

During England's 2nd innings, Johnson took only 3 wickets for 200 runs in the match, including 0-68 in 17 overs.

Ricky Ponting said, "We have to be careful how we manage him over the next bit. At edgbaston, asked about the 3rd Test, Of course I can see him playing. It's not as if he's lost everything he ever had."

Ponting also said, "He's up for the challenge. He's continually trying to make himself better in all aspects of his game; hopefully we will see some improvement from him in Northampton, if he does happen to play that game”.

Ponting is eager to boost the confidence of the 27-year-old paceman and stated: "Bowling coach Troy Cooley is obviously working really closely with him.”

Although he disappointed with the ball at Lord's, Johnson showed his prowess with the bat, making a belligerent 63 off 75 balls after coming in at number eight in Australia's second innings.

"What you don't want to do with youngish blokes - Mitch has only played 20-odd Tests and is still pretty new to the game and pretty new to fast bowling - is to fill their heads full of too much and have him thinking of too many things all the time."

The tourists have a 3 day tour match against Northamptonshire, which starts on Friday, before the third Test gets under way at Edgbaston on 30 July. Watch online cricket betting odds for more details.

Ponting believes that could be the chance Johnson needs and he added, "It would be great to see him get a bit more confidence and a bit more rhythm than he's got at the moment."

With Brett Lee still struggling for fitness, Stuart Clark is the leading candidate to replace Johnson if Australia decides to make a change.

British Golf Open: Cink Won British Open, But Lost With Watson

By the time Tom Watson his legs shot butchered the 3rd playoff hole handing the Claret Jug to Stewart Cink and then sent his tee shot on the final hole sailing into the stands.

Those 4 holes will rank in the annals of sporting cruelty along with leaving Willie Mays in center field when he could no longer shag a fly ball, letting Joe Namath heave interceptions for the Rams or, worst of all, standing by while the great Ali was pummeled by unworthy hacks like Trevor Berbick.

Thomas Sturges Watson was to author a real-life fairytale and the greatest story in golf betting odds, a 59-year-old winning a sixth British Open and his first major since 1983. And in doing so, he was to single-handedly prove to us that the years can not always weary our heroes.

When Watson strode to the 72nd green through the wind and sunshine of a pleasant Sunday on the Scottish coast, standing on the precipice of sporting immortality, by God, he was walking for all of us. He had fought with the heart of a lion to be there, holding a one-stroke lead with a hole to play and needing just a par to make history.

When his 8th iron hit the 72nd green, immortality was to have become a formality. Two putts to win. And then, the angel which had been on Watson's shoulder for four days suddenly deserted him.

Somehow, Watson's ball kept rolling. His playing partner, Australian Matthew Goggin, said later he thought Watson had hit "a perfect shot."

But had he, for once, misjudged the weight? He'd been so good for four days, relying on guile and wisdom and memories, in playing a style of golf which can be so treacherous.

His ball wouldn't stop. It scurried past the hole, then trickled over the bank at the back of the green. It came to rest in a clump of grass. A few inches closer, and he could've comfortably two putted, Goggin guessed. A few inches longer, and Watson could've chipped it close from a better lie.
And that's when Tom Watson lost his nerve. That's when he betrayed his age and the long years it's been since he'd been a golfer capable of winning majors.

Watson chose to putt the ball. Once the greatest of chippers in his heyday, in his moment of truth, he put his trust in the one club which prematurely ended his golden years.

As it was, he hit the putter too firmly. It went eight feet by, to the left of the hole. Everyone gasped. Eight feet to immortality was eight feet too much. "Made a lousy putt," Watson later bemoaned.

The playoff against Cink, who through no fault of his own was the villain of the piece, was a nightmare.

With Stewart Cink, who'd made a remarkable birdie on the last hole to get to 2-under par in the greenside bunker on the first playoff hole, Watson from the middle of the fairway hit a fat five iron into another trap.

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British Golf Open: Jimenez takes 1st Round lead, Golf Betting Odds

At the British Golf Open, this morning to claim the opening-round lead, Miguel Angel Jimenez rolled in a 66-foot birdie putt at the final hole for 6-under 64.

On the leader board, the pony tailed Spaniard known as "The Mechanic" birdied the final two holes in a bogey-free round that knocked Tom Watson and Ben Curtis out of the top spot.

Get Golf News and more about British Golf Open at Golf Betting Tips. At 45, Jimenez beat his previous low score in the British Golf Open by 3 strokes and just missed the major championship record.

At Turnberry to shoot a 65, the Watson 59 year old who is a 5-time winner of the claret jug, held the lead most of the day, taking advantage of calm conditions.

At Royal St. George’s, in 2003, Curtis, the surprise Open winner matched Watson's score in the afternoon.

Tiger Woods struggled to a 71. The world's No. 1 player struggled to a 71 with one wayward shot after another, on a day for going low along the Scottish coast, it was mostly sunny with little breeze off the Irish Sea.

He even dunked his ball in Wilson's Burn, which led to the last of his 4 bogeys at No. 16.
Tiger Woods Said, "I certainly made a few mistakes out there. Realistically, I probably should have shot about 1- or 2-under par."

When the round ended, Tiger Woods headed back to the range to work on his swing, which looked downright ugly with his right hand flying off the club.

His 1st signs of frustration emerged at No. 3, when he took an angry swipe and mumbled something under his breath. By the time the day was done, he had angrily tossed away his clubs several times.

6 years ago, Curtis was virtually unknown except to family and friends when he won the claret jug on his first try.

He missed the cut on his next 3 attempts, but has finished in the top 10 at the British Golf Open the last 2 years. Now, he's confident of making a run at another British Golf Open championship.

Curtis Said, "You don't win it once and not be able to do it again, the last couple of years have been good for me, and this week I got off to a good start."

Curtis overcame a pair of bogeys with an eagle at the par-5 seventh and birdies on four of his last 6 holes.

He finished with a routine two-putt par at No. 18, walking off tied for the top spot. Denmark's Soren Hansen also was contending for the top spot, getting to 5 under with 3 holes left.

Golf's oldest major keeps bringing out the best in the old-timers. Last year, Greg Norman was 53 when he held the 54-hole lead at Birkdale, only to fade on the final day.

Watson still has 3 rounds to go, and the history of major championship British golf open is filled with opening-day leaders who fell out of contention by the weekend.

He would be by the far the oldest British Golf Open champion, a distinction held by Old Tom Morris (now that's an appropriate nickname), who was 46 when he won the claret jug for the final time in 1867.

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2009-10 NHL Schedule, NHL Announces Regular-Season Schedule

On Wednesday with the Penguins' celebration, the NHL 2009-10 Regular-Season Schedule has been announced and the Winter Classic at Fenway Park highlighting the slate.

Check out 2009-10 NHL Schedule at NHL Betting Tips.
In its final season in Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh will welcome the New York Rangers in its home opener. The following day all 30 teams will be in action and marking the first of 2 days when every NHL club will hit the ice.

At the home of baseball's Red Sox, the now traditional New Year's Day Winter Classic will feature the Boston Bruins hosting the Philadelphia Flyers outside.

The Olympics will force the Canucks on an NHL-record, 14-game road trip. Every team will be off from Feb. 14-March 1 for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

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Obama’s 1st pitch a ball or Strike? Obama’s 1st Pitch All-Star Game

At the All-Star game, determined his ceremonial first pitch would reach the plate on the fly Tuesday night, Obama delivered - barely. St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols helped him out in moving up to scoop the low toss inches off the dirt.

Obama said, "We did a little practicing in the Rose Garden. This is as much fun as I've had in quite some time. I did not play organized baseball when I was a kid and so, you know, I think some of these natural moves aren't so natural to me".

However, Television viewers were initially left to wonder whether the presidential pitch skipped. Many people at Busch Stadium were not completely sure. Obama’s pitch to the nation is described in detail at baseball betting lines. Watch out the video as well.

Fox showed a replay from the center-field camera that proved the ball made it home in the air, when Obama later visited the broadcast booth.

Obama was at ease visiting the teams before the game and during his time on the air. Asked whether there were bailout funds to help the National League's losing streak, he cracked, "We're out of money."

Obama with a Chicago White Sox jacket, jeans and sneakers, and cheered by the sellout crowd, Obama walked out of the NL's dugout on the first-base side, shook hands with Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial and trotted to the mound.

Obama went right to rubber, Fresh from warming up a day earlier on the White House grounds, all 60 feet and 6 inches away. The left-hander wound up and bit his lip as he let fly.

Obama grimaced slightly, but gave a fist pump when Pujols - a Gold Glove first baseman - made the neat grab with a specially made black mitt with "Obama #44" and an American flag on it.

Obama became the latest Chicago hoopster to try his hand at baseball. Like Michael Jordan, the president looked more comfortable in his other job.

Read more at Free Baseball Picks

Prince Fielder Won Home Run Derby, 2009 Home Run Derby Results

In St. Louis, Prince Fielder blasts the winning home run in the final round to win the 2009 All-Star Game Home Run Derby.

On Monday, In the Final, Prince Fielder won the Home Run Derby beating Nelson Cruz.

2009 Home Run Derby Results – Baseball Betting Lines

The youngest player ever to reach 50 homers, Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, added another distinction to his growing carrier when he claimed the 2009 All-Star Home Run Derby crown Monday night.

In the final round, Fielder pounded 6 home runs, the capper a 423-foot clout to center field when he still had three outs left, to beat Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz 6-5.

Fielder, 5-11 and 270 pounds, who have averaged more than 37 homers each of the last 3 seasons, Prince Fielder Said, "Coming up through high school, coaches would tell me not to swing so hard. It's the only way I know. It just happens."

The outcome of this year's 2009 Home Run Derby put into perspective Josh Hamilton's feat in pounding out 28 first-round balls in the old Yankee Stadium last summer. Fielder's total for his 3 rounds was 23.

Final Tribute McNair, NFL Football News, NFL Football Teams – BetRepublic

Get NFL News and choose your nfl football picks. Also, make a not over nfl football schedule, nfl football teams and watch nfl football today online.

Thousands pay final tribute to McNair.

Steve McNair's pastor and close friend cautioned against judging the ex-NFL quarterback Thursday, reminding people who gathered for his memorial not to cast the first stone when talking about his life off the field.

He was married, was shot to death at his condo early Saturday by his 20-year-old girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, who then turned the gun on herself.

Fans had lined up starting Thursday morning to view McNair's closed silvery-gray casket at a funeral home and later outside the church. A helicopter provided live TV footage as McNair's body was moved by hearse, and three of four local TV stations showed the memorial service live.

McNair's casket was on display at Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he had attended services since moving to Nashville in 1997. It was flanked by a large photo of him posing with his 2003 NFL MVP award on the right and another of him holding a football on the left.

The program included a statement from the McNair family.

"Today in our loss, our hurt, and our pain we recognize our gains in you our friends and loved ones ... They have all been a source of strength and comfort at this time to our family," it read.

Obertan Joins Manchester United, Gabriel Obertan Joins Man Utd

After the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo by signing winger Gabriel Obertan on a 4-year contract from French champion Bordeaux, Manchester United continued to revamp its attacking options.

Alex Ferguson, united manager had been watching the 20 year old french winger's development.

The words of Alex Ferguson:
"We are delighted to get him now as he is an exciting prospect. We like to get young players and develop them, and we will see that in Gabriel over the next two years."

The words of Gabriel Obertan:
"I am very happy to join Manchester United. This is a big opportunity for me to play at such a great club. I am very excited to be here and I look forward to proving what I can do."

Obertan, who has played for France's under-21 team, spent the 2nd part of last season on loan to Lorient as he did not figure in Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc's plans.

Obertan has scored 3 league goals in 55 games for Bordeaux, and 1 goal in 15 appearances for Lorient, although he is considered more of a provider than a scorer and can play on either flank.

More information on football betting tips and latest picks and odds on football betting are at Bet Republic. For 80 million pounds ($141 million), Ferguson lately sold world player of the year Ronaldo to Real Madrid. Also, as part of his rebuilding, he has signed two wingers namely Obertan and Antonio Valencia from Wigan for 17 million pounds ($30 million).

The most surprising transfer so far this summer is: Alex Ferguson also signed former Liverpool striker Michael Owen from Newcastle United on a free transfer.

Federer better than Sampras, Wimbledon Champion Debate Settled

In Grand Slam history, World No.1 Roger Federer has already won 15 Grand Slam titles making him the most successful tennis player.

Roger Federer and Pete Sampras have won 13 of the last 17 Wimbledon titles between themselves. Get tennis betting tips and much more about roger federer's debate here.

In the 2001 Wimbledon 4th Round Match, the first and the last time they met and produced among the greatest match ever to be played on grass with Federer coming out trumps.

Roger Federer defeated his idol 7-6 (7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5.

But, on July 5th, as Roger Federer moved past Sampras' record and chose his favorite surface to reach the milestone, tennis pundits as well as former players have started debating - who is better?

"Roger's a friend, he's a great player, and he is a good guy. He's got 15 now; he can get 17 or 18 majors. If he just keeps it going and stays healthy, he could go to 18, 19, actually," Sampras said after Federer won his sixth Wimbledon men's singles title.

Though Roger Federer is still one short of Sampras' seven Wimbledon titles, most believe, with age on his side and his passion and fitness still very much there it would just be a matter of time before he makes that stat his own as well.

"It's a thrill for yourself to get out there and play and you know that's the one thing that Roger has that I think is admirable for tennis. It's great that tennis has someone like Roger," Rod Laver had said before Sunday’s final about a 15th Grand Slam for Federer.

So, is Roger Federer the greatest of all time? Is he better than Sampras on grass? It is impossible to judge and to compare eras. Sampras though heaps wholesome praise on his heir to greatness.

Sampras said, "He moves very well, don’t seem to be in any hurry,"

The case for Roger Federer is now almost closed and even Sampras vouches for that.