05/09/2008 - Vicksburg, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alcorn State named Larry Smith it's new men's basketball coach Thursday.
Smith lettered for four years at Alcorn State and was part of the undefeated 1979-80 team at the school before moving on to an accomplished NBA career that spanned 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs.
"It feels good to come back home," Smith said. "My number one priority will be recruiting, because there are good players out there. We just have to find them."
A tireless rebounder, Smith received NBA All-Rookie First Team honors and became the first rookie since the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to finish among the top three rebounders in one season, when he averaged 12.1 boards per game.
As an assistant coach, Smith was a part of back-to-back championships with the Houston Rockets during the 1993-1994 and 1994-1995 seasons. He was also an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA.
The Braves finished with a 7-24 record this past season under Samuel West and did not qualify for the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament thanks to a 6-12 mark in league play.
<< Navarro's grand slam in 13th helps Rays push past Blue Jays
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dioner Navarro belted a grand slam as part of a
five-run 13th frame, leading Tampa Bay past Toronto, 8-3, in a lengthy extra-
inning affair at Rogers Centre.
A game going on at a brisk pace came to a streakin
<< Mackowiak, Nats tops Astros
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rob Mackowiak went 2-for-4 with a two-run
homer, and John Lannan tossed six strong innings, as Washington staved off a
sweep with an 8-3 win over Houston.
Lannan (3-3) gave up just one run on seven
<< Cabrera tosses complete game as O's crown Royals
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nick Markakis homered and drove in three
runs, as Baltimore downed Kansas City, 4-1, at Kauffman Stadium.
Baltimore snapped a five-game skid on its 10-game road trip behind the right
arm of Daniel Ca
<< Treanor, Cantu power Fish past Brewers
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Treanor went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer,
and Jorge Cantu finished with a two-run shot, as the Florida Marlins beat
Milwaukee, 7-2, to sweep a three-game series with the Brewers.
Luis Gonzalez went 3
Sexson ejected after charging mound and throwing helmet >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seattle first baseman Richie Sexson was
ejected in the fourth inning of Thursday's game against the Texas Rangers.
With two outs in the inning, Keith Gabbard came up and in with a fastball that
caused
Rangers blank M's >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ramon Vazquez finished 4-for-5 and Ian Kinsler
hit a two-run homer, as the Texas Rangers blanked the Seattle Mariners, 5-0,
in the finale of a four-game series from Safeco Field.
Kason Gabbard, activated f
Guillen talking himself out of a job >>
It may be too late for the White Sox to get a refund for the sensitivity training they were ordered to put manager Ozzie Guillen through two summers ago. The man seems more determined than ever to talk his way out of a job.``Those people are gonna m
Webb goes the distance to improve to 8-0 >>
Brandon Webb is talking with the Arizona Diamondbacks about a new contract and building his case for more cash at the same time.He became the first pitcher in three years to win his first eight starts, tossing his 13th career complete game to help A
Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).
Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.
A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.
Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.
"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.
De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.
The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.
The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.
De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.
Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.
But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.