Poker News
Super Bowl Odds
Feb. 2, 2008
The New England Patriots, who started the NFL playoffs as the favorite to win the Super Bowl 42, are now finding themselves getting cut shorter and shorter by the online odds makers. The New England Patriots opened -12.5 points favorite against the spread on the Super Bowl 42, but the latest rumor and pictures of Tom Brady walking around New York with cast on his leg, made the impossible happen - the bookmakers are cutting the odds and point spread. At the online sportsbook Bodog Sports, the Super Bowl point spread is now down to -11 points chalk the Patriots and more "downsizing" is soon to come. Meanwhile the bookmaker has pulled back the Super Bowl 42 betting odds for revision.
It's a similar situation at another popular online betting firm - Bookmaker, where the New York Giants are now the favorite among the bettors to win the Super Bowl game. At the bookie, the Giants as favorite to cover the spread are the number one bet on event so far this week, and the NY Giants winning the Super Bowl is the second most bet on sporting event. The betting odds on the New England Patriots to win the game are now down to only -455 and the odds on the Giants are sitting at +375. The bettors are loving the potential value the bookmakers are offering on the New York Giants and bets on them are pouring in by the hour, driving the odds on them and the betting odds on the Super Bowl down.
Amateur Wins World Series of Poker
July 17, 2007
Jerry Yang pounced when he sensed weakness. When he needed outside help, his prayers were answered.
And in the end, Yang, the California psychologist who began playing poker only two years ago, won the no-limit Texas Hold ’em Main Event in Las Vegas that ended early Wednesday morning.
“I study my opponents very carefully, and when I sensed something, when I sensed some weakness, I took a chance,” said Yang, 39. “Even if I had nothing, I decided to raise, reraise, push all-in or make a call.”
Yang, a Hmong immigrant from Laos, had nearly the shortest stack of chips when nine finalists began play at about noon Tuesday. Despite being the smallest player at 5 feet 3, the married father of six was an intimidating force at the table from the beginning whenever he stood up to stare down an opponent or to reach for his chips.
“I raised when I had even deuce-four. You know, nine-10; seven-deuce even,” Yang said. “And fortunately they folded.”
Later, when players fought back, they were quickly dispatched. Every player at the table except Jon Kalmar busted out in a hand against Yang.
Yang won $8.25 million in prize money. Tuan Lam earned $4.84 million for his second-place finish; Raymond Rahme finished third with $3.05 million and Alex Kravchenko finished fourth with $1.85 million.