07/23/2008 - Vancouver, BC (Golf Betting) - One month after Grant Fuhr finished in a third-place tie at the American Century Championship, the Hall of Fame goaltender will be hosting the inaugural CelebsForKids.ca Charity Classic on August 15 at Mayfair Lakes Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The two-day affair begins Thursday, August 14 at the Sutton Place Hotel with a gala for celebrities, sponsors and invited guests, along with a charitable poker tournament featuring at least five World Poker Champions.
Fuhr has recruited former teammate Wayne Gretzky and coach Glen Sather to be among the many athletes and entertainers taking part in this monumental event - one that has already raised more than one million dollars in assisting the Ross Petty Pediatric Chair in Pediatric Rheumatology, assisting children with Lupus and Arthritis.
Other prominent names expected to hit the links include Jerry Rice, who finished 19th in the American Century Championship, former Olympic Gold Medalist Dan Jansen (40th), Bret Boone, Marshall Faulk and Willie Gault.
There will be different levels of sponsorship at varying prices, in which each threesome will be joined by a celebrity. Other benefits include VIP tickets to the exclusive "after party" at River Rock Casino later that evening, logo recognition on the CelebsForKids.ca website, and logo placement in a Vancouver Sun "thank you" ad.
There will also be challenges to defeat Grant Fuhr himself, as well as hole- in-one prizes to be given away.
Lupus, which can manifest itself in children as young as three years of age, is far more dangerous when contracted as a child as opposed to later in life. It's a severe autoimmune chronic disease affecting several body systems while demanding lifelong medication and treatment.
Juvenile Athritis is the sixth most common childhood disease, one that one in every 1,000 children will succumb to. It's also the number one cause of acquired disability in children, and many of those youngsters stricken with the disease will continue to feel its effects well into adulthood.
In addition the tournament, CelebsForKids.ca founder Karim Chandani is using Facebook to help raise money for Lupus and Juvenile Arthritis research.
<< Nationals begin building for future
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trying to hide from the second-worst winning percentage in
all of baseball, the Washington Nationals have begun laying the groundwork for
the future, beyond the 2008 season.
On Tuesday it was reported that shortstop Cristi
<< Vikings sign remaining three draft picks
Eden Prairie, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Vikings signed their
remaining three draft picks Wednesday, including their top choice, safety
Tyrell Johnson.
Along with Johnson, a second-rounder, fifth-round selection quart
<< Valdes claims medalist honors at U.S. Junior Amateur
Shoal Creek, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jorge Fernandez Valdes closed a two-over 74
Wednesday to capture medalist honors at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship
at Shoal Creek.
Valdes finished the two stroke-play rounds at five-under-par 139,
<< Bears sign first-round pick Williams
Lake Forest, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bears signed tackle Chris
Williams, the team's first-round draft choice and 14th overall selection, to a
five-year contract Wednesday.
The 6-foot-6, 320-pounder played 36 games at left
Ducks reward Carlyle with another extension >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Anaheim Ducks signed head coach Randy
Carlyle to a two-year contract extension on Wednesday.
Carlyle, who now remains under contract with Anaheim through the 2010-11
campaign, has compiled a 1
Dunn deal: Reds beat Padres, extend Maddux's record winless streak >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adam Dunn belted his eighth career grand
slam and drove in five runs as the Cincinnati Reds charged past the San Diego
Padres for a 9-5 win in the rubber match of a three-game set at Great
America
Mussina dominates as Yanks pull out the brooms against Twins >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Mussina allowed six hits over eight
scoreless innings as the New York Yankees rolled Minnesota, 5-1, in the finale
of a three-game set from Yankee Stadium.
Mussina (13-6) struck out seven and did
Chiefs sign second-rounder Flowers >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Chiefs signed second-round
draft pick, cornerback Brandon Flowers to a four-year contract Wednesday.
Selected with the 35th overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft, Flowers made 158
tackles
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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