TERMINATOR OPENS AS CHALK 8/11/03 - Stephen Nover
I just wanted to announce that I am not running for governor of California. But 130 other people are.
The favorite is none other than the "Terminator" himself. No, it’s not relief pitchers Jeff Reardon or Tom Henke. It’s the big guy, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Schwarzenegger is minus $1.30 on a 'prop' at Carib to become the next governor of California.
The bookmakers at Intertops are even more convinced Schwarzenegger will win California's recall election against the current governor, Gray Davis. They list Schwarzenegger at 1/9.
Keep in mind those are the odds of big Arnold winning the gubernatorial race rather than knowing how to spell his own last name. Intertops lists Davis with the second-lowest odds at 2/3, followed by Cruz Bustamante at 4/1.
Bill Simon is next at 7/1, columnist Arianna Huffington is 9/1, Larry Flynt of Hustler fame is 34/1 and former child television star Gary Coleman is 51/1. Former baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth is also in the race
Could you imagine a debate consisting of Schwarzenegger, Ueberroth, Flynt, Huffington and Coleman? This would be something out of a bad "Saturday Night Live" sketch.
Meanwhile, over at Sportsbook.com, there is a 'prop' on the outcome of Kobe Bryant's trial. A "not guilty” verdict is the favorite at 1/2, with a "guilty” verdict at 5/2. You can also wager on a plea bargain, at 3/1, "charges dismissed" at 9/2, a "mistrial" at 10/1 or a "hung jury" at 10/1.
While it's always nice to have something added to the betting menu, you have to wonder if this isn't going a bit too far.
Since politicians in Washington are presently considering banning Internet wagering, it wouldn't stretch the imagination to picture some of them saying that offshore bookies are sleazy, and that posting a 'prop' on Kobe Bryant is proof.
It just could give those anti-gaming politicians more ammunition, and make the offshore industry look bad. There certainly is not an upside to this 'prop,' except some extra handle that isn’t really needed with football already starting.
Then again, Sportsbook.com is taking a 'nickel' on its Kobe 'prop,' while Carib's limit on its Schwarzenegger 'prop' is just $50.
I just wanted to announce that I am not running for governor of California. But 130 other people are.
The favorite is none other than the "Terminator" himself. No, it’s not relief pitchers Jeff Reardon or Tom Henke. It’s the big guy, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Schwarzenegger is minus $1.30 on a 'prop' at Carib to become the next governor of California.
The bookmakers at Intertops are even more convinced Schwarzenegger will win California's recall election against the current governor, Gray Davis. They list Schwarzenegger at 1/9.
Keep in mind those are the odds of big Arnold winning the gubernatorial race rather than knowing how to spell his own last name. Intertops lists Davis with the second-lowest odds at 2/3, followed by Cruz Bustamante at 4/1.
Bill Simon is next at 7/1, columnist Arianna Huffington is 9/1, Larry Flynt of Hustler fame is 34/1 and former child television star Gary Coleman is 51/1. Former baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth is also in the race
Could you imagine a debate consisting of Schwarzenegger, Ueberroth, Flynt, Huffington and Coleman? This would be something out of a bad "Saturday Night Live" sketch.
Meanwhile, over at Sportsbook.com, there is a 'prop' on the outcome of Kobe Bryant's trial. A "not guilty” verdict is the favorite at 1/2, with a "guilty” verdict at 5/2. You can also wager on a plea bargain, at 3/1, "charges dismissed" at 9/2, a "mistrial" at 10/1 or a "hung jury" at 10/1.
While it's always nice to have something added to the betting menu, you have to wonder if this isn't going a bit too far.
Since politicians in Washington are presently considering banning Internet wagering, it wouldn't stretch the imagination to picture some of them saying that offshore bookies are sleazy, and that posting a 'prop' on Kobe Bryant is proof.
It just could give those anti-gaming politicians more ammunition, and make the offshore industry look bad. There certainly is not an upside to this 'prop,' except some extra handle that isn’t really needed with football already starting.
Then again, Sportsbook.com is taking a 'nickel' on its Kobe 'prop,' while Carib's limit on its Schwarzenegger 'prop' is just $50.
