Cavs owner defends stance on LeBron

Basketball Betting Lines

07/12/2010 -

CLEVELAND (AP) -Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert says he ``strongly'' disagrees with Jesse Jackson's criticism of his recent comments about LeBron James.

Following James' announcement last week, Gilbert fired off an incendiary letter to Cleveland's fans, ripping the 25-year-old. He also told The Associated Press that he felt the NBA's two-time MVP quit during the playoffs the past two years and that James ``has gotten a free pass.''

On Sunday, Jackson responded to Gilbert's remarks by saying the Cavs owner sees James as a ``runaway slave'' and that Gilbert's comments put the player in danger.

In a statement released by the team on Monday, Gilbert says the Cavs ``are not going to engage in any related discussion on it.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Wwwthriveonline Basketball Betting News

<< Canada well-represented at 2010 MLB All-Star Game
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays will send three of their starting nine to the 81st MLB All-Star Game, after hitting a major-league leading 136 home runs in the first half. Toronto's All-Star representatives of Verno

<< Blackhawks to match San Jose's offer sheet for D Hjalmarsson
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Despite noted salary cap problems, the Chicago Blackhawks announced Monday that the club will match San Jose's offer sheet for restricted free agent defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson. The Sharks signed the 2

<< Montana's Wilson to play after murder acquittal
Missoula, MT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jimmy Wilson plans to rejoin the University of Montana football team after the NCAA granted him another year of athletic eligibility following his acquittal on murder charges. Wilson was tried in Southern Cali

<< The 'wow' factor in horse racing
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - This past Saturday had three stakes races that were the equal of any last-second result in the more popular sports in the world. The word 'wow' had to be shouted by anyone who watched the races as they hap

<< This Week in Golf - July 12th through July 18th
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland - The season's third major championship is on deck and it's being contested at the home of golf, The Old Course at St. Andrews

Knicks still have cap space, but future is now >>
GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) -Enough talk about the salary cap. The New York Knicks think they can win now.New York introduced new additions Raymond Felton, Anthony Randolph, Kelenna Azubuike and Ronny Turiaf on Monday. Not quite the same as showing off Le

Ducks sign LW Green >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Anaheim Ducks added some depth to the forward position by signing left wing Josh Green to a one-year contract on Monday. The 32-year-old spent last season with Modo of the Swedish Elite League wh

Knicks officially sign PG Felton >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Knicks made it official on Monday by signing free agent guard Raymond Felton. Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but the New York Daily News previously reported its a three-year d

NCAA Tournament to begin with "First Four" games >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Division I Men's Basketball Committee revealed its format for the newly expanded 68-team field in the NCAA Tournament on Monday. Beginning next March, eight teams will play early during th

All-Star controversy: Beltre or Young? >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - American League manager Joe Girardi didn't hesitate when asked about Boston third baseman Adrian Beltre's status for Tuesday's All-Star Game. Girardi said Beltre, who injured his left hamstring d

Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.