Fire's Armas calls it a career
Soccer Betting Lines
11/13/2007 - Bridgeview, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Veteran Chicago Fire midfielder and captain Chris Armas announced his retirement Tuesday following a 12-year career in Major League Soccer. The 35-year-old Armas, who played his final game last Thursday in New England, made his retirement official at a news conference held at the home of the Fire, Toyota Park.
"I really felt proud to be part of this team, just as much as any other time in my career," Armas said of the current roster. "I have total belief in what we have going here, a real honest approach to the game. I'm very proud that I was able to play the game the only way I ever knew, hard and honest. I'm very fortunate that the Galaxy and the Fire gave me the platform to enjoy doing this for a living. I have a lot of people to thank, especially the Fire, for believing in me, sticking with me, and for having that loyalty towards me for all 10 years."
"He has to be very pleased with his professional career. In Chris' case, he competed at the highest level and played for some very good teams, Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "His qualities will be missed. He is a very good leader on and off the pitch. His tactical awareness was his main asset to the team, he always seemed to be in the right place to break things down and to start our attacks."
In a decade spent in the Windy City, Armas guided the Fire to five domestic championships, highlighted by the 1998 MLS Cup Championship and four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006). He also led the team to nine postseason appearances in 10 years and served five seasons as team captain, a mark equaled only by Peter Nowak. All told, Armas appeared in four MLS Cup Finals, three with the Fire (1998, 2000, 2003) and one with the Los Angeles Galaxy (1996).
"He has been a great mentor. From the first day I was here, he treated me with respected and definitely helped me along the way," Fire forward Chris Rolfe said. "He is the best leader I've ever played with. I have been very fortunate to spend three years around him, to learn from him and see how a true professional acts. No matter what the game or situation, he always gave a 110 percent. His hard work showed in his dedication and devotion to the team, the organization and the city."
A Bronx native, Armas played an integral role with the U.S. national team (1998-2005) as well, earning 66 caps and scoring a pair of goals. During Armas' tenure with the national team, the U.S. qualified for two FIFA World Cups. Armas wore the captain's armband on three occasions and was named U.S. Soccer's Male Athlete of the Year in 2000.
Considered one of the best players in MLS history, Armas ranks second all-time in career assists (42) and is tied for second place in games started (212) and game-winning assists (13) while standing third in games played (214) and minutes played (19,018); and sixth in shots (154). Among MLS players, Armas ranks seventh all-time in starts (260) and minutes (23,027); and is tied for ninth in games played (264).
In terms of league honors, Armas was named to five MLS Best XI teams (1998-2001, 2003) and seven consecutive MLS All-Star Teams (1998-2004), appearing in five mid-season classics. In 2003, he received the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award and was named the Fire's Most Valuable Player. One of only 10 players to have played at least one minute in every MLS season, Armas becomes the latest MLS Original to retire in 2007, joining Los Angeles' Cobi Jones and Real Salt Lake's Jason Kreis and Eddie Pope.
"I feel very proud to be there from the beginning of MLS," Armas said. "I have been fortunate to watch this league grow and thrive and feel very proud to be part of this journey."
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Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds
Super Bowl XLIII, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.Super Bowl XLIII is now set, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet each other on February 1st in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium to battle it out for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The game kicks off at 6:00pm ET on NBC with announcers Al Michaels and John Madden covering the on-field action. Super Bowl XLIII betting odds at online bookmaker MySportsbook.com have the Steelers listed as an early -6.5 against the spread favorite.Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds
Pittsburgh earned their passage to the big game by beating their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14 in yesterday's AFC Championship Game. The Steelers jumped on Baltimore early, building a 13-0 first half lead, and never let up on their way to a fairly easy win. Although the Ravens did close to within two points in the fourth quarter, it never appeared as if they had enough offense to pull off the upset.
The Steelers dominating defense held Baltimore to a total of 198 yards while allowing them to convert just three third downs in 13 attempts. Pittsburgh also forced quarterback Joe Flacco into three interceptions, one of which safety Troy Polamalu returned fourty yards for a touchdown.
The Cardinals, by far the playoff team with the longest odds to reach Super Bowl XLIII, did so yesterday with a 32-25 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. Arizona charged out of the gates and built a 24-6 halftime lead that had the Eagles venerable defense reeling. Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did most of the damage, connecting on three first half touchdowns.
Arizona, however, could not sustain their momentum and the Eagles took a 25-24 with 10:45 left to play in the fourth. The Cardinals, with the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance hanging in the balance, mounted a fourteen play, 72 yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:52 off the clock. Warner hit running back Tim Hightower on a short screen for the go-ahead, game clinching score that will forever live in Cardinal infamy.
MySportsbook.com's Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds:
Pittsburgh Steelers -6.5 (-110), Over 46.5 (-110), -260 (Money line)
Arizona Cardinals +6.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110), +220 (Money line)
Matt Foust won both of his conference championship plays yesterday and he is ready to serve up plenty of Super Bowl action. Each individual play costs $15.00, however, MySportsbook.com recommends purchasing Matt's NFL Playoff Package which includes all of Matt's Super Bowl props and picks from just $45.00.
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MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South
In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South. Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC. The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game. For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft. Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.
1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign? New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1. Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT. Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.
Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami
2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season. With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round. LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems. If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.
Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU
3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season. The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach. The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub. High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career. With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson.
Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season. The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age. It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot. This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.
Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas
It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season. On the clock: the NFC North
Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2
Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1
Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1
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