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02/21/2012 - Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The former longtime executive director of the Fiesta Bowl has pled guilty to a felony count of solicitation to commit fraud schemes.
John Junker, who was fired in March 2001 after a probe uncovered a scheme to reimburse improper political campaign contributions made by Fiesta Bowl employees, entered the plea in Maricopa County Superior Court on Tuesday.
Sentencing is set for April 26 in front of Judge Douglas Rayes.
Junker was long a prominent figure in college football and oversaw the Fiesta Bowl while it committed a wide range of infractions, including a scheme to pay back employees for at least $46,539 in campaign contributions, according to an investigation that uncovered a list of serious infractions.
Federal law prohibits reimbursement for federal campaign contributions.
The scandal cost Junker his job and prompted the Bowl Championship Series to fine the Fiesta Bowl $1 million, although it was allowed to remain in the BCS and keep its NCAA license.
The Fiesta Bowl was initially alerted by an employee who came forward to give information about the alleged misconduct. Its board of directors then formed an independent committee to investigate, resulting in a 276-page report with more than 1,500 footnotes.
In addition to the scheme to reimburse political contributions, the committee also found an apparent conspiracy to conceal the scheme from the Fiesta Bowl board of directors and state officials.
The probe also uncovered evidence of unauthorized and excessive compensation and non-business and inappropriate expenditures and gifts.
The board of directors, after reviewing the results of the five-month probe, voted unanimously to fire Junker for his role in the infractions uncovered.
Junker was found to have failed to cooperate with the investigation and had been placed on administrative leave more than a month before he was fired.
Former Fiesta Bowl chief operating officer Natalie Wisneski was indicted in November for making campaign contributions in someone else's name and filing false tax returns, among other counts.
She was also indicted by a federal grand jury for causing false statements to be made to the Federal Elections Commission and for conspiracy. She pled not guilty.
<< Almagro stays hot in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fresh off his title in Sao
Paulo last week, reigning Buenos Aires champion Nicolas Almagro continued his
winning ways Tuesday with a first-round victory at the Copa Claro tennis
event.
The seco
<< Lightning acquire F Segal from Chicago
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday acquired
forward Brandon Segal from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Matt
Fornataro.
Segal, 28, has 11 goals and 22 points in 92 games over three NHL season
<< Rockies minor leaguer Torres suspended
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Colorado Rockies minor league pitcher Joseph
Torres has been suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for a violation of
the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
The 29-year-old Torres, w
<< Ichiro Suzuki to move out of leadoff spot
Peoria, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ichiro Suzuki has been in the leadoff spot for
almost his entire 11 years with the Seattle Mariners, but that will not be the
case this season.
Mariners manager Eric Wedge announced Tuesday that Chone Figgi
Sporting, U.S. defender Onyewu suffers knee injury >>
Lisbon, Portugal (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sporting Lisbon and U.S. defender Oguchi
Onyewu has suffered a torn ligament in his right knee and will be sidelined
two months, the Portuguese club announced Tuesday.
The 29-year-old Onyewu was injur
Ex-Brazil boss Luxemburgo to coach Gremio >>
Porto Alegre, Brazil (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ex-Brazil coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo
was named new boss of Gremio on Tuesday, one day after Caio Junior was fired.
Luxemburgo will be officially introduced Thursday, when the 59-year-old will
begin
Georgetown names Marino offensive coordinator >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Georgetown University football coach Kevin
Kelly announced Tuesday that Vinny Marino has joined the staff as the
offensive coordinator.
Marino has 20 years of coaching experience, including the last six as
Pervak, Erakovic win in Memphis >>
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - No. 2 seed Ksenia Pervak was an easy first-
round winner Tuesday at the $220,000 Memphis International tennis event.
The Russian Pervak handled Canadian Rebecca Marino 6-2, 6-4 on the indoor
hardcourts
Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup
September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com. The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans.
Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to name a few. Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR. They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.
The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer. Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs.
Ryder Cup Odds| Europe Tie USA |
4-5 10-1 6-5 |
| Tiger Woods Jim Furyk Phil Mickelson Chris DiMarco David Toms Stewart Cink Chad Campbell Scott Verplank Zach Johnson Vaughan Taylor JJ Henry Brett Wetterich |
9-4 4-1 5-1 7-1 8-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 25-1 30-1 30-1 50-1 |
| Sergio Garcia Luke Donald Padraig Harrington Colin Montgomerie Darren Clarke David Howell Lee Westwood Paul Casey Henrik Stenson Jose Maria Olazabal Paul McGinley Robert Karlsson |
5-1 5-1 6-1 13-2 8-1 9-1 9-1 11-1 12-1 12-1 20-1 25-1 |
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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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