Really? He is?

Yes, Ben Roethlisberger is once again making the headlines prior to the start of the football season. This time, it doesn’t involve motorcycle accidents, Super Bowl hangovers or any other shit Big Ben usually finds himself into. This time, coming to the 2010 NFL football season, Roethlisberger is trying to rebuild his image after sexually assaulting a 20 - year - old college student.

Wow. First it was Tiger Woods and now Ben Roethlisberger? Jeez… These guys who have these once squeaky clean reputations are really getting hammered these days huh? Who’s next? Jerry Sloan?

Roethlisberger, who luckily won’t be facing criminal charges after the 20 - year - old student gave up on the case since her accusations could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt, apologized to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the NFL, and more importantly, to football fans for the entire fiasco.

Oh yes, Roethlisberger will walk, just like Kobe Bryant did a few years ago after the alleged rape incident in Colorado. Huge stars like them usually get a free get - out - of - jail card.

”Here the overall circumstances do not lead to a viable prosecution. If they did, I would be pursuing it vigorously,” Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney Fred Bright said. ”We do not prosecute…

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I’ve mentioned here a couple of times how I’m participating in an NFL pool this year, Pauly’s Pub. The league name comes from its commissioner, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Pauly. It’s a straight-up “pick ’em” pool — meaning everyone picks winners for all the games (i.e., not against the spread).

I started the year slowly with my entry — “More Cowbell” — then had a nice stretch of four weeks or so during which I got back into contention. However, with three weeks to go I am now a longshot to make the money (i.e., the top four spots out of 40). I’m currently tied for eighth, but am five games behind the two teams tied for third. Would be remarkable somehow for me to gain that much ground over the last 48 games, I think.

Overall this year I’ve picked 143 of 208 games correctly. That’s just 68.75% overall, although better than almost 96% of the tens of thousands participating in ESPN’s Pigskin Pick’em game. My worst week was Week 7, when I only picked a miserable 7 of 14 correctly. My best came the following Week 8, when I chose the right team in 11 of 13 games.

Kind of interesting to see that of all of entries on ESPN, the absolute best anyone has done is 158. That’s basically just getting one more correct per week than I have. The top entry in Pauly’s Pub, “Fear the Ginger,” a.k.a. Lance Bradley (Bluff Magazine Editor-in-Chief), has hit an impressive 155. He appears to have locked the sucker up, as our buddy Julius Goat (“Some Jive-Ass Slippers”) is in a distant second with 149.

We’re all searching for a system, I suppose. Except for those who have already discovered theirs. For example, if I understood a series of tweets Mr. Goat sent out last week correctly, he makes his picks following a complicated rubric based on the relative fear induced by team names.

Topping the list as the least threatening names (according to JG) are the Browns (“‘The Browns In the Superbowl’ sounds like a euphemism. Not a good sign”), the Cardinals (“only intimidating if you are a seed”), and the Chargers (“once was much stronger, but in the age of cell phones and laptops it has downgraded to wussy accessory”). Search his Twitter timeline for more. (And for even more grins, start following.)

I’m not much for gambling on sports, really. Not too long ago I wrote a post here called “Confessions of a Non-Gambler” in which I explained how poker actually tended to diminish rather than encourage whatever small urge I might have had to wander over to the sports book and place a bet. The utter lack of control — which I know some enjoy immensely — is what tends to make sports betting less fun for me.

That said, I’m digging having a rooting interest in every single game this year. I’m an NFL fan anyway, and can thus be engaged no matter who is playing or what the situation. But this year I’m finding myself living or dying with every friggin’ game. Whether I miraculously make the cash or not, the increased fun I’ve had following games was most certainly worth more than the modest entry fee.

Thus, relatively inconsequential games like that Detroit-Cleveland epic from Week 11 in which the Lions (whom I picked) lost on the last play 38-37 now stand out in my mind as the most memorable of the year. So do other, more significant games like that New England-Indianapolis debacle from Week 10 in which Belichick crazily went for that fourth down late. (Had the Pats there, I did.)

But I’ve won my share of games on last-second plays, too. Much like the percentages in poker, such things tend to even out, I guess.

Not surprisingly, I’ve done best when trying to predict games involving the league’s worst teams. Have only missed picking games involving the St. Louis Rams (1-12) and Detroit Lions (2-11) a single time all year. (And, as mentioned, could’ve been perfect with Detroit thus far if not for that game they lost to the Euphemisms.) Also doing well with the two remaining undefeated teams, the Indianapolis Colts (13-0) and New Orleans Saints (13-0), having only picked against them twice each. Of course, I assume most everyone has done well with those teams.

Meanwhile, I’ve guessed incorrectly seven times when picking games involving the surprising Cincinnati Bengals (9-4), the uneven Jacksonville Jaguars (7-6), and the disappointing Pittsburgh Steelers (6-7). I also have missed seven games involving the hard-to-figure San Francisco 49ers (6-7), although one of those was a Thursday game I forgot to pick. (Did get the Niners right last night, though. Woot!)

So, fellow NFL prognosticators… how have you done? Let me know. Meanwhile, I have some injury reports to study.

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Las Vegas Oddmakers have released the complete odds for the 33 NCAA Bowl Games running from December 19th to January 7th, 2010. Some of the most attractive games for sportsbetting fans include the Sugar Bowl on January 1st  (Cincinnati +10, Florida -10), Fiesta Bowl on January 4th (Christian University (TCU)-7, Boise State +7), the Cotton Bowl on January 2nd, which features Ole Miss (-3) and Oklahoma State and the BCS National Championship Game on January 7th. Las Vegas oddmakers listed Alabama a 5-point favorite over Texas, marking the first time in the season the Longhorns aren’t favorite to win a game.

For more information on the latest NCAA and NFL odds, please visit WDIAV Sportsbetting section or click here.
* Odds are subject to change at any moment and may also vary depending on the sportsbook or site.

Here’s the schedule and odds for the 2009/10 NCAA Bowls:

NEW MEXICO BOWL @ University Stadium - Albuquerque, NM - 12/19/09
Wyoming +11
Fresno State -11

ST. PETERSBURG BOWL @ Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL - 12/19/09
Central Florida +2
Rutgers -2

NEW ORLEANS BOWL @ Superdome - New Orleans, LA - 12/20/09
Mid Tenn St +3.5
Southern Miss -3.5

MAACO LAS VEGAS BOWL @ Sam Boyd Stadium - Las Vegas, NV - 12/22/09
BYU +1.5
Oregon State -1.5

POINSETIA BOWL @ Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, CA - 12/23/09
Utah +3
California -3

HAWAII BOWL @ Aloha Stadium - Honolulu, HI - 12/24/09
SMU +14
Nevada Reno -14

LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA BOWL @ Ford Field - Detroit, MI - 12/26/09
Ohio -2
Marshall +2

MEINKE CAR CARE BOWL @ Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, NC - 12/26/09
North Carolina +3
Pittsburgh -3

EMERALD BOWL @ AT&T Park - San Francisco, CA - 12/26/09
Boston College +9
Southern Cal -9

MUSIC CITY BOWL @ LP Field - Nashville, TN - 12/27/09
Kentucky +7.5
Clemson -7.5

INDEPENDENCE BOWL @ Independence Stadium - Shreveport, LA - 12/28/09
Texas A&M +7
Georgia -7

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL @ Citrus Bowl Stadium - Orlando, FL - 12/29/09
Wisconsin +3
Miami, Florida -3

HUMANITARIAN BOWL @ Bronco Stadium - Boise, ID - 12/30/09
Bowling Green PK
Idaho PK

HOLIDAY BOWL @ Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, CA - 12/30/09
Nebraska +1
Arizona -1

TEXAS BOWL @ Reliant Stadium - Houston, TX - 12/31/09
Navy N/A
Missouri N/A

ARMED FORCES BOWL @ Amon Carter Stadium - Fort Worth, TX - 12/31/09
Air Force +5
Houston -5

SUN BOWL @ Sun Bowl Stadium - El Paso, TX - 12/31/09
Stanford +9
Oklahoma -9

INSIGHT BOWL @ Sun Devil Stadium - Tempe, AZ - 12/31/09
Iowa State +3
Minnesota -3

CHICK FIL-A BOWL @ Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA - 12/31/09
Tennessee +4.5
Virginia Tech -4.5

OUTBACK BOWL @ Raymond James Stadium - Tampa, FL - 1/1/10
Northwestern +8
Auburn -8

GATOR BOWL @ Municipal Stadium - Jacksonville, FL - 1/1/10
Florida State +3
West Virginia -3

CAPITAL ONE BOWL @ Citrus Bowl Stadium - Orlando, FL - 1/1/10
Louisiana State +3
Penn State -3

ROSE BOWL @ Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA - 1/1/10
Ohio State +3.5
Oregon -3.5

SUGAR BOWL @ Superdome - New Orleans, LA - 1/1/10
Cincinnati +10
Florida -10

INTERNATIONAL BOWL @ Rogers Centre - Toronto, Canada - 1/2/10
No Illinois +7
South Florida -7

PAPA JOHNS BOWL @ Legion Field - Birmingham, AL - 1/2/10
Connecticut +4.5
South Carolina -4.5

COTTON BOWL @ Cowboys Stadium - Arlington, TX - 1/2/10
Mississippi -3
Oklahoma State +3

LIBERTY BOWL @ Liberty Bowl - Memphis, TN - 1/2/10
Arkansas 8
East Carolina +8

ALAMO BOWL @ Alamodome - San Antonio, TX - 1/2/10
Michigan State +7.5
Texas Tech -7.5

FIESTA BOWL @ University of Phoenix Stadium - Glendale, AZ - 1/4/10
Boise State +7
Texas Christian -7

ORANGE BOWL @ Land Shark Stadium - Miami, FL - 1/5/10
Iowa +3.5
Georgia Tech -3.5

GMAC BOWL @ Ladd Peebles Stadium - Mobile, AL - 1/6/10
Troy State +4
C Michigan -4

BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME @ Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA - 1/7/10
Texas +5 Over 44.5
Alabama -5 Under 44.5

Discuss this article in our forum

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Beginning November 10th, 47 airports throughout the United States (including McCarran Airport Las Vegas) will be equipped with Free Wi-Fi access thanks to Google. This service will last until January 15th, 2010 and will be used to promote Google’s products.

This Free Wi-Fi service comes at a time when there are around 100 million people traveling between the 47 airports on the list. The peak traveling times in the U.S. include Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Holidays. This Free Wi-Fi service from Google will be available for all three of these holidays.

There is one catch to the Free Wi-Fi service from Google - when users log-in, they will be asked if they want to download certain Google products, change their homepage to Google or donate to various charities. There is an option to decline the offers, says Google.

Google is also extending its free Wi-Fi service by offering free wireless internet on all Virgin America flights, to get some holiday shopping done from the comfort of your seat.

“We’re very happy to extend our Holiday Wi-Fi gift to the millions of people who will spend time in airports over the next few months,” said Google vice president of search products Marissa Mayer.

“We know that this is a very hectic travel season for people, and we hope that free Wi-Fi will make both traveling and connecting with friends and family a little bit easier.”

Here are the 47 airports with Free Wi-Fi Service through January 15th:

* Austin (AUS)
* Baltimore (BWI)
* Billings (BIL)
* Boston (BOS)
* Bozeman (BZN)
* Buffalo (BUF)
* Burbank (BUR)
* Central Wisconsin (CWA)
* Charlotte (CLT)
* Des Moines (DSM)
* El Paso (ELP)
* Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
* Fort Myers/SW (RSW)
* Greensboro (GSO)
* Houston (HOU)
* Houston Bush (IAH)
* Indianapolis (IND)
* Jacksonville (JIA)
* Kalamazoo (AZO)
* Las Vegas (LAS)
* Louisville (SDF)
* Madison (MSN)
* Memphis (MEM)
* Miami (MIA)
* Milwaukee (MKE)
* Monterey (MRY)
* Nashville (BNA)
* Newport News (PHF)
* Norfolk (ORF)
* Oklahoma City (OKC)
* Omaha (OMA)
* Orlando (MCO)
* Panama City (PFN)
* Pittsburgh (PIT)
* Portland (PWM)
* Sacramento (SMF)
* San Antonio (SAT)
* San Diego (SAN)
* San Jose (SJC)
* Seattle (SEA)
* South Bend (SBN)
* Spokane (GEG)
* St. Louis (STL)
* State College (SCE)
* Toledo (TOL)
* Traverse City (TVC)
* West Palm Beach (PBI)

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Beginning November 10th, 47 airports throughout the United States (including McCarran Airport Las Vegas) will be equipped with Free Wi-Fi access thanks to Google. This service will last until January 15th, 2010 and will be used to promote Google’s products.

This Free Wi-Fi service comes at a time when there are around 100 million people traveling between the 47 airports on the list. The peak traveling times in the U.S. include Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Holidays. This Free Wi-Fi service from Google will be available for all three of these holidays.

There is one catch to the Free Wi-Fi service from Google - when users log-in, they will be asked if they want to download certain Google products, change their homepage to Google or donate to various charities. There is an option to decline the offers, says Google.

Google is also extending its free Wi-Fi service by offering free wireless internet on all Virgin America flights, to get some holiday shopping done from the comfort of your seat.

“We’re very happy to extend our Holiday Wi-Fi gift to the millions of people who will spend time in airports over the next few months,” said Google vice president of search products Marissa Mayer.

“We know that this is a very hectic travel season for people, and we hope that free Wi-Fi will make both traveling and connecting with friends and family a little bit easier.”

Here are the 47 airports with Free Wi-Fi Service through January 15th:

* Austin (AUS)
* Baltimore (BWI)
* Billings (BIL)
* Boston (BOS)
* Bozeman (BZN)
* Buffalo (BUF)
* Burbank (BUR)
* Central Wisconsin (CWA)
* Charlotte (CLT)
* Des Moines (DSM)
* El Paso (ELP)
* Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
* Fort Myers/SW (RSW)
* Greensboro (GSO)
* Houston (HOU)
* Houston Bush (IAH)
* Indianapolis (IND)
* Jacksonville (JIA)
* Kalamazoo (AZO)
* Las Vegas (LAS)
* Louisville (SDF)
* Madison (MSN)
* Memphis (MEM)
* Miami (MIA)
* Milwaukee (MKE)
* Monterey (MRY)
* Nashville (BNA)
* Newport News (PHF)
* Norfolk (ORF)
* Oklahoma City (OKC)
* Omaha (OMA)
* Orlando (MCO)
* Panama City (PFN)
* Pittsburgh (PIT)
* Portland (PWM)
* Sacramento (SMF)
* San Antonio (SAT)
* San Diego (SAN)
* San Jose (SJC)
* Seattle (SEA)
* South Bend (SBN)
* Spokane (GEG)
* St. Louis (STL)
* State College (SCE)
* Toledo (TOL)
* Traverse City (TVC)
* West Palm Beach (PBI)

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