Utah C Okur to return next season
Basketball Betting Lines
06/30/2009 - Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Utah Jazz center Mehmet Okur decided to exercise his player option in his contract and return to the team next season, the club announced on Tuesday.
Okur, who came to Utah as a free agent in 2004, averaged 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 72 starts last season.
Over seven NBA seasons, Okur has averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds in 531 games (373 starts) with Utah and Detroit.
Bozeman, MT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Montana State University has agreed to three-year contract extensions with head women's basketball coach Tricia Binford and head men's coach Brad Huse. Each coach was set to enter the 2009-10
<< Smith to serve as Division I men's basketball chair
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NCAA announced on Tuesday that Gene
Smith, the current associate vice president and athletics director at Ohio
State, has been named chair of the Division I Men's Basketball Committee for
the 201
<< Beltre has surgery
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seattle Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre
underwent surgery Tuesday to remove bone spurs in his left shoulder.
Beltre, who was also put on the 15-day disabled list, had the procedure
performed by
<< Stars re-sign Lehtinen to one-year deal
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Stars announced Tuesday that they
have re-signed right wing Jere Lehtinen to a one-year contract for the 2009-10
season.
The deal includes a $1.5 million base salary, and as much as $1 million m
<< Diamondbacks activate Tracy
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Diamondbacks activated first
baseman Chad Tracy from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday.
Tracy sustained an oblique strain in a game against the Braves on May 29. The
veteran went 3-for-4
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Suns exercised the second-year team option on the contract of forward Louis Amundson. Signed by the Suns last August, Amundson saw action in a career-high 76 games last season and averaged 4.2 poin
Boozer, Okur to remain with Jazz >>
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Forward Carlos Boozer and center Mehmet
Okur both announced they will remain with the Utah Jazz for the 2009-10
campaign.
Boozer announced he will exercise his player option and remain with the
Flames sign Bouwmeester to multi-year contract >>
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Flames' gamble paid dividends on
Tuesday, as the club signed defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to a multi-year
contract just hours prior to the start of the NHL free agency period.
Over the wee
Pirates blank Cubs, complete rare winning mark in June >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Freddy Sanchez doubled and knocked in two
runs, and Ross Ohlendorf tossed seven shutout innings, as the Pittsburgh
Pirates got by the Chicago Cubs, 3-0, in the second of a three-game set at PNC
Park.
Haren pitches, hits D-Backs past Reds >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dan Haren threw seven innings of one-run
ball and added a double and solo home run at the plate to help snap the
Diamondbacks' five-game losing streak with a 6-2 decision over the Reds.
Haren (7-
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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