Championship Gators return to rousing reception
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
04/03/2007 -
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida center Al Horford raised the NCAA trophy high above his head and greeted appreciative fans after the men's basketball team returned on a charter flight from Atlanta on Tuesday with their second championship trophy in a row.
Several hundred fans and fellow students, many wearing Florida orange and blue, waited nearly three hours in the heat at Gainesville Regional Airport, hoping to catch a glimpse of the team or get a high five or an autograph.
``Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,'' Horford shouted as dozens of fans crowded around him.
Florida defeated Ohio State 84-75 in the men's basketball championship game in Atlanta on Monday night, setting off celebrations on the streets of Gainesville. It's the school's third national title in the past year, along with the football team's win in January, also over Ohio State. Florida remains the only program in history to hold both championships at the same time.
The crowd chanted ``One more year!'' as Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer signed basketballs, shirts and posters.
Gov. Charlie Crist, who watched the game in Atlanta, said Tuesday at a press conference in Tallahassee that he was ready to collect on a wager with Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland.
``I'm looking forward to more of those chocolate buckeyes with peanut butter in them and glad we didn't have to give up our coconuts to the governor of Ohio, or citrus or key lime pie,'' he said.
The two governors also made a wager in January when Florida defeated Ohio State in the football championship. Along with sending Crist chocolate buckeyes, Strickland flew the Gators flag over his residence for a day.
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 The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.NEW YORK (AP) -New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for questioning the treatment Stephon Marbury is getting from referees.Thomas criticized the officials after the Knicks' 103-94 loss to the New Orleans Hornets
<< Nets recall Mile Ilic from NBA Development League
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -The New Jersey Nets recalled rookie center Mile Ilic from the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League on Tuesday.Ilic will be out indefinitely after spraining his left ankle in the 14ers game against Sioux Falls on S
<< Buckeyes back after runner-up finish in NCAA
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -The Ohio State Buckeyes arrived back on campus Tuesday and were greeted by hundreds of fans - and one multimillion-dollar question.Will Greg Oden return for another season?Several hundred fans chanted ``One More Year!'' as Oden,
<< Percentage of foreign-born players near record
NEW YORK (AP) -The percentage of major league baseball players born outside the 50 states increased slightly to a near record level.Of the 849 players on rosters at the start of the season, 246 were born outside the 50 states, the commissioner's off
<< Foster ailing with back spasms
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Pacers center Jeff Foster was not expected to play against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night because of back spasms.Foster injured his back March 13 at Minnesota and missed two games after that. He started the next eight games
NEW YORK (AP) -Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell finally asked to interview active baseball players as part of his steroids investigation and is awaiting a reply from the players' association.Union general counsel Michael Weiner said a M
Gore has big goals to go along with big new contract with 49ers >>
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -Frank Gore has some big goals to go along with his big new contract with the San Francisco 49ers. The Pro Bowl running back hopes to improve on his breakout campaign last season and top 2,000 yards in 2007.Gore finished 2006 as t
Beilein confirms he's leaving WVU for Michigan >>
Michigan hired John Beilein to coach its men's basketball team, a week after he led West Virginia to the NIT championship.Beilein told his players of the decision Tuesday at a team meeting in Morgantown, W.Va.``It was just the right thing for me to
Championship game ratings up 16 percent from last year >>
NEW YORK (AP) -Florida's quest to repeat as NCAA champions was a hit with television viewers.Florida's 84-75 win over Ohio State on Monday night was watched by 13.59 million households, up nine percent from last year, when 12.31 million households t
Jones, Henry, union leaders all meet with Goodell >>
NEW YORK (AP) -NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and league officials met with Adam ``Pacman'' Jones Tuesday as the Tennessee Titans' cornerback attempted to avoid a long suspension following a series of arrests.Goodell and his staff also met with Cinc
MySportsbook.com favors Bears, Bengals, Chargers and Colts to remain perfect
LAS VEGAS , Sept. 28 - Two big match-ups of undefeated teams have fans salivating at the Week Four schedule in the NFL. The Chicago Bears stifling defense looks to provide a less than hospitable welcome to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night in a battle of two 3-0 teams in the NFC conference. In the AFC, the San Diego Chargers (2-0) head to Maryland to face the surprising Baltimore Ravens (3-0) as both try to keep pace atop the conference standings. Betting Lines makers at MySportsbook.com, online sportsbook and casino, have set the Bears as 3.5 point favorites while the Chargers are a 2.5 point bet.
Of the three remaining undefeated teams, only one, New Orleans, enters this week's game as an underdog. Despite an emotional and resounding win over Atlanta on Monday night, the Saints are a 7.5 point underdog against the struggling Carolina Panthers. Indianapolis looks to stay perfect when they face the New York Jets as a 9 point road favorite while the Cincinnati Bengals are a 6 point favorite at home to the New England Patriots.
Six teams enter the week still looking for their first win, with a seventh, Tampa Bay, on a bye week. The prospect of dropping another game would not bode well for a potential playoff run. Since 1990, just three teams -- the 1992 Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions and 1998 Buffalo Bills -- have overcome losing their first three games of the season to earn a postseason berth. And only the Chargers managed to accomplish the feat after starting 0-4.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.