Gullit, Jones to lead Galaxy next season

Soccer Betting Lines

11/09/2007 - Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ruud Gullit, legendary Dutch soccer player and successful coach of such teams as Chelsea FC, Newcastle United and Feyenoord, has officially been named head coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy it was announced on Friday. Gullit becomes the sixth coach in club history.

"We have signed a world-class coach and leader for this franchise, a soccer man who understands how the game is played and managed at the highest level," said Timothy J. Leiweke, the President & CEO of AEG, operators of the Galaxy. "Ruud will immediately put a system in place that will blend his instinct and knowledge of the game with the assets and talent that are part of the Galaxy franchise. We have asked him to do what is required to build a model MLS franchise and a club that expects to win every time we take the pitch, regardless of the competition. Ruud is an exceptional leader whose commitment, character and experience make him the perfect fit for our team and our organization."

Gullit, 45, one of soccer's greatest players, was named World Player of the Year in 1987 and 1989, was European Player of the Year in 1987, won the European Cup (currently called Champions League) twice with AC Milan in 1989 and 1990, and won a European Championship with the Dutch national team in 1988. During his career, Gullit played for PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea FC, Sampdoria and AC Milan. He played 66 times for the Dutch national Team.

"I have always looked to take on important challenges and the opportunity to manage the L.A. Galaxy is an exiting opportunity at this stage in my career," Gullit said. "MLS and AEG are making great progress at building upon the popularity of the game in the United States and I want to play a major part in both bringing the club honors and helping to raise the profile of the game at home and on the world stage."

Gullit was appointed Player-Manager of Chelsea FC in 1996 and led the team to the FA Cup title in 1997, the clubs first major trophy in 26 years. The following season, Gullit was name Manager of Newcastle United FC where he immediately led the team to the FA Cup Final in his first year.

"The high expectations and the competitive environment at the Galaxy demands strong personalities and confident leaders," Galaxy President Alexi Lalas said. "Ruud Gullit possesses these qualities and more."

It was also announced that Cobi Jones, who just completed his 12th and final season with the Galaxy would be joining Gullit's coaching staff as an assistant coach. Jones, an original member of the Galaxy, played more than 300 games for the team from 1996-2007. Jones was raised in Los Angeles before playing college soccer at UCLA and then moving on to the U.S. national team, with whom he appeared a record 164 times. Jones played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups.

"I could not be more excited about the opportunity to work with Ruud and Tim and stay within the Galaxy and AEG family and embark on this natural next step in my soccer career," Jones said. "Our goal is to win championships."

"Along with their world-class experience, we feel that Ruud and Cobi Jones will build a successful and attractive team for our fans in 2008 and beyond," Lalas said.

"I need somebody alongside me who I can trust with a deep and respected knowledge of the game in the U.S. and internationally," Gullit said. "Cobi fits that bill perfectly and I look forward to working with him as we aim to bring success on the pitch for the L.A. Galaxy."

Betosports Soccer Betting News

<< Bruins' fade coincides with Bergeron's absence
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Things were looking up for the Boston Bruins earlier this season. They were 6-3 to start the season when they suddenly lost young centerman Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins have not been the same since. Bergeron had seven

<< Semis are set at WTA Championships
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Saturday's semifinals are now set at the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships, as top-seeded Belgian Justine Henin will meet fourth-seeded Serbian Ana Ivanovic and sixth-seeded Maria Sharapova will ta

<< Creamer fires 65, leads by five
Semmes, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After making birdies on her final seven holes Thursday, Paula Creamer remained hot on Friday as she posted a bogey-free, seven-under 65 to move five strokes clear of the field after two rounds of the LPGA To

<< Chiefs' Johnson out for Sunday
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kansas City running back Larry Johnson will not play against division rival Denver on Sunday after he was declared out due to a right foot injury. Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards disclosed that John

<< A tale of two seasons for Sabres
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's hard to believe that just one year ago the Buffalo Sabres were the best team in the National Hockey League. But, since the team let co-captains and start centermen Chris Drury and Danny Briere walk in free agency, th

Skinner wins 11th pole of season, breaks own record >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Skinner won his second consecutive pole to break his own mark for Craftsman Truck Series poles in a single season (10) which he set in 1995. The No.5 Toyota circled the fast one-mile flat Phoenix Interna

Broncos release DE Rice >>
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Broncos released 12-year NFL veteran defensive end Simeon Rice, head coach Mike Shanahan announced after Friday's practice. The former third-overall pick in the 1996 draft had been d

Bengals WR Johnson probable, Ravens S Reed questionable >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson is probable for Sunday's game at Baltimore, while Ravens safety Ed Reed is questionable for the AFC North battle. Johnson strained his neck and was carted o

Denver's Cutler probable, Henry questionable >>
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs because of a lower leg injury suffered last week. Cutler was diagnosed with a bruised left le

Barcelona eyes elusive road win at Getafe >>
Getafe, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Leo Messi isn't concerned about Barcelona's struggles away from the Nou Camp this season, saying this week "if we display our quality we can also win away from home." Barca has struggled on the road this

SPORTS BETTING - Tennis is an underrated and under-utilized bettors' sport.

Ten years ago, at just about this time, I called Alan Boston in Vegas and left him a voicemail that went something like this (abridged version): "Hey Alan, Chad Millman from ESPN The Magazine calling. I want to do a book about wise guys, you in?"

A couple weeks later I got a message back (abridged version): "I don't know, maybe," Boston said. "Call me and we'll talk about it. But not later today. I got $1,000 on Andre Agassi to win the French Open at 40-1, and he's in the finals."

Here's what happened next (abridged version): Agassi won his tourney. Boston won his $40,000. I wrote sportsbook.

In the ten years since, how much has been wagered on the big-time tennis events? Put it this way: The Nevada Gaming Commission doesn't even track the number year by year because it's so small.

"Tennis makes up about one-tenth of one percent of our take," says Lucky's bookmaking boss Jimmy Vaccaro. "The last big golf major we probably had $100,000 worth of bets. In tennis, we might have written two big tickets."

Tennis' lack of popularity amongst the American bettoratti is no surprise, really. For starters, the biggest sports betting holidays -- the Super Bowl, the NCAA tourney -- are must see TV. People, at least the degenerates I know, plan vacations around watching those events in Vegas sports books.

But Wimbledon? Doesn't exactly reel in the whales. "Seriously, it's the nuts as an event," says Boston. "But who even knows when it's on?"

Here's another reason that helps explain why golf gets traction, something I call "The Bubbe Theory." My Bubbe is pushing 95 and has cataracts so bad that, to her, even the most crystalline Chicago day is mostly cloudy. But she still listens to the Cubs games, and she still calls me in a fit if she disagrees with something Rick Telander writes in the Chicago Sun Times. She's a sports fan. If she doesn't know you, you're just filling a niche. And niche players, even historically good ones like Roger and Raf, don't drive betting volume. Only the highest profile names attract square money, which inflates wagering totals like a shot of saline to the lips. Bubbe, and the public, loved Agassi, tennis' last cross-the-rubicon, mainstream draw. She also has a crush on Tiger. She's given me standing orders to put a sawbuck on the big cat whenever I walk through a sports book (or mistakenly tap into one via my Internet machine.) That explains why the Masters is getting $100K in action at some books while the four tennis majors might not get that combined this year.

This isn't a case of tennis being a difficult sport to bet. In fact, in Europe, it's probably the second most popular sport for gambling after soccer. Granted, as the WSJ football betting last week and The Mag's Shaun Assael examined in even greater depth last year, that might be because gamblers across the pond see it as an easy game to fix. But it could also be because, over there it holds the kind of sway the big two do over here.

Street corners in Spain are peppered with public courts and kids doing their best Raffy impressions. In some war torn parts of Eastern Europe poverty-stricken kids view tennis as an escape route, like football or basketball here. A couple years ago The Mag's Lindsay Berra wrote a great piece about Belgrade's Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic. They learned the game as kids while bombs were raining down on their homeland. They practiced in drained swimming pools. Not exactly Nick Bolletierri conditions.

In the United States, casual fans think tennis is played four times a year. But on the tightly packed European continent, national interest in homegrown talent runs deep every weekend. Of the ATP's current top 20 players, only two, tennis betting and James Blake, are American. Fourteen are from Europe, representing six different countries.

No wonder fans from Lisbon to Bhudapest get jacked up for the net game, whether it's Wimbledon or a low-level tourney like the Estoril Open in Portugal (congrats to Spain's Albert Montanes for winning that one, btw). Chances are good that someone representing their flag will not only be playing, but have a shot at winning.

And that's all any bettor can ask for.

To visit this sports book go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.