11/19/2008 - Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Days after capturing his third-consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship, Jimmie Johnson has returned to his home in North Carolina to relax and allow his record-tying accomplishment to finally sink in. Johnson, who finished 15th in last Sunday's season-ending race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, matched Cale Yarborough's 30-year-old record of three titles in a row.
For Johnson, winning the championship included more than just the Sprint Cup trophy presentation and post-race media obligations at Homestead.
"Left the track around midnight, with the obligation, post-race obligations and stuff like that," Johnson said. "And then went out with my guys, went to a bar and they had a big party to celebrate the year and saw a bunch of drivers and team folks there and all my guys were there as well. It's nice to celebrate with them for a while.
"And maybe an hour and a half of sleep and was up and at it and on a plane to Bristol, Connecticut, to do the Car Wash at ESPN Studios. That was pretty much all day (Monday). And made it into New York City by about 8:00. Got up again at 6:30 (Tuesday) and had a full day of media obligations."
While making numerous appearances on various ESPN shows and radio programs, Johnson was overwhelmed just how big his achievement had become.
"Two cool moments at ESPN," he said. "I walked in and the first person I saw in the hallway of ESPN was Mike Ditka and introduced myself to him and he said, 'I know who you are, champ, and, by the way, you are a dynasty.'
"And it just shocked me that he had been paying attention to NASCAR and seeing comments where I've mentioned I couldn't say where I placed, it wasn't my place to say that. That one caught me off guard. Cris Carter was in the hallway a little later that day and he walked up to me said, 'I don't really follow NASCAR, but winning three titles in anything, in a row, deserves a lot of respect.'"
In New York, Johnson was a guest on "Live with Regis and Kelly" and visited Rachael Ray on her daytime talk show as part of his "Champion Media Tour" this week.
Johnson also appears on the cover of the latest issue of Sports Illustrated.
With the exception of the Sprint Cup "Champion's Week" the first week in December in New York, Johnson has plenty of downtime for the remainder of the year.
"We're not testing until January," Johnson said. "So I can probably expand on some type of trip. My wife and I have been interested in Eastern Asia to explore and see Thailand and Bali and a bunch of areas we're interested in seeing. I don't know much about these areas, but I see them in the magazines and have heard from friends who have traveled. I can't pronounce them now, but I know I'll come home much more in tune with it all and enjoying the experience."
One thing Johnson is hoping to do before "Champion's Week" is speak to Yarborough, who became the first driver to win three-straight Cup titles from 1976-78.
"I've not spoken to him, and I'd love to," he said. "I guess I haven't had time to stop and think about any of it to come across that thought. But I would love to talk to him. I talked to him earlier in the year a couple of times, and he couldn't have been more gracious and excited for me. When I have a chance to speak to him, I'll be real happy about that."
<< Ottawa recalls Binghamton center Bass
Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Ottawa Senators recalled Cody Bass from
their American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, it was
announced on Wednesday.
Bass, who began the 2008-09 season with Ottawa, has one go
<< San Jose sends Staubitz to Worcester
Worcester, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Sharks reassigned forward Brad
Staubitz to their American Hockey league affiliate, the Worcester Sharks, it
was announced on Wednesday.
Staubitz has played in nine games with San Jose during
<< Bologna signs Brazilian Cesar
Bologna, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Serie A strugglers Bologna have bolstered
their squad with the signing of former Lazio and Inter Milan midfielder
Cesar Aparecido.
The 34-year-old Brazilian is a free agent after leaving Inter a
<< Spurs lose Modric for two weeks
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tottenham has confirmed that playmaker Luka
Modric could be sidelined for two weeks by a groin injury sustained in the 2-1
defeat at Fulham.
The 23-year-old Croatia international has struggled to make his
Saints lose TE Campbell, RB Stecker for season >>
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Orleans Saints placed tight end
Mark Campbell and running back Aaron Stecker on the injured reserve list
Wednesday, effectively ending each player's season.
Campbell, a 10-year veteran o
Around FCS: November Nail-Biters >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - From Maine to Montana, FCS teams will be
playing on Saturday with the playoffs on their minds.
College basketball has its conference tournaments to determine bids and
seeding in the NCAA Division I Basketb
Hawks' Horford will not play against the Wizards >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta Hawks center/forward Al Horford is not
expected to play in Wednesday's game against the Washington Wizards after
spraining his right ankle against the Pacers on Tuesday.
Horford is listed as day-to-day.
Tar Heels' F Zeller likely done for season >>
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - North Carolina freshman forward Tyler
Zeller suffered a fractured left wrist in Tuesday's 77-58 win over Kentucky
and, after undergoing surgery on Wednesday, doctors believe it is a season-
ending
2007 Academy Award Betting : Oscars odds
The 79th Annual Academy Awards odds , which will air February 25th, is sparking an interest throughout the nation with the announcement of its nominees. As the public chooses their favorites, sportsbooks are creating odds for one of the biggest entertainment betting nights of the year.
Whether its at a “Oscar Party” or in an on line sportsbook, entertainment gambling on award shows represent a huge increase in betting. As the public speculation mounts, MySportsbook.com, the largest and most respected sportsbook on the web, posted odds on who is going home with a “Golden Best Friend.”
“ We see a majority of our entertainment wagers come from the Academy Awards,” said MySportsbook.com spokesperson, Tim Dalton. “This is a competition that applies to everyone. These are the people that entertain us on a daily basis and you want to see them win.”
MySportsbook.com posted the following odds for Academy Awards:
Odds to win the Achievement in Directing:
Alejandro González Iñárritu "Babel": 8/1
Martin Scorsese "The Departed": 2/17
Clint Eastwood "Letters From Iwo Jima: 4/1
Stephen Frears "The Queen": 12/1
Paul Greengrass "United 93": 15/1
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:
Leonardo DiCaprio in "Blood Diamond": 11/1
Ryan Gosling in "Half Nelson": 20/1
Peter O’Toole in "Venus": 16/5
Will Smith in "The Pursuit of Happyness": 16/1
Forest Whitaker in "The Last King of Scotland": 1/11
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:
Penélope Cruz in "Volver": 18/1
Judi Dench in "Notes on a Scandal": 15/1
Helen Mirren in "The Queen": 1/50
Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada": 10/1
Kate Winslet in "Little Children": 20/1
Best Animated Feature Film:
"Cars": 1/3
"Happy Feet": 2/1
"Monster House": 20/1
Best Foreign-Language Film of the Year:
"Water" – Canada: 22/1
"The Lives of Others" – Germany: 7/2
"After the Wedding" - Denmark: 24/1
"Days of Glory (Indigenes)" – Algeria: 23/1
"Pan's Labyrinth" - Mexico: 1/10
Odds to win the Best Live-Action Short Film:
"Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)": 6/5
"Eramos Pocos (One Too Many)": 7/2
"Helmer & Son": 5/2
"The Saviour": 6/1
"West Bank Story": 7/2
Odds to win the Best Original Screenplay:
"Babel": 7/4
"Letters From Iwo Jima": 3/1
"Little Miss Sunshine": 21/20
"Pan's Labyrinth": 11/4
"The Queen": 5/4
Best Motion Picture of the Year:
"Babel": 11/4
"The Departed": 1/2
"Letters from Iwo Jima": 15/2
"Little Miss Sunshine": 17/10
"The Queen": 20/1
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:
Alan Arkin in "Little Miss Sunshine": 11/10
Jackie Earle Haley in "Little Children": 10/1
Djimon Hounsou in "Blood Diamond": 9/1
Eddie Murphy in "Dreamgirls": 2/5
Mark Wahlberg in "The Departed": 5/1
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:
Adriana Barraza in "Babel": 14/1
Cate Blanchett in "Notes on a Scandal": 11/1
Abigail Breslin in "Little Miss Sunshine": 2/1
Jennifer Hudson in "Dreamgirls": 1/8
Rinko Kikuchi in "Babel": 11/1
Film To Win Most Oscars:
Dreamgirls: 2/3
Pans Labyrinth: 6/5
The Departed: 6/1
The Queen: 11/1
Babel: 15/1
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: 11/1
Little Miss Sunshine: 15/1
Additional sports and entertainment odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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