Dutch star Sneijder proves he's good enough
Soccer Betting Lines
07/07/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wesley Sneijder wasn't good enough. That's the way Real Madrid felt less than a year ago. Sneijder is one the world's top players, but he is no Kaka. The Brazilian would replace the Dutchman, and Real would return to European glory.
Real had it all mapped out, and Kaka - a FIFA World Player of the Year - would obviously be a much better fit in midfield. Kaka would be the general. And new teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, the most expensive part of the nearly $400 million Madrid makeover, would provide the artillery.
Sneijder was dumped. Offered at a bargain price of $19 million (yes, that's a lot of money, but put it into context with Ronaldo's $132 million transfer and Kaka's $86 million price tag). Sneijder quickly found a new home in Italy with Inter Milan.
Of course, Sneijder wanted to remain in Madrid. Every good player has no doubts they can play a key role on a team. Even a team with Kaka, who plays the exact same position as you. Sneijder left disappointed, but determined to return for an encore performance.
No, Sneijder never wanted to pull on a Madrid jersey again. He just wanted one last chance to play in the storied Bernabeu. The Champions League final was to be played there at the end of the club season. It was a long shot for sure.
Nine months after he was sent packing, Sneijder returned to Madrid. He had two trophies already, the Coppa Italia and Italian Serie A crowns. He departed the stadium that May evening with a third, the Champions League title that Real coveted when it cast him off. Funny, considering Sneijder wasn't good enough for Real.
He was Inter Milan. Sneijder was the hamster that spun Inter's wheel. He added a dynamic in midfield the Italians needed to end a 45-year drought in Europe's top club event. There are arguments coach Jose Mourinho provided the influence to change Inter's fortunes, but it wouldn't have happened without Sneijder.
Sneijder didn't provide gaudy numbers. Eight goals and 12 assists in 39 games - that's it. Inter defender Maicon nearly equaled those numbers (seven goals and 12 assists). Ronaldo scored 26 goals in just 28 La Liga games. Barcelona's Lio Messi had 45 goals. Manchester United's Wayne Rooney scored 34 in the English Premier League.
The Dutchman provided the intangibles. The leadership. The hustle. The ability as a star to jell with his team. The willingness to set up others, without too much concern for his own stats.
Ronaldo, along with Messi and Rooney, were watching the Champions League final - Sneijder was playing in it. Which brings us full circle, more than 10 months after his departure from Madrid, to the FIFA World Cup.
Sneijder, again, is the only one still playing. This time for The Netherlands. This time in the final. Remember, he wasn't good enough for Real. The Dutchman has been the most important player for his team in South Africa. And with much more freedom in his Oranje jersey, has five goals.
Sneijder scored twice in the quarterfinals, a 2-1 win over Brazil. It was only fitting the goals were against Kaka's Brazil, which lost a match for the first time in World Cup history when leading at halftime.
The Dutch playmaker scored again in the semifinals Tuesday, leading The Netherlands to a 3-2 win over Uruguay and into the title match for the first time since 1978. Sure, Sneijder was a bit lucky on two of his goals, as the ball found the back of the net after deflections against Brazil and Uruguay.
Sneijder's best luck came last August, when Real Madrid thought he wasn't good enough. It lit a fire under him, and he's proven them wrong ever since. Madrid covets world players of the year (Ronaldo has also won the accolade). However, sometimes even the best player in the world gets overlooked.
FIFA recently combined the sport's two biggest trophies, the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d'Or, and there is just one player in the world who deserves the new FIFA Ballon d'Or when it is given out in January. Whether The Netherlands win or lose, the World Cup final Sunday.
You won't find him in Madrid.
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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards
Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.
Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.
Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.
Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.
All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.
A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.
2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1
Ron Brace (NE) 25/1
Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1
Darius Butler (NE) 40/1
Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1
Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1
Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1
Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1
Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1
Larry English (SD) 15/1
Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1
Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1
Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1
Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1
James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1
Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1
Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1
Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1
Roy Miller (TB) 20/1
Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1
Fili Moala (IND) 30/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1
Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1
B J Raji (GB) 7/1
Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1
Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1
David Verkune (CLE) 20/1
Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 6/1
To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.
Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.
According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).
Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.
''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.
Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.
''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''
Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.
”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.
For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.