Lightning sale completed

Hockey Betting Lines

03/03/2010 - Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The sale of the Tampa Bay Lightning to a local group headed by businessman Jeff Vinik has been completed.

Vinik controls Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment, LLC, and becomes chairman of the team. The group's purchase, approved unanimously by the NHL Board of Governors, includes the lease to the St. Pete Times Forum and ownership of adjacent real estate.

"The Lightning is a great franchise in a terrific community," said Vinik, who signed the purchase agreement on February 4. "We thank Oren Koules and his partners for beginning the turn-around of the Lightning hockey club. Our goal now is to build a world-class organization, on and off the ice."

Vinik, also a minority owner of the Boston Red Sox, takes over for owners OK Hockey, LLC, which includes Hollywood producer Koules. That company had just taken control of the team prior to the 2008-09 season and revamped the entire front office and roster in hopes of building a winner.

The Lightning finished 24-40-18 last season and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. However, they have already surpassed that win total this season, sitting at 26-25-11 through 62 games in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff hunt.

Vinik, 50, posted an open letter to Lightning fans Wednesday on the team's website.

"As the new owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, I would like to express my appreciation to the entire community for welcoming me as caretaker of your hockey team and the St. Pete Times Forum," the letter reads. "I pledge to you that every one of us at the Lightning will work our hardest to create a world- class organization, both on and off the ice. My goal is to return to the days when the entire Tampa Bay area proudly cheered together for its hockey team."

Since Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup title in the 2003-04 season, the team has not advanced past the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. The franchise's best years came under the control of Palace Sports and Entertainment, whose nine-year run included four playoff appearances, a Southeast Division title and the Stanley Cup title in 2004.

A Boston resident, Vinik is the founder and chairman of Vinik Asset Management and previously managed Fidelity's Magellan Fund.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

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