SportsBet Magazine May Issue

MAY 2016

ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY

NBA

PLAYOFF COVERAGE MANLINESS: BE IN THE KNOW

T U O A B M A M T U O A B M A M T U O A B M A M

TABLEOFCONTENTS

CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS IN EVERY ISSUE

Letter from the Editor Masthead Daily Fantasy sports

SPORTS

NBA Horse Racing NFL MLB Soccer UFC Golf AFL Surfing Tennis

M ANLINESS

Man Cave Must-Haves Brewery of the Month Grillers’ Corner

FITNESS Health Is Your Wealth

GIRLS’ GUIDE Gifts for Your Girl Dating Deeds

TRAVEL

Mancation Destination: Kentucky Derby Bound

8 10 34 12 22 26 32 36 42 50 54 57 60 66 69 70 71 72 73 62

NOTEFROMTHEEDITOR

EDITOR’S LETTER

It is with a true passion I bring to you the May issue of SportsBet Magazine.

Authentic in our expert analysis, accurate in the reporting of stats, up to the moment sporting news, betting trends and events coupled with wit, irony and just the right amount of jest. I’m confident that SportsBet Magazine will be your ultimate sporting resource with its simplistic betting platform, and pure entertainment value for Sporting Enthusiasts.

2016 continues to provide many memorable sporting moments.

Who will ever forget where they were the moment the Golden State Warriors broke the Bulls and Michael Jordan’s record? We all sat filled with awe and inspiration as we watched Kobe Bryant in his final game. The Lakers may have had their worst year on record, but it’s suffice to stay they may call that fair trade on what can only

be described as one of the most heroic moments in sport. At the ripe young age of 37, with 20 years in the league, Kobe’s body left him two years ago but as legends find a way Kobe for one last time left the basketball world in amazement.

Dropping 60 points on Mamba Day, 17 in a row to ignite the flame and single handedly score one last matchwinner.

As an Australian I must admit I was a late bloomer into the sport of NBA. Something about the night in night out repetitiveness couldn’t quite get my complete attention until the playoffs. Kobe changed that for me and ignited my passion for the NBA. You could not turn your head for a second or dare miss a game because history was being written in front of your very own eyes. Some may choose to remember Kobe for the losing last years, but a true sports fan will remember him for greatness, a true showmen, an entertainer and one that the sport will certainly

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miss.May the replays run forever.

Inside the issue we take you on the road to the 142nd Kentucky Derby and jump on the Leicester City juggernaut and the complications to the end of a bizarre Premier league season. We analyze the NBA playoffs, what the NFL draft means to your favorite team and what their chances are of a postseason appearance in 2017.

Additionally, our Daily Fantasy Sports coverage continues as we dive deep below the surface of the mayhem to educate on the how to’s with a complete rundown on what to expect in Daily MLB games.

We hope you enjoy the issue and SportsBet Magazine will continue to be your ultimate resource for always coming out on top. Welcome to the issue and to SportsBet Magazine.

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Mamba Moments Twenty years have come and gone since he joined the NBA, and now the league must bid farewell to one of its more storied icons: Kobe “The Mamba� Bryant.

His achievements have been monumental, his impact unforgettable. But all good things must come to an end, and with his career clock striking midnight, what better way to celebrate his legacy than to look at his most memorable, career-defining moments from the past two decades?

1. THE 81-POINT GAME JAN. 22, 2006

The moment: The shots just kept falling … and falling … and falling. With his 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors, Bryant became the only player in NBA history other than Wilt Chamberlain (100 points, March 2, 1962) to eclipse the 80-point mark. He knocked down 28 of his 46 shots, including 7-for-13 from three-point range, and was 18-for-20 from the free throw line. It was one of the most dominant offensive performances in professional sports history, and it just so happened to be the greatest offensive outing from one of the greatest offensive players the league has ever seen.

3. THE FIRST OF FIVE JUNE 19, 2000

The moment: In what was Bryant’s fourth NBA season and O’Neal’s fourth season in Los Angeles, the Lakers’ dynamic duo recovered from three consecutive Western Conference playoff exits to knock off the Pacers 4-2 in the Finals. Bryant, 21 at the time, played second fiddle to O’Neal, who averaged 38.0 points, 16.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in those six Finals games, but this was the start of something special, and Bryant and O’Neal appeared to finally set their differences aside … for the time being, at least.

5. THE LONE MVP M AY 7, 2008

The moment: Bryant won his first and only MVP award after the 2007-08 season in which he averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists a game and led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. In his acceptance speech, he let his guard down and showed an amount of compassion rarely seen before.

“I couldn’t have won this award without the play of my teammates,” he said. “This is a team award.

This isn’t an individual award. This is an award that I couldn’t have won on my own. If that was the case, I would have won it when I was averaging 40.

This gets done because we all do it as a unit. So I can’t thank these guys enough. These are my guys, these are my brothers, and we have one MVP.”

2. THE FIRST WITHOUT SH AQ JUNE 14, 2009

The moment: Highly criticized for never winning a ring without O’Neal, Bryant finally silenced the doubters after O’Neal left Los Angeles. It might have taken him four years to do so, but with a 4-1 Finals win against the Orlando Magic, Bryant earned his fourth ring and his first Finals MVP, proving he was more than able to carry a team to the promised land. For good measure, he did it again a year later (4-3 vs. the Boston Celtics).

4. THE FAREWELL TOUR

NOV. 29, 2015 – APRIL 13, 2016 The moment: The gifts. The sold-out arenas.

The outpouring of support from coaches, fans and fellow players. Bryant’s farewell tour was a season-long moment in itself, and it put his legacy into perspective. All in all, regardless of the lowly Lakers’ 17 wins and Bryant’s career-low numbers across the board, it was a season well-deserved for one of the NBA’s most storied superstars, and one of its most loved villains. His final game will be replayed forever, as Basketball fans sat in shock as the Mamba rewinded the clock. He put up an incredible 60 points, outscored the Jazz in the last quarter and finished his career exactly how we remember it. The 37-year-old showed the tenacity, toughness and talent that made him one of the all-time greats in basketball history.

6. THE GAME 4 TAKEOVER JUNE 14, 2000

7. THE PASSING OF THE TORCH M ARCH 28, 2003

The moment: Bryant and Michael Jordan went head-to-head eight times in their careers, but none of the matchups was a knock-down, drag-out type of battle that would go down in NBA history.

But in the final meeting between the legendary guards, 24-year-old Bryant dropped 55 points on 40-year-old Jordan and the Washington Wizards, and a new era of basketball began.

9. THE ALLEY-OOP JUNE 4, 2000

The moment: This iconic moment in Lakers history capped a 25-4 fourth-quarter run and solidified a Game 7 comeback win in the 2000 Western Conference finals. The Lakers would go on to win three NBA championships with the dynamic duo of Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal at the helm, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The moment: The Lakers took a 2-0 series lead in the 2000 NBA Finals behind back-to-back 40-point performances from O’Neal, but the Indiana Pacers won the third, and when O’Neal fouled out in overtime of Game 4, they appeared destined to tie the series 2-2. Then Bryant happened. Just 21 at the time, he took control of the game in the final three minutes, hitting a series of clutch shots to lead the Lakers to victory, a 3-1 series lead and eventually, their first NBA championship since 1988.

8. THE SECOND GOLD MEDAL UG. 12, 2012

The moment: Of all the NBA greats who have suited up in the red, white and blue, Bryant sits in the upper echelon as one of a select few who have won an NBA title, NBA MVP Award and Olympic gold medal. In his second Olympic appearance in 2012, Bryant, then 33, was the oldest player on the roster, but he still made his mark. He scored 17 points in 27 minutes in the gold medal game as Team USA knocked off Spain in what ended up being Bryant’s last Olympic hurrah.

10. THE FREE THROWS APRIL 12, 2013

The moment: As the 80th game of the 2012-13 NBA regular season was winding down, Bryant— who had fought through a hyperextended knee for the majority of the game — went down awkwardly, clutching his torn Achilles. Practically immobile and in pain, he limped to the free throw line in as Kobe-esque a way as possible, showcasing his most distinct and irrefutable characteristic: his heart. But was this the beginning of the end? The Kobe-less Lakers were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs, and after his recovery process was complete, he suffered a fractured lateral tibial plateau of his left knee that forced him to miss 76 games the next season.

SPORTS:BASKETBALL

→ NBA PLAYOFFS SPURS VS THUNDER PREVIEW

HOW THEY GOT HERE

SAN ANTONIO The story of the Spurs heading into the postseason was the reorganization of the offense around Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, far and away the league's best defense, the persistent presence of future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, etc. They kept rolling in Round 1, manhandling the shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies in a fourgame sweep with an average margin of victory of 22 points.

Despite that inevitable outcome, though, San Antonio didn't always look quite as dominant as expected.

The Spurs dished assists less frequently and turned the ball over more frequently than they did during the regular season; grabbed a lower share of available rebounds on both ends; and allowed more

points off turnovers, on secondchance opportunities and on the fast break. Leonard looked tremendous, averaging 21.5 points and nearly six combined blocks/steals per game, and Aldridge was typically tough to stop, but by and large, the Spurs werent overall fantastic as much as how poor the Grizzles were largely to injuries.

Maybe that was just the natural response to an obvious tune-up.

They're about to jump up several notches in degree of difficulty, though; much more will be required to take out the Thunder.

OKL AHOM A CIT Y Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook remain lethal; the Thunder's secondary pieces all boast features and bugs that can leave the team looking like world-beaters one night and also-rans the next; the first year under Billy Donovan often resembled the Scott Brooks era; troubling late-game execution

leading to a league-high 14 blown fourth-quarter leads; etc. The story remained largely the same in a gentleman's sweep of the Dallas Mavericks that, at times, featured some ungentlemanly behavior.

Blowouts in Games 1 and 3 showcased the all-consuming firepower Oklahoma City brandishes when KD and Russ are locked and loaded. A Game 2 loss showed how vulnerable the Thunder can be when Durant and Westbrook fall flat.

Series-closing wins in Games 4 and 5 highlighted just how dominant a playmaker Westbrook has become, and how difficult a matchup he promises to be for any opponent — even a 67-win team with the NBA's No. 1 defense led by the back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Spurs and Thunder split their season series, 2-2.

The Thunder opened the season by knocking off San Antonio, 112-106,

despite a somewhat rusty return for Durant behind the kind of monster Westbrook performance (33 points on 12-for-23 shooting, 10 assists) that led KD to declare early this season that, while he still felt like he was the best basketball player in the world, he also felt like Russ was the best basketball player on his team.

(Don't think too hard about that; you'll wind up with a headache.)

OKC also got a glass-eating performance from maxed-out sixth man Enes Kanter (15 points on 7-for11 shooting and 16 rebounds, with six on the offensive boards) to help overcome a "the shape of things to come" offensive outing from Leonard to carry a Spurs starting five that looked like it needed some work to integrate Aldridge.

It would be nearly five months until the Spurs and Thunder squared off again. By that time, Leonard and Aldridge had long since fallen into a half-court rhythm, combining for 50 points and 16 rebounds in a 93-85 win at AT&T Center. Danny Green balanced an awful shooting night by helping limit Westbrook's effectiveness (just 5-for-16 shooting, nine turnovers), and while Green only made one shot, it was a 3 with 7:19 remaining that put San Antonio ahead for the remainder of the match.

Two weeks later, back in Oklahoma, the Thunder answered with authority, pasting the Spurs by 19 ... in a win that would look an awful lot more impressive if San Antonio hadn't been resting Leonard, Aldridge, Parker, Duncan and Ginobili. To hear Durant tell it, a win's a win...

"Another opportunity for us to keep growing and building our habits," Durant said. "It wasn't on us that they didn't play their starters. We just had to continue to play our game and do what we do." ...But it didn't give us much to work with. Ditto for the Spurs' overtime win at home on the second-to-last night of the season, which featured most of San Antonio's regulars, but saw OKC sit Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka.

All told, then, we've only really had one full-strength meeting between these two titans since November ... and even that came with OKC on the second night of a back-to-back on the road after losing at the buzzer. How much we can take from any of this is up for debate.

team that is rested and maybe even a little hungrier than it was last year when it swept Atlanta out of the Eastern Conference finals despite being at less than full strength.

It's a tall order, but one the Hawks are embracing and were even quietly hoping for.

HOW THE SPURS COULD WIN

''I think we're a better team from last year, I really do,'' Hawks guard Kyle Korver said. ''I think our identity is more on the defensive end than the offensive end this year. I think we know that we're gonna have to play really well to beat them. ''

Leonard outduels Durant on both ends. Green slows Westbrook and knocks down open looks when San Antonio swings the ball. Aldridge draws Ibaka away from the rim, creating more lanes to the basket for Parker and Ginobili, and punishes Serge from the elbows and on the block. The Spurs exploit Kanter's defensive ineffectiveness enough to dissuade Donovan from leaving him out there, limiting his offensive impact. No supplemental Thunder wing breaks out, and San Antonio's superior bench talent contributes in a way that OKC's can't match.

HOW THE THUNDER COULD WIN

Durant and Westbrook go absolutely ape. Someone — most likely Waiters — gives Donovan enough juice on both ends of the floor to finally fill out that crunch-time five. Kanter pours in buckets whenever he's in the game. San Antonio's shooters misfire. OKC's don't.

THE RESULT

Transcendent talent, compelling personalities, fascinating tactical questions, and two of the four best teams in the NBA entering the Octagon. There's a good chance we wind up looking back at this as the best series of this postseason. Let's savor it.

PREDICTION: SPURS IN 7

The top seed in last year's playoffs, the Cavaliers lost Kevin Love to a dislocated left shoulder in the first round against Boston, only to see Kyrie Irving suffer a freak broken kneecap in Game 2 of the Finals.

So far this postseason, the Cavs haven't provided any hint of defect.

Cleveland swept a young Detroit team in the first round and will have had eight days of rest by the time it opens the second round on Monday.

There will be no such luxury for Atlanta, which will have just three days to prepare for the Cavs. Game 1 is set for Monday night.

The good news for the Hawks is they have found their touch from the outside over the last two games, connecting on 22 3-pointers.

Atlanta has also gotten better at expanding and then protecting big leads, something it had trouble with during the regular season.

In Thursday's close out win over Boston, Atlanta led by as many as 28 points thanks to a 39-point third quarter, which featured a pair of big runs to help it get separation.

It also earned the respect of the Celtics.

The Hawks overcame fifty years of sour playoff memories to get by a hobbled Boston team and into the second round of the NBA playoffs.

Their reward is rematch with King James.

''I think we should give the Hawks credit. They're better right now,'' Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. ''It pains me to say that, it's a sour ending. But they just proved it over six games. That's just kind of how my world works. There's a scoreboard and if you're on the losing end then you're not as good as the other team.''

The Hawks will see a Cleveland

Here are some other takeaways from

CAN THE HAWKS M AT C H T H E C AV S ?

the Hawks closeout win over the Celtics to advance to Round 2.

STREAK STOPPERS

Atlanta enters the Cleveland series having put a stop to several postseason losing streaks against the Celtics with Thursday's win. The Hawks had been on the losing end of nine consecutive playoff series since the Finals win in 1958. Atlanta had dropped 10 consecutive postseason games in Boston since a loss in Game 5 of the 1988 East semifinals.

BRING ON THE CROWD

Coach Mike Budenholzer said he thought his team did a great job of dealing with the hostile TD Garden crowd on Thursday night. It will be good practice going into what is expected to be an equally raucous fan base in Cleveland. ''I think it's good for our guys to come in and win a game on the road,'' he said. ''We've always said you got to win on the road in the playoffs and this is a great environment. ... I think there's a lot of growth, a lot of positives from winning Game 6 on the road here.''

A NEW SEASON

Like most teams in the East, the Hawks have had limited success this season with this incarnation of the Cavs. Cleveland was 3-0 against the Hawks during the regular season.

The closest game was an overtime win by the Cavs in their final regular-season meeting earlier this month in Atlanta.

WINNING RECIPE

Atlanta will have to show improvement across the board in order to have a chance at slowing down a Cleveland team that is 8-0 against the Hawks in the playoffs.

Cleveland also swept Atlanta in the 2009 Eastern Conference semifinals. ''Our defense is going to have to be what it was in this series, if not better,'' Korver said. ''And our offense is going to have to be a lot better, I think. They're a great team.

They have a lot of individual talent.

It's a big challenge for us. ... We'll be ready to go on Monday.''

PREDICTION: CAVS IN 6

CURRY’S KNEE AND THE WARRIOR’S

By all accounts, the news about Steph Curry’s knee injury in the NBA playoffs was about the best the Golden State Warriors could have gotten. The star point guard is injured for at least two weeks with a sprained MCL after slipping on the court in a game against the Houston Rockets; an MRI showed the sprain to be the most minor of its type. In a game where an awkward fall can mean an 18-month absence, Curry’s comparatively small break is a respite for the Warriors. But it could still cost them the only thing that matters: an NBA championship.

In the hours after news of Curry’s injury broke, Vegas oddsmakers dropped the Warriors, overwhelming favorites to win the title for the entire season, down behind the San Antonio Spurs. If Curry returns to the court after two weeks, he’d be back in the middle of the second round of the playoffs. But he might take a little longer to rehabilitate, or return in a slightly diminished state, and those variables could be enough

to knock what was statistically the greatest team in NBA regular-season history (finishing with a recordsetting 73-9 record) into also-ran territory.

Before Curry’s injury, the Warriors were cruising toward a repeat of the NBA title they won last season, having beaten the legendary-wins record of the 1996 Chicago Bulls and perfecting the free-flowing offense that had made them such a phenomenon in the league. But Curry was pivotal to all of that: His ability to shoot three-pointers at prodigious quantity and efficiency had led him to a historic year from a statistical standpoint, one that made it almost impossible to devise an effective defense for him. On the rare occasions that Golden State lost over the 2015-2016 NBA season, Curry might have an (atypical) off shooting night.

The playoffs are different. Teams play each other over and over again, getting used to their opponents’ offensive schemes and finding gaps in their defensive armor. Strong teams like the Spurs, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Cleveland Cavaliers will pose a serious threat to the Warriors if they’re missing their star—that’s how critical one player is in the sport. Whilst the Warrior’s are far from out of it and still rightly deserved favorites, it does open the door and beg the question

SO WHO COULD WIN NOW?

The Spurs, made up of reliable veterans with many championships to their name (including Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili) along with the younger stars Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, had always been considered the team with the best shot of stopping Golden State.

Their path to the finals now looks easier, especially since the Clippers’ star player, Chris Paul, was also knocked out with an injury Monday night (fracturing his hand in a game against Portland). The Clippers beat the Spurs in the playoffs last year, but if they met them this year, they’d put up less of a fight. On the other

side of the bracket, LeBron James’s Cleveland Cavaliers remain the overwhelming favorites to emerge from the NBA’s Eastern Conference, and have avoided the injury woes that plagued their stars last year.

More than anything, Curry (and Paul’s) injury underline just what a crucial element luck is to any successful title run in sports, particularly in the NBA where an unbeatable five-man unit can be upended by a simple slip on the court. Curry’s Warriors captured the NBA title last year partly because they avoided any major injuries, leading to the narrative among some commentators that they were “lucky,” especially to run into a Cleveland team in the finals that had lost two of its three star players to fractured kneecaps and dislocated shoulders.

Curry’s reaction to the punditry?

“I apologize for us being healthy, I apologize for us playing who was in front of us,” he told reporters last October. It was an enjoyably sarcastic retort from a player who mostly avoids such harsh rebukes in the press, but it also proved unsettlingly prophetic. “I apologize for all the accolades we received as a team and individually. I’m very, truly sorry, and we’ll rectify that situation this year,” he said. Golden State is hoping he’ll be back in time to prove his own words wrong.

* BETTING 2.20 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 3.00 SAN ANTONIO SPURS 4.10 CLEVEL AND CAVALIERS 15.00 OKL AHOM A CIT Y THUNDER 34.00 ATLANTA HAWKS 34.00 TORONTO RAPTORS 67.00 PORTL AND TRAIL BL AZERS 81.00 CH ARLOT TE HORNE TS 101.00 MI AMI HEAT 251.00 INDIANA PACERS 401.00 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

SPORTS:HORSE RACING

→ KENTUCKY DERBY “The most exciting two minutes in sports” is less than a week away, as the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby takes place Saturday, May 7.

While the field of horses has not been announced at the time of print, racing fans can get a good idea of who will be running thanks to the Kentucky Derby points standings and brief form analysis below.

KENTUCKY DERBY BOUND

GUN RUNNER (NO. 1, 151)

Won Louisiana Derby. Unbeaten in two races this year, and with a debut win as a 2-year-old under the Twin Spires, the son of Candy Ride is back to working at Churchill.

NYQUIST (NO. 2, 130)

Won Florida Derby. The juvenile champion and Derby favorite will train up to the race at Keeneland for the connections to 2012 winner I’ll Have Another.

EXAGGERATOR (NO. 3, 126)

Won Santa Anita Derby. He has four straight triple-digit Brisnet speed figures and a solid pedigree. The son of Curlin will get a work in at Churchill before the Derby.

OUT WORK (NO. 4, 120)

Won Wood Memorial. He came home slow at muddy Aqueduct, appearing to idle late. But, said trainer Todd Pletcher, “Hopefully that’s something he’ll continue to mature through and get better and learn how to really polish off his races.”

BRODY’S CAUSE (NO. 5, 114)

Won Blue Grass Stakes. Apparently a colt that simply needs a race, he bounced back from a seventh-place effort in the Tampa Bay Derby to show a strong, driving kick at Keeneland.

CREATOR (NO. 6, 110)

Won Arkansas Derby. Along with Gun Runner, he’s trained by Steve Asmussen and has two starts at

Churchill on his resume. While it took the colt six starts to break his maiden, he’s “coming around at the right time,” Asmussen said.

L ANI (NO. 7, 100)

Won UAE Derby. After a 7,200mile flight to Chicago and 330-mile drive to Louisville, he has resumed training. Before this year, only eight horses raced exclusively outside of North America ahead of a run at the Derby.

MOR SPIRIT (NO. 8, 84)

2nd in Santa Anita Derby. Bob Baffert’s 2016 Derby horse didn’t handle a sloppy track in his final prep on the West Coast but figures to like the Derby’s distance. Mor Spirit also previous experience shipping in to race at Churchill.

MOH AYMEN (NO. 9, 80)

4th in Florida Derby. Previously the undefeated, early Derby favorite, this Kiaran McLaughlin trainee dazzled in his first workout over the

rarely run a poor race, he stepped up last time out, giving upset threat Dallas Stewart another shot after Golden Soul (2013) and Commanding Curve (2014) finished runner-up at long odds.

MY M AN SAM (NO. 17, 40)

2nd in Blue Grass Stakes. In his stakes debut, he came home quickly to edge Cherry Wine, looking like a threat at longer distances for trainer Chad Brown.

M AJESO (NO. 18, 40)

2nd in Florida Derby. Galloped out ahead of Nyquist at Gulfstream Park, and his jockey, Javier Castellano, sees the son of Tiznow as a late bloomer deserving of a chance to run at Churchill.

TROJAN N ATION (NO. 19, 40)

2nd in Wood Memorial. Potentially the first maiden to run in the Derby since 1998, he was a head away from an 81-1 Wood upset. Connections want to take a shot and will ship to Churchill the week of the Derby.

MO TOM (NO. 20, 32)

Churchill strip and could go off as the third choice behind Nyquist and Exaggerator.

DANZING CANDY (NO. 10, 60)

4th in Santa Anita Derby. His trainer, Cliff Sise, confirmed the San Felipe winner will bring his speed to Churchill after training up to the race in California.

DESTIN (NO. 11, 51)

Won Tampa Bay Derby. He arrived Tuesday afternoon to Churchill, joining other Pletcher trainees on the grounds. A work in Louisville is expected with Destin going eight weeks between starts, a strategy that worked last year for Pletcher at the Breeders’ Cup.

SUDDENBREAKINGNEWS (NO. 12, 50) 2nd in Arkansas Derby. A gelding known for his late kick, the son of Mineshaft won the Southwest Stakes earlier this year.

OSCAR NOMIN ATED (NO. 13, 50)

Won Spiral Stakes. While not Triple Crown nominated, owner Ken Ramsey found an investor to pay the $200,000 to supplement for Derby entry. The Mike Maker trainee is stabled at Churchill’s Trackside training center off Poplar Level Road.

SH AGAF (NO. 14, 50)

5th in Wood Memorial. The Bernardini colt showed little in the mud but previously ground out a win in Aqueduct’s Gotham. A big horse, he’ll make a run but needs space to do so.

WHITMORE (NO. 15, 44)

3rd in Arkansas Derby. Described as “a beast” by his trainer, Ron Moquett, this horse is also plenty consistent and makes a strong middle move.

TOM’S READY (NO. 16, 44)

2nd in Louisiana Derby. Known to

4th in Louisiana Derby. Stopped along the rail in consecutive starts at Fair Grounds, he brings closing speed to the Derby for trainer Tom Amoss. Cupid’s defection April 18 moved this son of Uncle Mo into the field.

S O C LO S E

FELLOWSHIP (NO. 21, 32)

3rd in Florida Derby. Also on the board in the Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth, he was transferred to trainer Mark Casse from Stanley Gold for training up to the Derby at Churchill. Connections could come down to the “last minute” on deciding whether to run him.

ADVENTIST (NO. 22, 32)

3rd in Wood Memorial. He ran wide at Aqueduct, and now “we’ll let everybody else’s plans dictate the decision we make on the Derby,” said trainer Leah Gyarmati. The Peter Pan Stakes, a race Tonalist used to prep for the 2014 Belmont Stakes, is the backup plan, according to the Daily Racing Form.

L AOBAN (NO. 23, 32)

4th in the Blue Grass Stakes.

Unlikely to run in the Derby, he’s a potential Preakness candidate known for front-running speed.

But Churchill Downs still lists the maiden as possible to enter for the first Saturday in May.

DAZZLING GEM (NO. 24, 30)

4th in Arkansas Derby. He could become Louisville native Brad Cox’s first Derby starter. A late developer, the Misremembered colt made his first start on Jan. 18 and is the only horse to run in two major preps, also third in the Louisiana Derby. “As of right now,” Cox said, his horse will “absolutely” be trained as if he’s going to run in the Derby. The Pat Day Mile on the undercard is the fallback race.

CHERRY WINE (NO. 25, 25)

3rd in Blue Grass Stakes. Nipped by a head at Keeneland, he’ll train as if he’s going in the Derby for Dale Romans, who refers to his last two outings as “sneaky good.”

DISCREE TNESS (NO. 26, 10)

6th in Arkansas Derby. He hasn’t

been able to duplicate the success lately of his winning performance in Oaklawn’s first Derby prep of the year, the Smarty Jones. He’s probable for the Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard if he doesn’t find a spot in the field.

H A R D E S T T O B E AT

HORSE: Nyquist TRAINER: Doug F. O’Neill JOCKEY: Mario Gutierrez (2012

Derby winner on I’ll Have Another) Nyquist is the early favorite to take the Kentucky Derby at 4-1 odds, according to William Hill. He’s undefeated in seven career races, including a 2-0 mark in 2016, with wins at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park. This horse, who is named after Detroit Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist, packs a ton of natural speed and can make passes from almost anywhere on the track. He showed that off best during the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, where he was forced to the outside and still managed to mount a strong charge for the win.

Nyquist is a strong type and a likely frontrunner at Churchill Downs next week.

HORSE: Exaggerator TRAINER: J. Keith Desormeaux JOCKEY: Kent Desormeaux (1998

Derby winner on Real Quiet, 2000 Derby winner on Fusaichi Pegasus, 2008 Derby winner on Big Brown)

Exaggerator isn’t as dominant as Nyquist is, though no horse in the prospective field has been over its short career. The J. Keith Desormeaux-owned horse has finished in the top three in seven of his last eight races, but what helped his stock the most heading to the Kentucky Derby was this explosive come-from-behind victory at the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9: Exaggerator has been among the best of his class for two seasons now. I love his consistency, his 2-year-old form, and his ability to stretch out and win the Santa Anita Derby. He’s won at four different racetracks, east coast, west coast, it doesn’t matter. Exaggerator is an extreme racehorse, and, physically, he’s absolutely beautiful. Nyquist is no sure thing to go wire to wire with genuine tempo, Exaggerator will be storming home over the top.

KENTUCKY DERBY M ARKE T MOVERS & ODDS HORSE NYQUIST EXAGGERATOR MOR SPIRIT DESTIN BRODY’S CAUSE CREATOR MOHAYMEN GUN RUNNER OUTWORK MY MAN SAM SUDDENBREAKINGNEWS MO TOM LANI DANZING CANDY DAZZLING GEM TROJAN NATION MAJESTO LAOBAN TOM’S READY ADVENTIST

APR 21

MAR 2

JAN 22

DEC 1

+280 +600 +850 +900 +1000 +1000 +1100 +1100 +1200 +1200 +1400 +3000 +3500 +4000 +4000 +4500 +4500 +5000 +5000 +5000

+500 +2000 +900 +2200 +1600 N/A +225 +2000 N/A N/A +1600 +2200 N/A +3500 N/A N/A N/A N/A +6500 N/A

+1000 +2500 +1800 N/A +1800 N/A +900 +3500 N/A N/A N/A +2500 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

+900 +2300 +1400 +7500 +1600 N/A +1200 +6000 N/A N/A N/A +6000 N/A +10000 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OCT 20 (WILL HILL OPEN) +2500 +5000 +7500 +12500 +7500 N/A +10000 +10000 N/A N/A N/A +17500 N/A +12500 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

SPORTS:FOOTBALL

→ NFL DRAFT 2016 TOP 10 1. L O S A N G E L E S RAMS (FROM TENNESSEE)

TEAM NEEDS: QB, MLB, DB, WR, C THE PICK: Jared Goff | QB | Cal

The Rams surprise no one and take Jared Goff, the Cal quarterback they were expected to take pretty much since they traded up to get the No. 1 pick from the Tennessee Titans. They did right by the league and did their best to maintain a little bit of suspense by keeping the pick under wraps, at least officially, until tonight. What else could they have done after being given the L.A. market by the NFL? Did they do the right thing by taking Goff over Carson Wentz? Who knows. Only time will tell on that, as history has demonstrated what an inexact science this is. But if the Rams are correct about Goff being a franchise QB-to-be, many of the other pieces needed for them to be a contender already are in place as they get settled in Los Angeles.

WH AT HE BRINGS He’s the best pure passer in this draft, making throws to spots that others in this draft class have no chance to consistently strike. It

would appear that the Northern California kid will move south to L.A. and be the face of the Los Angeles Rams, version 2.0.

AS FOR THE TALENT The ball comes out of his hand hot and he does show that he has full field-progression ability. He doesn’t have a cannon arm and succeeds more with touch and ball-placement than he does NFL-type bullet throws. That said, his ball-placement is on par with some of the best we’ve studied over the past two decades.

2. P H I L A D E L P H I A EAGLES (FROM CLEVELAND)

TEAM NEEDS: CB, OL, QB, RB THE PICK: Carson Wentz | QB |

North Dakota State

It’s Carson Wentz going second to the Eagles after Jared Goff went first to the Rams. So far, things have gone as scripted. Sam Bradford doesn’t like it, and the Eagles don’t seem to care. Barring an abrupt reversal, they’ll have Wentz sit and learn for a season or two while Bradford plays.

WH AT HE BRINGS Wentz led the Bison to two

consecutive FCS Championships, although he missed a huge portion of the 2015 season. His athleticism really pops off the page when watching him. He’s sort of a poor man’s Cam Newton. As a next level QB though, he has exactly what teams desire. He’s tall in the pocket, has a classic release, is poised vs. pressure for the most part, can make throws on the run, has a strong and accurate arm in terms of ball placement…He came up big in the clutch last season, especially late in the FCS Championship game in 2014.

3. S A N D I E G O CHARGERS

TEAM NEEDS: OT, S, DL THE PICK: Joey Bosa | DE | Ohio

State

The Chargers surprise many and pass up Jalen Ramsey and both offensive tackles, Laremy Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley, to take Joey Bosa. Pass-rushers are differencemakers in the NFL, and Bosa is regarded as the top QB-chaser in this draft. But if Ramsey becomes a legendary NFL defensive back, this pick will be questioned for a long time. And Philip Rivers might end up wondering why the team didn’t

upgrade his offensive line.

WH AT HE BRINGS Bosa admitted that he wasn’t completely pleased with his combine performance. He didn’t run exceptionally well with a 4.86 in the 40. However, one area that caught our attention was that he clocked a 6.89 in the three-cone drill. That change of direction is key and he more than flashed that trait with that sub-7.0 second time.

His first-step burst off the ball is next-level ready, but he’s not as dynamic overall as the top edge rushers in previous drafts. That said, he’s still athletic for a nearly 270-pound man. He can get lazy against the run and against good tight ends and/or tackles. Still, you won’t find many warts on Bosa. But there are things he needs to work on going forward.

4. D A L L A S C O W B O Y S TEAM NEEDS: DE, Secondary, RB THE PICK: Ezekiel Elliott | RB |

Ohio State

The Cowboys pass up Jalen Ramsey and go with Elliott. Interesting.

Productive runners can be gotten long after the No. 4 pick in a draft.

But the Rams were happy that they took Todd Gurley 10th last year.

The Cowboys obviously believe Elliott is a special running back who can recreate what they had with DeMarco Murray two seasons ago.

But if Ramsey has a Hall of Fame career, the Cowboys will remember the gift that they just opted against accepting…

WH AT HE BRINGS At the combine, he tested beyond expectation, to be honest. He ran 4.47 in the 40 at 225 lb.pounds with a 1.58 10-yard split. That performance may have landed him in Dallas as the No. 4 pick. He is a tremendous athlete born of great athletic parents. He has vision to find the hole, a jump-cut to get clean, can burst past the safety in the alley and cutting ability to start to the sideline then upfield. He’s got the power to fight through a defensive back tackle effort too.

5. J A C K S O N V I L L E JAGUARS

TEAM NEEDS: CB, OLB, OL, LB THE PICK: Jalen Ramsey | CB/S |

Florida State

The Jaguars get a gift with Jalen Ramsey dropping to them after the Chargers and Cowboys passed him up.

He could be a special player at either cornerback or safety. Some wonder about his relatively low number of interceptions. But few talent evaluators doubt that he will be a major NFL contributor.

WH AT HE BRINGS He tested off the charts at the combine and deserved to go in the top-three of this draft. He played corner in 2015 but I think he’s best served as a playmaking safety going forward.

That said, he’s an excellent corner but he can be in a different stratosphere at safety in the right scheme. He has length, football IQ and playmaking ability. His safety instincts are just so far off the charts, to be honest, that he’s at his best when his team moves him all over the formation. And teams can do that better when he’s at safety!

6. B A LT I M O R E R AV E N S

TEAM NEEDS: OL, DE, OLB, SS THE PICK: Ronnie Stanley | OT |

Notre Dame

It was clear the Ravens would go with an offensive tackle here. It’s interesting that it’s Ronnie Stanley and not Laremy Tunsil. If the Titans had kept the No. 1 pick instead of trading it to the Rams, Tunsil probably would have been their choice. Now he is falling toward the lower half of the top 10. But there were a number of teams that had Stanley over Tunsil, and obviously the Ravens were among them.

WH AT HE BRINGS An outstandingly fluid athlete for a 315-pounder. He’s adept at getting separation on contact in pass-protection. His arm length is impressive and once he locks out, it’s over. Power defensive ends have no chance against him if they can’t make him move quickly upfield. The

downside is he doesn’t get consistent movement in the run game. And Clemson’s Shaq Lawson troubled him with a combination of speed upfield and power-back inside counters.

7. S A N F R A N C I S C O 49 E R S

TEAM NEEDS: QB, OT, WR, CB THE PICK: DeForest Buckner | DE

| Oregon

Chip Kelly again gets an Oregon player as the 49ers go with DeForest Buckner. The Niners become the first truly QB-needy team to pass on Memphis QB Paxton Lynch. But

Buckner is a very solid pick who should be a productive NFL defensive lineman.

WH AT HE BRINGS He’s known for his violent hands and his arms that just don’t end. There are two different ways to look at Buckner though. In terms of his size, he has physical gifts off the charts.

Athletically, I don’t see the twitchy, burst off the snap sort of skills. It’s not a deal-breaker at all but he’s not the next coming of JJ Watt.

8. T E N N E S S E E T I TA N S ( F R O M

9. C H I C A G O B E A R S ( F R O M TA M PA B AY )

TEAM NEEDS: DE, C, CB, S THE PICK: Leonard Floyd | OLB |

Georgia

The Bears move up for Leonard Floyd, the player that some projected them to get at 11th. He should be a solid contributor on defense. But few envisioned him as a top-10 pick.

Players such as Myles Jack and, especially, Laremy Tunsil are falling below where they were expected to be chosen.

WH AT HE BRINGS Overall at the combine, Floyd showed what many of us knew – he’s a freaky, long and agile athlete. He showed up at 244 pounds, ran 4.60 in the 40, had a 39.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot-7inch broad jump. He gives a little bit of a poor man’s Aldon Smith vibe. We love the potential, his length and his relentless nature.

10. N E W YO R K GIANTS TEAM NEEDS: OL, ILB, FS, DE THE PICK: Eli Apple | CB | Ohio

State

CLEVELAND)

TEAM NEEDS: QB, WR, RB, T, S THE PICK: Jack Conklin | OT |

Michigan State

The Titans, after trading down from No. 1 to No. 15, trade back up to eighth and take Jack Conklin.

Tennessee might have taken Laremy Tunsil at No. 1, and they just had a chance to take him at No. 8. But they pass him up, and you have to wonder how much the Twitter controversy is playing into Tunsil’s plummet.

Whatever the case, the Titans bolster their offensive line for Marcus Mariota. Are the Browns ever going to

actually pick?

WH AT HE BRINGS His measurables got everyone’s attention. He had one of the better OL short shuttle times, registering 4.57 seconds. He left little doubt he’s ready to be one of the first offensive linemen off the board. Has allowed only 2.5 sacks in his first 27 career games.

He doesn’t always have great feet — they’ll stop on contact, which keeps him from finishing blocks. I would like to see him more under control getting to the second level, but he’s nasty and has a true offensive lineman demeanor.

That’s a mild surprise with the Giants taking Eli Apple at 10th. They just spent huge money to sign a veteran cornerback, Janoris Jenkins, in free agency. The defense clearly needed to be upgraded, and the Giants continue to devote resources to that in the draft following their free agent spending spree.

WH AT HE BRINGS Any trepidation that was had about his high ranking in the Top 50 went out the window after the combine.

With long arms and good feed, this guy looks the part more than any other CB in this draft class. He’s raw though. He tends to get sloppy with his technique. His hips, feet, change of direction are all next level though. He can play press and bail coverage and he runs and mirrors receivers without much effort. His instincts are great too He anticipates route combinations extremely well.

SPORTS:FOOTBALL

Deflategate Resurrection The Rise of Tom Brady’s suspension shall headline taunt us for yet another offseason.

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Thursday that the organization is not planning to take any further action in the so-called "Deflategate" case against New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady but his 4 game suspension is officially reinstated.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said last Thursday that “there is not a shred of credible evidence” showing New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady participated in a scheme to deflate footballs and the NFL, in her view, should “do the right thing” and release the data it collected last season measuring the air pressure in footballs at games league-wide.

“I think in this case, I’m a fan,” Shaheen said in a phone interview.

“Like all fans, I want to see the NFL do the right thing. I think the right thing here is to release the data, let the public see what it says. There may be other actions we might take. But I don’t see legislation or anything like that as a recourse. I think this is my effort to express my views on something that I think people who are my constituents feel strongly about.”

Shaheen’s comments came one day after she wrote Wednesday on Twitter that the league should release the results of its random air pressure measurements. She included a link to a column by The Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins, who wrote that “we are still looking for a single shred of credible evidence that any human hand deflated the footballs in that AFC championship game” that prompted the Deflategate controversy.

“First of all, I have a lot of Patriots fans and Tom Brady fans in New Hampshire and throughout New England,” Shaheen said. “We love the Patriots and I haven’t talked to anybody in New Hampshire

who thinks that Tom Brady was treated fairly. Reading the article that appeared in the Post, I thought made that point. So I thought it was an opportunity to say again to the public I think this wasn’t handled well.”

Shaheen said she had not spoken to anyone in the NFL about the issue.

She said she “absolutely” shares the view that the Patriots and Brady, their four-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, were treated unfairly by the league.

“I think, as the Washington Post story points out so well, there is not a shred of credible evidence that shows that Tom Brady deflated the football,” Shaheen said. “And I think if we look at the amount of time and how people have been treated around this and compare it to some of the other issues that are facing the NFL—the head injuries and safety concerns that have been expressed, that some football players have experienced, the way some of the domestic violence and sexual assault allegations have been handled—it raises questions, I think, about the focus on them. Again, if they’re so convinced that what they did was the right thing, then release the information.”

A federal appeals court Monday reinstated Brady’s four-game Deflategate suspension, imposed by the NFL after it concluded he played a role in the Patriots’ use of improperly inflated footballs in the first half of the AFC title game

against the Indianapolis Colts at the conclusion of the 2014 season.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overturned last year’s ruling

by U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman that had nullified Brady’s suspension. The NFL Players Association can appeal on Brady’s behalf to the full appeals court.

The Patriots were left without a first-round pick in this year’s NFL draft as part of their NFL-imposed Deflategate penalties.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said at his annual state-of-the-league news conference two days before the Super Bowl that last season’s air pressure checks were conducted as a deterrent to teams.

“It’s a deterrent when they think that game may be being checked,” Goodell said then. “It’s also important that the data that was collected in that was not data for research. It was collected just to see [if] there was a violation. Our people never found a violation. There was never an accusation of a violation by any other club. So we’re comfortable that this policy, this rule, was followed by our clubs and we do this across the board in our game operations.”

Credit Mark Maske, Washington Post

SPORTS:BASEBALL

→ MLB

At 6-13 with a .316 winning percentage entering last Monday night, Houston boasted the secondworst mark in the AL and the thirdworst in the entire majors. The only teams worse? The lowly Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves, both of whom started their campaigns 0-9.

While the offense has been pretty legit thus far, the pitching has been a different story. When looking for reasons for the extremely slow start, manager A.J. Hinch and company should look no further than the horrendous 4.95 team earned run average, a mark that ranks the team 27th in all of baseball and last in the American League.

OAKLAND AT H L E T I C S 10- 9

The marathon run that is a MLB regular season is still just getting started, However every single squad is now either about to, or has already participated in 10% of their 162 scheduled games, meaning that we are beginning to get a sense of what the league’s contestants may offer us this summer. With that being said, let’s take a look at four early surprise teams in the 2016 baseball season.

HOUSTON ASTROS 6 - 13

Of the 32 teams in MLB, the one that is easily off to the most disappointing start is the Houston Astros. The ‘Stros entered this spring with lofty expectations as one of the favorites in the junior circuit. We even offered the prediction that this group would wind up taking home the 2016 World Series, which would be their first in franchise history. While we still think that it’s far too early to write off this club, the early returns are a tad concerning.

A 10-9 record in any sport, admittedly, is nothing special.

However, when considering the notion that few expected the Oakland Athletics to compete in 2016, the above-.500 mark looks pretty good. The A’s are currently tied with the Texas Rangers atop of the somewhat upside-down AL West division and they sport one of the best road records at 7-2.

Like the White Sox, the Athletics may not have the most lethal lineup, but their pitching has been terrific in April. They also rank in the top 10 in team ERA (sixth place with a 3.30 figure) and showcase a stellar bullpen, spearheaded by Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle.

While some teams have surrendered late leads left and right, Oakland’s crew has been rock solid at the end. They have converted nine of 10 save opportunities so far, which gives them one of the best save percentages in the bigs.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX 13-6 The White Sox stand at 13-6 with a .684 winning percentage, which places them at the top of the AL and only behind the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs (both teams were expected to be great) for

the best record in baseball.

Chicago has proven that good pitching can beat good hitting in plenty of situations. Despite the favorable win-loss mark, the White Sox rank near the bottom in many offensive categories and place dead last in runs batted in with 54.

Led by the terrific duo of Chris Sale and Jose Quintana — plus the masterful early-season performances by veteran Mat Latos — Chicago ranks second in the majors with their 2.28 team ERA. We knew that Sale and Quintana would be good, but if Latos is somehow able to continue pitching anywhere near the level he is displaying early on, the White Sox could have a shot at dethroning the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central.

PHILADELPHIA P H I L L I E S 9- 10

The Philadelphia Phillies, currently sitting at 9-10, are off to a solid start in 2016. Although the standings may show them at a game-under the .500 threshold, did anybody expect Philadelphia to be only one game under at this point — or at any point for that matter? There is still tons of time for the Phillies to completely fall apart and move back down the the NL cellar, but for now, April has been surprisingly decent for the City of Brotherly Love.

If you are still not sold on the “pitching matters” argument yet, we present the Phillies as the final piece of evidence for today. Like Chicago and Oakland, Philadelphia has displayed one of the more anemic offenses during the season’s first month. At .287, they are currently tied for the worst team on-base percentage in the league. On the mound though, they have thrown a trio of shutouts in the month and pace the majors with their 195 strikeouts. Unfortunately for the Phils, the season does not end after spring, and there are still loads of chances left for an everlasting summer swoon.

* BETTING 2016 WORLD SERIES WINNER 6.00 9.00 11.00 13.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 17.00 17.00 21.00 21.00 21.00 23.00 26.00 26.00 29.00 29.00 34.00 34.00 34.00 41.00 51.00 51.00 67.00 81.00 81.00 101.00 151.00 201.00 501.00

CHICAGO CUBS WASHINGTON N ATION ALS KANSAS CIT Y ROYALS TORONTO BLUE JAYS BOSTON RED SOX LOS ANGELES DODGERS NEW YORK ME TS SAN FRANCISCO GI ANTS TEXAS RANGERS ARIZON A DI AMONDBACKS HOUSTON ASTROS ST. LOUIS CARDIN ALS CLEVEL AND INDI ANS CHICAGO WHITE SOX PIT TSBURGH PIRATES BALTIMORE ORIOLES NEW YORK YANKEES DE TROIT TIGERS OAKL AND ATHLE TICS SEAT TLE M ARINERS LOS ANGELES ANGELS COLORADO ROCKIES TAMPA BAY RAYS MI AMI M ARLINS CINCINN ATI REDS MILWAUKEE BREWERS SAN DIEGO PADRES MINNESOTA T WINS PHIL ADELPHI A PHILLIES ATL ANTA BRAVES

5 MLB

D A I LY FA N TA S Y S T R AT E G I E S TO BANK THE CASH

1) SPEND 35-40% OF YOUR SAL ARY ON PITCHING You have heard the old adage, “pitching and defense win championships”, well in DFS cash games it is more like “pitching and pitching wins you money”. In DK, you roster TWO pitchers! Your pitchers will make or break your lineup. I can’t remember more than a handful of times when pitchers combined for under 40 points and and you still cash. It rarely happens. As such, ideally spend the majority of research on selecting pitchers.

Historically spend between 35%-40% of your roster salary on your pitchers. That equates to about $17,500 – $20,000 on pitching. That may seem like a lot, but trust it generally pays dividends.

In order to get my 13 average points per player, you must rely on pitchers to actually have a higher ROI, about 3.0x, putting it roughly around 55-60 points total from pitchers. This allows to have a more conservative approach when selecting position players so you can expect a 2.2 ROI average per position player (or about 9 points per a $4000 position player).

STRATEGY - don’t roster position players on the opposing team of your chosen pitchers.

Similar to the idea of not rostering a Defense in NFL DFS that is playing your QB or RB, it limits your point potential.

2) HOME “RUN” FIELD ADVANTAGE After pitcher research, be sure to check where games are being played. The five top run producing baseball parks last year were : 5. Globe Life Park (Texas Rangers) 4. Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox) 3. Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles) 2. Progressive Field (Cleveland Indians) 1. Coors Field (Colorado Rockies) Also of note, the top three parks for HR’s allowed were: Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs) Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles)

Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers) To be serious check what offensive teams are playing at these stadiums and if they are facing sub-par pitching. In analysis check the weather reports for these stadiums, especially the wind direction at Wrigley Field. Once you have the answers to these questions, you may begin to select positions players.

3) TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TALENT GAP A cash game strategy that is statistically sound is to pay up for players at positions in which there are an elite few followed by a major gap in talent/stat production. These positions are C, 2B, and SS. Yes, that’s right, pay up for C, 2B, and SS. The same positions that many players usually punt (punt = to roster a low-cost players with little hope of hitting ROI).

Think about it, there are quite a few power hitting, run producing 1B, 3B, and Outfielders; whereas you can probably only name a few catchers (Posey, McCann, Martin), 2B (Dozier, Altuve), and SS (Tulo, Correa) that were consistently, day-in and day-out solid plays last season.

More than likely if you ask someone to name the three top hitters on any given slate they will all be either 1B, 3B, or OF thus making it easier to find value at these positions! The difference in salary between Chris Davies (1B/ OF) and Jay Bruce (OF) on opening day is $1000. I would much rather spend that $1000 on pitching and bet that Bruce has a similar ROI to Davies given the pitching matchup.

Now, I am not saying you can’t find value at C, 2B, and SS (Caesar Hernandez was one of my favorite plays last year), but I am saying that paying an extra $1200 for Bryce Harper over Ryan Braun may seem like a safe bet, it doesn’t always work out that way. While Harper had 17 more HRs, he only had 15

more RBIs than Braun all last year. When Harper gets up to the $6000 salary range, you really need to double think rostering him.

4) AVOIDING THE DUD A zero from any of your players in any type of contest is almost certain doomsday. Baseball is one of those sports were even a Mike Trout can go 0-4 and potentially kill your lineup.

However, there are several ways to limit the possibility of a DUD: Target players with high OBP (on-base percentage) – Even a few points increases your chances of cashing exponentially and this can be done by getting hit by the pitch, walked, or having a run scored. Players with high OBP (or high wOBA and OPS, some advanced stats we will dive into in the future) limit your risk of having a player with zero points.

Limit exposure to high risk/reward players – There are quite a few power hitters that can easily have a 3 for 4 day with a double dong, but some of those hitters are also big time strikeout risks – limit your exposure to players with high K/9 rates in cash games.

Check starting lineups often – Get a twitter account and follow MLB Daily Lineups (@ MLB Daily Lineups) and Baseball Press (@ BaseballPress). Check lineups at least 30 minutes before game times and have an idea of whom you will sub into your DK lineup if a last-minute or late game switch is needed.

5) CHECK THE OVER/UNDER LINES This insures you haven’t missed anything.

Usually the line will be about 7.5-8.0 for your average game. If it is below 7, tend to stay away from the hitters and possibly target the pitchers. If the O/U line is over 9 and parallels stadium research, you can be sure one or two hitters should make your lineup.

SPORTS:SOCCER

→

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

The final stretch is upon us after another unforgettable season.

The moments after Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with West Brom had a feeling of closure, the home fans conceding their collective hopes of a first Premier League title had finally evaporated. Seven points now separates Spurs from firstplaced Leicester with three matches remaining. Should Leicester lose all three, Spurs must win at least two and draw the other to win the title.

Should Leicester draw two and lose the other, Spurs must win all three.

But if Leicester picks up three points at any stage, Spurs are gone. The latter seems the most likely scenario and the White Hart Lane faithful recognised as much. Spurs visit London rivals Chelsea next weekend.

What motivation the Blues will have to play, to drive the final nail into Tottenham’s coffin. Meanwhile Leicester travels to Old Trafford to seal the title. What better way to end the fairytale than by securing

the title against the most successful side of the Premier League era. For all of Manchester United’s successes, Old Trafford may well be Leicester’s Theatre of Dreams come early Monday morning. The races for the EPL title, European qualification and relegation are well in their final stages. Here’s what every team in the thick of the battles must do between now and season’s end.

RACE FOR THE TITLE

LEICESTER CIT Y — 1ST, 76 POINTS

FORM: WWWWDW INJURIES: Leonardo Ulloa REM AINING M ATCHES: Manchester United (A), Everton (H), Chelsea (A) KEY DATE: 1 May — v Manchester United, Old Trafford. A win would seal the title.

DISTRACTION: Jamie Vardy’s suspension. He’ll be missing again against Manchester United.

Tottenham’s draw with West Brom has made Leicester’s equation simple. Win at Old Trafford this

weekend and win the title.

Without Vardy they thrashed Swansea 4-0 and looked all over a champion side. Now prices at $1.05 to win the title, it is hard to see them not picking up three points between now and season’s end.

TOT TENH AM — 2ND, 69 POINTS

FORM: WWDWWD INJURIES: Nabil Bentaleb, Eric Dier REM AINING M ATCHES: Chelsea (A), Southampton (H), Newcastle (A) KEY DATE: 3 May — v Chelsea, Stamford Bridge. Their slim title hopes rest on a win.

DISTRACTION: Nil Tuesday morning’s 1-1 draw against West Brom was a bitter blow for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, leaving Leicester seven points ahead with three games remainingWith a superior goal difference to the Foxes, Spurs’ hopes rest on winning their final three games and Leicester picking up no more than two points.

R E L E G AT I O N B AT T L E

SUNDERL AND — 17TH, 31 POINTS

FORM: DDDLWD INJURIES: Jeremain Lens REM AINING M ATCHES: Stoke (A), Chelsea (H), Everton (H), Watford (H) KEY DATE: 16 May — v Watford, Vicarage Road. A third straight home match to finish the season.

DISTRACTION: Nil ‘Big Sam’ Allardyce looks to have masterminded another remarkable salvage campaign, this time in the north east. The Black Cats continue to snatch points off more fancied opposition, last weekend’s draw with Arsenal lifting them out of the relegation zone.

NORWICH CIT Y — 18TH, 31 POINTS

FORM: LDWWLL INJURIES: Andre Wisdom, Timm Klose, Alexander Tettey REM AINING M ATCHES: Arsenal (A), Manchester United (H), Watford (H), Everton (A) KEY DATE: 16 May — v Everton, Goodison Park. It could be all or nothing on the final day.

DISTRACTION: Nil Norwich faces a tough task to live itself out of the relegation zone, with a difficult trip to Arsenal followed by a visit of Manchester United to test their resolve.

NEWCASTLE — 19TH, 30 POINTS

FORM: DLLWDD INJURIES: Steven Taylor, Daryl Janmaat, Rob Elliot, Fabricio Coloccini, Massimo Haidara, Tim Krul REM AINING M ATCHES: Crystal Palace (H), Aston Villa (A), Tottenham (H) KEY DATE: 16 May — v Tottenham, St James’ Park DISTRACTION: Nil Consecutive draws against Manchester city and Liverpool displayed the mettle Rafa Benitez has instilled into his side.Whether that will be enough to lift them out of the relegation zone, with both

Norwich and Sunderland holding a game in hand, remains to be seen.

RACE FOR EUROPE

WHO QUALIFIES?

England gets four Champions League spots (three automatic and one play-off) and three Europa League spots.

But, the winner of the Europa

League also qualifies for the Champions League — and Liverpool are well and truly alive on that front.

The EPL can get a maximum of five teams into the UCL, so the most extraordinary of twists, where fourth would miss out, would only happen if: Manchester City wins the UCL, Liverpool win the Europa League AND Manchester City DON’T finish in the top four.

The three Europa League spots go to 5th, the FA Cup winner and Capital One Cup winner.

So the League Cup spot will essentially go to sixth, because Manchester City should make the UCL. But the FA Cup could be an unlikely route to Europe for Everton, Crystal Palace or Watford.

M ANCHESTER CIT Y — 3RD, 64 POINTS

FORM: LWWWDW INJURIES: Yaya Toure, Fernando, David Silva REM AINING M ATCHES: Southampton (A), Arsenal (H), Swansea (A) KEY DATE: 8 May — v Arsenal, Etihad Stadium. A must win to secure Champions League football.

DISTRACTION: Champions League semi final v Real Madrid, 27 April & 5 May A disappointing draw with Newcastle followed by a 4-0 thumping of Stoke has City once again level with Arsenal on points and slightly ahead on goal difference.

A tricky run home awaits, with the added distraction of Champions League football meaning Manuel Pellegrini has his work cut out to secure a top four finish.

ARSEN AL — 4TH, 64 POINTS

FORM: WWDDWD INJURIES: Nil REM AINING M ATCHES: Norwich (H), Manchester City (A), Aston Villa (H) KEY DATE: 8 May — v Manchester City, Etihad Stadium. This could be a top four decider.

DISTRACTION: Nil A win over West Brom followed by a draw at Sunderland — it seems whenever Arsenal looks to be getting it together, they always take a step back this season.

Aside from their clash with City, the Gunners have an easier run home than their most direct rival and can be expected to account for Norwich and Villa. But then again …

M ANCHESTER UNITED — 5TH, 59 POINTS FORM: LWWLWW INJURIES: Will Keane, Adnan

Januzaj, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luke Shaw REM AINING M ATCHES: Leicester City (H), Norwich City (A), West Ham (A), Bournemouth (H) KEY DATE: 11 May — v West Ham, Upton Park. Should Arsenal or City slip up, this could be a top four decider.

DISTRACTION: Nil — the FA Cup final is after the final round.

Despite all the talk of United ‘horror’ season, Louis van Gaal side continues to lurk there and thereabouts on the fringes of the top four. With a game in hand on City and Arsenal, the Red Devils are poised to pounce should either rival stumble.

WEST H AM — 6TH, 56 POINTS

FORM: WDDDDW INJURIES: Carl Jenkinson REM AINING M ATCHES: West Brom (A), Swansea (H), Manchester United (H), Stoke (A) KEY DATE: 16 May v Stoke, Britannia Stadium. A Europa League place may hang on a final day win.

DISTRACTION: Nil

West Ham’s Champions League hopes appear all but over, with eight points separating them from the top four, albeit with a game in hand.

Their attentions must now turn to securing a Europa League place, with no continental football sure to be a major blow in their first season at the Olympic Stadium.

LIVERPOOL — 7TH, 55 POINTS

FORM: LDWWWD INJURIES: Divock Origi, Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, Christian Benteke, Jordan Rossiter, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez REM AINING M ATCHES: Swansea (A), Watford (H), Chelsea (H), West Brom (A) KEY DATE: 12 May — v Chelsea, Anfield. Their most difficult remaining fixture.

DISTRACTION: Europa League semi finals v Villarreal, 29 April & 6 May Surrendering a two-goal lead against Newcastle to draw 2-2 was a huge blow for Jurgen Klopp’s side. Which would have risen to sixth had it held on for a win.

Their only path to the Champions League from here appears to be winning the Europa League.

SOUTH AMPTON — 8TH, 54 POINTS

FORM: WWLWDW INJURIES: Charlie Austin, Florian Gardos REM AINING M ATCHES: Manchester City (H), Tottenham (A), Crystal Palace (H) KEY DATE: 16 May — v Crystal Palace, St Marys Stadium. Plenty will be riding on their final day result.

DISTRACTION: Nil Ronald Koeman’s Saints continue to rack up the points and keep their outside hopes of European qualification alive. They will require a big slip up from those above them, though.

* BETTING PREMIER LEAGUE WINNER 1.05 LEICESTER 10.00 TOT TENH AM

TOP GOALSCORER 1.57 2.75 13 101

H ARRY KANE SERGIO AGUERO JAMIE VARDY ROMELU LUKAKU

RELEGATION 1.29 1.29 2 101

NEWCASTLE NORWICH SUNDERL AND CRYSTAL PAL ACE

SPORTS:SOCCER

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FA CUP

FINAL MANCHESTER U N I T E D V S C R Y S TA L PA L A C E M AY 21 S T The FA Cup semifinal round offered more than its fair share of thrills.

It was easy to be underwhelmed by the semifinalists for this edition of soccer’s oldest cup competition. Only one of the participants, Manchester United, is in the top half of the league table; the other three — Crystal Palace, Everton and Watford — have been limping towards the finish line for weeks now. But this weekend, league form was thrown out the window as both matchups showed the Cup still has some magic left in it.

Saturday’s semifinal pitted United against Everton. Despite the Toffees’ Romelu Lukaku having two golden chances early on, Louis van Gaal’s

men were in control for the first 45 minutes and had a one-goal lead at the half to prove it. But things changed dramatically during the interval. Perhaps sensing it was their last chance to rescue what has been a horribly depressing season, Everton came out a new team. They should’ve evened things up just before the hour mark, but United keeper David de Gea managed to fend off a penalty by Lukaku.

It didn’t matter. In 76th minute, Everton leveled things up after United’s Chris Smalling accidentally knocked a cross from Gerard Deulofeu into his own goal.

That set the stage for a dramatic finish 16 minutes later. Roberto Martinez’s side only turned up the pressure following the equalizer and had United against the wall as the final whistled beckoned.

But then Anthony Martial tapped into his club’s cavalier history and called for the ball some 40 yards

out. A charging run and two passes later he showed why the criticism surrounding his exorbitant price tag has all but disappeared over the last few months. He pulled away from two defenders and place the ball coolly past Joel Robles. A stunned minute later, the whistle finally blew and United had booked their spot in the final for the first time since 2007.

Sunday’s match between Crystal Palace and Watford wasn’t as tense, but it was just as entertaining.

Despite bright starts — Palace were near the very top of the table in December, while Watford never showed the slightest sign of newly promoted jitters — both teams have fallen apart since New Year’s. You’d have never known based on their semifinal, though, as both teams showed up hungry to continue their Cup run.

Palace jumped out to the lead early, as Yannick Bolasie shook his marker

to put in powerful header in the sixth minute. Watford weren’t nearly as fluid as their opponents, but held strong until striker Troy Deeney tied things up with a header of his own in the 55th minute. That scoreline would only last six minutes. Bolasie — yes, him again — whipped in a cross that Connor Wickham managed to get just enough of his head on to score what would be the game-winner, sending the club to its first FA Cup final in 26 years.

United and Palace will meet back at Wembley, which also played host to the semifinals, on May 21. While

the Red Devils will be the clear favorites, if Bolasie and the rest of his teammates can play to the the level they showed on Sunday, then the best really might have been saved for last. Neither team’s season has unfolded as expected, especially considering where they both were in the table in the fall, but the Cup represents a chance to finish the season in glory. The FA Cup may not be as big of a deal as it once was, but these games showed that it still means something to both the players and fans. Not bad for a 135-year-old tradition.

* BETTING 1.36 M ANCHESTER UNITED 3.25 CRYSTAL PAL ACE

SPORTS:UFC

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UFC

DANA WHITE: I DIDN’T PREVENT CONOR MCGREGOR F R O M F I G H T I N G AT U F C 2 00 The new UFC 200 main event was announced last Wednesday, but that doesn’t mean Conor McGregor still isn’t the center of attention after he was pulled from the card last week.

McGregor was expected to appear in Las Vegas for the launch of UFC 200 promotion, including a commercial being filmed as well as three press conferences that were scheduled for Las Vegas, Stockton, Calif., and New York.

When McGregor refused to attend, UFC president Dana White opted to yank McGregor from the card. Jon Jones now will face Daniel Cormier in the new main event for the historic event on July 9.

White explained his position again at the latest UFC 200 press conference saying that he didn’t stop McGregor from fighting on the card. It was the Irishman, who chose not to attend the required promotional obligations for everyone fighting at UFC 200.

That sealed his fate in regards to fighting July 9.

“First of all, I didn’t prevent Conor from fighting at UFC 200. I did not,” White explained. “Everybody if you look at the press conference, Joanna Jedrzejczyk flew in from Poland, Claudia (Gadelha) flew in from Brazil, (Jose Aldo) flew in from Brazil and then came here. People came in from all over the world.

Frankie (Edgar) is just getting home and hasn’t seen his family.”

“This is what we do. This is how it works. I didn’t prevent him from fighting at UFC 200. He knew what the deal was, I told him what the deal was and he opted to do that.”

— Dana White White said that he did everything possible to make concessions for McGregor so the trip to the United States wouldn’t interrupt his training camp in preparation for his rematch with Nate Diaz.

For instance, Cormier pulled into the press conference on last-minute notice due to his fight with Jones being announced, but he had a prior commitment to watch his son perform at a local school function.

So White sent a camera crew to Cormier’s son’s school to stream the performance back to his father’s phone so he could still attend the press conference in New York.

“There were things Conor needed, I was willing to make sure that Conor had the things that he needed when he landed in Vegas or landed in New York or wherever else we went. This isn’t just ‘hey you have to do this.’

I will bend and I will do things to make it work for these guys and girls and Conor didn’t do it,” White said.

“That’s the truth, the whole truth and that’s the way it is.”

White maintained his position that he holds no ill will toward McGregor for causing a change to one of the biggest UFC cards of the year, and when the timing is right the featherweight champion will return to action.

“Conor’s going to fight again. He’s going to fight at (UFC) 201, 202, 203, whatever the deal might be. We’ll see what’s next when that plays out.

(UFC) 200 is the fight everybody’s been looking forward to for a long time. It is what it is and the show will roll on and Conor will fight again,” White said.

“We’re in the fight business. Fight’s fall out and things happen and we roll on. That’s the way that it works.

The Conor thing has been crazy and it is what it is.”

DERBY DAY y l l i F n o i h s a F

KIM KARDASHIAN

PIA MILLER

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SPORTS:GOLF

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GOLF

REWIND

THE 2016 M ASTERS

On the heroics and heartbreak of the final round ...

It’s not as though we needed a reminder, but the final day extremes at Augusta National were everything that is special about the year’s first major.After three days of blustery winds that resulted in few reasons to cheer, the frantic give and take over the final nine holes was exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Masters, highlighted by equal parts heroics and heartbreak.

While Jordan Spieth’s implosion on Nos. 10, 11 and 12 – which he played in 6 over par – will be the lasting image from the 2016 Masters, eventual champion Danny Willett’s inspired play, his closing 67 matched the best round of the day, was just as a compelling. Danny who wasn't even sure he was officially attending this years Master’s as his wife was due to give birth, was sent a second angel when his newborn was delivered early, and thus attending and winning the 2016 Green Jacket in a true fairytale fashion.

DANNY WILLE T T

A month ago, Danny Willett was not sure he'd play the Masters. His wife, Nicole, was pregnant with their first child and the due date was the Sunday final round of the Masters, April 10. He was not planning to play at Augusta, saying "There's plenty more Masters." The Willetts' son, Zachariah, came early on March 30 and Danny decided he'd make it to Augusta after all. Now he's a new dad and a Masters champion, taking advantage of a second nine Jordan Spieth meltdown and posting the round of the day with a 5-under 67.

Willett made the trip over from England relatively late, flying on Monday when most of the field had been set up for a day or two and played a practice round. It turns out he didn't need much extra work, holding steady through the three rounds of brutal windy conditions and then rocketing up the leaderboard on Sunday to take the green jacket.

Willett is a world-class pro, an Englishman that many who follow golf closely expect big things from down the road. He's probably the

next Euro to crush American hopes and dreams at the Ryder Cup and he pushed Rory McIlroy to the wire on the Euro Tour's playoffs last year.

So it's not surprising to see Willett in contention at a major championship.

He's an immense talent and was a trendy darkhorse pick. But the way he won it is how this Masters will be remembered. Willett was incredible on Sunday with the 67, stuffing it close all day and avoiding a bogey on his final round tour through Augusta. But sadly it may always be remembered as the one Spieth lost, rather than the one Willett won.

JORDAN SPIE TH

On Jordan Spieth's second-nine collapse ...

Greg Norman is one of the game’s all-time great players, but when it comes to Augusta National his is a name from which you’d like to keep your distance. After a shocking collapse in defense of his title, though, Jordan Spieth now joins the likes of Norman, Scott Hoch, Ed Sneed and even Arnold Palmer as players who let green jackets slip through their fingers.

Of course, once the dust settles Spieth can take solace in the title he won last year – a consolation that always eluded Norman.

But the parallels between the two combatants, whose Masters meltdowns were separated by 20 years, are hard to ignore.

The confidence with which many were set to anoint Norman as he took a six-shot lead into the final round in 1996 was equaled – if not surpassed – by the sentiments directed toward Spieth as he stood nine holes away from a second straight wire-to-wire victory. But the ball can bounce funny down the stretch at Augusta National, and while Norman’s demise played out as a slow bleed, Spieth’s was over almost as quickly as it began.

The other aspect that ties the two is that their respective collapses will likely overshadow sublime rounds from their counterparts – both Nick Faldo and Danny Willett closed with sterling rounds of 5-under 67.

Their strong final-round efforts may be historical footnotes, but those coveted green jackets hang in their locker just the same.

FA S T F O R W A R D

PGA TOUR SCHEDULE

ZURICH CL ASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS APR 28 - M AY 1 TPC Louisiana, Avondale, LA • Purse: $7,000,000 WELLS FARGO CH AMPIONSHIP M AY 5 - 8 Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC • Purse: $7,300,000 THE PL AYERS CH AMPIONSHIP M AY 12 - 15 TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL • Purse: $10,500,000 AT&T BYRON NELSON M AY 19 - 22 TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, TX • Purse: $7,300,000 DEAN & DELUCA INVITATION AL M AY 26 - 29 Colonial CC, Fort Worth, TX • Purse: $6,700,000

* BETTING

2016 US MONEY LIST

3.50 4.00 6.00 13.00 17.00 21.00 34.00 34.00 41.00 41.00 51.00 67.00 67.00 67.00

ADAM SCOT T JASON DAY JORDAN SPIE TH BUBBA WATSON DUSTIN JOHNSON RORY MCILROY HIDEKI M ATSUYAM A RICKIE FOWLER HENRIK STENSON PATRICK REED LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN BRANDEN GRACE CH ARL SCHWARTZEL JUSTIN ROSE

SPORTS:AFL

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AFL

COACH’S CORNER WHO’S UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

It may be early in the season but four coaches in particular are feeling the heat after terrible starts to the year.

Last year’s minor premiers Fremantle look listless after falling to 0-5 with a loss to the reigning wooden spoon holders Carlton.

Ross Lyon wanted his team to become more attacking, but the Dockers are in disarray, stuck on the bottom of the ladder and with one of the leakiest defences in the competition.

Four-time All-Australian Aaron Sandilands and skipper David Mundy are out injured, and Brownlow medallist Nathan Fyfe appears set to join them on the sidelines. Making the finals seems an impossible task for Fremantle.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is also feeling the heat. After three

consecutive elimination final losses, a top-four spot was on the agenda.

A 1-4 start put paid to that idea.

Hardwick recently re-signed until the end of 2018 but Tiger fans are unlikely to be patient if this trend continues.

Ken Hinkley was Port Adelaide’s saviour when he led the Power from the doldrums to the finals in his first year in charge, before being a kick away from the premiership decider in 2014.

Those days are long gone. Port is struggling, the chairman labelled his team’s 86-point loss to GWS “a disgrace” on Twitter and several stars are struggling for form.

Something needs to change at Alberton, and soon.

The most under fire of all could be Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, especially if the Pies lose to Essendon on Anzac Day. After breaking up the squad that took Collingwood to Grand Finals in

2010 and 2011, Buckley has brought his own players in.

Thus far, it is all for nought, with the Magpies’ sole victory coming in the dying seconds of their round two clash against the Tigers.

Key forward Travis Cloke was dropped ahead of the match against Essendon, but a loss to the barebones Bombers will heap further pressure on Buckley.

3 THINGS WE LEARNED FROM ROUND 5

The Bulldogs’ depth is the envy of (most of) the competition Not many sides, with the obvious exception of Hawthorn, can boast a deep and flexible playing list quite like the Western Bulldogs. Even with skipper Robert Murphy, dynamic half-back Jason Johannisen, key forward Tom Boyd and pocket rocket Caleb Daniel out of the side, the Dogs were still capable of smashing the Brisbane Lions by 53 points

despite not playing anywhere near their best. Tom Campbell came in for Boyd and had 16 touches, seven marks, 22 hit-outs and kicked a goal, while Toby McLean – stiff to be dropped before being reprieved by Daniel’s (calf) late withdrawal – had 25 touches, slotted two goals and was among the Bullies’ best. They’re building something special at the Whitten Oval.

There’s no easy way out of this for Fremantle, after the round two loss to Gold Coast Ross Lyon said he’s been “in bigger holes than this”. He has found himself in a bigger hole than that after the round five loss to Carlton and there is no quick fix. Lyon said there was no need to rebuild, but a re-stump, re-wire and re-plumb of the Dockers’ house was required. That won’t be easy given what lies ahead. They face Adelaide in Adelaide, GWS at home and Hawthorn in Tasmania in the next three weeks. They won’t have Aaron

* BETTING AFL 2016 PREMIERS 4.00 6.00 6.00 8.00 9.00 Sandilands or Harley Bennell any time soon and Nat Fyfe’s availability for all three of those games will depend on the result of the scans on his leg injury. Lyon said he needed to find players who can execute their skills in the method he wants under pressure. He will get a good look at all of his players against the pressure of the Crows, the Giants and the Hawks in the next three weeks to see who he can take forward and who he leaves behind.

The Giants’ defence is running riot!

If the Western Bulldogs had the best running defenders before injury struck, GWS may well have its eye

on that mantle. Twelve of the Giants’ 19 goals against St Kilda on Sunday were scored from chains that started in the back half, with defenders Nathan Wilson and Zac Williams sharing 18 score involvements.

The young duo, aged 23 and 21, also combined for 11 rebound 50s, and then we get to in-form veteran Heath Shaw, who had nine himself.

Coach Leon Cameron is aware of the group’s strength and said his team was following the AFL trend in launching scores from defence.

“Everyone would love to have really good running backs because it can help you score,” he said. “Our guys are in pretty good form.”

9.00 11.00 21.00 67.00 67.00 81.00 101.00 101.00 101.00 351.00 501.00 501.00 501.00

H AW THORN SYDNEY WEST COAST GEELONG NORTH MELBOURNE WESTERN BULLDOGS ADEL AIDE GWS PORT ADEL AIDE RICHMOND COLLINGWOOD FREM ANTLE GOLD COAST MELBOURNE ST KILDA BRISBANE CARLTON ESSENDON

AFL LADDER POS

CLUB

C

1

NMFC NORTH MELBOURNE

NO CHANGE

2

WB WESTERN BULLDOGS

3

P W

D

L

F

A

%

FORM

5

5

0

0

611

493

123.9

WWWWW

WB

20

NO CHANGE

5

4

1

0

491

283

173.5

WWLWW

NMFC

16

SYD SYDNEY SWANS

NO CHANGE

5

4

1

0

548

354

154.8

WWWW

BL

16

4

GEEL GEELONG CATS

NO CHANGE

5

4

1

0

496

332

149.4

WLWW

GCFC

16

5

HAWHAWTHORN

UP

5

4

1

0

477

452

105.5

LWWWW

GWS

16

6

GWS GWS GIANTS

UP

5

3

2

0

512

393

130.3

LWLWW

HAW

12

7

GCFC GOLD COAST SUNS

DOWN

5

3

2

0

517

427

121.1

WWWLL

GEEL

12

8

WC WEST COAST EAGLES

DOWN

5

3

2

0

485

405

119.8

WLWWL

COLL

12

9

ADELAIDE CROWS

DOWN

5

3

2

0

591

500

118.2

LWWWL

FRE

12

10

MEL MELBOURNE

NO CHANGE

5

3

2

0

509

457

111.4

WLLWW

STK

12

11

COLLCOLLINGWOOD

UP

5

2

3

0

439

513

85.6

LWLLW

WCE

8

12

PORT PORT ADELAIDE

DOWN

5

2

3

0

455

553

82.3

WLWLL

RICH

8

13

ST ST KILDA

DOWN

5

1

4

0

418

529

79

LLWLL

MELB

4

14

RICHRICHMOND

DOWN

5

1

4

0

423

552

76.6

WLLLL

PORT

4

15

CARL CARLTON

UP

5

1

4

0

316

471

67.1

LLLLW

ESS

4

16

BRISBANE LIONS

DOWN

5

1

4

0

415

622

66.7

LLLWL

SYD

4

17

ESSESSENDON

DOWN

5

1

4

0

306

514

59.5

LWLLL

CARL

4

18

FREO FREMANTLE

DOWN

5

0

5

0

366

525

69.7

LLLLL

ADEL

0

NEXT PTS

D I S RU P T S U R F I N G. C O M

Disrupt Surf technology is bringing the Shaping Bay to your living room!

Disrupt evolves with the belief that we are all unique, we all have different needs hence the focus of the brand is individuality. Its as easy as 1,2 ,3

SPORTS:SURFING

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WSL TALKING POINTS AFTER A CRAZY AUSTRALIAN LEG

CH ANGING OF THE GUARD TAJ BURROW/MICK FANNING

Western Australia's favorite son Taj Burrow was chaired up the stairs at Margaret's after he decided this would be his last time competing at the CT level here. It was a touching moment for one of surfing's greatest icons. Whilst Mick Fanning told us at the start of the season he will only compete in select events throughout the year, and after some disappointing results heads on holiday pondering requalification.

The two Aussies have been much loved Surfers for a generation now, and with some upset results to kickoff the 2016 season a changing of the guard for Surfing's elite looks adamant.

JEEP LEADER - M AT T WILKINSON

Jeep Leader Matt Wilkinson's dream run finally came to a close in Round Five at Margaret River. The Aussie lost to fellow goofyfoot Nat Young, despite a valiant last-gasp

effort. Regardless, Wilko will still be wearing yellow at the next event in Rio after causing major upsets to win the first two events at Snapper Rocks and Bells Beach.

YOUNG GUN - LEON ARDO FIORAVANTI

One of the brightest stars of West Oz was 18-year-old Italian Leonardo Fioravanti. He ripped his way past two World Champions on his way to the Quarterfinals as an injury replacement, those being Kelly Slater and Adriano de Souza.

Fioravanti currently leads the QS having earned final appearances at consecutive 6,000-rated events in Australia.

BRAZILI AN STORM

Although the bigger named Brazilian storm stalled Down Under (not a single Brazilian made a Final during the Australian leg), there's clearly a new storm brewing with Italo Ferreira still very much on point and rookie Caio Ibelli catching fire.

Ibelli has fast become one of John

John Florence's worst nightmares, after beating him in back-to-back events. But while the Bells verdict was debatable, the Margaret's one wasn't. Plus, after this event's victory over Florence, Ibelli kept powering all the way through to the Quarterfinals.

HE’S BACK - JORDY SMITH

After struggling through multiple injuries in 2015, Jordy Smith has returned with a renewed energy and will to earn a World Title following his runner-up finish at Bells Beach.

During the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Jordy shared some of his experience through his first major injury and the return to elite competition. Jordy let his surfing do the talking and looks very much on point to compete for this year's World Title. Fingers crossed for surf fans we get to see him stay healthy all year.

MI A - KELLY SL ATER

Kelly Slater's startling slump continued at Western Australia,

and now has everyone puzzled.

At Margaret's he lost to Leonardo Fioravanti in Round Two, which means he has just a single heat win on the season. At this point, retirement is no longer an option.

Slater, the 11-time World Champ and the best surfer to ever walk the earth, well, he just might have something to prove before he walks away. For what it's worth, his ticket to Brazil is booked.

INJURY REPL ACEMENT SEBASTI AN ZIE TZ

When Sebastian Zietz elected to stay in the water after winning his Semifinal match against Italo Ferreira it revealed everything about his amazing turnaround in 2016, even how he got here. Keep in mind, at the end of 2015 Zietz had fallen off Tour. He was heartbroken at the prospect of heading back to the surfing's minor leagues. He loved every moment of his CT experience, and he was dreading the loss of twoman heats in the world's best waves.

Now, suddenly, after taking his firstever CT victory at the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro, Sebastian Zietz is heading to Brazil firmly back on

Tour, with no need to go back to the minors, because he's sitting at No. 2 in the world and representing the latest surprise in this year of astonishing developments.

* BETTING

FA S T F O R W A R D

BRAZIL - OI RIO PRO - EVENT WINDOW: M AY 10-21, 2016 THE WAVE:At Postinho's slab there are two rocks that break the tide into three sections to the right on southwest swells. The first section of the slab starts to break with waves ranging from 4 to 5 feet. Below this size, the spot acts like a regular beachbreak, offering fast and hollow waves with good walls for every type of maneuver. Rides that start on the second section begin with a critical drop and connect to the final section, which offers a barrel or a large bowl.

PAST CH AMPIONS

2015: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 2014: Michel Bourez (PYF) 2013: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 2012: John John Florence (HAW) 2011: Adriano de Souza (BRA)

WORLD TITLE ODDS 5.00 6.00 7.00 7.00 9.00 9.00 11.00 13.00 17.00 21.00 34.00 41.00 41.00 41.00 41.00 67.00 67.00

M AT T WILKINSON JULI AN WILSON GABRIEL MEDIN A JOEL PARKINSON ITALO FERREIRA JOHN JOHN FLORENCE JORDY SMITH FILIPE TOLEDO KELLY SL ATER ADRI ANO DE SOUZ A CAIO IBELLI JEREMY FLORES MICHEL BOUREZ N AT YOUNG WIGGOLLY DANTAS ADRI AN BUCH AN JOSH KERR

SPORTS:TENNIS

→ FRENCH OPEN Tennis Heroes Grace Roland Garros Clay Courts in Paris from May 22 to June 5th.

Roland Garros was the first Grand Slam tournament to join the "Open" era in 1968, and since then many tennis greats have graced the famous clay courts, including Björn Borg, Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander, Gustavo Kuerten, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Home fans will never forget 1983, the year Yannick Noah became the first, and so far only Frenchman to win the singles title.

In 2014, Nadal became the first man in tennis history to win nine titles at the same Grand Slam championship.

Ahead of the second Grand Slam of 2016, we takes a look at the odds of the Big Four of men’s tennis to win the French Open as well as new generation players that could cause an upset. Here’s what you should consider before placing an outright bet.

Whether you are interested in betting on the winner of the ATP French Open 2016 or looking for value bets to hedge the outright market, here is a quick cheat sheet of the key players who will fight for the men’s crown in Paris later in the month.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC | ODDS $1.75 The world number one, Novak Djokovic, is the overwhelming and odds on favourite in the field to break through at this year's French open.. Despite an illustrious career, the Serb is yet to taste glory at

Roland Garros. Djokovic has been runner up in three of the last four years, losing twice to Rafael Nadal and once, in a shock defeat last year, to Stan Wawrinka.

Djokovic’s loss to Wawrinka was his only clay defeat in 2015, and he has amassed very impressive hold/break stats of 90.3% and 33.0% (123.3%) on the dirt in 17 matches in the last 12 months. This makes him by some distance the best player in the field, but ironically also rates clay as his worst surface.

A venue record of 52-11 sounds impressive, but given that he has been a heavy favourite in the majority of these, a -9% ROI on closing prices in those 63 matches illustrates that he has underperformed at the French Open.

However, Djokovic backers will be heartened to know that defeat to Wawrinka was his only loss as a favourite at the venue in the last four years - all other losses were to Nadal as an underdog. Given the current levels of the two players, it is highly unlikely that he will be an underdog to Nadal in a head to head match this year. A first win here would put Djokovic halfway towards achieving his goal of the year, the “Djoker Slam” winning all Grand Slams in 2016.

RAFAEL N ADAL | ODDS $4.00 With a 70-2 venue record, it’s fair to say that the Spaniard is likely to view Roland Garros as his second home. However, last year was the first that he did not claim the title

since 2009, and he is looking for his tenth French Open crown - unbeaten in all of his nine finals.

Four of those wins came against Roger Federer and two against Novak Djokovic, and those memories will give Nadal confidence in a similar situation this year, but at the time of writing Nadal is ranked fifth in the world which could mean that he faces an elite level opponent as early as the quarter-finals.

Nadal’s stats on his beloved clay have also taken a beating in 2016 with him holding 80.8% and breaking opponents 31.0% (combined 111.8%) this year, making him the second favourite Defeats on the surface against Dominic Thiem in Buenos Aires and Pablo Cuevas in Rio de Janeiro far from inspire confidence. However Rafael will come into the event with great confidence from his win in Barcelona and we are all aware of his special touch at Roland Garros.

STAN WAWRINKA | ODDS $11 We all remember “Stunning Stan” and last year’s surprise champion is looking to repeat the feat in 2016.

The worrying sign for the Swiss number two is should he fail to do so, he would then face a drop in the world rankings. Market odds, and hold/break stats, make this rankings decline more likely than not. The Swiss number two has decent hold/break stats at 85.2% and 26.8% (combined 112.0%) but this is far from being at Djokovic’s level.

Having said this, at $11 Wawrinka

* BETTING 1.73 4.00 10.00 11.00 26.00 26.00 34.00 41.00 41.00 67.00 67.00 67.00 51.00 101.00 101.00

should not be underestimated against any opponent with the exception of the Serb, and it’s also worth noting that he performed well (a semi-final defeat to Djokovic in five sets) when defending his other Grand Slam title, the Australian Open in 2014.

ANDY MURRAY| ODDS $10 Clay has been well documented as being Murray’s weakest surface throughout his career but fans should be aware that the Scotsman has improved significantly on the dirt in the last couple of years.

This assertion is backed up by his 2015 record, which was highly impressive at 14-1, holding serve 85.6% and breaking opponents 37.2% (combined 122.8%). His only defeat came in five sets to Djokovic in the semi-finals of this event last year.

Murray also claimed titles in Munich and Madrid in 2015, and some readers may be surprised to know that these are Murray’s only clay ATP titles.

If Murray performs well in the warm-up Masters events in Madrid and Rome this year, he will be a strong contender to at least make his first final at Roland Garros.

L O N G S H OT

KEI NISHIKORI | ODDS $26

The talented Japanese player is arguably strongest on clay, with a 13-3 record last year generating a combined 110.7% hold/break percentage.

With injuries and inconsistency being at the forefront of Nishikori in his career, the 26 year old finally appears to be putting that aside coming off a strong Final in Barcelona going down to Nadal.

With Nishikori fit and in form, he does have the talent to compete at the highest level, hence bettors should consider the value in his odds to win the tournament.

N DJOKOVIC R N ADAL A MURRAY S WAWRINKA K NISHIKORI R FEDERER J-W TSONGA D THIEM G MONFILS G DIMITROV M RAONIC T BERDYCH N KYRGIOS B CORIC D FERRER

INJURY WORRIES

Arguably the greatest player of all time, Roger Federer ($26) will be hoping that his recovery from minor knee surgery allows him to be at his best at the French Open. Having participated in just three clay court matches this season and in the leadup to a major, health and fitness is a major concern for the 34 year old.

Whilst the Canadian big server Milos Raonic is recovering from an adductor injury that played apart in his exit at the Australian Open. Milos had an outstanding first Grand Slam of the season and appears to have put the injury aside and if fit represents enormous value at $67.

TRAVEL

MANCATION Destination KENTUCKY DERBY DAY

The Kentucky derby isn’t just a race, it’s an experience.

From the 150,000 + spectators and punters alike that flock to Churchill Downs for the race that stops a nation there is no sport that can compare to that bone tingling two minutes as does the sport of kings.

From Horse Trainers & Owners, who have invested thousands of hours planning strategies to get there Horse accepted into the Kentucky derby & Triple crown it isn’t an easy path. From 4am workouts to late night video replays having a runner in the most prestige race in the world is not by chance, it’s the sport’s greatest honor.

Then there is the Jockeys, who have been saddling up for 12 months trying to find that 1 derby mount to take them into history, making sacrifices along the way that some of us truly have to see to believe.

Then The Fans! We get to enjoy the Hard work of all in the industry to come together for one giant historic weekend once a year to celebrate what truly is the race that stops the nation.

For sporting fans around the Globe this is a must do & we’ve got your covered on how to do it best!!!

WHERE TO STAY

THE GALT HOUSE HOTEL. www.galthouse.com Located in the heart of Louisville, the Galt House plays host to the prestigious Triple Crown Club.

The Triple Crown Club is comprised of two levels of the Suite Tower. Guests can relax and unwind in a private lounge with expansive views and VIP amenities.

The Galt House Hotel is the ultimate place to see and be seen while taking in the Derby vibe and true spirit. All guests of the club have come to celebrate the great race, share tips, form analysis, enjoy a pre-game mint julep alongside other keen race-goers and be a part of the excitement, enthusiasm and lead up to this magical event.

This is the best Hotel to get the full Kentucky Derby vibe & in the true spirit, all guests within the club are there for the same reason as you and what better way to trade insider tips, form analysis and get your geared up for the big day! Share a pre game mint julep with other keen racegoers sharing in the roar excitement and enthusiasm of the days ahead!

THINGS TO DO To get in the full spirit of Derby weekend you want to get into town a few days early.

I recommend trying to fly in on the Wednesday afternoon, gives you enough time to get that pristine suit to the dry cleaners and get a solid night’s rest.

Thursday should be spent soaking up in the rich & storied history of the weekend. What better way to do it than soaking in some world famous Kentucky Bourbon. A Full Day Tour of a Legendary Kentucky Bourbon Distillery will set you back $209pp and includes a guided expert journey, tastings & lunch.

This rich tradition and proud history through “America’s official native spirit” will leave you with a lifetime of appreciation for every Bourbon you taste from here on out.

Friday is the legendary Oaks day, make sure to back a winner and get an early night’s rest for the main event.

Saturday is Game Day! The moment you’ve been waiting for, be sure to be up and about early to secure yourself a great spot to watch the race, gates open at 8am with first post at 10.30. Sunday time to hang up the suit get in an early hangover cure before boarding the flight home a very rich man. If not with the color green then with experience!

WH AT TO WEAR Bring your A game for the Derby, only your very best suit and tie for this showcase of fashion! Whether your sillying it up with a group of mates or keeping it classy be sure to dress to impress! Don’t forget the shoes, shoes make the Suit!

M ANSCAPE 101 No silly shavings, clean cut & shaven is the only way to rock the suit to impress that very special filly!

HOW TO BE T Large Race Meetings such as the Kentucky Derby are naturally races rich with talent & value.

You want to make sure to get your best bets on at arrival on track, the last thing you want to do is be the desperate punter in line who just misses out on that win because he had to wait at the bar, then the toilet, then for a bet.

Be smart, open an online Bookmaker account have it loaded up on your smartphone for that very reason. No lines, no hassles! It’s always fun to have your major cash bets on track so you can spoil yourself into the night with your guilt free winnings, so get those bets on early!

Be smart, do your homework, allow for change & bet with a goal!

MANCAVE MUSTHAVES “A MAN CAVE OR MANSPACE IS A MALE RETREAT OR SANCTUARY IN A HOME, SUCH AS A SPECIALLY EQUIPPED GARAGE, SPARE BEDROOM, MEDIA ROOM, DEN, OR BASEMENT.”

KOLN COPPER BEER TANKARDS, SE T OF 2 $52

The fellowship that takes place within a beer hall is matchless. Create an air of community with our Koln beer tankards. Featuring a nickel lining, each tankard is crafted from heavy duty copper and covered in a tarnish resistant coating making it worthy of any occasion. As a set of two they are the ideal copper mugs to share a drink with family and friends. Measuring 4.5" tall and holding 16 ounces, Koln copper tankards are great for Moscow Mules or your favorite ale. Hand wash only.

DECORATE THE CENTREPIECE OF YOUR MAN CAVE WITH THESE “MUST HAVE” BAR ACCESSORIES FROM HOMEWETBAR.COM

HOVERDOCK FOR IPHONE BY JUST MOBILE $35

Refine your desktop with HoverDock, the low-profile charging podium for Apple iPhone. With a sturdy holder for your Lightning cable, HoverDock keeps your iPhone upright and charged even when youre using a case.

Encased in an exquisite unibody aluminum disc, HoverDock has a hollow soft-touch plastic body with smart cable storage - adding a slice of minimalist chic to any tabletop. Case friendly, supporting cases as thick as 4mm.Use Apple Lightning cable, not included.

16TH CENTURY ITALI AN REPLICA GLOBE BAR $188.95

Add a touch of cool and some old world charm to your home or office with our magnificent 16th Century globe bar. Simply lift the hinged lid to reveal an ornate interior decorated with beautiful replica Italian frescoes and a hidden liquor cabinet! Featuring all wood construction with hardwood legs, handsome brass accents, and metal rolling casters, this portable bar accommodates three full sized wine or liquor bottles and glassware for eight on the interior, plus it has an extra storage below for an additional 12 bottles. Now what are you waiting for? Break out the scotch and let the plans for world domination begin! Measures 36" tall and 21" in diameter. Some assembly required. Glassware not included.

OXFORD MONOGRAM WHISKEY STONE GIF T BOX SE T $119.95

A good glass of scotch or bourbon deserves to be relished, just as such is a gift for a special occasion. This beautiful whiskey gift set is the perfect way to commemorate an important celebration. This collection is complete with 4 of our Rutherford styled whiskey glasses and a set of 9 whiskey stones. The rocks glasses are crafted from premium glass and feature a square base with tapering detail on opposing corners. With a thick base, they offer a quality drinking experience and a lavish feel. Both the whiskey stones and glasses come boxed in our handsome handcrafted maple wood gift box. The whiskey glass and gift box are both engraved with our sophisticated Oxford monogram that features the initial and name of your choice. Rutherford whiskey glasses measure 3.5" x 3.25", are dishwasher safe, and can hold 10 ounces. Engraved wooden gift box measures 13” x 11.5” x 5.5”.

BEER CAP M AP OF USA, $34.95

The perfect gift for the beer drinker, our United States beer cap map is laser cut right here in the heartland of America by the HomeWetBar team just for you. Ideal for saving all of the brewery beer caps that remind you of great times, this handsome USA beer cap map is made of beautiful 1/4" Birch plywood and comes natural with pre-drilled mounting holes, ready to hang. With this map you will be creating your own beer cap art in minutes.

Simply pop your caps into our exclusive secure fit beer cap slots built into the map, and hang on the wall to display. Holding 80+ bottle caps, our beer cap map has plenty of room to accommodate all the breweries you love. Enjoy it with the natural birch wood beauty, or stain/paint it to match your room, the choice is yours.

USA beer cap maps are made in right here in Oklahoma.

Measures approximately 23.5" x 14.5", holds 81 beer caps.

y r e w Bre o f th e h t n o M

RIIP BEERS

Something for everyone. Not one like another.

RIIP Beer Co is one of California’s ultimate beer tasting must-visits.

Complete with a tasting room and a home brew supply shop, you can enjoy up to 10 different styles of beers.

Riip Beers are a labor of love- purely platonic, they promise. Grab yourself a flight, half pint, pint, bottle or growler to go and start your own love affair.

They won't judge.

FAV O R I T E S :

DUMB BLONDE ALE ABV: 5% The inspiration for this one struck us one hot summer day on Main Street in HB. The Dumb Blonde may be stereotypically "So Cal" but there's nothing typical about THIS Blonde,

except she'll leave you begging for more.

2ND STREE T IPA ABV: 7.5% A double simcoe dry hop straight to the bizzy. This fluid flow bomb of clean crisp malt and hop scotch gigabytes makes this beer a wonderful mouthful of complexity. If you like a little bite to your IPA this will be a juniper berry in your quiver.

DAN K IPA ABV: 7.5% This is the beer that started it all.

The award winning Dan K IPA is DanK! The Dan K is hopped with tons of fruity, floral hops to create a truly unique, stanky, danky, hop bomb.

One taste and you'll know why Dan K is quickly making a name for itself. *Named SportsBet Magazine Best Beer November.

RIIP BEER COMPANY

17214 PACIFIC COAST HWY HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92649

GRILLERS’ CORNER 10 TIPS TO OUT GRILL YOUR MATES 1.M ARIN ATE

6. JUST ADD WATER

Aside from helping your food taste better, acidic marinades actually protect against heterocyclic amines (HCAs), carcinogens that are most often caused by cooking poultry, red meat or fish over an open flame.

Using vinegar, citrus juice, or even beer as a base, let your meat soak for at least a few hours before throwing it on the grill.

Television commercials would have you believe that “flame-kissed” meat is a good thing. It’s not. Flare-ups caused by fat drippings create carcinogens called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) — they’re what create that charcoal taste when you eat something that’s been burnt on the grill. A spray bottle filled with water is the perfect weapon for extinguishing any fires too close to your food.

2. TEMP JOB It’s pretty stunning, but some people toss cold meat on a cold grill and then fire it up, none the wiser. By letting your steak-maker heat up for about 20 minutes, you’re allowing both the grill and the surrounding metal to come up to an even temperature, which leads to more efficient, controlled and safe cooking.

3. STRIKE OIL You cook with oil when you’re making something on your stove, so why would outside be any different? Often times, leaner cuts of protein, like fish, tend to stick to the grates of your grill. Defend against it by using a pair of tongs to rub a paper towel soaked in cooking oil over the grates. An alternative method is to brush your food with olive oil and season it with sea salt before it goes on the grill.

4. BREATHING ROOM While there are a multitude of effective ways to direct your heat for cooking, full blast isn’t one of them. Whether it’s leaving one gas burner off or simply positioning your coals to one side, always make sure there’s at least one small area that is not over direct heat and that’s not crammed with food. This allows you to move your food around accordingly to ensure nothing gets burned — and gives you a “safe zone” to move food for slower cooking or to rescue the perfect piece of meat from a nasty flare-up.

5. H ANDS OFF Once you put food on the grill, do your best not to touch it. If timed correctly, meats — especially burgers, steaks and chops — are meant to be flipped just once. After placing something on the grill, let it sit for a few minutes to get a good sear. Once it’s been cooking for a bit, use your tongs to test and see it if pulls away from the grates. Assuming you oiled it, the meat will either stick or “release” when it’s cooked long enough. If there’s any resistance, it needs to be left alone a few moments longer.

7. VENT, ITS FINE Al fresco cooks often don’t realize the importance of their grill’s venting system. Vent openings both above and below the fire aid in controlling not only the temperature of your grill, but the way in which your food cooks. Fully open vents on both sides create more heat, and by rotating your lid to change the placement of your open top vent, you can control the speed of your cooking. Whichever side the top vent is opened above will cook faster than the unvented side. If you want to create a convection effect, like you would a turkey in an oven, place your top vent opening on the opposite side of your bottom vent opening.

8. UNDER/OVER A principal rule of cooking anything: it’s always better to be under than over. If you’re uncertain if that salmon has been on for 5 minutes or 15, go ahead and pull it off. You can always put undercooked food back on the grill to continue cooking. The same can’t be said for sockeye jerky.

9. NO REST FOR THE TAST Y Resting meat is perhaps the greatest myth in grilling history. Don’t do it, and for Flay’s sake, don’t tent it. There is no evidence that resting meat allows the juices to redistribute. And allowing it to sit, tented under foil like those fools on Food Network will tell you, actually just makes your food colder and softens that beautiful crust you worked so hard to get on the grill. There’s a reason high-end steakhouses immediately plate and serve a steak once it’s reached the appropriate doneness — it’s because it’s the right thing to do.

10. CHECK YOURSELF We get it. You’ve been doing this for years. But you’re still susceptible to poorly cooked meat. Every professional chef in every professional kitchen in the world uses a thermometer, and you should too. An excellent digital thermometer is the single most important piece of equipment you can have as a grill master other than a grill. We’ve got a few great recommendations below if your kit is currently lacking.

Health IS YOUR

Wealth

You’ve probably heard about juice cleanses or detox programs that flush toxins from the body. The trend’s taken off, and the benefits are genuine.

But there’s more to juice than its detoxifying qualities; and you don’t need to pay exorbitant prices for prebottled concoctions to get those benefits, either. By juicing your own fruits and vegetables to supplement your regular diet, you can improve your general health or even target specific areas, like the immune system. Here, a few of our favorite nutritionist-approved recipes.

FOR ENERGY… Energy is calories,” says Andrea N. Giancoli, R.D., “but there are some vitamins and minerals that are important for the release of energy and for metabolizing foods so we can get energy— vitamins like b2 and b6, and minerals like magnesium and copper. And you can find all of those in spinach.” Pumpkin and sweet potato would be good additions, too, with low-glycemic carbs for sustained energy.

INGREDIENTS:

1 APPLE 2 L ARGE CARROTS 2 STALKS CELERY ½ CUCUMBER 2 CUPS SPIN ACH NUTRITION: 93 CALORIES; 3G PROTEIN; 27G CARBS; 0G FAT; 1G FIBER.

FOR IMMUNITY… FOR COGNITION… “You want to make sure your juice has beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E,” says Angela Ginn, R.D. You can increase its beta-carotene kick and sweetness by adding mango, apricot, or both.

INGREDIENTS:

1 GOLDEN BEE TROOT 3 L ARGE CARROTS 4 STALKS CELERY ½ CUCUMBER ½ THUMB OF GINGER 1 MEDIUM PEAR NUTRITION: 161 CALORIES; 5G PROTEIN; 50G CARBS; 1G FAT; 2G FIBER.

Look for foods with antioxidants that boost cognitive function by increasing blood flow to the brain.

Beets, a natural vasodilator, are a great starting point, but you have other options, too. “It would be more of your blueberries and blackberries,” says Ginn. You can also enrich your juice with potassium from sources like bananas or coconut water to keep your brain cells firing efficiently.

INGREDIENTS:

1 BEE TROOT 1 SWEE T POTATO 3 MEDIUM CARROT NUTRITION: 93 CALORIES; 3G PROTEIN; 27G CARBS; 0G FAT; 1G FIBER.

Gifts

FO R YO U R

Girl MOTHER’S DAY

ELECTRIC RIP ROCK SUNGL ASSES (She’s looking red hot!) $100 www. electriccalifornia.com THE NEW YORK TIMES, 36 HOURS 125 WEEKENDS IN EUROPE $80 www.netaporter.com (With of course 2 plane tickets to Paris) DOM PERIGNON ROSE CH AMPAGNE (Because no great story begins with, “So we were eating a salad.”) $250 www.domperignon.com

er, onderful moth w a e d a m od G d; never grows ol A mother who ine, ile of the sunsh sm er h e d a m gold; e H er heart of pure h ed ld ou m e ars, And H right shining st b d ce la p e H In her eyes e; ir roses you se In her cheeks fa , er onderful moth w a e d a m od me.

G ear mother to d t a th ve a g e And H

TIFFANY’S PALOM A PICASSO LOVE BRACELE T (All you need is love.) $175 www.tiffany.com CC SKYE SUNSE T BOULEVARD CLUTCH (To show her the sky’s the limit) $275 www.ccskye.com

DATI N G D EEDS A FIRST DATE SHOULD BE CASUAL, BUT NOT SO SPONTANEOUS THAT IT SEEMS CARELESSLY UNPLANNED. AND A FIRST DATE SHOULD ALLOW PARTNERS TO CHAT AND GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER BUT ONLY AT THE RIGHT TEMPERAMENT. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WITH GREATER RISK COMES GREATER REWARD: THE MORE YOU’RE ABLE TO WOW A WOMAN ON A FIRST DATE, THE STRONGER YOUR BOND WITH HER WILL BE. OF COURSE, WORK TOO FAR OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE, OR OVERSHOOT YOUR OWN ABILITIES WITH A DATE TOO COMPLEX FOR YOU TO HANDLE, AND YOU’LL BE SPENDING ALL SUBSEQUENT EVENINGS WITH YOUR FOREARM OF PREFERENCE…

THE PHYSICAL DATE Ballroom / Salsa / Club Dancing

Physical movement of any kind is a true labor for those lacking coordination. My own stocky frame, for example, more closely resembles a stick man than a human on the dance floor. But to effectively tango, waltz, or boogie with a lady is a sexually suggestive means of setting the tone for the rest of the entire night. Plus, you don’t have to talk much, which can be great for shy guys.

On the other hand, a chattier lady might prefer to spend her evening getting to know you rather than your moves. Make certain you know whom you’re dating before dragging her to the club. If the chemistry is there, you won’t have to waste dates 2,3 & 4 to figure it out!

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