NASCAR Nextel Cup Series – Pop Secret 500

Sun Sep 5 – 7: 00 pm EST ( NBC )

With 2 races remaining before the Playoff field is set, Nascar goes back to California for the Pop Secret 500. With 4 drivers already having clinched their place in the Playoff, the race will be on for the remaining places among 9 drivers. This could mean a race where any number of drivers could contend. Kasey Kahne (9/1) will look at this race as perhaps his last chance to push himself into the top 10, on a race track which should suit. Expect him to run hard.

Another driver on the edge is Mark Martin (10/1). He has been one of the most consistent of drivers in the last few weeks, and has had one of the fastest cars on the long races. Obviously we cannot forget about the favourites, and both Jeff Gordon (11/2) and Jimmie Johnson (7/1), despite already gaining their place in the Playoffs, have the track craft to contend. With no pressure on him, Jeff Gordon who has the best overall record on this track is a no brainer, when it comes to choosing
your 1-2 for this race.

Nigel’s Checkered Flag … Mark Martin !

Get in the game and be lucky!

NCAAF

This week sees the new College Football season begin in earnest after the BCA Classic last weekend. Thursday night sees 5 games before the weekends full slate. Monday night has the bragging rights of Florida up for graps as Florida St take on Miami in the game of the weekend.

NFL

With one week to go before the start of the new season, it is time to look at the teams most likely to contend this year.

New England 11/2
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Last years Super Bowl victors look like the team to beat again this year. The team look loaded with talent, and with the acquisition of RB Corry Dillon the Pats have a 3 time Pro Bowl choice to shore up the only deficit they had, a rushing attack


Philadelphia 7/1
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Donavon McNabb finally has the target at WR he has so desperately needed, with the acquisition of Terrell Oweens to the team. He plus 'the freak' Jevon Kearse on 'D' will be hoping to finally get the Eagles to the 'big dance'. However the new look defense will have to gell quickly, and stop the Eagles usual slow start to the season. They also have problems at RB, with the loss for the season of starter C.Buckhalter, they will have to look to lightweight Brian Westbrook to help keep the chains moving.


Indianapolis 10/1
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The Colts led by Peyton Manning will post 30ppg easily, as this team is still stacked offensively. However this could be the last chance for this group to finally prove itself, as both RB Edgerrin James and WR Marvin Harrison become Free Agents at season end. The biggest problem which still faces this team is the defense, which is undersized and can easily be out muscled.


Seattle 12/1
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Mike Holmgren finally has a team which could contend for the Super Bowl this year. Offensively the team is the same one which ranked 6th last year, and should prove a handful for most teams. The defense which was disappointing last year has been upgraded and should be improved. The team will need to look at winning more games away from home, where they were undefeated last year, to be considered real Super Bowl contenders.


Baltimore 16/1
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Have the ultimate combination that equals postseason success. Namely, strong defense and a solid rushing game. The one negative could be 2nd season QB Kyle Boiler and a weak WR corps. With 'Prime Time' Deion Sanders coaxed out of retirement to help shore up a 3rd ranked 'D' (as if this stellar unit needed any more help), a Conference Final beckons. Perhaps only legal troubles facing Jamal Lewis and Corey Fuller could derail them.


Others
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Other teams which could make it to the postseason, include the NY Jets. This team suffers a major injury every year, but if it can remain healthy, they could be turning a few heads come January. Kansas return the offence which were rated no2 last year. The defense remains their Achilles heel however, and a big effort will be needed to reach the Conference Final. Minnesota have a solid all round team, but it needs to stay healthy. The Vikings will score at will, but must have the mental toughness to stop last minute blow ups as seen in Arizona last year. Green Bay will young at heart Brett Favre will continue to win enough games to see them to the
postseason. And finally Washington with the return of Joe Gibbs have the talent to go well this year.

PGA Tour Golf, Deutsche Bank Championship

Fi Sep 3 – 5:00 pm EST
Sa Sep 3 – 3:00 pm EST
Su Sep 5 – 5:00 pm EST
Mo Sep 6 – 3:00 pm EST

This week’s event, is played on the par-72 TPC of Boston course in Norton, Mass. After last years inaugural Championship there have been a number of changes to the course that has seen it stretch to nearly 7500 yds and from a par 71 to a par 72. Vijay Singh(6/1) must have a leading chance this week, as Mr. Consistency looks to improve on last years 4th. A win here could see him overtake Tiger Woods in the Official World Rankings, but it is interesting to see that Tiger (4/1) is appearing here, so a head to head battle looks likely. Last year's winner Adam Scott (20/1) shot a superb 2nd round of 62, and will need more of the same to contend this week. An outsider to note is Tim 'lumpy' Herron (40/1) who was a fine 5th last year. Recovering now from illness, he showed his game is in form by finishing 2nd after a playoff in the Buick Championship.

Nigel’s Two Off The Tee … Vijay Singh @ 6/1, Tiger Woods @ 4/1, Tim Herron 40/1 Each way ¼ odds, 1.2.3.4.5. Bet this tournament In-Running throughout.

Get In The Game with Nigel Ridgway!

Updates from Nigel the handicapper. We'll soon post articles about:

The PGA tour goes to Boston where Tiger is still the favorite? Can he
whip his reputation back into shape?

NFL gets major coverage with detailed exploration on specific teams.
NCAFF gets a look at as well.

NASCAR is in California for the Pop Secret 500.

Wynn Resorts seeks to buy out Macau partners

It's interesting to see how things in Macau are going. Mr. Stanley Ho was like a king there, now the legislative environment changed. It's sure that several Asian highrollers who are Vegas-aficionado will go to Macau, too, to gamble. So this is both a great opportunity for people with a winning global strategy as Steve Wynn and a threat for companies which will not be able to compete in the worldwide gaming arena.


Verbatim from http://www.lasvegassun.com, by Liz Benston
Wynn Resorts Ltd. is issuing about 1.3 million shares to buy out the company's minority partners in a Macau casino development subsidiary.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday, Wynn Resorts said it would buy out minority partners who hold the remaining 17.5 percent interest in Wynn Macau. Instead of a direct stake in the Macau resort, the minority partners would own a piece of the parent company.

Wynn Resorts, controlled by casino developer Steve Wynn, will then receive 100 percent of the profit generated by the Macau subsidiary, which is developing a $700 million resort in the Chinese province.

Fulcrum Global Partners analyst Joe Greff said the transaction is a windfall for Wynn Resorts because it gives the company full ownership of the subsidiary at relatively low cost.

Greff estimated that the deal is worth an extra $1 to the company's share price.

The Macau government in 2002 broke casino boss Stanley Ho's casino monopoly on the island by granting casino licenses to foreign investors including Wynn and Venetian resort owner Sheldon Adelson. The agreements require the companies to develop Macau casinos with local partners.

According to the company's concession agreement with the Macau government, Wynn Macau is required to have an executive director who is a Macau resident "and holds at least 10 percent of the voting shares and capital in Wynn Macau."

Macau businessman Wong Chi Seng will retain voting rights on 10 percent of Wynn Macau shares after the sale, the company said.

Wynn Resorts representatives declined to comment on the filing or explain why the company is buying out its minority partners.

Greff said the Macau government only requires that Macau partners have a voting interest, not a monetary interest, in the foreign casino projects.

"They invested about $5 million and now they're getting about $52 million," he said of the sale to the minority partners. "It's a good deal for them and it's also a good deal for Wynn."

The transaction has come after lengthy discussions with the partners, who probably weren't interested in investing more equity in the company over time, Greff said.

Wynn Resorts has about 89.2 million shares outstanding. Shares were up about $1 per share or 2.6 percent in early trading today, to $39.77.