Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 28, 2018)
SPORTS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 1B FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS States eye sports betting, wrestle with the details BULLDOGS READY TO TAKE ON MCC Numerous U.S. states are considering regulations By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press NEW YORK — Numerous U.S. states are considering jumping on the legal sports betting bandwagon, even as they struggle with the details of regulating it. How much to tax it, and how to regu- late mobile betting on phones are emerg- ing as thorny issues for states. So far, seven states offer legal sports betting: Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Mississippi, Pennsylva- nia and Rhode Island. And although New Mexico has not passed a sports betting law, the Santa Ana Star Casino & Hotel started taking sports bets last month through a tribal gambling compact. At a sports betting conference Tues- day in New York, state representatives from Minnesota, New York and Ohio dis- cussed their states’ interest in such bets. They’re also interested in making sure players are protected, taxes are adequate but not punitive and that mobile gam- bling is widely accessible. Patrick Garofalo, a Minnesota state representative, said the betting public knows exactly what it wants, and it’s up to states and gambling companies to give it to them. “The American sports fan has made a decision: they want to be able to bet on their favorite sports teams from their home,” he said. “They want to do it from their couch.” The illegal, unregulated sports bet- ting market is vast; Sara Slane, senior vice president of the American Gaming Association, cited estimates ranging from $150 billion to $500 billion. “All we know is there is a lot of money being bet illegally,” she said. Vic Salerno, president of Neva- da-based US Bookmaking, said the size of the illegal market is “unbelievable.” “I know one guy that does $6 billion See BETTING/2B Column: Tiger’s Tour Championship win changes conversation By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer ASSAU, Bahamas — The first stop is Sam Snead and his 82 career PGA Tour victories. The ultimate stop is Jack Nicklaus and his 18 majors, the gold standard in golf. Both milestones are now in play for Tiger Woods, which is not to suggest they are within reach. That they are at least a topic of conversation is a vic- tory in itself considering it took four back surgeries — the last one to fuse his lower spine — for Woods to even com- pete again. And then he took hopes to another level by winning the Tour Championship for his 80th career tour victory. “I know I can win tournaments again,” Woods said Tuesday. His next chance is at the Hero World Challenge this week, an unofficial event that counts only in the world ranking, his bank account and his confidence. More curious is what Woods will do in 2019 and for how much longer. N Staff photo by E.J. Harris Hermiston’s Ryne Andreason shoots the ball over the top of Sunset’s Colby King in the Bulldogs’ 76-61 loss to the Apollos on Jan. 12, 2018 in Hermiston. Hermiston opens league play Dec. 8 at Kennewick By ANNIE FOWLER East Oregonian H ermiston left the Columbia River Conference last year with the league title in hand, and one win from the state tournament. This season, the Bulldogs move into the competitive Mid-Columbia Conference, and coach Casey Arstein is happy to pack up their gear and head across the border. “It’s exciting,” he said. “Every night will be competitive. We are excited to do home and away games against good athletes. It’s good all the way around.” The Bulldogs will open their sea- son Friday, hosting Lewiston in a non- league game. The game will follow the girls’ matchup, which is another benefit of moving to the MCC. Herm- iston will open league play Dec. 8 at Kennewick. In the MCC, the girls and boys teams play back-to-back at the same venue, and each team will play the other eight opponents twice. Though the league plays as one during the season, the 3A and 4A schools split for the postseason. Hermiston is in the 3A ranks with the three Kennewick schools — Kami- akin, Kennewick and Southridge. “Having 16 league games, and every game is a battle, will be differ- ent,” Arstein said. “Every team in the league has a kid who could play col- lege basketball. You couldn’t say that about our old league. It’s nice to play good teams, and every team will have athletes. I know Earl Streufert (Rich- land coach) really well. I’m glad we didn’t have to play them last year.” See BOYS/2B See COLUMN/2B Sports shorts THIS DATE IN SPORTS College Football: Oklahoma ahead of Ohio State in pivotal playoff rankings (AP) — Oklahoma was No. 5 in the piv- otal second-to-last College Football Playoff rankings, ahead of Ohio State heading into championship weekend when the final four will be set. The top three teams in the selection com- mittee’s rankings, released Tuesday, held steady for a fourth straight week. Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame — all unbeaten — are Nos. 1, 2 and 3. Georgia moved into the fourth spot that was previously occupied by Michigan, heading into its SEC champion- ship game against Alabama. It’s a given the SEC winner makes the playoff. Notre Dame is already in the clubhouse at 12-0 and Clemson faces Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. That leaves one spot very much in play. Ohio State faces Northwestern in the Big Ten championship in Indianapolis and Okla- homa rematches Texas in the Big 12 title game in Arlington, Texas. Urban Meyer 1929 — Ernie Nevers rushes for six touchdowns and kicks four PATs to score all his team’s points, an NFL record, in the Chicago Cardinals’ 40-6 rout of the Chicago Bears. 1981 — Alabama’s Paul “Bear” Bryant becomes the winningest coach in college football history when the Tide beats Auburn 28-17 in the Iron Bowl. It’s Bryant’s 315th career victory, surpassing Amos Alonzo Stagg’s total. Contact us at 541-966-0838 or sports@eastoregonian.com
