Bill would keep closer state eye on sports board

By Jared S. Hopkins, Chicago Tribune reporter

A state board would provide oversight when the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority tries to enter into contracts worth more than $1 million under legislation filed by state Rep. Michael Zalewski, D-Riverside.

If the bill becomes law, the authority will be prohibited from entering, renewing or extending such contracts without first filing documents with the state's Procurement Policy Board. If the board does not object or take any other action — such as holding a hearing — within 30 days, the authority could proceed with the contracts.

"At a time when state revenues are so severely constrained, lawmakers cannot allow loosely affiliated government entities like the ISFA to frivolously spend taxpayers' money," Zalewski said in a statement.

Zalewski cited a recent Tribune/WGN-TV investigation that revealed the authority spent some $7 million for a restaurant outside U.S. Cellular Field in which the White Sox retain all profits. The team has since said it invested nearly $1 million as well.

The authority's board of directors met last week for the first time since it was revamped by Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. But Zalewski said he was disconcerted that former board members were unsuccessful when negotiating with the White Sox.

"When that happens at an agency, it's sort of discouraging from a legislative standpoint when we're trying to scrape together and save every dime we have," he said, adding that perhaps future support from the procurement board would be helpful to the authority.

The authority has come under fire for a series of recent financial issues, including the disclosure that it did not have enough revenue to cover its payments for renovations toSoldier Field. Critics have also described the lease with the White Sox as too generous.

The authority was formed by the General Assembly to finance and build a new stadium for the White Sox and keep the team from moving to Florida.

Zalewski said he doesn't expect any action on the bill until the spring.

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Murphy’s Law is approved for deposit-account betting

By Mark Fausz

Murphy's Law Billiards & Sports Pub was one of two restaurant/taverns that were approved for a form of betting on horse races called advanced deposit account wagering. It is a legal form of pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing, authorized by the Commonwealth of Virginia and regulated by the Virginia Racing Commission. Chesterfield's Board of Supervisors approved the request during last week's public meeting.

According to the county's description of the wagering activity, "this type of wagering allows adult patrons to place bets on horse races using an advance deposit wagering account, similar to a debit account operated at a kiosk. This account may be established by adult patrons, and allows account replenishment and payouts to account holders on-site." 
The owner of Murphy's Law does not get a cut of the wagering.

"It's provided for the entertainment of our customers, just like our billiards and dart boards," said Ron Judy, who has owned and operated the establishment for 16 years.
The technology also allows viewing of horse races and the county considers this use to be an off-track betting facility.

Murphy's had to request a conditional use permit for the activity because of its location in the Chesterfield Meadows Shopping Center at the corner of Iron Bridge and Centralia roads. The planning commission approved the Murphy's Law request in October with no one speaking to the board about the request. There were no speakers at the board meeting as well.

Judy said account wagering can be done from anyone's smart phone. The only difference is that a payout of up to $500 a day can be withdrawn from a player's account via an ATM type machine.

The pub will not be allowed to advertise the wagering operation with a sign outside of the building and a separate entrance to the betting area is also restricted. The board also passed an off-track betting facility for Diamond Billiards in Midlothian.

Power plant approved
The power plant proposed by the Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO) and approved by the planning commission in October was approved by the board of supervisors last week on Wednesday.

Although the rezoning of the gas-fired power plant was approved for 233 acres on the corner of Coach Road and Battery Brooke Parkway, VEPCO is also considering another  site, possibly in Maryland, according to their attorney Brennan Keene.

There were no objections to the plant and there were no speakers or questions about the proposed plant. Board Chairman Art Warren recused himself from the proceedings and left the public meeting room, saying that his company had dealings with VEPCO and that he had been told by the county attorney that legally he could vote on the rezoning. "But I don't want an appearance of impropriety," Warren said.

The plant could include three air emissions stacks with a proposed maximum height of 320 feet. In addition, an auxiliary boiler, three heat recovery steam generators and an air cooled condenser are proposed at a maximum height off 175 feet.

Marine terminal
The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors approved a request Smith Iron and Metal Co., Inc. for a marine terminal located of Bellwood Road at the James River. The terminal will be used for loading and unloading from barges and ships; temporary storage facilities; barge and ship mooring and berthing and barge and ship salvage and recycling.

Lowe's soccer fields
The board also set a public hearing to consider extending the lease of the soccer fields behind the Chester Lowe's store on Jefferson Davis Highway to Chesterfield United Soccer Club (C.U.S.C.).

According to information on the case, "The Parks and Recreation Department had previously offered facilities and programs at the Lowe's Athletic Complex in cooperation with co-sponsored organizations. In 2010, due to funding reductions for maintenance and programming of adult sports, the Parks and Recreation staff and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission recommended leasing of the soccer facilities at Lowe's Athletic Complex." In May 2011, after a competitive process, the Board of Supervisors approved and executed a lease with C.U.S.C."

The soccer club wants to extend its lease for five more years. The lease ends in Dec. 2012.

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Albert Pujols Signs 10 Year $250 Million Contract with Los Angeles

Albert Pujols has decided to sign a 10-year $250 million contractwith the Los Angeles Angels. The deal isn't final until Pujols passes the physical, but with being a three time MVP and two World Series Championship winner with the St. Louis Cardinals; he most likely won't have a problem passing. The deal includes a full no-trade clause, which Pujols had been seeking for and may have been the reason he was not solid in his negotiations with the Miami Marlins.

This will make the third-largest contract signed in baseball history next to Alex Rodriguex's two 10-year contracts. The first one being for the Texas Rangers in 2000 with $252 million and the second with the New York Yankees in 2007 at $275 million.

EPSN reported, "Pujols is a three-time MVP who batted .299 with 37 homers and 99 RBIs in 2011, the only season in his 11-year career that he didn't have 100 RBIs or hit better than .300. But the 31-year-old did battle an arm injury."

Reported by MLB Trade Rumors, "Pujols, 32 in January, was drafted by the Cardinals in 1999 in the 13th round and began his career with a staggering 11-year stretch. The first baseman is the active career leader in batting average (.328) and slugging percentage (.617). He's second among active players in career on-base percentage at .421, so Pujols certainly fits new Angels GM Jerry Dipoto's plan to improve the team's OBP. Pujols owns a Rookie of the Year award and three MVP awards, and has ranked no worse than ninth in the MVP voting in every season of his career. He's been extremely durable, averaging 155 games per season."

Sources did say that Pujols was going to meet with the St. Louis Cardinals one more time before Thursday, but the latest offer was for nine years and $195 million.

CBS Sports reported about the different offerings Albert Pujols had on the table, "St. Louis presented Pujols with a new offer on Tuesday, a reported 10-year offer for $220 million. The Miami Marlins were pushing hard to sign Pujols this week but talked between them and Pujols' camp ended on Wednesday. The Cubs earlier this week became involved, but they were only interested on a shorter-term deal, for four or five years.

The Angels moved into the talks full bore on Wednesday, with owner Arte Moreno personally speaking with Pujols. Even as late as Wednesday afternoon, first-year Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto worked to deflect attention away from the Angels as they made their stealth bid."

The lose of Albert Pujols is heart breaking to St. Louis Cardinals fans. Along the side with losing their manager, Tony La Russa retiring and being replace by Mike Matheny.

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Navy won't join Big East — for now

By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer

Athletic director Chet Gladchuk told The Capital this morning that Navy will not join the Big East Conference as a football-only member until at least 2015.

The Big East Conference is set to announce today or tomorrow that Central Florida, Houston and Southern Methodist are joining for all sports while Boise State and San Diego State will become football-only members. Those five schools are slated to begin competition in the Big East is 2013.

Navy is still expected to eventually join the Big East Conference, but could not overcome a variety of obstacles in time to be announced as a member during this cycle. "The timing is just not right for us now. We still have a number of hurdles to cross," Gladchuk said. "The Big East needs to move forward with expansion, but at this particular time we cannot move forward with them."

Gladchuk said problems surrounding scheduling, bowl affiliations and television contracts make it impossible for Navy to join the Big East in 2013. Gladchuk was hopeful those issues could be resolved in time for the Midshipmen to join the league in 2015.

"That is the target date. We need at least that amount of time to sort out these various issues," Gladchuk said. "We're hopeful the Big East will work with us to solve some things."

Perhaps the most critical element involves television, and the substantial revenue it provides. Navy has a contract with CBS College Sports through 2018 to televise all home games and with CBS Sports to televise the Army-Navy game.

The Big East Conference currently has a television contract with ESPN, but that expires after the 2012 season. League officials have already been negotiations on a new TV contract. If the Big East resigned with ESPN, Gladchuk said there would need to be negotiations between that network, the Big East, Navy and CBS to resolve the potential conflicts.

Second on the list of obstacles is the fact Navy has contracts with various schools to play 10 independent games every season through 2018. Army and Air Force would remain on Navy's schedule regardless of whether either service academy chooses to join the Big East, he said.

"In terms of scheduling, it is very easy to transition from one conference to another. You simply replace eight games from the old conference with eight games from the new one," Gladchuk explained. "It's not so easy to just walk away from an independent schedule. We either need to honor those existing contracts or find a way to replace those games."

Gladchuk said the Big East Conference could help with that situation by having fellow conference opponents pick up games with some of the schools Navy has scheduled.

Easier to resolve is the fact Navy has bowl commitments through 2017. Postseason games that have contracts with Navy, such as the Poinsettia Bowl and Military Bowl, would become automatically affiliated with the Big East Conference.

"We would just bring those bowls with us," Gladchuk said. 

Gladchuk said the Naval Academy was waiting for the Big East Conference to show some stability before making any sort of decisions with regard to potential membership. Now that the conference is guaranteed to have 10 members by 2013, he is much more comfortable with moving forward with negotiations for an eventual marriage.

"I believe the Big East Conference has solidified itself and will be a viable league for many, many years to come," Gladchuk said. "By holding off our membership until 2015 or so, it gives the Navy football program time to get its ducks in a row and be comfortable with the situation. We have a direction, we have a plan and now the coaching staff can prepare to play in and recruit toward a particular conference."

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NBA’s Labor Contract May Exclude HGH Testing as Negotiating Time Dwindles

The National Basketball Association and its players may not include blood tests for human growth hormone as they race to finish a labor contract in time to start the season on Dec. 25.

Squeezed by the time constraints of ratifying its agreement and shaped by the belief that such exams are unwarranted, the league and theNational Basketball Players Association have made HGH testing a "B-list" issue that may be added later, according to Michael McCann, director of the Sports Law Institute at Vermont Law School.

That's angered the top U.S. sports drug fighter, who said a similar delay has cost the National Football League almost a full season of testing for the banned muscle builder. Major League Baseball last month announced a five-year labor deal that includes blood tests for HGH.

"It shouldn't be a secondary issue," said Travis Tygart, chief executive officer of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. "If you care about the integrity of competition and the rights of clean athletes, it ought to be a fundamental issue that's done in the first instance."

Billy Hunter, the players association executive director, declined a request to talk about the HGH issue heading into negotiations on Dec. 2. Dan Wasserman, a spokesman for the NBPA, declined to comment in a telephone interview.

"It has always been a significant subject of collective bargaining, and the details are currently being negotiated," Mike Bass, a spokesman for the NBA, said in an e-mail yesterday.

After reaching an agreement in principle on a contract to end a season-shortening lockout and settle multiple lawsuits, the NBA and its players began negotiating non-economic issues such as drug testing.

NFL Program

The NFL, the most-watched U.S. professional sport with more than $9 billion in annual revenue, also included HGH blood testing as part of an August labor contract, though the NFL Players Association has delayed its implementation while disputing the program details.

USADA, which oversees drug testing of American Olympic sports from its Colorado Springs, Colorado, headquarters, hasn't heard from either the NBA or its union regarding HGH testing, Tygart said.

USA Basketball's men's team, made up of NBA players, has been subject to USADA's full drug-testing program since 2002 and was blood tested for HGH since before the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

"The players don't have a problem with it and support it so long as they know the players they are competing against are held to the same standards," Tygart said in a telephone interview. "If you are in a sport where they don't test blood, you are being given a license to use HGH and cheat your fellow competitors."

Training Camps

The NBA and the players agreed in principle on a labor deal on Nov. 26, with plans to complete the agreement and open training camps Dec. 9, leaving enough time to start the 66-game season by the Christmas Day holiday.

"A B-list issue like drug testing probably needs more time than the amount of time that they have," McCann said in a telephone interview. "Unless they've talked about these issues much more than we know of, it's going to be tough to get through complicated changes to the drug-testing policy."

The two sides would be better off negotiating changes to the drug policy later and including them as an attachment to the collective bargaining agreement in coming months or at season's end, McCann said.

"It ensures the players that they don't agree to something -- just to have a season -- that they later regret," McCann said.

Missed Season

The NFL and its players' association agreed to include HGH testing in last-minute discussions that delayed voting on ratification of its labor deal. The NFL's contract states a "goal of beginning testing by the first week of the regular season." The season began Sept. 8 and has four weeks left before the playoffs.

The NFL delays have led to criticism by members of the U.S. Congress and the World Anti-Doping Association.

Whether the NBA and its players are interested in HGH testing is in doubt. Both Hunter and NBA Commissioner David Stern said at a 2008 congressional hearing on drugs in sports that they opposed blood tests for players.

Stern suggested that Congress work to have a reliable urine test developed "rather than requiring players to go through blood tests, needles and the things that might be of valid concern."

Hunter said as recently as last month that his players were tested enough in a league that doesn't have a performance- enhancing drug problem, and that they shouldn't be subjected to blood testing.

'Self-Serving Statement'

"It's a totally self-serving statement that's completely out of touch with today's win-at-all-cost sports culture," Tygart said. "It's shockingly disappointing to hear that from someone who supposedly is in a position to protect the health and safety of players."

Major League Baseball, which uncovered dozens of performance-enhancing drug violations during the last decade, began HGH testing in its minor leagues in 2010. Former New York Mets first baseman Mike Jacobs became the first baseball player to fail an HGH test, receiving a 50-game ban in August. There also have been positive HGH tests in cycling and rugby in recent years.

"If you run, if you sweat, if you lift weights in preparation for a long season, if you do any aerobic or anaerobic activity in your sport, HGH can be a powerful but also dangerous performance-enhancing drug," Tygart said.

The recent steps taken by the other leagues to strengthen HGH testing might make it easier for the NBA to sell changes to its players, said McCann.

"No players association wants to be the first to agree to a change in the way players are treated," McCann said. "That gives the owners more authority over them. The NFL players did that, opening the door for other associations to not look as if they're giving up a lot by agreeing to HGH testing."

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Betfair urges EU action against German gambling law

(Reuters) - British online gambling company Betfair urged EU regulators on Thursday to stop Germanyfrom implementing a new gambling law, saying it did not comply with EU rules and that it favored state monopolies.

The German sports betting market, estimated to be worth at least 5 billion euros ($6.7 billion), is monopolized by the country's 16 states.

"Under these current proposals Germany's new state treaty will be out of line and out of touch with fundamental EU law," Betfair's chief legal and regulatory affairs officer Martin Cruddace said in a statement.

Betfair, the world's biggest betting exchange, said the updated draft favored the incumbent state monopoly because of various provisions. It first complained to the European Commission over the issue in July.

Betting companies from other EU countries previously complained that the new rules would severely hamper their activities or shut them out of the market.

Several online gambling companies have taken a number of EU countries to court in a bid to break into a lucrative market with sales of 80 billion euros last year.

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Law student leading Dinos’ bid for CIS basketball title

Law student leading Dinos' bid for CIS basketball title

Jena Kaye, in her final year of law school, can spin a great argument about what's in store for the University of Calgary women's basketball squad.

"We know that there is a lot to build on,'' the fifth-year point guard began. "There are some younger players who are going to be taking on bigger roles this year. Once they get their confidence and we get more playing time together, it's going to work out nicely for the rest of the season.''

Kaye, an all-Canadian who has played at both UPEI and Dalhousie, will finish off her hard-court career with the Dinos and will get one last crack at a national championship, since Calgary will host the CIS tournament in March.

Thus far, the team has performed admirably, posting a 4-2 record heading into this weekend when the Dinos host Victoria on Friday and UBC on Saturday.

Both losses came last weekend at the hands of the top-ranked team in the country, Regina.

"Going out to a 4-0 start was really good for our confidence,'' acknowledged Kaye, from Sackville, N.B. "And even last weekend it was tough to lose to Regina, but it was good for us to see how we match up with them. I think if we played them again it could go either way.''

Kaye is averaging 14.2 points per game. Conference-wide, she is third in assists and first in steals, with 4.3 per game.

"She brings the intangibles and one of them is maturity,'' noted coach Shawnee Harle. "You can have personal maturity, you can have game maturity, you can have fitness maturity — and she has all of those things. She has off-court maturity, as well, and that brings stability. She's done a wonderful job of being a leader.

"In my opinion, the true definition of leadership is influence and that's what I've seen her being able to do.''

Kaye didn't play the past two seasons because of the demands of law school, but she kept up her skills practising with Dalhousie.

She came out west, joining her boyfriend and former Dinos' quarterback Erik Glavic, and summered with the law firm Borden Ladner Gervais, signing on to article with them in July.

In addition, she found the perfect spot in a program that has been rebuilding into a contender.

"Joining a team late in your career, it can go one way or another,'' Kaye pointed out. "But the girls have been awesome. I've missed the competitiveness, so it's nice to be back in that mind frame again. This is my last shot at it. I'm bringing as much intensity as I can to this program. I think my only goal is to win nationals at home.''

That would be Harle's objective, too. She is now in her 17th season coaching the Dinos.

"I like the system that we're running at both ends of the floor. The team has really bought into our style of play. We're one of those very scary teams that other teams don't want to play. And I like that.''

The Dinos, third in scoring offence in Canada West (75.5-point average) and second in defence (52.8), will welcome two players back into the lineup this weekend — guard Megan Schaufele and forward Kiersten Hilton, both of whom have been out with concussions.

"Our best is yet to come,'' promised Harle, "and I'm glad I'm saying that in November rather than February, waiting for our best to come. We're the only team that knows for sure where we're going to be in March and that has made me more patient.''

Campus schedule at a glance

U of C today

Women's basketball: Dinos vs. Victoria, 6 p.m., Jack Simpson Gym. Men's basketball: Dinos vs. Victoria, 8 p.m., Jack Simpson Gym. Women's hockey: Dinos vs. Manitoba, 7 p.m., Father Bauer Arena. Men's hockey: Dinos at Manitoba. Women's volleyball: Dinos at UBC. Men's volleyball: Dinos at UBC. Swimming: Dinos at Canada Cup, Toronto.

U of C Saturday

Women's basketball: Dinos vs. UBC, 6 p.m., Jack Simpson Gym. Men's basketball: Dinos vs. UBC, 8 p.m., Jack Simpson Gym. Women's hockey: Dinos vs. Manitoba, 7 p.m., Father Bauer Arena. Men's hockey: Dinos at Manitoba. Women's volleyball: Dinos at UBC. Men's volleyball: Dinos at UBC. Swimming: Dinos at Canada Cup, Toronto.

MRU today

Women's hockey: Cougars vs. NAIT, 7:30 p.m., Flames Community Arenas. Women's basketball: Cougars vs. Red Deer, 6 p.m., Kenyon Court. Men's basketball: Cougars vs. Red Deer, 8 p.m., Kenyon Court. Men's hockey: Cougars at Briercrest. Women's volleyball: Cougars at Red Deer. Men's volleyball: Cougars at Red Deer.

MRU Saturday

Women's volleyball: Cougars vs. Red Deer, 6 p.m., Kenyon Court. Men's volleyball: Cougars vs. Red Deer, 8 p.m., Kenyon Court. Men's hockey: Cougars at Briercrest. Women's hockey: Cougars at NAIT.

SAIT today

Women's basketball: Trojans vs. Medicine Hat, 6 p.m., SAIT Gym. Men's basketball: Trojans vs. Medicine Hat, 8 p.m., SAIT Gym. Women's hockey: Trojans vs. Red Deer, 7 p.m., SAIT Arena. Men's hockey: Trojans at MacEwan.

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