racingmeridian.com

PACQUIAO - COTTO..the fighters arrived in Las Vegas yesterday. An avalanche of Pacquiao money continues to overwhelm bookies, reportedly reducing the current price on Manny in some shops to a staggering -350. A price on Cotto of at least +250 should be easily obtainable, with a price as generous as + 280 no longer out of the realm of possibility. Pacquiao was the more demonstrable of the pair as he greeted a throng of Filipino onlookers. While the Puerto Ricans in attendance comprised a smaller number, their enthusiasm was palatable. Both sides look preternaturally confident…

GRID IRON..the Sporting News polled 99 veteran players to get their opinion on a host of topics at the midway point of the NFL season. Rookie of the year was given to Percy Harvin of the Vikings. Biggest surprise went to Elvis Dumervil, the QB assassin for the Broncos. Surprisingly, the hardest hitter in the league is still considered Ray Lewis (the Ravens defence is a shadow of it’s former self). Biggest disappointment was dumped on Terrell Owens, a knock that may not be fair. The legitimate winner, Kerry Collins, finished third. The dirtiest player in the League is, according to the poll, the ironically named Richie Incognito, a Guard with the Rams…the Cleveland Browns will start Brady Quinn at quarterback Monday against the smarting Baltimore Ravens. Derek Anderson, an eight million dollar a year player, was consistently brutal for the reeling Browns, earning a 36.2 quarterback rating in six starts. The downside is the distinct possibity that Quinn may be far worse…recent reports indicate the Philadelphia Eagle brain trust find Michael Vick slow, uncoordinated and ineffective. Ah, now I know why the Buffalo Bills are in hot pursuit of his talents…ESPN notes that Tampa Bay Buccaneer rookie QB Josh Freeman was 1 for 10 while playing under center against Green Bay last Sunday, but an impressive 13 of 21 for 188 yards while playing shotgun…the Packers score a TD on 37% of their drives where Aaron Rodgers is not sacked. On drives where the peripatetic Rodgers is caught behind scrimmage, they have a major score 3% of the time. Protect your quarterback, lads…halfway through the season and the Gaston Gazette has finally tweaked to the fact that, in Carolina, there is “a team wide lack of confidence in Jake Delhomme”. Duh…

ICE..Manny Legace will start tonight for the floundering Carolina Hurricanes. The team is without leader Eric Staal and are currently ranked as the worst team in the NHL. Toronto Maple Leaf fans must be thankful that the ‘Canes on tap next Thursday…Vancouver Canuck Andrew Raycroft evoked memories of his time as a Bud with a mangled performance against St Louis last night. The bungling netminder gave up four goals in the first period, necessitating the early return of a convalescing Roberto Luongo…Sydney Crosby has now gone five games without a point. Goodbye to wingers Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin, hello to Ruslan Fedotenko and Matt Cooke. Anything to shake “The Kid” up and get him scoring again…

FOOTIE..the English Premier League will again consider proposals to accept the “Old Firm”, Glasgow Celtic and Rangers, into their League at meetings this Thursday. The teams have enormous worldwide fan bases but tapping into the Premier League would surely open even more diverse and lucrative revenue streams. The move would cripple the Scottish League but, really, who cares (oh yeah, I said it). Influential Bolton Chairman Phil Gartside is one of the main supporters of the move…

PONIES… Sea The Stars travelled to three different countries (England, Ireland and France) and six different tracks (Newmarket, Epsom, Sandown, York, Leopardstown and Longchamp) while compiling a half dozen Group 1 wins this year. That’s a Champion. Rachel Alexandra skipped across the surfaces at Oaklawn, the Fair Grounds, Churchill Downs, Pimlico, Belmont, Monmouth and Saratoga while destroying any filly or mare she faced and besting all her male competitors. That’s a Champion. Zenyatta raced five times, never left the State of California, never raced on any surface but plastic, never moved to take on her best rivals on an impartial surface. That’s an imposter… trainer Reade Baker reports that Fatal Bullet, a dismal performer Saturday in the Breeders Cup Sprint, was “lackadaisical” all week and reluctant to eat. Nice. The horse was bet down to 9-2 and was the hot pick of many who were eager to expose the skimpy credentials of favoured Zensational. It appears the horse was not capable of delivering anything close to his best…

PUG LIFE..ESPN is reporting Arturo Gatti, found dead on July 11^th/09, had visited a divorce lawyer in May of that year. He had an advantageous prenup that would have allowed him to walk away from the charming Amanda Rodrigues for a pittance. You know the rest. In June he reconciled with his wife, on June 17^th he changed his will, and within a month he lay dead on the cold tiles of a Brazilian hotel. When Brazilian investigators hung an 80 lb dummy from a purse strap identical to the one Gatti used in his “suicide”, the strap snapped in 5 seconds. Gatti was at least 160 lbs at the time of his death. Amanda is increasingly desperate to get her money. I can imagine why. The list of people waiting for their “taste”, cops and judiciary, must be causing her increasing consternation…