Lightning sale completed

Hockey Betting Lines

03/03/2010 - Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The sale of the Tampa Bay Lightning to a local group headed by businessman Jeff Vinik has been completed.

Vinik controls Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment, LLC, and becomes chairman of the team. The group's purchase, approved unanimously by the NHL Board of Governors, includes the lease to the St. Pete Times Forum and ownership of adjacent real estate.

"The Lightning is a great franchise in a terrific community," said Vinik, who signed the purchase agreement on February 4. "We thank Oren Koules and his partners for beginning the turn-around of the Lightning hockey club. Our goal now is to build a world-class organization, on and off the ice."

Vinik, also a minority owner of the Boston Red Sox, takes over for owners OK Hockey, LLC, which includes Hollywood producer Koules. That company had just taken control of the team prior to the 2008-09 season and revamped the entire front office and roster in hopes of building a winner.

The Lightning finished 24-40-18 last season and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. However, they have already surpassed that win total this season, sitting at 26-25-11 through 62 games in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff hunt.

Vinik, 50, posted an open letter to Lightning fans Wednesday on the team's website.

"As the new owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, I would like to express my appreciation to the entire community for welcoming me as caretaker of your hockey team and the St. Pete Times Forum," the letter reads. "I pledge to you that every one of us at the Lightning will work our hardest to create a world- class organization, both on and off the ice. My goal is to return to the days when the entire Tampa Bay area proudly cheered together for its hockey team."

Since Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup title in the 2003-04 season, the team has not advanced past the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. The franchise's best years came under the control of Palace Sports and Entertainment, whose nine-year run included four playoff appearances, a Southeast Division title and the Stanley Cup title in 2004.

A Boston resident, Vinik is the founder and chairman of Vinik Asset Management and previously managed Fidelity's Magellan Fund.

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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook credit cards needs.