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A case of mistaken identity, and the worst day of Eddie Johnson's lifeBasketball Betting Lines08/10/2006 - Eddie Johnson is still getting over what he calls the worst day of his life. He scratched his way out of the Cabrini-Green housing project in Chicago, fashioned a long and successful NBA career, turned that into an opportunity on TV and built a reputation as an all-around good guy who loves to work with kids. His worst scrape with the law involved a couple of traffic tickets. Now he's dealing with a case of mistaken identity that shocked him and his friends and, he fears, may have permanently sullied his reputation. ``Devastating. Hard to explain,'' Johnson said Thursday. Eddie Johnson was mistaken in some media reports for another Eddie Johnson - a retired 10-year NBA player from Florida who was arrested Tuesday night and charged with sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl. The Eddie Johnson who had nothing to do with that hideous accusation is a former Illinois star who went on to a 17-year career with the Kings, Suns, Rockets and other teams. But when some media reports about the alleged crime included his bio information and file photo linked on the Internet, his phone started ringing. ``The thing that disappointed me the most is some people were overzealous enough to think it was me and attack me with a ferocity I can't comprehend,'' Johnson said in a telephone interview from his home in Phoenix. ``That's the part that didn't allow me to sleep last night. That's the part that forced me to reach out to as many people as I could and say `Shame on you, that's not me.''' Edward Arnet Johnson is 6-foot-8, does color commentary on Suns telecasts during the season, gives motivational speeches and runs basketball clinics for youngsters. He has a DVD that teaches kids how to shoot the jumper. He retired from the NBA in 1999 and is 47. ``He called me really upset about it,'' said Charles Barkley, a former teammate of Johnson's, who wanted to help him set the record straight. ``It's a tough situation. He was on vacation in Hawaii. He gets back and the first thing he knows, he's dealing with this. And he's such a good dude. It's an unfortunate situation.'' Edward ``Fast Eddie'' Johnson, Jr. - the one being held in a Florida jail on sexual battery and burglary charges - is a 6-foot-2, two-time NBA All-Star who played most of his career in Atlanta. An Auburn alum, he retired in 1987 and is 51. ``I feel bad for Eddie Johnson of Phoenix and I feel really badly for Eddie Johnson of Auburn, because he never got his life together,'' Barkley said. When Eddie Johnson of Phoenix was still playing and Eddie Johnson of Auburn was retired and getting into frequent trouble with the law, there was little problem differentiating between the two. ``There'd be a news story about Eddie Johnson, but they knew it wasn't me, because I was on the court and in the box score,'' said Eddie Johnson of Phoenix. Now that they're both out of the game - and especially during the offseason, when Johnson isn't on TV - the chances are better for a misunderstanding like the one that occurred this week. Eddie Johnson of Phoenix said his goal Thursday and for the next several days was to get the word out about who he really is - and isn't. ``My name is everything,'' he said. ``I don't fault the other Eddie Johnson for having that name. I think it's a great name. He just doesn't happen to be a great guy.'' --- On the web: www.jumpshotclub.comCopyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Thursday's MLB Transactions
BALTIMORE ORIOLES-Claimed RHP Anderson Garcia off waivers from the New York Mets and assigned him to Bowie of the EL.National LeagueARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS-Named Jerry Dipoto director of player personnel and A.J. Hinch director of player development.CI
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Super Bowl XLIII Betting - Super Bowl 2009Super Bowl 2009, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.Let’s take a look at the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds and the betting line and figure out where they’ve been and where they are going to go. MySportsbook.com put up the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds late on Sunday night with the Pittsburgh Steelers favored by 6.5 points and a total betting line at 47.5 points. Since then, however, the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds have seen a good deal of movement and you’ll want to be on top of where they are likely to move to make sure you get the best line value for the big game. Since opening, the Super Bowl 2009 betting lines went to Steelers -7 in the span of roughly 3 hours but were quickly bought back down just minutes later to 6.5 again. After that is took about 5-6 more hours before the betting line went back to -7 where it has sat for a while now and is likely to remain. The opening betting total of 47.5 was bet down right after the line became available and went to 47 within minutes. Roughly a day later it has been bet even further down to the 46.5 tally it currently is set at. Roughly 60% of gamblers seem to be on the Cardinals here so the point spread will be bet down and a 7.5 would not last very long at all with many taking the early 6.5 in hopes of finding a potential middle in the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds. If you like Arizona and see a 7.5, I’d take it as soon as possible because it’s unlikely to last. For Pittsburgh backers, the -7 might be the best you’ll be able to find but a 6.5 is definitely possible close to game time. Regarding the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds for the total, most tracked gamblers are already on the over and with those who took the under 47.5 already securing a middle on the over 46.5, the only way I see it moving is back up to 47 so if you like the over, I’d recommend betting now. Get free Super Bowl XLIII Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting with credit cards |
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