Chicago Sports Then and Now

Online gambling has become an alternative to sportsbooks.

Over the last decade, online gambling has become a booming business with it estimated that billions of dollars are wagered online every year.

Much like the Internet in general, what has made online gambling such an alluring option is the convenience. Instead of having to travel to casinos or legal gambling establishments scattered across the globe, players now can reap the same benefits while playing at home in front of their own computers.

While some sites provide non-gambling options, in most cases online gambling sites provide an opportunity for players to win, or lose, real money.

Players have a wide variety of choices in both gambling websites and in their choice of games.

Once upon a time to wager on a sporting event someone had to either travel to a legal casino sportsbook or place bets through bookies with names like “Lucky”, “Shifty”, “Biff” or some other moniker that did not exude confidence or a feeling of trust in the system.

Now, through online sportsbooks, many are wagering on games from the comfort (and safety) of their own home with no fear that their kneecaps would be broken following a bad loss.

This has, of course, provided a dilemma for professional and college sports as there is no question that gambling is a part of their public allure, but there have also been a number of incidents over time when players have been accused of fixing the outcome of games.

The most famous was the 1919 Chicago “Black Sox” Scandal involving the World Series. Baseball also received a black eye in the 1980s when all-time great Pete Rose received a lifetime suspension from the game for betting on baseball games.

College basketball has also been the subject of many cases and in recent years the NBA had to deal with a game official that was involved in illegal gambling.

There are also many traditional casino games available for online gambling including online poker, online video poker, roulette, craps and keno.

ESPN's Sportsnation chooses ST&N as the "Site We Like."

Sports Then And Now, was chosen as the “Site We Like” by ESPN’s Sportsnation on January 28, 2010. Hosts, Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle, showcased the site especially the post, Ranking The Super Bowls.

This is an incredible honor and deserved recognition for all the folks who put in the effort and long nights to make the Sports Then and Now family successful. Thanks to you and all of our readers!

Chicago Red Star and Illini alum Ella Masar earned her first national cap with the U.S. National Team on October 29 in Augsburg, Germany.

The following is a post from Ella Masar’s blog at the Illini Women’s Soccer site.

Chicago Red Star and Illini alum Ella Masar earned her first national cap with the U.S. National Team on October 29 in Augsburg, Germany, subbing into the U.S.-Germany match in the 73rd minute for Amy Rodriguez. The U.S. won 1-0 in a battle of the top two teams in the world. Below, Ella shares her thoughts and experiences on playing for the U.S.

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My First Cap

The silence is something I will never forget.

It is something that will be stored in my mind more than any other. More than walking into the locker room and seeing for the first time Masar on the back of a red, white and blue Jersey. More than coming out of the tunnel to hearing boos to a sold-out arena. Even more than Pia Sundage patting me on the back asking me if I was ready, me simply smiling, and telling her thank you. Read the rest of this entry →

Gregg Sternaman being hugged by one of his Highland Park football players

Through my promoting of the award winning children’s story, A Glove of Their Own, I have been introduced to some tremendous human beings and some absolutely incredible causes.

Coach Bob Salomon, the coach of A Glove of Their Own has a heart the size of New Jersey and tries to help every first class human being and every worthwhile cause he can through the Pay It Forward message of the book.

As the unofficial media department for Bob and his book, I am often introduced to the many friends from the sports world that Bob makes and often try to promote their cause through the gift of writing that I’ve been blessed with.

Earlier this week, Bob introduced me to a new friend, Gary Bennett, a former major League catcher for 13 seasons with the Phillies, and six other clubs. Bennett, whose heart is equal in size to Salomon’s, has immersed himself in the Sternyway Foundation, a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) application pending organization whose principle purpose is to provide need based funding for children to support their participation in school and/or community sponsored athletic programs. Read the rest of this entry →

Ashleigh Gunning with Sky Blue FC GM Gerry Marrone (Photo by Lou Lazarte).

Somerset, N.J. (Wednesday, October 28, 2009) – Women’s Professional Soccer champion Sky Blue FC made official today the signing of defender Ashleigh Gunning. The Coastal Carolina product comes to Sky Blue FC after spending this past season with its USL W-League affiliate club, Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues.

“Ashleigh Gunning is our newest addition, and I am excited to have her on our team,” Sky Blue FC head coach Pauliina Miettinen said. “Our coaching staff spotted her in the WPS combine, and she will bring many positive assets to our club. With her positive personality, she will fit in well with the rest of the team.”

Gunning was an instrumental component in the Quickstrike defense this past season, anchoring their back line to the W-League regular season title and a semifinal appearance in the postseason. She played in all 13 games for Quickstrike and contributed two goals and a pair of assists to its offensive attack.

“I am grateful to Sky Blue FC for the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream,” she commented about the signing. “I’m very thankful to have this opportunity, and right now, it’s an opportunity. It’s nothing guaranteed, and obviously I have to show up and play well to prove that I deserve to be there. It’s something I’ve thought about and worked towards for a long time, but I know that it is not the end of the road. I still have a lot of work to do and there is a long way to go.”

Gunning enjoyed a very productive college career at Coastal Carolina University after transferring from Louisiana State University following her freshman season in 2003. The Baton Rouge native led the Big South Conference in scoring with 22 points in 2007, and she was named the Big South Conference Player of the Year in 2008 after tallying 39 points on 15 goals and nine assists. As an amateur player, she also suited up in the W-League for the Cocoa Express and Charlotte Lady Eagles before joining Quickstrike in 2009.

“I especially appreciate the excitement and enthusiasm that Ashleigh has already displayed on coming to Sky Blue FC,” General Manager Gerry Marrone stated about Gunning. “She is a welcome addition to the team.”

Marrone also went on to voice his pleasure regarding the developmental system in place between Sky Blue FC and Quickstrike.

“This is a case in which the Sky Blue FC and Quickstrike partnership works at its best,” he remarked. “Our organizations are strong proponents of this system of developing and sharing talent, which promotes both the players and the game.”

Quickstrike head coach Jesse Kolmel said he was equally as pleased with the relationship, and he commented about the type of talent that Gunning will bring to Sky Blue FC.

“I think that her ability with distribution is definitely a plus,” he stated. “The power that she can strike a ball with is huge. I thought she did a phenomenal job as our right back, kind of being a playmaker out of the back. At the next level, she has the ability to play in multiple positions for Sky Blue FC, and I think that is what they are seeking in a player.”

Article: From a Sky Blue FC Press Release

Oswego native Julianne Sitch will be returning home next year as a member of the Red Stars.

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The Chicago Red Stars announce their first 2009 free agent signing today, bringing midfielder and Oswego, Ill., native Julianne Sitch on board for the team’s 2010 Women’s Professional Soccer season. Per team policy, terms of her contract are not released, and Sitch’s official signing is pending the league’s approval.

By bringing a Chicagoland native home from her previous club in New Jersey, the Red Stars achieve celestial balance, having lost Jersey girl Carli Lloyd to Sky Blue in another free agent signing, earlier in the week. Both are midfielders.

Read the rest of this entry →