DraftKings Sportsbook changing sports betting landscape

DraftKings Sportsbook is making sports betting more accessible and available than ever before.

DraftKings Sportsbook, which launched in New Jersey following the state's decision to legalize sports betting, is revolutionizing the sports gambling landscape. Users have a plethora of options at their fingertips on their mobile device and personal computer. With real-time updated lines for virtually any type of bet in any sport you can imagine,  DraftKings is broadening their appeal from the hardcore to recreational sports gambler. On the mobile interface, you have a selection of leagues and games to choose from. You can then select a specific game/match and be presented with an endless amount of bets related to the event. This is available pre-game, and then continues with the live-betting options. On other platforms, you typically have to wait until a commercial, quarter or halftime break in order to place a live wager. With DraftKings, you can bet on the action as it's unfolding. If you think Tom Brady is going to throw a touchdown pass on the current drive, that's available. If you believe Jacob DeGrom is going to throw a strike on the next pitch, you'll be able to take a stake. Serena Williams fan? You can bet on if she's going to win or lose the next point in her match. DraftKings is giving users the ability to have skin in the game in every potential way possible. The mobile interface is set up so that users can see everything right in front of them. You have your popular events with all of their available lines on the home page, the ability to search for any other game/match you may want to take action on and your bet-slip and profile all right in front of you. In addition to the live-betting interface, there are a ton of futures and parlay options as well. The main difference to traditional sports betting that DraftKings has implemented is the ability to cash out your bet at any point in time while the action is live. This option has made this form of sports gambling feel more like stock trading. For example, say last night you took the Seattle Seahawks +4.5 vs. the Chicago Bears before the start of the game (yes, I did), and realized throughout the game that your bet wasn't looking promising. You now have the option to cash out, at a lower rate if the action is not going well, prior to the end of your wager. If you laid $50 on Seattle to cover the points and you saw that they were fighting up hill and a cover wasn't likely, DraftKings will give you the option to settle your bet at say, $28? So, you retain $28 as opposed to losing the entire $50. This is very similar to stock trading, as you can get out of a position if you don't like where the game (or company in stocks) is trending. In addition, this option is not only available with traditional money line action, but also parlays. If, for example, you have a three-team NBA parlay in play, and you've hit on the first two legs of the bet, you have the option to cash out at a lower pay out if you choose. So, it would become a two-team parlay payout versus three, but if for whatever reason you don't want the third game in play, you can get out beforehand. This is a new feature to the sports betting world. Another feature DraftKings is using to entice users is they will match your first bet after registering up to $200. So, they are looking to attract users by offering free matching first-time bets. There have been some reviews and complaints about the lines on DraftKings, but I have not found them to be that different than other interfaces thus far. The only downside to widespread accessibility is that if you aren't in New Jersey you cannot use the book. You need to live in or be in N.J. in order to bet with DraftKings, since the legislation was only passed in the Garden State. So, head on over to Jersey and experience all that DraftKings Sportsbook has to offer.  

Novak rediscovers himself with Wimbledon triumph

Novak Djokovic looked like his old self as he reclaimed the Wimbledon title on Sunday.

The mental toughness was back. The competitive edge and intensity that set him apart from the rest was on full display. Serbia's Novak Djokovic clawed and fought his way to a 13th major title and 4th Wimbledon crown on Sunday, regaining his top level that saw him dominate much of the field from 2011-2016. He has slowly built his confidence back throughout the season, showing signs of his former self during the clay court swing and finally putting it all together on the grandest stage of them all. The beginning of the season was riddled with surprising early losses to lesser competition where Djokovic looked like a shell of himself out on the court. He looked defeated, dejected and lacking confidence in his mental and physical abilities. Djokovic has endured some scrutiny and personal issues outside of tennis in the last couple of years that have detracted him from continuing on the successful path he was on. Combine that with a nagging elbow injury that required an adjustment in his serve motion and a surgery in February, along with a carousel of coaching and changes to his team and you have someone that was more lost in his career and personal life than he had ever been. His focus and appreciation for the sport that has given him everything may have suffered, but it was proven to be temporary over the past couple of weeks. In the third round versus hometown favorite Kyle Edmund, Djokovic found himself down a set with the crowd against him. Earlier in the year, he may not have had the mental fortitude to dig deep and turn that match around, but this time he was able to call upon that strength that had been such a big part of his reign as World No. 1 and come back to defeat Edmund and advance. Throughout the Championships, he showed a combination of climbing out of tough situations with the incredible movement and defensive skills that were a staple of his game for so long. Djokovic had both the mental and physical aspects of his game working for him at his highest level in two years, and regained the form that saw him sit atop the men's game for five years. All of this came to fruition in his semifinal victory over his biggest rival, Rafael Nadal, which saw both men playing at their highest level for 5 hours and 15 minutes over the course of two days. It was a back and forth affair with momentum swings that required both men to persevere and deal with adversity. Eventually, Djokovic was able to survive the titanic battle and prevail 10-8 in the fifth and deciding set. Coming through this test and securing the biggest win he's had in some time gave him the necessary self-belief to dismantle a less than 100 percent Kevin Anderson in Sunday's final. Djokovic was able to find himself again during this year's Wimbledon, which, at 31 years of age, leaves him with plenty of time to continue to build and get back to the top of the game.

No Djoke for Novak

Former World No. 1 and 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is looking for answers.

The struggles continue for the former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. A man who once embodied physical and mental fortitude is left searching for answers after his latest questionable performance in his second round defeat at the BNP Paribas Open at the hands of little known qualifier Taro Daniel. Djokovic continued to look un-Djokovic like as he sprayed 58 unforced errors and went away tamely in the third set against his much less experienced opponent. Novak played as if it was his 'first match on tour' as he quoted in the press conference following his defeat. He looked unsure of himself, was not sharp with his shot selections and faded away in the third set to someone he would have beaten routinely two or three years ago. Djokovic has been battling an elbow/arm injury for some time now, as he has had to change his service motion and was forced to miss the second half of 2017. Six weeks ago he had surgery to try and repair the damage, but the pain and discomfort are still lingering and hurting him while he is out on the court competing. He has been wearing a sleeve on his arm to protect and support the injury and has been forced to shorten and abbreviate his serve motion to avoid further pain and damage. His serve, while never his strongest shot, was a solid, reliable shot that has turned into him just getting the point started and not being able to do much damage. In addition to his physical ailments, Djokovic does not have the tiger within him that was so much a part of his dominant years from 2011-2016. His mental fortitude and belief in himself in the biggest moments against his main rivals was what saw him usurp both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in 2011 and begin his reign as World No. 1. Once he cleared that hurdle, Novak was the best player in the world for roughly five years. Now, his priorities in life have changed. He is a father and husband in addition to being a world-class tennis player. Before those responsibilities entered his life and he was able to dedicate and focus on his career 110%, we saw what Djokovic was capable of. Some believed it was the best level they had ever seen and was redefining the way the sport was played with incredible speed and defensive skills. Truth be told, Djokovic has not been himself since he captured his first and lone French Open title in 2016. This was a major goal of his throughout his career, and when he finally achieved it by beating Andy Murray in the final, it seemed as if he had an internal letdown. The last year and a half or so have been filled with missed time, injuries, poor performances (by his standards), an overall drop in level of play and what seems to be a lack of day in and day out commitment to the sport that has given him everything. While Novak has been searching for answers, Nadal and Federer have risen above him once again and become the two dominant players on tour that they were prior to Djokovic's ascension. While he is still only 30 years of age, a relatively middle age for professional men's players nowadays, it seems as though Djokovic poured everything he had into a five year stretch and is now on his last legs. The wear and tear of today's game combined with his brutally physical style of play may have taken too much of a toll on the Serbian for him to overcome at this stage of his career. A former 8-time Grand Slam champion who has been working with Novak since last year's French Open may be able to help him, but even his impact has yet to come to fruition. American Andre Agassi had similar struggles to Djokovic around the same stage of his career, and managed to come back and put together a very impressive post-30 patch of play. Agassi returned to No. 1 and captured another Grand Slam after going through a severe rough patch. It will be interesting to see if Djokovic can rededicate himself the way he needs to in order to regain his top level, or will the once ultra competitive Serb fade away without a fight? It is hard to believe that one of the greatest players ever will not be able to turn it around with seemingly enough years left to do so, but with new priorities and focuses in addition to tennis it may be too late to get back to the mountain top. 

A Ride to Remember

Former New York Rangers' Captain Ryan McDonagh is headed to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

With the inevitable rebuild of the New York Rangers coming to fruition in the past couple of weeks, one of the most central pieces of the team has been sent to the top team in the NHL. Defenseman and ex-captain Ryan McDonagh is heading to the Tampa Bay Lightning and reuniting with former teammate and defense partner Dan Girardi. The two men have gone to battle together in a Rangers' uniform for well over one hundred playoff games and for what seems like an eternity of regular seasons. Now, they look to achieve the one goal they could not accomplish with New York in a Lightning uniform; lifting Lord Stanley's Cup. McDonagh has been one of the most important pieces of the Rangers' puzzle the last handful of years, outside of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, and his departure is solidifying the fact that the run with what's been the core group of players the last five plus years is coming to an end. Forward's Rick Nash and J.T. Miller were traded as well, as Nash went to the rival Boston Bruins and Miller was sent with McDonagh to Tampa Bay. The Rangers are entering a period that they have not been in for a long time. They have been a perennial contender for over a decade and have only missed the postseason once since the 2005-06 season. They have won the President's Trophy, reached the Eastern Conference Final on three separate occasions and the Stanley Cup Final once in 2014. But throughout that time, they were not able to finish the job and win the Stanley Cup. Which, despite a host of amazing wins and great memories, is the fact that people will remember about this group. It's unfortunate to see all of these familiar faces leaving Madison Square Garden, but the way this up-and-down, lackluster season has gone this change was only a matter of time. The team's management knows they need to trade, rebuild and stockpile draft picks in order to go through the necessary process to eventually return to a place where they can legitimately contend again. This leaves the face of the franchise, Henrik Lundqvist, in a position where he knows that he will most likely not win a Cup with the Rangers. This is a tough pill to swallow for a man who's poured everything he has had into an organization that came up just short of reaching their ultimate goal.

It's tough not to reminisce when one of your favorite teams goes into a rebuilding phase. I was fortunate enough to go through all the emotions and ups and downs as a passionate fan, including being at some of the best playoff wins and losses from 2012-2016.  I saw forward Carl Hagelin's game winning goal to clinch the series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Five in overtime in the 2015 playoffs. I also saw the Washington Capitals win Game One of the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals in agonizing fashion when forward Alex Ovechkin made a ridiculous pass skating behind the net to Joel Ward who buried it for the game-winner with one second left in the third period. There is nothing like Madison Square Garden after a win like the one against Pittsburgh nor the loss versus the Capitals. The highs and lows, the great playoff runs and the memories made, despite not achieving the ultimate goal will stick with me for a lifetime. Hopefully the Rangers can get back to the final stage in the future and capture the Cup, but now is a time to appreciate a group of players who gave their all to bring a title to some of the most passionate fans in the NHL.

Federer Flying High

Roger Federer has reached a milestone no other man has achieved by winning his 20th major title at the Australian Open on Sunday.

At 36 years young, Roger Federer continues to be like a fine wine and get better with age. He became the only man in men's professional tennis history to win an unprecedented 20 major championships. His sixth Australian Open crown was met with a stern test from new World No. 3 Marin Cilic, as he needed a decisive fifth set to claim the trophy. Unlike last year's triumph at the Australian Open, Federer was the clear favorite in 2018 and played exactly like it. He did not drop a set in his first six contests en route to the final against Cilic, but was met with a stern test from his Croatian rival. In a tournament that saw many top players exit relatively early, Federer stayed the course and played at the high level he's capable of throughout a two-week grand slam. Cilic would not go away without a fight as Federer looked to be in complete control after a dominant first set. Federer admitted to getting nervous in the second set tiebreak and, in turn, the match became very competitive. Federer was up a break in the fourth set, leading two sets to one, and seemingly looked as if he was going to close it out. Cilic had other ideas as he caught fire with his big groundstrokes and wrestled his way to a fourth set victory to push it to the fifth. Like all great champions in their respective sports manage to do, Federer put his foot on the gas in crunch time and saved four break points in his opening service game of the fifth, and was then able to eventually run away with it in the end. Unlike last year's final against Rafael Nadal, Federer did not fall behind in the fifth set only to fight back. He managed to weather Cilic's storm and take control of matters shortly after. With his sixth Australian Open title and twentieth major, Federer is continuing to cement his legacy as the greatest men's professional tennis player and one of the greatest athletes of all-time. His level of play does not seem to be slowing down, and it doesn't appear that will be affected even by the host of young talent currently on the tour. If he manages to stay healthy and feel confident on the court, we should continue to see this level from Federer for at least a couple more years. But then again, there are so many factors that go into an individual sport that you never know when something can change. For now, it's a pleasure to watch greatness continue to unfold.