Report: Woods took pain medication day before crash
Golf Betting Lines
03/12/2010 - Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tiger Woods' wife told police her husband had not been drinking, but had taken pain medication the day before his early- morning car accident outside their Isleworth home, according to paperwork obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.
Investigative records obtained by the newspaper from the Florida Highway Patrol paint a clearer picture of the moments following Woods' Nov. 27 car crash, which touched off allegations and then an admission that the golfer was unfaithful to his wife.
The paperwork, according to the Sentinel, says that Elin Woods was not allowed to ride in the ambulance with her husband because the crew believed it was a domestic violence case.
The newspaper reported that officials uncovered no evidence to support that domestic violence had occurred. Woods said during a statement last month that "there has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever."
The golfer was unconscious and laying on the pavement after his black SUV struck a neighbor's tree, according to the records. Neighbors brought him a blanket and pillow and his wife brought him a pair of socks.
Elin Woods told officers that she heard the crash and jumped into a golf cart to find it. She said she broke the vehicle's rear window and pulled her husband free. The paper said a golf club was found near the driver's door.
Elin Woods retrieved two bottles of pain pills while she waited for the ambulance to arrive to take her husband to the hospital, according to the report. She told an officer that the golfer had not been drinking, but had taken the pain medication Vicodin earlier.
A Windermere police officer told troopers he didn't smell alcohol on Tiger Woods or in the golfer's black Cadillac Escalade, the report says.
The FHP later tried to obtain the golfer's medical records to determine if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. After several attempts to get them at the hospital, they were told by an Assistant State Attorney that there was insufficient evidence for a subpoena, the report says.
Also in the report obtained by the paper:
- A Windermere officer saw no blood on Tiger Woods' face or clothes, but there was a cut on his lower lip, which left his mouth bloody.
- A lawyer for the golfer said he would supply troopers with video from the Woodses' security system, but never did after he said he had problems operating it.
- Troopers who arrived later in the day to interview the golfer and his wife about the incident were told by Elin Woods that her husband was sleeping and could not be awakened.
- Officers found no evidence of domestic violence in or around the house and spotted no bruises or scratches on Elin Woods.
Woods has not played competitively since the accident for which he was ticketed for careless driving and paid a $164 fine. But reports about a possible return in the next month or so have fueled speculations of his imminent comeback.
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Tisdale scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Illinois to a much-needed 58-54 victory over No. 13 Wisconsin in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Demetri McCamey ended w
<< Nebraska beats K-State in Big 12 tourney to remain unbeaten
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kelsey Griffin scored 24 points and grabbed
10 rebounds, leading third-ranked Nebraska to a 63-46 victory over Kansas
State in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament.
Cory Montgomery contributed
<< Boise State's Greg Graham out as head coach
Boise, ID (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boise State University announced Friday it
has relieved men's head basketball coach Greg Graham of his duties.
The Broncos' season came to an end Thursday with an 84-60 loss to Utah State
in the opening
<< Kings activate Williams from IR
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Kings activated forward
Justin Williams from injured reserve on Friday.
Williams suffered a broken right leg in a game against the Coyotes on December
26 and missed the last 28 games.
<< Titans re-sign CB Hood
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms on a
contract with veteran cornerback Rod Hood on Friday.
Hood, who was an unrestricted free agent, appeared in five games (four starts)
for the Titans last season, re
Eugene, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oregon sophomore running back LaMichael James was sentenced to 24 months probation and 10 days in jail after pleading guilty to one count of physical harassment on Friday. James agreed to a bargain that
Inter stunned by Catania >>
Catania, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Catania scored three times in the final 20
minutes of their 3-1 upset win over Inter Milan at the Angelo Massimino on
Friday.
Diego Milito scored in the 54th minute for Inter, but had his opener cance
Masoli, Embry the latest Ducks to enter guilty plea >>
Eugene, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - On Friday, the same day teammate LaMichael James
was sentenced on a misdemeanor harassment charge, Oregon quarterback Jeremiah
Masoli and wide receiver Garrett Embry pled guilty to charges of burglary.
Masoli
Auburn dismisses Lebo >>
Auburn, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Auburn University has dismissed its head men's
basketball coach.
The school announced on Friday that Jeff Lebo, who has helmed the program for
the last six seasons, will no longer be behind the Tigers' bench.
Els moves ahead at rainy CA Championship >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ernie Els fired a six-under 66 on Friday to move
in front after the second round of the WGC-CA Championship at a rainy TPC Blue
Monster at Doral.
Els, a three-time major winner, finished 36 holes at 10-under 1
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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Horse Betting
(This is an update of a sportsbook for the May 4th issue of ESPN The Magazine).
The Kentucky Derby's post-position draw happened on Wednesday. And, as is always the case, shortly afterwards, a buzz raced around Churchill Downs. It was a low rumble at first, nothing that the squares in the mint julep crowd pick up right away. But by the time the sun set over the twin spires, the chatter was impossible to ignore. Everyone -- sharps, trainers, owners -- was talking about one thing: the wise guy horse, the pre-draw long shot us mopes didn't have on our radar until it was too late.
"You think you're hearing the scoop," says handicapper Lane Gold. "Then you get to the window, the odds are short, and you missed it."
Recognizing a wise-guy horse early is as hard as picking a Derby bonnet. That's because handicappers don't like hype (see ya, I Want Revenge). They want Thoroughbreds who look good losing prep races like the Santa Anita Derby. They eye horses who ate up the field after starting wide or made an easy transition from synthetic tracks to dirt. They look for ponies who showed muscle gain race to race and those who ran hard after several weeks' rest.
"A wise guy," says John Avello, a bookmaker at Wynn Las Vegas, "looks for a horse who can improve."
When I first wrote Horse Betting for The Mag, which I turned in a three weeks before Wednesday's draw, I predicted these three horses had wise guy potential:
CHOCOLATE CANDY (15-1 in mid-April, currently 20-1 according to Avello): His second-place finish at Santa Anita, following a seven-week layoff, proved two things: He can run after resting, and -- by losing a high-profile prep race -- he wouldn't be overhyped.
DESERT PARTY (15-1; 15-1): He was upset in the UAE Derby by a horse he had beaten twice. The public remembers his loss, but the wise guys his wins.
PIONEEROF THE NILE (8-1; 4-1): The big favorite at Santa Anita struggled to win, so he initially got less hype than Quality Road and I Want Revenge.
You may have noticed that the odds on Pioneerof the Nile have been cut in half, from 8-1 to 4-1. Which means the wise guys took a shine to him long before the post-position draw. But, to be honest, this is one of those years with four elite horses getting everyone's attention, squares and sharps alike.
"You're not gonna get a lot of chatter about a horse that isn't in that group, which includes Pioneer, I Want Revenge, Dunkirk and Friesan Fire," Avello told me Wednesday. "We don't have a group of horses behind those top four who look like real legit contenders."
Come Derby week, the final two elements in picking a wise guy horse are how he's working out and what gate he's coming out of.
(By the way, picking a Preakness favorite is a whole different bale of hay, partially based on how horses finish in the Derby. You can see my analysis of who has the best shot at Pimlico on Insider Sunday morning.)
Well, early in the week I Want Revenge, Pioneerof the Nile and Friesan Fire were working out better than anyone. Some thought Friesan Fire, currently 6-1, might have run too fast, burning a five-furlong run in :57 4/5. "When you are running that fast you have the sense that it took something out of him," says Gold. "The Derby is longer than any horse has run, and if they need that extra surge you worry they won't have it because they burned it in the workout."
But, Gold points out, Friesan Fire's trainer is Larry Jones, Two years ago his horse Hard Spun did a five-eighths workout in :57 3/5 and then went on to finish second, behind Street Sense, in the Derby. "Every trainer has different methods," says Gold. "And clearly he knows what he's doing."
Now, as for starting position, Gold says to remember this: Churchill Downs traditionally has 14 starting gates. For the Derby, it brings out auxiliary gates and between the original 14th gate and the new 15th gate, there is a little more space than there is between gates 1-14. "That 15 position will give you a precious second or two to sort out what's happening to your inside," says Gold. "Sixteen is also okay because you can follow the horse in front of you."
Dunkirk, one of the race favorites, is coming out of gate 15. In 16 is Baffert's Pioneerof the Nile. I Want Revenge drew 13, where Smarty Jones won from in 2004, and Friesan Fire picked the sixth position. "He doesn't have a lot of speed to the inside of him," says Gold. "So he will get a clear shot to be near the front."
All the jibber-jabber means this: Pioneerof the Nile has leapfrogged from 8-1 to being the second favorite, along with Dunkirk, behind I Want Revenge. Meanwhile, Friesan Fire, with a good trainer, a strong week of training and a decent post position, is still at 6-1. "By Saturday, it's possible he could go from fourth to the favorite," says Gold.
In other words, meet Friesan Fire, your 2009 wise guy horse.
"Now," says Avello, "it's time for action."
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