Lakers set for downsized championship parade in LA

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06/21/2010 -

LOS ANGELES (AP) -Unlike the gritty comeback that gave the Los Angeles Lakers an NBA title against their rival Boston Celtics, this year's victory parade will have no rallies.

A compact championship parade - scaled back to rein in costs - is scheduled to stream through the streets of downtown Monday, minus the flashy rallies and side celebrations of past years.

This year's bash will begin at Staples Center and make its way down Figueroa Street to the edge of the University of Southern California campus. Much of downtown will be shut down for the event, and city officials are urging fans to use public transportation.

Lakers officials expect between 500,000 and 2 million fans to line the two-mile route as the team celebrates its second straight NBA title and 16th overall, earned with a Game 7 victory over Boston on Thursday.

Fans won't be without a chance to celebrate with the team - players are expected to address the crowd from a sound-equipped flatbed float instead of making speeches at large crowd-drawing rallies, officials said.

The more modest celebration will cost between $1.5 to $2 million - a tab the world champions plan to pay - to cover police overtime and other city services, team spokesman John Black said.

The city had to reach out to private donors to fund the 2009 celebration so that taxpayers wouldn't have to foot the $1 million bill as Los Angeles faced a more than $500 million budget gap.

An enormous rally at the end of last year's parade at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum drew about 95,000 people.

The Staples Center and Nokia Plaza, which were also once sites of parade-day revelry, will be locked and bars and restaurants will be closed during the parade Monday, AEG officials said.Copyright © 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 The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

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NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

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