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Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi score leading Paris Saint – Germain to Victory over Lens

kylian_mbappe_and_lionel_messi_score_leading_paris_saint_germain_to_victory_over_lensOn Saturday, April 15th, 2023 the young talent in Kylian Mbappé as well as the old legend in Lionel Messi both scored a goal each as the French League leading Paris Saint – Germain benefitted from a red card in order to defeat the 2nd – place in the French League, Lens, with a final tally of 3 to 1. Paris Saint – Germain now will move to 9 – points in front of their rival in France.

Kylian Mbappe

It was an extremely special goal score for Kylian. Earlier this season Mbappe became Paris Saint – Germain’s all – time leading goal scorer when he managed to surpass Edinson Cavani’s 200 – goal mark.

Kylian’s dominant strike on Saturday vs. Lens made the only 24 – year – old French striker as the overall all – time top goal scorer for Paris Saint – Germain in the French Leaguewith 139 – total goals. Cavani netted a total of 138 – goals. Overall, Mbappé now counts 203 – goal strikes for Paris Saint – Germain.

Marseille now can move above Lens with a home win of their own versus the struggling Troyes on Sunday, April 16th, 2023 with just 7 – games remaining following the matches over this weekend’s round.

Lens seemed to be in complete control of the contest up until the midfielder in Salis Abdul Samed was ejected for a reckless challenge on the right back, Achraf Hakimi, during the 19th – minute of match play.

Kylian Mbappé just as happened to score his league – leading 20th – goal score when he accepted a nice pass from his midfielder, Vitinha, and Kylian turned very fast prior to slamming his 1st – time shot that slapped into the bottom right corner of the net during the 31st – minute of game time. Vitinha managed to double the lead for PSG just 6 – minutes after that with a 25 – meter smash into the same corner of the opposing goal.

Lionel Messi

Lionel then struck during the 40th – minute with his buddy from France, Mbappé, who back – heeled the football to the Argentine – native for a low strike finding the back of the net. That was Messi’s 15th – league goal score.

Lens so seemed to perform better than Paris Saint – Germain did during the 2nd – half of this match, even though they were playing with a man down. A hand – ball from Paris Saint – Germain’s midfielder, Fabian Ruiz, after a corner – kick gave Lens a penalty – shot, and the Polish winger, Przemys?aw Frankowski, sent goal – keeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, to the wrong side during the 60th – minute of game play.

Lens’ 15 – goal top scorer in Loïs Openda put up a shot that was saved during the 64th – minute, and then he forced a corner – kick as the visitors kept up the intense pressure on Paris Saint – Germain.

Paris Saint – Germain’s Head Coach

The Paris Saint – Germain head coach, Christophe Galtier, has recently been under extreme pressure following his 8 – losses this season across all of the competitions. This week he passionately disagreed with all of the allegations that he had made racist as well as anti – Muslim remarks while Galtier was in charge of Nice during the previous European football season.

The Parc des Princes fans became quite quite when Lens controlled the action early on, with Samed’s header neatly saved by Donnarumma in just the first 2 – minutes of the game.

Paris Saint – Germain’s defender in Danilo almost managed to score on an ever so embarrassing own – goal when his winding back – pass from somewhere near half – way downfield surprised Donnarumma during the 10th – minute of match play, but it luckily bounced just wide of the net.

The game seemed to turn in favor of Paris Saint Germain’s when the midfielder, Samed, lunged at Hakimi as he caught his left ankle in a very dangerous slide – tackle.

Other Match Play last Saturday, April 15th, 2023

Also on Saturday, April 15th, 2023 Rennes defeated Reims with a final tally of 3 to nil in order to move just 1 – point in front of Lille and into 5th – place. The Belgium winger, Jérémy Doku, scored 2 – times for Rennes during the first 20 – minutes of that game. The defender in Arthur Theate made scored another goal to make it 3 to nil during the 69th – minute of that contest.

Kylian Mbappe’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

Monaco

  • Ligue 1: 2016 – 2017
  • Coupe de la Ligue Runner – Up: 2016 – 2017

Paris Saint-Germain

  • Ligue 1: 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
  • Coupe de France: 2017 – 2018, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021; Runner – Up: 2018 – 2019
  • Coupe de la Ligue: 2017 – 2018, 2019 – 2020
  • Trophée des Champions: 2019, 2020
  • UEFA Champions League Runner – Up: 2019 – 2020

France U19

  • UEFA European Under – 19 Championship: 2016

France

  • FIFA World Cup: 2018; Runner – Up: 2022
  • UEFA Nations League: 2020 – 2021

Individual

  • UEFA European Under – 19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2016
  • UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2018 – 2019, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
  • UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year: 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019
  • UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
  • UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: April 2017, March 2018, August 2018, February 2019, February 2021, August 2021, February 2022, November / December 2022, February 2023
  • UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2016 – 2017, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
  • FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2018, 2019, 2022
  • Golden Boy: 2017
  • FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 2022
  • FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 2022
  • FIFA World Cup Young Player Award: 2018
  • FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2018
  • Kopa Trophy: 2018
  • IFFHS Men’s World Team: 2018, 2021, 2022
  • IFFHS World’s Best Top Goal Scorer: 2022
  • French Player of the Year: 2018, 2019, 2022
  • UEFA Team of the Year: 2018
  • Ligue 1 Top Goalscorer: 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
  • Ligue 1 top assist provider: 2021 – 2022
  • Globe Soccer Best Player of the Year: 2021
  • Onze de Bronze: 2019
  • UEFA Nations League Finals Golden Boot: 2021

Orders

  • Knight of the Legion of Honor: 2018

Lionel Messi’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

Barcelona

  • La Liga: 2004 – 2005, 2005 – 2006, 2008 – 2009, 2009 – 2010, 2010 – 2011, 2012 – 2013, 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019
  • Copa del Rey: 2008 – 2009, 2011 – 2012, 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2020 – 2021
  • Supercopa de España: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018
  • UEFA Champions League: 2005 – 2006, 2008 – 2009, 2010 – 2011, 2014 – 2015
  • UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
  • FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015

Paris Saint – Germain

  • Ligue 1: 2021 – 2022
  • Trophée des Champions: 2022

Argentina U – 20

  • FIFA World Youth Championship: 2005

Argentina U – 23

  • Summer Olympics: 2008

Argentina

  • FIFA World Cup: 2022
  • Copa América: 2021
  • CONMEBOL – UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022

Individual

  • Ballon d’Or / FIFA Ballon d’Or: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021
  • FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
  • The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 2019, 2022
  • European Golden Shoe: 2009 – 2010, 2011 – 2012, 2012 – 2013, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 18, 2018 – 2019
  • FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014, 2022
  • FIFA World Cup Silver Boot: 2022
  • FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009, 2011
  • FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball: 2005
  • FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot: 2005
  • Copa América Best Player: 2015, 2021
  • Copa América Top Goalscorer: 2021
  • La Liga Best Player: 2008 – 2009, 2009 – 2010, 2010 – 2011, 2011 – 2012, 2012 – 2013, 2014 – 2015
  • Pichichi Trophy: 2009 ? 2010, 2011 – 2012, 2012 ? 2013, 2016 – 2017, 2017 ? 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021
  • Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2020
  • Argentine Footballer of the Year: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

Sources:

The Associated Press News Services. “Mbappé sets league goals record for PSG in 3 – 1 win vs Lens”. The Associated Press. Saturday, April 15, 2023.

Football Reference News Services. “Kylian Mbappe”. Football Reference. Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Football Reference News Services. “Lionel Messi”. Football Reference. Sunday, April 16, 2023.

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MGM Resorts Osaka Bid Maintains Political Legs, Public Support

mgm_resorts_osaka_bid_maintains_political_legs_public_supportPublic opinion in Osaka, Japan is on the rise in support of an integrated casino resort in the prefecture according to an exit poll conducted over the weekend by the local news outlet, Mainichi Shimbun. The survey was taken by Japan’s oldest newspaper over the weekend as the Osaka Mayoral Election was held as part of the 20th Unified Local Elections in the country.

Plans call for Japan’s first casino to be built as part of a large integrated resort (IR) on Yumeshima island – a man-made land mass that is part of Konohana-ku, one of the 24 wards of Osaka, Japan.

According to the trusted outlet, the survey queried 6,190 voters as they left 145 polling places. A majority, 53% said they supported the IR development while 45% said they were opposed to it.

Osakans Want the Integrated Resort Casino

Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura was not shy about his support for the development and the issue was seen by many as a key element of his potential re-election which he handily won with more support for a second term than he garnered when he won the governorship the first time. He assumed office in April 2019.

According to a report on Inside Asia Gaming’s website, only a third of those who voted to re-elect the governor were opposed to the development.

Hirofumi Yoshimura was endorsed by Osaka Ishin no Kai (Japan Reformation Association). He is the Deputy Leader of Nippon Ishin no Kai. Osaka (city) is the capital and most populated city in the Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan with a population of 2.7 million.

Also endorsed by Osaka Ishin no Kai was political upstart Hideyuki Yosokawa who was elected mayor of the city. His victory was more robust than that of the governor however with a record 2.44 million votes – the most ever cast for a mayoral candidate in Osaka. His margin of victory was about two-million votes over his closest competitor.

The party also won 55 seats on the city council and retained its majority.

Governor Yoshimura was supported by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party as well. He had stated earlier that he may resign as a representative if a majority was not maintained.

Hard Work Ahead for Next Four Years

Speaking to constituents after the election Yoshimura said, “I believe that we have received a certain amount of public support to promote the IR attraction. I want to work hard for the next four years with the strong desire to make Osaka grow.”

The prefecture and city tendered an application to the central government in early 2022. Partnering in the endeavor are MGM Resorts and the Japanese multinational ORIX Corporation, a publicly owned Tokyo-based international financial services company established in 1964. ORIX is listed on the Tokyo and New York Stock Exchanges.

When Japanese lawmakers finally passed legislation that was signed by the late Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, it was hoped by many that at least one IR would be approved and operating before the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics opened. However, deep-seated religious and secular political opposition to gambling remained and the fight was taken to a local level where anti-casino voices, mixed with complicated cultural and political machinations won out and drove most casino operators away from the fight.

Current projections, reportedly affirmed by the Governor, project an IR opening in 2029. Investment costs have been estimated to be as high as $10 billion to complete the project.

Out of a large field of deep pockets and top-tier global casino operators that initially vied for approval, MGM’s Osaka bid is seen by many as the last hope to build not only a world-class casino resort in Japan but the country’s only casino.

Various numbers have been tossed about since long before the Diet and Cabinet codified gambling liberalization in Japan. The latest projections indicate that the MGM/Orix consortium’s development could attract as many as 20 million visits each year and generate revenue approaching US$4 billion (JPY 520 billion).

Source: Exit poll shows majority support for Osaka IR as governor wins re-election, Inside Asian Gaming, April 11

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High-Speed LA to Vegas Railway Gets Bipartisan Backing

A bipartisan congressional group from California and Nevada asked the Biden administration on Monday to fast-track federal funding for a high-speed railway link from LA to Las Vegas that was first proposed in 2009.

Brightline West
This undated rendering illustrates the high-speed rail line proposed by Brightline from LA to Las Vegas. A bipartisan congressional group California and Nevada asked the Biden administration to fast-track the federal portion of its funding. (Brightline West)

In a letter to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, five of Nevada’s elected federal lawmakers, as well as four House Members from California, asked for $3.75 billion for the Brightline West project from the Biden-backed federal infrastructure law. The entire project will cost $10 billion, 70% of which will come from private funding, according to Brightline, using a combination of debt and equity.

The letter estimated that the project will create 35,000 union construction jobs as well as 1,000 permanent jobs, and will divert 3 million cars from the congested Interstate 15 “onto a faster, more efficient, zero-emission transportation option” that would stop the belching of 400,000 tons of CO2  into the air every year.

Brightline — which already runs a high-speed rail between Miami and West Palm Beach in Florida — plans to connect Las Vegas with Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 220 miles southwest, via 200 mph passenger trains that run mainly within the I-15’s median. Brightline projects an average travel time of two hours and 15 minutes — half the time the trip currently takes in a car during the average weekend. Each train could transport up to 500 passengers.

California Democratic House members Nanette Barraga?n, Jimmy Gomez, and John Garamendi signed the letter — as did Republican Jay Obernolte. So did Nevada’s senior US Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat, and four House members, including Republican Mark Amodei.

Slow Train Coming

Amtrak passenger service from LA to Las Vegas ended in 1991 with the Desert Wind. That train regularly got stuck behind the increasing number of freight trains serving the growing desert region. Often, that trip took passengers 10 hours, and it feels like this high-speed rail project, first proposed in 2005, is moving with equal sluggishness.

It wasn’t until 2009 that the Federal Railroad Administration completed a draft environmental plan for the railway, which was then known as DesertXpress. Brightline acquired the project in 2018.

“After more than a decade of working to find a pathway, Brightline West will be the first true high-speed rail system in America and will serve as the blueprint for how we can connect major city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive,” read a statement from Brightline CEO Mike Reininger.

A draft environmental assessment for Brightline West was made public in October 2022 and the Federal Railroad Administration is expected to finalize permits in July.

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Resorts Atlantic City Announces 45th Anniversary Plans with Kelsey Grammer

Resorts Atlantic City forever changed the New Jersey beachfront town when its casino floor opened in May 1978. This Memorial Day weekend, the Boardwalk resort will celebrate its 45th anniversary of continuous operation and its reign as the oldest casino resort in town.

Resorts Atlantic City anniversary New Jersey
Resorts Atlantic City hosts the “Annual Opening of the Sea Ceremony” on Memorial Day 2022. The yearly tradition includes dropping hundreds of beach balls on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. The event marks the unofficial start of the busy season for the nine casinos. (Image: Casino.org)

Owned by Morris Bailey and Dennis Gomes, Resorts World has been operated by Mohegan, a subsidiary of Connecticut’s Mohegan Tribe, since 2012.

Resorts traditionally hosts Atlantic City’s annual beach ball drop on the Boardwalk during the Memorial Day weekend. The event marks the unofficial start of summer for the resort town. This Memorial Day, festivities will be extra special, as Resorts looks back on 45 years.

Being the first Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, it’s a huge accomplishment to celebrate 45 years of operation,” said Mark Giannantonio, president and CEO at Resorts. “This wonderful milestone is a testament to the culture at our hotel, the hard work and dedication of our team members, and the loyalty of our guests.”

“We look forward to continued growth and success as Resorts Casino Hotel embarks on its next 45 years and beyond,” Giannantonio said.

A-List Host, New Cocktail Venue

Actor and New Jersey native Kelsey Grammer will cohost Resorts’ 45th-anniversary shindig with Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr.

Grammer and Small will be the emcees for the beach ball drop — officially the “Annual Opening of the Sea Ceremony” — at 1 p.m. EST on Friday, May 26.

That night, a Bee Gees tribute band will take the stage at Resorts’ Superstar Theater. A Resorts release said the band will feature “present and former members of world-renowned acts and offer all the classic 70s disco hits from ‘Stayin Alive’ to ‘Night Fever’, while embracing the early works such as ‘To Love Somebody.’”

To commemorate its opening in the late 1970s, Resorts renovated its Bar One cocktail spot just steps from the hotel lobby into Lounge78. The new watering hole is a retro-themed venue paying tribute to Resorts’ 1978 opening.

iGaming Lifeline

Resorts has benefited greatly from New Jersey legalizing iGaming in 2011. It took more than two years before online slots and table games went live in November 2013 because of legal concerns. Specifically, whether the federal Wire Act prevented a state from allowing intrastate internet casino gambling.

Resorts was an eager supporter of online poker and internet casino games, and that’s turned out to be a winning bet over the past decade. In fact, Resorts generates far more gross gaming revenue (GGR) online than it does on its brick-and-mortar casino floor.

In 2021 and 2022, Resorts’ land-based casino reported GGR of $168.6 million and $168.1 million. Meanwhile, Resorts Digital, Bailey and Gomes’ iGaming entity in New Jersey, reported GGR of $450.7 million and $546.5 million during those two years.

New Jersey’s licensing law requires that all iGaming platforms be tethered to one of the nine casinos in Atlantic City. PokerStars lends its casino license to five online casino and sports betting sites, including ResortsCasino, Barstool Sportsbook, DraftKings, Mohegan Sun Casino, and PokerStars NJ.

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Miami Heat Guard Victor Oladipo to Miss Remainder of Postseason

Miami Heat backup combo guard Victor Oladipo sustained a gruesome left knee injury, and he will miss the remainder of the NBA playoffs.

Victor Oladipo
Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo clutches his left knee after he suffered an injury against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 at American Airlines Arena in Mia. (Image: USA Today Sports)

The #8 Heat jumped out to a 2-1 series lead against the #1 Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, but they’ll have to navigate the reminder of the postseason due to an unfortunate injury to Oladipo.

With a 44-38 record, the Heat finished the regular season in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. They qualified for the Play-In Tournament but lost in the opening game against the eighth-place Atlanta Hawks, who secured the #7 seed. The Heat locked up the #8 seed when they defeated the Chicago Bulls in the second play-in game.

With the #8 seed, the Heat had an opening-round date against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks were a little rusty to start their series against the Heat, who were already in postseason mode after two games in the Play-In Tournament.

The Heat upset the Bucks to win Game 1 on the road in Milwaukee by 13 points. The Bucks bounced back to tie the series with a 138-122 victory in Game 2. When the series shifted to Miami for Game 3, the Heat did not squander their home-court edge and won 121-99.

Heat Win Game 3, But Lose Oladipo

Late in the fourth quarter of Game 3, Oladipo blew past two defenders from the Bucks and tore the patellar tendon in his left knee when he tried to plant his foot and elevate for a dunk. He crashed to the floor underneath and unleashed an expletive that was loud enough to be heard on the televised broadcast. He grabbed his left knee and remained on the hardwood for a significant amount of time while medical staff attended to him.

Oladipo needed assistance off the court. He did not return to the game, and finished with eight points in 19 minutes. The Heat held on to win Game 3 in a 22-point blowout.

It was a great win, but when you see a player go down like that, that’s definitely not a good feeling to see,” said Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. “Particularly a player like Vic, who has gone through so much in the last three years.”

Prior to his injury in Game 3, Oladipo averaged 11.5 points per game in 22.5 minutes per game in the 2023 playoffs. He averaged 10.7 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game during the regular season, which marked the lowest output of his career.

The Heat were already short-handed after starting shooting guard Tyler Herro broke his right hand while diving for a loose ball in Game 1. Oladipo saw an uptick in playing time without Herro in the lineup in Game 2 and 3. Heading into Game 4, the Heat will not have two of their best shooters.

Oladipo Long Injury History

During his first season with the Indiana Pacers in 2017-18, Oladipo put up All-Star numbers when he averaged 23.1 points per game. In the middle of the 2018-19 season, Oladipo ruptured a quad tendon in his right knee and missed the rest of the season.

Oladipo has never come close to returning to anything close to the same player he was before his quad tendon injury. He lost a step on offense, and was not longer the explosive scorer that could light it up from anywhere on the court.

Oladipo appeared in just 60 games between 2019 and 2022 with the Pacers, Houston Rockets, and Heat. Last season with the Heat, Oladipo played in just eight games while he slowly recovered from an additional surgery on his quad tendon. Even though he was inactive during most of his stint in Miami, he earned the respect of his coaches and teammates for his hard work and attitude.

The physical toll of rehab is tough but mentally, it’s even tougher,” said teammate Cody Zeller. “Vic always so positive. Mentally, I don’t know how he does it. There’s a lot of long days, a lot of slow days and it’s tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m just sick for him.”

Oladipo appeared in only 42 games this season and missed nearly half the year with a sprained ankle, elbow injury, and knee soreness. He will undergo a third major knee surgery, which could prematurely end his career.

Betting the Heat/Bucks in Game 4

The Bucks face a serious injury of their own after power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a back injury in Game 1. Antetokounmpo sat out Game 2 against the Heat with a back contusion. He was considered a game-time decision in Game 3, but he did not suit up.

With the Bucks down 2-1 heading into Game 4 on the road in front of a hostile crowd in Miami, all signs point toward Antetokounmpo playing on Monday night. However, Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer has not indicated whether the MVP-candidate will start in Game 4.

We’ll see how Giannis looks in the morning shoot around,” said Budenholzer.

Oddsmakers opened the Bucks as -5.5 favorites in Game 4. For a second game in a row, the Heat are a home dog at American Airlines Arena in Miami. The Heat were a +2 underdog in Game 3, and easily covered the spread in their blow-out victory.

The Heat were the second-worst betting team in the NBA during the regular season with a 33-51-3 record against the spread. However, the Heat are 2-1 ATS in their three playoff games.

The Bucks were the consensus favorite to win the 2022-23 NBA championship at +265 odds when the season ended, but now they’re +310 odds. The Boston Celtics are the new outright favorite to win the title at +250 odds.

The Heat were a long shot at +25000 odds to win the championship when the postseason started. After they seized a 2-1 lead over the Bucks, the Heat saw their odds improve to +10000.

The Bucks are +190 odds to win the Eastern Conference for the second time in the last three seasons. The Heat are one of the long shots to win the east at +3000 odds.

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