Bettor banking on Cardinals

Going into the World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals figured to have an edge at manager. Tony La Russa's black hair dye looks bad, but under that mop is a big brain for baseball strategy.

La Russa is often a tactical wizard, adjusting his lineup and switching pitchers as if he's moving chess pieces. Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington could be considered a checkers player by comparison.

But that has not been the case in an odd World Series. La Russa's blunder with the bullpen phone in Game 5 was a hot topic as the Rangers took a 3-2 lead to St. Louis for tonight's Game 6.

What were the odds Washington would make more right moves than La Russa? There were no odds on that. But we do know the Cardinals overcame long odds to stay alive so long.

On Sept. 12, when St. Louis was 4½ games behind Atlanta in the National League wild-card race, a bettor at the MGM Grand sports book put down $500 on La Russa as a long shot.

A $250 wager on the Cardinals to win the NL at 500-1 paid $125,000. Another $250 wager on the Cardinals to win the World Series at 999-1 had a potential payout of $249,750. A photo of the betting tickets can be found on the Internet.

"It's authentic," MGM Resorts sports book director Jay Rood said. "We might have been a little high. But if you put pen down to paper and figured out the 20 to 25 things that had to happen for the Cardinals to get where they are now, it might have been 10,000-1. The perfect storm came together."

Ironically, what seemed to be the best bet -- La Russa winning the strategical battle with Washington -- was no sure thing. It could be costly to the Cardinals and at least one gambler.

Rood called the publicized wagers a "good advertisement" for Las Vegas books, adding, "Instead of looking at Wall Street, maybe people will look at Vegas and come out here. It might be a better investment."

■ COLTS TATTOOED -- Reviewing errors in judgment calls seems like the perfect job for Jim Tressel. The former Ohio State coach is an expert on the subject. He exited college football as a disgrace, and he entered the NFL in a similar way.

Tressel, a consultant in charge of officiating reviews for the Indianapolis Colts, debuted in his new position Sunday. He was no help, but he was not at fault this time.

Minus his favorite sweater vest, Tressel wore a blue and white shirt as he watched from the booth. There were no close calls worth challenging as the Colts got tattooed 62-7 by the New Orleans Saints.

■ SUDDENLY FEELING ILL -- Two weeks ago, Illinois was 6-0 and seemingly set to challenge for a Big Ten championship. But after a 17-7 loss to Ohio State and a 21-14 loss to Purdue, Illini coach Ron Zook is hearing from critics.

"You just don't become a bad coach. It just doesn't happen," Zook told the Chicago Sun-Times.

First of all, who considered Zook a good coach?

Maybe he should fire an assistant. So who's to blame?

Illinois ranks last in the Big Ten -- and close to the bottom in the nation -- in kickoff returns, punt returns and kickoff coverage and 10th in punting.

Zook also coaches the Illini's special teams.

COMPILED BY MATT YOUMANS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL