Gambling News by House of Odds

Helen Robson Walton's death on April 19 left Arkansas without one of its most generous philanthropists. The 87-year-old widow of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton was remembered as the "strong woman behind a strong man."'Strong woman,' Arkansas philanthropist Helen Walton dies in 2007 (Pine Bluff Commercial)

CHICAGO The Baseball Hall of Fame is great to write about because the topic resonates so strongly with readers.Mike Nadel: Readers sound off on Baseball Hall, Skiles, Da Bears and the BCS (The State Journal-Register)

1. Drugs are everywhereYear of the scandal (The Palm Beach Post)

2007 was a lousy year in sports unless you were a fan of the pro teams from Boston, the semipro ones from the University of Florida or the real-student athletes from Appalachian StateThe year in Sports (The Courier News)

Everyone respected Tom Swope, it seemed, with the exception of the evening insects who took advantage of the open windows down on Post Square. Of course, it was the famous sportswriter's own fault. Annoyed by summer temperatures, his habit was to remove his shirt and compose in his skivvies.Post sports department a writer's paradise (The Cincinnati Post)

Is it safe to come out? Not yet? OK, well, call us when it's 2008, because it seems like this past year has been one nonstop sports scandal. If it wasn't Barry Bonds being indicted on charges of lying to a grand jury about using performance-enhancing drugs, it was Michael Vick going to prison on dogfighting charges. There was cheating in the NFL, NASCAR and Formula 1. An NBA referee was caught .Year of the scandal (The Palm Beach Post)