Five states -- Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia and Wisconsin -- and the American Gaming Association filed amicus briefs with the United States Supreme Court this week in support of New Jerseys efforts to offer legal sports betting at its casinos and racetracks.New Jersey, after losing a decision in the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in August, filed a request to the Supreme Court in October. Its the second time New Jersey has asked the Supreme Court to hear its case against the NCAA and four major professional sports leagues, which sued Gov. Chris Christie in 2012, setting off a legal battle that has lasted more than four years. The leagues have won every step of the way.The Supreme Court declined to take New Jerseys case in 2014, but the group of states is hoping for a different outcome this time. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey took the lead on the amicus brief for the five states, which have concerns over federalism issues and believe the Third Circuits ruling against New Jersey fundamentally alters the nature of federal-state relations.The concern of the Amici States ... is not what Congress regulates but how it does so, the states wrote in the brief filed Monday.The American Gaming Association, represented by Washington, D.C., law firm Sidley Austin LLP, claims the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), the federal prohibition of state-sponsored sports betting, is unconstitutional and prevents states from combatting illegal and organized crime.The Third Circuits decision is not just wrong; it is dangerous because it deprives States of the authority to combat illegal gambling, the AGA wrote in its brief, also filed Monday.Only a handful of states may offer legal sports betting, with only Nevada being allowed to accept bets on single games and events.The AGA says the federal laws have helped create a massive black market and estimates that around $150 billion is wagered illegally on sports annually in the U.S.The AGA has begun forming a coalition and is planning to lobby Congress in 2017 to lift the federal ban on sports betting. AGA president and CEO Geoff Freeman has said President-elect Donald Trump will have sports betting legislation on his desk during his term.As President-elect Donald Trump has acknowledged, illegal sports betting is a thriving industry, Freeman said in a statement to ESPN. The 24-year-old federal ban -- which is breathing life into a $150 billion illegal sports betting market -- threatens the integrity of games, presents fundamental questions about states sovereignty to define their own laws and combat crime within their borders, and prevents fans from engaging with the sports they enjoy in a safe, legal way. The United States Supreme Court should consider New Jerseys important claims and allow all states to address the serious problems associated with illegal sports betting.In 1993, Trump told reporters that legalizing sports betting in New Jersey is vital to putting the bookies out of business.The Supreme Courts decision whether to take the New Jersey case is expected sometime early in 2017. The Supreme Court accepts only a tiny percentage of cases.The sports leagues have until Dec. 14 to file their briefs.Wholesale Custom Soccer Jerseys . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Custom Soccer Jerseys Store ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. http://www.customjerseyssoccer.com/ . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. Custom Soccer Jerseys China .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Custom Soccer Jerseys Sale . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- It was exactly one year ago as the Los Angeles Angels were about to embark on the second half of the season after the All-Star break that Angels left-hander Hector Santiago was on top of the world.Santiago rejoined the team for the second half after spending a few days in Cincinnati for the All-Star Game. He was 6-4 in 18 games (17 starts) with a 2.88 ERA and had been named to his first major league All-Star Game.Santiago, though, goes into Fridays start against the Chicago White Sox in a completely different situation. He has not been the same pitcher he was the first half of 2015. Since then, he is 9-9 with a 4.96 ERA, including 6-4 with a 4.58 ERA this season.But hes shown enough of what he can do.Santiago shut out the Tampa Bay Rays on three hits over seven innings in his last start July 7 and he likely will be a target for teams looking to make deals before the non-waiver trading deadline on Aug. 1.At 37-52, the Angels are in last place in the American League West, holding a record better only than the Rays and Twins in the American League. Though Angels general manager Billy Eppler refuses to say he will be a seller in the market as the deadline approaches, he uses language that doesnt hide the direction the Angels are likely to go.Well continue to invest, Eppler told MLB.com. Well invest throughout this season, with a mind for this season, with a mind for the future and this winter, with a mind towards competing and contending year in and year out.Miguel Gonzalez will get the staart for the White Sox, who find themselves in the middle of the wild-card race, 4 1/2 games behind wild-card leaders Boston and Toronto.dddddddddddd And the White Sox arent out of the A.L. Central race either, trailing division leader Cleveland by seven games.Gonzalezs numbers going in do not look great as he is 2-4 with a 4.39 ERA. Those numbers have improved slightly thanks to two solid starts going into the break.On July 1 against the Houston Astros, Gonzalez gave up two runs and three hits in seven innings though he was tagged with the loss. Then on July 7 against the New York Yankees, Gonzalez threw seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and one walk in a 5-0 victory.Gonzalez initially wasnt scheduled to get Fridays start; that was going to go to Jose Quintana. But when Quintana was added to the All-Star team as an injury replacement, Gonzalez got the nod.The White Sox are hoping to add a left-handed bat to their lineup and might not have to make a deal to get one. Justin Morneau, the 2006 A.L. MVP signed the club June 9, could be in the White Sox lineup very soon, having recovered from surgery on his elbow.In the meantime, the White Sox will look to be more consistent. They began 23-10, lost 26 of their next 36 before finishing the first half with 12 wins in 19 games.It was good, then it was bad, then it started getting good again, Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. ' ' '