You Know WEN It's Real (Value)

Before we begin, let's preface this by saying this isn't so much an endorsement for Wendy's stock (WEN) as it is an acknowledgement that there could possibly maybe potentially kind of sort of be some value in this stock. Closing at 5.00 to head into the weekend (and previous dipping in the low 4's earlier this month), WEN is quite simply a stock that, to put it nicely, has a lot of room to grow.

We wish the saying "there's nowhere to go but up" were true, but as you find out even with the most worthless of stocks, they can always go lower. But despite the challenges facing the fast food industry (rising costs of beef and fuel prices 'eating' at distribution budgets, among several others), we like what Wendy's has to offer, both on the menu and in the stock market.

Wendy's is gearing itself to be more health conscientious, as is the rest of the fast food industry. Steadily, they've seen improvements and even net profits that were becoming elusive, however patience is required as they continue to shift their menus, and thus, consumer attitudes.

This ain't Dave Thomas' WEN stock, that's for sure.

What really has us sort of kind of excited about Wendy's potential--aside from the fact that the stock was worth four times as much before the financial crisis took over--is the recent sale of Arby's, which allows the company to focus solely on its stock exchange namesake to turn things around. Additionally, compared to other similar stocks in the sector, it strikes us as a clear value.

For potential WEN owners, though, much patience will be required. This is no overnight fix, and the low trade volume can be discouraging. That said, WEN pays a dividend, albeit a small one, which we love for mid to long-range holds.

We'd be shocked to see this stock dip below $4 per share within the next year and see it back in double-digits within three, allowing shareholders to collect dividend payments that amount to a pat on the back while potentially doubling their investment.

It's always good to invest in companies you believe in, and if you've ever had a Wendy's burger or tried the new sea salt fries, you'd be hard-pressed not to believe in Wendy's. We do think this stock will pick up again, it's just a matter of WEN (sorry for that).

Investors "Like" Potential Facebook IPO

If potential investors could "Like" the prospect of a highly-anticipated and nearly inevitable announcement of an initial public offering for Facebook, it's a good bet that almost all of them would--and not with a nonchalant click of a mouse, but rather with a very large stack of cash.

Knowing that, the next step is determining if this love affair with a non-existent Facebook stock is justifiable, and why.

Recently, Groupon announced its intention to deliver an IPO, much to the pleasure of countless investors looking to get in on what some feel is the makings of another tech bubble. After the success of LinkedIn's (LNKD) offering, people can't wait to get in on the ground floor of the bigger online companies, a la Facebook.

Even foreign stocks such as RENN, the quote-unquote "Chinese Facebook," have drawn great attention at their outset. While online companies continue to be all the rage, the difference between the tech bubble of the early 2000's and this sort of new tech bubble is that the companies in the present actually have means of financial backing (though sometimes, not as much as you'd like to see in a stock going for a stock topping $100 per share initially... we're looking at you LNKD, now closer to $60 a pop).

We don't see a bubble bursting in this regard, and in fact see many online and computer companies, such as MSFT (Microsoft)--which we highlighted earlier--and YHOO (Yahoo), as undervalued. What we do see is a good opportunity to short some of these stocks following their IPOs, including Facebook's eventual offering.

While enticing to "get in on the ground floor," it's important to remember that regular Joe investors aren't the typing boosting these IPOs to double their asking price on the first day. It's major firms and big time investors that drive these prices, while the average investor gets in only after the price has ballooned. Nevermind that the Facebook IPO will be well over $100 a share, something an at-home investor type can only realistically purchase a handful of. A better bet is to short these tech stocks after they inflate.

Don't get us wrong, we like the long term prospects of a potential Facebook stock, but the IPO will rise to epic proportions before falling back to earth. Only then will it begin a steady climb--optimistically the likes of which only Google has seen--but initially, shorting the stock (when it finally arrives) is the option we "like" the most.

Stock Watch: Microsoft (MSFT) Worth a Bing Search

One of the more frustrating stocks on the market also might be one of the more valuable--which is why it's so frustrating. Countless number of amateur traders recognize the potential in Microsoft, which can be had at just $23.98, meaning countless number of amateur traders are just about fed up with the ups and downs that never really amount to anything over the past couple years.

However, while the Stock has maintained a relatively stable price, shareholders have been able to collect a roughly three percent annual dividend. And therein lies the value of MSFT.

You'll hear all kinds of things about how the Windows Phone 7 will compete with the likes of the iPhone, Droid and Blackberry (better late than never, Microsoft) or how once the company fires CEO Steve Ballmer (possible, but not as likely as some will have you believe) the stock will soar to the $30-40 range overnight. And you know what? Those statements might be accurate. Probably not, but there is potential.

But, regardless of those and several other optimistic outcomes, patient investors can sit back and collect a nice dividend without worrying about the price dipping too much more. The important thing for MSFT owners is patience. The stock may continue to drop, but a year from now, it will be at least back at $24 by all estimations, at which point you'll have made back whatever charge incurred by your broker for purchasing the stock. After about a year is when we really expect to see MSFT at minimum reaching $28-30, not astronomical but a nice little return. And in the meantime, shareholders can collect those dividends--one of the best way to make money in a down economy.

Microsoft is lagging behind in the smartphone market, which as we mentioned is a problem they are finally alleviating. They recently overpaid in their purchase of Skype. There is some concern (as a USA Today article pointed out yesterday) that the market for gaming consoles such as the Xbox is shrinking. But put all that aside and take a look at an undervalued (or worst case, appropriately valued) stock that will allow you to collect a dividend while holding a great opportunity for some nice gains in a year or two. Microsoft is making money and will continue to make money, no matter how much of that well has been dipped into by Skype and Bing and other foolish projects. As such, so long as you hold this for more than a month or two, it should be relatively easy to make a profit off of MSFT.

Stock Watch: A Look Back

Before we delve into some new stocks, let's take a look at our track record from the stock we were watching a while back. We'll list the date we introduced a stock we were watching, what the price was and what it is now.

We will no longer be rolling out any cheesy "Free Stock Picks" to make the stock market seem more like sports, though make no mistake, the stock market is just legalized gambling. Here's a look back:

June 15, 2009
MGM: Then - $7.13... Now - $14.19... Profit = $7.06 (+99.02%)
LVS: Then - $9.10... Now - $42.08... Profit = $32.98 (+362.42%)
IGT: Then - $16.30... Now - $16.57... Profit = $0.27 (+1.66%)

Welcome to the wonderful world of casino stocks. Had you bought LVS near its bottom, you would be in good shape at the moment. As you can see IGT has not quite had the same boon, so if you debated between LVS and IGT after we recommended both of them, and went with IGT--whoops. MGM bounced back as we expected, a nice 100% profit there. But LVS is clearly the cream of this crop.

September 23, 2008
AIG: Then - $5.00... Now -$27.65... Profit = $22.65 (+453.00%)

Lot's of bad press was going around about AIG at this time, but that's the key to making money in the market--take a contrarian approach when the market is bottoming out. That's when you can find value in big companies like AIG. We might even still buy AIG and expect to make money once the U.S. economy finally gets out of this thing, but to get in at five bucks is gold. It's all about timing.

January 29, 2008
ETFC: Then - $4.14... Now $14.49... Profit = $10.35 (+250.00%)

Another value pick here... It's almost hard to believe E-trade was down to four bucks (actually got down to two), and we simply got in at the right time again. Trusting that the big companies will bounce back (most of them) in a recession is the best way to make money, although the downside is that it requires the economy to be in a recession. We did a nice job getting into some of these near their bottoms and striking while the iron was hot, but we also missed an opportunity with other stocks that had bottomed and then ballooned back up even more. Still, we're happy with the results of the ones we were in on.

January 21, 2008
STTK: Then - $0.035... Now $0.06 (as STTN)... Profit = N/A

This is your lessen kids: don't bet on penny stocks. While the appeal of getting rich quick is there, it's very rare. You may be asking, what are you talking about Stock Lemon, though STTK changed its symbol, it is up from three-and-a-half pennies to six pennies, almost 100% profit! Sure, kids, it looks that way. But the reality is, as far as we can tell (we haven't really been paying attention to this one), they had some sort of reverse split a couple years ago wherein a single share of STTK is not equal to a single share of STTN. Anytime a company changes its symbol, unless it was bought by someone, it's not a good sign. This is a borderline bankrupt company that by all appearances had nothing to do with Bird Flu as they claimed. Sketchy.

As you can see, aside from our dip into penny stocks (idiots), we have fared pretty well in the past. Here's hoping for continued future success. Take note: all of these stocks were as of market close on Friday, in what has been a bad week to start what is likely to be a bad month. These stocks all reached even higher levels than their current prices.

More Like Fade Lemon

As you may have gathered, we've been single-handedly giving lemons a bad name by attempting to make bets on sports that we hardly follow.

It hasn't been going well.

What if we told you, all of this was a set up, designed to get our audience pumped up for our re-newed foray into the stock market? Since our last few picks have been so bad, we have to find some way to make money, right?

As we mentioned earlier this week, we'll begin looking at stocks a little further, just like the good old days. We'll still be heavy on sports content, particularly in football season (if there is one), but this is your second warning that the stocks are a coming.

For advertisers representing stock companies, this is your first call to action. We will accommodate you as well here at Stock Lemon. Simply shoot an email to stocklemonblog@gmail.com and let us know what you are interested in.

For the rest of you shmucks looking to give us a little cash, the paypal button to the left--despite contrary belief--does indeed work.

Now let's go make some money, be it in sports or stocks.

Stock Lemon Summer Vacation: The Stock Market

We're notorious for some sporadic posting in the summer months, for a variety of reasons. Usually, we take the summer to work on side projects or continue to learn how to improve our existing product here at Stock Lemon.

This summer, we're taking a vacation again, but this time we're taking you with us as we travel to Wall St.

That's right, we're going back to the basics here. We are, after all, the main squeeze on stocks and sports wagers.

Fear not, sports fans, there will be a few Free MLB Picks sprinkled in this summer, but we'll also unveil some Free Stock Picks for the first time in... let's just say too long (especially considering we still have stocks in our header).

We figured our recent cold streak across multiple sports (hockey, baseball, even horse racing) provided us with a nice opportunity to let you know of our summer plans.

So come with us through the many ups and downs of the market as we find the hidden gems.

Welcome to the New and Improved Stock Lemon!

If you've been hitting F5 all night waiting for us to pump out some more 2010 World Cup coverage (coming later tonight, for you nighthawks), you've probably noticed some changes throughout the night. As you can see, we have implemented a new template here at Stock Lemon for the first time since our inception in December of 2007.

We feel like the layout, while not drastically different, gives us a cleaner overall look. The use of charcoal as a background color for the text makes the site more readable, while the addition of a left sidebar gives us the potential for more content in the future, including polls and other links.

But enough about how we feel about it, how do you feel about the changes around here. Shoot us an e-mail at stocklemonblog@gmail.com.

Keep in mind that we will continue to provide betting analysis on all major sports and sporting events, and will remain your main squeeze on stocks and sports wagers, even if we pretty much never talk about stocks.

Ad for those of you sick of the ads on the page, or those who don't like that they get top billing above our posts--you can do something about it! Just send us a donation using the paypal icon on the left and we will be one step closer to not having to put our Adsense in such prime location. Hey, we gotta eat!

So let us know, and in the meantime, check out our 2010 World Cup coverage, with much more to come as the first kick is now hours away!

More Free Stock Picks Upcoming?

Just a heads up for the millions of viewers who follow us for our stock picks, we should be rolling out a few good ones relatively shortly. We've been keeping a close eye on the market just waiting to pounce on a few and the time might be soon.

Be sure to check back for more updates!

Calling All Bloggers!

The inevitable expansion of Stock Lemon is near! If you recall, we originally looked at expanding to more websites, offering a wider variety of content outside of sports and stocks.

We purchased the website Cash Shark, before adding their writer to our staff for a brief period of time. Eventually, the expansion project went by the wayside.

Now, however, we are looking at expanding within our own site. If you're a blogger interested in contributing to Stock Lemon, e-mail us at stocklemonblog@gmail.com.

Experienced gamblers or writers are welcome to send us an e-mail as we look to further enhance the content value of our site to our readers.

Stock Watch: Screw It Here's Julie Henderson

We've been updating you regularly on some casino stocks we've been watching, and we were planning on another update today. Unfortunately, the market didn't do so hot, so we don't really feel like talking about it. Fortunately, that means we'll randomly post a picture of some eye candy to take our minds off the market.

Per The Bucky Channel, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a new gal pal, Sports Illustrated model Julie Henderson. So, naturally, here's a picture of Henderson sporting a Packers cap.

Okay, it's actually a Grambling State hat, but they use the same logo.

We'll update you on our casino stocks watchlist shortly, but until then, pictures of models will have to suffice.

Stock Watch: Wednesday Casino Update

We just wanted to quickly update you on the three stocks that we mentioned earlier that we are watching, MGM, LVS, and IGT.

All three stocks are casino stocks with long term value but a lot of uncertainty in the short term.

LVS and MGM were up yesterday, but appear to be on their way to a negative close today, below their opening week numbers. This roller coaster ride will probably continue for a few months, so we have to determine whether or not we are tall enough to ride.

IGT is holding pretty steady around the $15.70 per share mark, and really it's our third option at this point behind LVS and MGM.

Reader par88 also mentioned Boyd Gaming Corporation (BYD) as a possible casino stock that could return to prominence when things get straightened out, and we tend to agree. Currently trading in the mid-$8 range, we are keeping an eye on that one as well.

Nothing major has happened since Monday, and we expect to ride the storm out a little longer before riding the roller coaster that is stock in casinos.

Brett Favre's First Practice With Vikings

Are we there yet?

As you can see, in addition to picking sports games and stocks, we're also in the business of predicting the future.

This is Brett Favre on the first day of Vikings Training Camp, in uniform and ready to begin his 2009 revenge tour against the Packers.

Favre appeared on Joe Buck's new HBO show tonight, Joe Buck Live, to publicly confirm his interest in playing for the Vikings this upcoming season after flaming out with the Jets last year.

Okay, okay. So that's a picture of John David Booty. But it won't be long before that's Favre occupying his purple No. 4 jersey (or red for practices). If you can find a prop bet asking whether or not he'll return to the NFL this season, consider it the easiest money you'll ever make.

Stock Watch: Casino Stocks Monday Report

We are closely watching three casino stocks: MGM, IGT, and LVS, all of which were down today in what was overall a pretty rough day for the market.

While none are official Free Stock Picks quite yet, it's possible that one of them will soon be.

Here's today's ugly report:

MGM 6.53 -0.60‎ (-8.42%‎)

LVS 8.05 -1.05‎ (-11.54%‎)

IGT 15.76 -0.54‎ (-3.31%‎)

As we said, today we are just watching. Soon, though, these ugly numbers might have a serious impact on Lemmy's kid's college fund.

Stock Watch: MGM and Casino Stocks

We mentioned that we're getting back into the stock market over the summer, and we can't wait any longer.

We aren't giving this out as a Free Stock Pick quite yet, but we like what the future holds for Metro Goldwynn Mayer, or MGM, which opened the day at $7.13 a share.

In fact, we like quite a few casino stocks as long term holds. Las Vegas Sands (LVS) opened at $9.10, and though a little pricier at $16.30, International Game Technology (IGT) has plenty of long term value.

All of these casino stocks have seen better days, but there are also better days ahead. These three stocks were all well above the $30 per share mark a year ago, and we have reason to believe they'll return to that mark as the economy continues to rebound.

For now, because of its potential and lower value at the moment, MGM is our main focus, but don't count out the others.

When we do decide on a stock (or three), we'll post it on the right hand side of the page, where we post the rest of our important gibberish. For now, watch these stocks closely. Depending on how they perform today or in the coming week, we could be making an investment very soon.

Taking Stock Again

Earlier, we posted an entry titled Taking Stock (Lemon), explaining what was a brief absence from our post here at the site.

Now, we're Taking Stock again, this time in relation to the Free Stock Picks which used to dominate our site.

In other words, we've been taking some time to get back in the stock market, now that things are finally starting to clear up.

We've had brief success in the past with STTK, ETFC, and AIG, all of which are in miserable shape at the moment, but those were obviously short term stocks anyway. In the future, we'll have more stock analysis in addition to our sports coverage on the site.

Good things are ahead here at Stock Lemon, so stay tuned.

Finals Week

For the most part, schools are out for the summer, but that doesn't mean that Finals week is over. With the NBA Finals and the NHL Stanley Cup in progress, we couldn't help but emerge from our hibernation to give you a couple of predictions. 

In the NHL, we like the Red Wings to take the deciding Game 7 over the Penguins, beating Pittsburgh for the Stanley Cup for the second straight year. 

In the NBA, although the Magic are fresh off a game three victory, we like the Lakers to take care of business in six games. The series is currently at 2-1 in favor of LA. 

While the NBA and NHL seasons come to a close, Stock Lemon will likely emerging out of its peel for the summer ahead. Our ventures on tap include a foray back into stocks (the original inspiration behind our name) as well as more sports and sports betting analysis. 

So don't worry, we will be back. Just make sure you're back as well. 

Attention Advertisers!

We don't normally do this, but in an attempt to monetize our blog so that prizes can be rewarded for contests and we can improve other areas of the site, we're calling all advertisers on over to Stock Lemon. 

Sportsbooks? Poker sites? Stock tips? Any and everything related to this site is welcome. Our rates can be discussed by e-mailing us at stocklemonblog@gmail.com. 

It's March, and our traffic for the month picks up due to the increase in bettors looking to get in on March Madness with some NCAA Basketball Tournament bets, so now is the perfect time to advertise with us here at Stock Lemon.

So, what are you waiting for?

Merry Christmas To You, Happy Birthday To Us!

It's December 25, which of course, means it's Christmas day.

More importantly, though, is that on this day one year ago, in the wee hours of Christmas morning, Lemmy was born.

This site has officially been up and running for a full year, providing you with the main squeeze on stocks (sometimes) and sports wagers. At the exact minute of this post, Stock Lemon turned one.

That said, we'd like to wish Lemmy a Happy Birthday. Don't tell him that his hat doesn't fit.

So whether you're celebrating the birth of Jesus or the birth of Lemmy, enjoy Christmas day.

Thanks for hanging around for a full year, and, we hope, for many years ahead.

Lemmy Awards: Top Sports Wagering Sites

Yes, folks, it's time for another presentation of our Lemmy Awards, which recognize excellence in sports related websites.

We've given out a few Lemmy Awards in the past, once for the Top Five Sports Betting and Stock Websites and once for the Top Five Rivals Sports Message Boards.

As our focus shifts more in the direction of sports wagering than stock picking (though we're not done flirting with the stock market just yet), we thought it would be a good idea to narrow some Lemmy Awards to the Top Sports Wagering Sites, eliminating stocks from the award.

We should note that these awards are only for American-based sports betting sites, though we know of many great European sports wagering blogs, which may call for another Lemmy Awards presentation on a later date. For now, check out Green-All-Over for sports investing or Ed's Betting Blog for some picks or Italian Easy Bet (Scommesse Facili) if you're fluent in Italian, all of which can be found permanently on the Lemmy's Friends blogroll. We should also mention Picks That Cover, which isn't foreign but they have only been around since October, so we'll let them grow before throwing the high expectations that a Lemmy Award brings at them.

Since we've been around a lot longer than we were when we rolled out our first awards, there are many blogs that we only recently found out about and there surely are many more we haven't yet discovered, so don't feel bad if your blog is not included in this edition. If you have a blog you feel is worthy, go ahead and shoot us an e-mail so we can check it out.

For the occassion, we have updated our Lemmy Award, giving Lemmy a nice little spot on the trophy rather than floating somehow above it. Even at the risk of losing some traffic to one of these sites that you might like better, we feel obligated to provide you with the best resources possible to make smart wagers--but try to check in with us even if these guys are making you more money (please?). That said, let's move to those brand-new Lemmy Awards.

• The Online Sports Bettor

First off, we're giving The Online Sports Better a second Lemmy Award, after handing one out in our inaugural "ceremony." This makes The Online Sports Bettor the only two-time Lemmy Award winner, something they are likely bragging about at every moment possible.

The Online Sports Bettor specializes in NFL, hitting 58% with a 33-24 record this year, as well as MLB picks. Occasionally the Sports Bettor will tackle other sports, but NFL and MLB are the big ones over there. His stated objective is to bet on sports, win, and tell you about, according to the header of the blog, along with making you laugh and winning tons of money.

For three years, The Online Sports Bettor has done both.

• The Visionary Sports Handicapping Blog

The Visionary, along with The Online Sports Bettor, can both be found on the blogroll, and they are there for good reason. Picks are posted daily for all major sports, with pretty decent percentages.

In the MLB, the Visionary enjoyed a 77-56 (58%) season and is .500 or better in every sport except the NBA. At least we aren't the only ones off to a rough start in that department.

Along with free picks of varying unit amounts, the Visionary provides sports commentary and news on the current state of the onling betting industry. Hopefully, now that he has earned a Lemmy Award, he doesn't big-time his readers and quit the great work he's been doing

• The Money Line Journal

The Money Line Journal has some great wagering insight and some hilarious reviews on the outcome of his games, along with his very frequently updated picks.

While the picks haven't beed doing so great this year as opposed to last year (-31 units in 2008-09 compared to +175 units in '07-08), he still delivers them with great wit on a daily basis in a multitude of sports. Yes, including golf. He provides sports wagering with an attitude and isn't afraid to show emotion after a back-door cover.

We've been mentioned once on his site after e-mailing him a story of ours, which he then stuck in a Q & A session of his blog, complete with a sarcastic remark:

I am sure that the above link is going to result in loads of meaningful, repeat traffic for the soon to be famous “Stockle Mon”** blog.

The asterisk notes that he reads Stock Lemon as Stockle Mon, but hey, at least he's reading it at all. Be sure to check out some of his comments based off message board posters, or one of the aforementioned Q & A sessions. Hopefully, his last post about his struggles does not lead to him getting away from some of the things he has done so well.

• Against All Odds

Against All Odds has had some success in various sports (59-49 in NCAA Football), including way more bets on tennis than we ever imagine making (47-45 record). It's usually a good place to be during baseball season, not just because they were up 8 units on the year, but because the write-ups are pretty darn good.

In fact, the write-ups for their picks of any sports are better than a lot of what you'll find on the internet and are always worth a read. The two-man operation out to beat the books does a nice job of justifying their picks, and they'll cause you to think twice if you're on the other side of a play.

• Vegas Watch

Again, we said we felt obligated to post the best sports wagering sites we know of, and that's what we're doing. That doesn't mean that these sites are too fond of us, for whatever reason.

A while ago, we decided to add our Lemmy's Friends blogroll to the right side of the page and so we e-mailed around to see if anyone was interested in link exchange. Vegas Watch and a couple of others (some of which are Lemmy Award winners) seemed to have a personal grudge against us and didn't want to add us to their own blogrolls, which is fine.

Later, Vegas Watch e-mailed us regarding our reasoning for the Steelers as one of our NFL picks. Of course, the reasoning was made up, as many of you know we simply follow our systems but sometimes post a fun stat anyway that favors our side. Vegas Watch didn't undestand that, and replied hastily:

I don't understand how you could actually give it as reasoning for picking the Steelers. Do you actually think it's relevant to a football game?

We later asked him again about including us in his blogroll, to which he decided:

Quality of the content isn't close to being high enough.

When we told him that other links on his blogroll haven't even been updated in months, he shot back:

I am glad you're policing my blogroll. Fantastic. I have no further input.

So, if anyone thinks that these Lemmy Awards are only given to blogs that we are friendly with... that isn't always the case. Regardless, Vegas Watch is deserving of the award more for commentary than for picks. You can find some great weekly NFL survivor analysis as well as a tracking of MLB free agents, in addition to whetting your gambling appetite.

• Sports Investments

Another site that isn't quite fond of us enough to put us into that elusive blogroll of theirs, but another deserved site. Like the Money Line Journal, the units are down this year (-13 in 2008-09 after +84 in '07-08), but there's still time to improve upon that.

We especially like the disclaimer at the bottom of the page, which states: "I am not responsible, nor do I care, if you lose money following my picks."

After their peformance last year, their readers can afford to lose some money.

• You Guessed it, Frank Stallone

They aren't having a great year over there, but they deserve a Lemmy Award for the constantly updated picks and solid write-ups. After all, the worst thing a gambler can do is quit, right?

Hopefully this award can help brighten up their mood, as the "about me" says: "If you know me, you know where I am. If you don't, let's keep it that way."

Maybe not the friendliest, but a Lemmy Award winner nonetheless.

Congratulations to the seven Lemmy Award winners. Feel free to brag about the award all you want. Go ahead, stick the image of that Lemmy Award trophy all over your site. Just remember to tell everyone about the great free picks you get over at your favorite site.

Mark Cuban's Insider Trading Coincidence

As you probably heard in the last few days, the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission, not the Southeastern Conference) recently charged Mavericks owner Mark Cuban with some insider trading that allegedly netted him about $750k by selling stock in MAMA, or Mamma.com.

Apparently, Cuban had some information that was supposed to be confidential and he used the info to sell the stock before the info that he knew became public. Which is just about the exact definition of insider trading. Only, as we've learned, it looks like a phone transcript between Cuban and Mamma.com pretty obviously clears Cuban's name, but that's neither here nor there.

We just wanted to point out a little piece of information that might be helpful to the SEC, since they need something to base their charges on. How about this: Cuban posted on his blog, blogmaverick.com, November 17 about the charges against him, after not posting anything for three days. The last post?

Titled: I hate to lose.

So what if the post is about his Mavericks and their sluggish start to the NBA season, isn't it a little ironic that his last post is about how he hates to lose, when he's being charged for selling stocks so that he didn't lose a big chunk of change? Or, maybe, the last post is forshadowing how the case will be resolved--with Cuban doing everything he can not to lose.

Either way, the SEC might as well take this possible Freudian slip into evidence. It's better than anything else they've got.