Australia Ecstatic Over Heath Ledger Oscar Odds

Heath Ledger's odds of winning an Oscar for his portrayal of the Joker in "Batman: The Dark Night" were listed at a whopping 1/66 at  Sportingbet.com.  He's a bigger lock to win "Best Supporting Actor" than Jamie Foxx was to take home the Oscar a few years back for "Ray".  In other words, Ledger is the closest thing to a "lock" in the betting world as the New York Yankees would be beating a little league squad.

The Media Man, Greg Tingle, tells Gambling911.com that everyone in Ledger's native Australia will be tuned in to watch the Oscars later this month.

"Australia is very excited about the Heath Ledger being nominated," Tingle Said.  "I never heard anyone ever say a bad word about him.  Heath used to live just down the road from us at Bronte Beach, however, one or two rabid paparazzi saw Health generally keen a lower public profile in the proceeding 12 months prior to his untimely death.  Like many actors, artists and talented arty types, his fame grew after he left us, and Australia still loves him despite Ledger's sometimes problem with drugs, which ultimately cost him his life."

Still, it will be a bittersweet moment.  Ledger died at the age of 28, from an accidental "toxic combination of prescription drugs".  Likewise, Australia is reeling from a series of bush fires that have taken nearly 200 lives.

"Australia is in somewhat of a doubly somber mood at the moment with the reminder of Ledger no longer being amongst us in addition to many of us having friends and contacts adversely effected by the terrible bushfire's in Victoria which have cost over 150 lives, and even more tragic, some of the fires have been found to be deliberately lit.  Our Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd has called it ‘mass murder'.

"The Oscars could give Australia and indeed the western world some light relief and all important escapism from Mother Earth's current woes, much of which are man made."    

"The Oscars have every chance of breaking ratings and viewership records and no doubt that's exactly what advertisers and sponsors will be hoping for."

Jordan Bach, Gambling911.com