Rosie O'Donnell Leaving The View?

Online gambling website Bodog.com (see website here) was quick to release betting odds on whether Rosie O'Donnell would be leaving The View.  Odds have been posted surprisingly at -130 on the "NO".  In other words you would have to pay $13 to win $10 plus your initial $13 bet if she stays on.....and this bet option is specific to the end of 2007 (meaning as of this date - January 10, 2007 - you have almost an entire year for Rosie to either leave willingly or get thrown off by Barbara).  A bet on "YES" incidentally pays even odds.

Trump brought the much publicized feud to a whole new level citing a report in the New York Post that Rosie O'Donnell had called The View producer and co-host Barbara Walters "a [expletive] liar"

Here is the letter sent by the Donald:

Dear Rosie,

I hope you had a wonderful vacation with your wife -- you needed the rest.

An article in today's New York Post, indicates that you blew up at Barbara Walters for being a 'liar.' Actually, I don't blame you, but in fact she lied to both of us! After your maniacal and foolish rant against me two weeks ago, Barbara called me from her vacation (I did not call her) in order to apologize for your behavior. She had heard that I was going to retaliate against you and tried to talk me out of it. She very much wanted me to go on the show as soon as she got back so that she could 'patch things up' (I said no). To be exact, she said that 'working with her is like living in hell' and, more pointedly, 'Donald never get into the mud with pigs' and, 'don't worry, she won't be here for long.' Barbara knows exactly what she told me over the phone and she has to live with it. Perhaps that's why her initial statement was so mild!

In another incident, when I saw her eating at Le Cirque about two months ago and asked how 'Rosie was doing,' 'she sarcastically rolled her eyes and said 'Donald, do you have to ruin my meal.'

In any event, you have a good reason to be angry. Please give my warmest regards to Kelly [sic]!

Sincerely, Donald J. Trump

P.S. I was surprised that you let your spat with Barbara get into the newspapers, but, as I have always said and as you proved with Rosie, the magazine, you are very self destructive. You must work on this for your own good!
 

As sensitive as Barbara Walters might be (witness the Star Jones incident), she's probably a pretty astute business woman.  Love her or hate her, Rosie O'Donnell has managed to bring The View its biggest ratings since its inception 10 years ago (virtually unheard of in television today).

The best bet is that Barbara will silence Rosie herself and do a little closing show Jerry-Springer-like lecture, asking that the feud come to an end and that The View will have no role in it.

We trust that many who might not normally tune into the view will do so this Thursday morning.  This all girl gabfest has certainly grabbed our attention.  It's on ABC at 9 pm EST but check your local listings just in case.

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Sparky Collins, www.gambling911.com

Originally published January 9, 2007 11:29 pm ET