Vog Blog

Madson and More

2012-01-11T10:42:00.001-05:00

What a wild last 30-31 days it has been for Cincinnati sports. Now comes word the Reds are signing closer Ryan Madson. This is a huge signing, but I'm still not one of those who feels you have to overpay for the position. Initial reports say the Reds will pay more than 8-million dollars for one year of service. Not out of whack with the market, but a big chunk for Cincinnati. Does this mean the Reds are content with Chris Heisey starting in left field? If they are content with that, then this signing is fine. My guess is they have looked at available talent at the position and figure they are just as good with Heisey as they are the other candidates. This appears to be true, and I am more than happy to see the Reds give Heisey the chance as opposed to overspending for Cody Ross or Ryan Ludwick. But Heisey a bit of a strikeout issue, and the lineup could be overloaded with k-candidates again, especially if Juan Francisco ends up playing a lot of third base. At least the Reds are doing something and not standing pat like last season.

Now back to the crazy past 30-31 days. Think about it. Starting with the Crosstown Brawl, there has been a major story every week. Maybe two major stories every week. The brawl, the Mat Latos deal, the U.C. bowl game, the Bengals to the playoffs, the Bearcats start winning basketball games while Xavier starts losing them, and Barry Larkin elected to the hall of fame. Even a week before the brawl we had Redsfest and two northern Kentucky schools (Highlands and Holy Cross) winning state titles in football. All big stories, and all big reasons why Cincinnati remains a b ig sports market. I know our attendance will lag at times, and for very good reasons, but the appetite for sports information in this area remains at a very high level.

Thanks BCS

2012-01-09T23:35:00.001-05:00

...for an absolutely horrific LSU-Alabama Part 2. Yeah, it would have been a real shame to have Oklahoma State and it's powerful offense spice up the Championship game. Nope, we don't need a playoff, the BCS has perfected boring. I would almost suggest an LSU-Alabama part 3 to really settle the score since they are 1-1. But that would be considered torture. There were a lot of good, exciting bowl games. Too bad the biggest one turned out to be a snoozer. But, I think we could have predicted that.

Post Game From Houston

2012-01-07T22:28:00.002-05:00

You saw the game and you know the score. 31-10 Texans over the Bengals. The Texans made the big plays and the Bengals didn't. The Texans did a nice job attacking the Bengals with the two running backs, Foster and Tate. The Bengals locker room was not overly subdued. They talk of youth and how much more they can grow. That is how they have to look at it. Marvin Lewis talked about how the Texans came together by growing up while adding players along the way. He sees the Bengals as the same way, just a little behind. There is a lot of truth in that. But a lot of irony too. The Texans spare no expense to make this team better. In fact, it was the Bengals losing a promising young cornerback to the Texans. Now Johnathan Joseph is heading to a pro bowl. The Texans have a stadium with a retactable dome, but they don't practice there. The practice facility is across the street, compelete with outdoor fields and an indoor bubble. So if it rains or gets cold, the players aren't spending their time trying to stay warm or dry and comfortable. No, they are spending their time learning and working. The Bengals could learn a lot modeling themselves after the recent ways of the Texans. Defense, running game, and support. We saw the difference Saturday on the field and across the street.

Game Day In Houston

2012-01-07T13:03:00.000-05:00

Game Day is here and the Hoston fabs are tailgating en-masse. We went to the stadium for some morning live shots and there was a line of pickup trucks a quarter-mile long waiting for one of the lots to open. Many of them were pulling big grills behind them. Apparently Houston has some serious tailgating. One fans claims reseasrch has shown Houston is ther number one tailgating site in the NFL. I haven't been able to get confirmation of that from the commissioner's office, but one quick eyeball check will tell you these folks are serious. As for the game, it's the usual dilemma: stop the run. The Texans can run the ball as well as anyone. But the Bengals did a terrific job stopping the Houston run last month. But the recent problem of big plays against the Bengals run defense could be an Achille's heel. Not allowing big plays on the ground will be critical to the Bengals' chances.

Friday Morning

2012-01-06T11:18:00.000-05:00

The Bengals are set to arrive here later this afternoon and they will be greeted by some pleasant weather. It has been in the mid to upper 60's since we arrive Thursday afternoon. We checked out the scene around Reliant Stadium last night and I was surprised to see the old Astrodome still standing. It is about 100 yards away from the new stadium. It appeared rundown. like the kind of place that would be full of rats and bats and other critters. A very eery looking place especially considering all of the history there and that it was once the Eighth Wonder of the World. We're entering Katy, Texas as I type. It is the hometown of Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. We'll check back in after we see a few fols here!

No Problems

2012-01-05T18:22:00.000-05:00

We made it to Houston with no issues. My new titanium neck whizzed thrugh security at the airtport, Delta gave our crew the red-carpet treatment(I think because Sheree Paolello is with us, although maybe it was photographers John Tapogna and John Massey!)and our flight could not have been smoother. Our crew could not notice when we were flying in that across the street from Reliant Stadium is a....... practice bubble! So they have a stadium with a retractable roof and a bubble. And it's about 65 degrees down here. I'm not saying that matters Saturday, but during free agent season it certainly does.

Heading To Houston

2012-01-05T11:00:00.001-05:00

Our crew is getting ready to shove off to Houston and follow the Bengals in their quest to beat the Texans and advance to the second round of the playoffs. My first personal hurdle is getting through airport security. I had neck-fusion surgery back in October, so I have some new hardware in my neck. It's a titanium plate with 6 screws. Here's an x-ray view of it from the back:

I had cadaver bone placed between the C-4 and C-5 and the C-5 and C-6. (I believe Peyton Manning had his just below, between C-6 and C-7) Basically my discs had collapsed and the vertebrate were squeezing some nerves. So Dr. Jaideep Chunduri and Dr. Ian Rodway of Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine pried them apart, put in the cadaver bone, and it is all growing back together to make one nice, solid bone. Hopefully the special card they gave me to show the TSA agents will get me through the gate if/when they see the following on my body scan!

Wow, Was I Ever Wrong

2011-12-28T12:30:00.000-05:00

It's not the first time, but I didn't give the Bengals much of a chance selling out Sunday's game against Baltimore. They essentially did it in less than three business days. You have to give the Bengals a lot of credit on this one. Not only did they make a nice deal with the fans, they were able to handle the physical logistics of selling so many tickets. It's a great thing for the players, who deserve to play before a packed house. No matter what some may think of ownership or the front office, this one should be for the players. And when it became about the players, the fans came through. Now will the players come through on Sunday? I think there is a very good chance the Bengals beat Baltimore. Baltimore has struggled on the road. All four of the losses suffered by the Ravens this year have been road games. Their road record is 3-4. They have lost at Tennessee, Jacksonville, Seattle, and San Diego. Jacksonville, Seattle? If the Ravens have lost to teams like those on the road, I think and up and coming bunch of Bengals have the upper hand on Sunday. But as a warning, I've been wrong before!

Will Bengals Sell Out?

2011-12-26T13:57:00.002-05:00

I don't think so. It's a lot to ask to sell 24-thousand tickets in one week. Outsiders look at Cincinnati and wonder "what in the heck is wrong with those fans? How can a team that is one win away from the playoffs not have great support in the hour of need?" The rest of us in Cincinnati know the history and the reasons. We got a nice smack in the face of that reality last week when Mike Brown reportedly paid $200-million in cash, real dollars, to buy the 30 percent stake of the Bengals team stock held by the estate of Austin Knowlton. This happens while potential improvements for the team are left on the table and deemed too expensive. Little things, like an indoor practice facility that every other team that needs one enjoys. We know U.C. paid about 12-million for its facility, and that included building the fields from scratch. Little things, like a starting cornerback named Johnathan Joseph. He was drafted and developed by the Bengals. But the minute he cost upper-echelon dollars, he was deemed expendable. But now fans are being chastised for not buying in. Many fans still care and that is refelected in high local television ratings for Bengals games. But they aren't buying in yet, and who can blame them? Get ready for the blitz this week from local radio and probably local television to BUY,BUY,BUY! It may work, but as I said, it is a lot of tickets to sell. And I think a mindset has set in that goes something like this: "I can't tell Mike Brown how to spend his money, and I sure as heck am not going to allow him to dictate how I spend mine."

Another Week Of Surprises

2011-12-18T23:35:00.001-05:00

U.C. starts pouring in the points, while Xavier gets whacked at home. The Reds make a big trade, and the Bengals are back in the hunt despite playing a less than stellar game. Outsiders may not think Cincinnati is an exciting place, but every Sunday night there are at least a couple of stories where I shake my head and say, "I can't believe it!"

I can believe the Reds deal, but I can't believe how sure many pundits are so sure it's a great deal for the Padres, or a great deal for the Reds. No one knows right now. If Mat Latos turns into Curt Schilling, the Reds probably got themselves a good deal. But, the odds are tilted in favor of San Diego. If for no other reasons than the Padres get four players, any of whom could turn out to be good. Volquez will be the least likely, but again you never know. The early line on Alonso, Grandal, and Boxberger suggests two of the three should turn out to be good players. I don't think Alonso can miss. For that reason alone I would have liked to have seen the Reds at least get a prospect along with Latos.

The Bengals won soooooooooooo ugly. This does not inspire a lot of hope from this little corner of the world that Marvin's men will finish with wins over Arizona and Baltimore. without two more wins, I don't see Cincinnati in the playoffs.

I could not have seen the blowout coming for Xavier. Sure, I though the Musketeers might struggle to win, but after the first five minutes, X got whacked. Yanking three starters from a basketball lineup is definitely a big deal. So the tournament selection committee will certainly keep that in mind when they see a huge loss on the home court.

U.C. certainly has found a way to put the ball in the basket. We'll find out soon enough if opening things up will turn the season around. First off all, the players are just playing. They have quit playing stilted and are letting it all hang out. That helps shooting. And when this team can make shots from the perimeter, and pick up some easy baskets by cranking up the tempo, it's a lot more fun for everyone involved. I can tell you this, it's much more enjoyable to watch.

Suspensions and Bengals

2011-12-11T23:09:00.000-05:00

This time the two are not related, other than being a part of the same blog entry. The Bengals playoff hopes took a major hit on Sunday with the collapse against the Houston Texans. No way they should have lost 20-19, especially after leading by 13 at halftime. But it's very odd what happens to the Bengals in December. If they are out of the playoff chase, they seem to spring to life down the stretch and play well. When they are in the playoff hunt, or make the playoffs, they seem to stagger down the stretch. In 2005, the Bengals dropped the last two games, but were playing for nothing in the final week. In 2006, they staggered home and missed the playoffs with 3 straight losses to end the season. In 2009 they lost 3 of the last 4 games. Granted the last game against the Jets didn't matter, but the next week against the Jets mattered in the first round of the playoffs. And now comes this season. They better win the last three games like they did in 2008, to finish 4-11-1!

The suspensions are out, and I can agree for the most part. The Big East agrees with U.C. that Gates, Mbodj, and Ellis get 6 games. Ge'Lawn Guyn gets one. Xavier gave Dez Wells and Landen Amos four games. Mark Lyons two and Tu Holloway gets one. The A-10 is cool with that. Lengthy suspensions are uncommon in college basketball but this was a rare moment. The best news would be that the universities not only grabbed the attention of the the suspended players but all of the players. In fact all of the student athletes at U.C. and X.U. U.C. has attached zero tolerance to the suspensions and Mick Cronin says he could add some games if he doesn't like what he sees out of his men in the interim. In my earlier posting I said the series needs a break. I really believe that. Let not just the players, but all of us in Cincinnati realize that the game is a city treasure, and should be treated as such by all of us in the tri-state.

The Crosstown Needs A Break

2011-12-11T03:17:00.001-05:00

There was a time I felt the Crosstown Shootout was a better Cincinnati event than Opening Day for the Reds. The last time I felt that way was just past 2:30 p.m., Saturday, December 10, 2011. I now feel this rivalry needs a break, and it's too bad. I purposely waited about 12 hours after the event to let it soak in before I pounded out some thoughts. I thought my initial reaction would fade, but it has only become stronger as I look at replays, watch youtube videos, and see what John McCain would truly categorize as a "human cockfight." It's sickening, embarrassing, and probably will not recapture it's innocence for a few years to come. For anyone who lives in Greater Cincinnati, or is a fan of either team, that should make you sad. I wish I were wrong, but I've watched this game for more than a few years now.
The Crosstown Shootout was a celebration of the Cincinnati zest for competition. "Take no prisoners!" But once the game was over, I'll meet you at Dana Gardens or Martino's to buy you the shot and the beer I owe you. After that, it was a year's worth of ribbing and "wait 'til next year." We thought Huggins and Gillen refusing to shake hands was a big deal. And it was! This was supposed to be the gentleman's rivalry where the city was together before, then after the game.
I recently watched the ESPN "30 for 30" presentation about the Alabama-Auburn rivalry. I laughed about how the fans down there take the Iron Bowl game so seriously. I recoiled at Takeo Spikes and his classless "War %@#%*^$ Eagle" declaration. Totally classless. I mean, just ridiculous for a grown man to say that on the record for a video that will be played coast to coast and on the internet from here on out. Really? And some half-wit Alabama fan "allegedly" poisons the Oak trees at Toomer's Corner in Auburn. If you happened to see this guy, who is in his 60's and now maintains his innocence, you had to cringe. Complete loser. Let's not go there Cincinnati! But in some ways we have.
From U.C. fans booing Xavier cheerleaders in the 80's to Saturday's vulgar chants from the student section at the Cintas Center, this thing has been brewing. The more we tolerate, the more we'll get. It finally boiled over into civic embarrassment on the court. Pick your player: Yancy Gates, Dez Wells, Cheikh Mbodj, Mark Lyons, it does not matter. Both universities need to get a handle on this. Then, maybe, they can resume the series. Until then I'll just celebrate Cincinnati sports on Opening Day. What a shame.

UC, Butch, and Big East

2011-12-08T20:37:00.000-05:00

It appears the U.C. Bearcats will not be looking for another football coach. There were some in the program who feared Illinois would make another hard run at Butch Jones, but Ilinois appears to be set on Toledo's Tim Beckman. I saw Butch Wednesday night at the G.C.L. football banquet and he was really fired up about this year's recruiting class. After the banquet he was hopping a private plane to visit a couple more highly rated prosepcts and had high hopes he would be securing another committment or two. For more on the life of Butch and his staff you need to read this all-access report by Tim Adams at BearcatLair. I suggest reading all of the segments. Great stuff. Also, while giving his speech at the banquet, Butch talked about how flattered he's been by other programs showing interest. He said he is proud that other schools recognize the work of his assistants and success of his players. Butch added that some like to say the grass is greener on the other side, but he thinks the grass is green right here in Cincinnati. After the banquet at least a couple of the high school coaches on hand remarked they thought Butch was very good at the podium. Not too long, but a couple of powerful messages to share with the kids.

By the way, new U.C. athletic director Whit Babcock is getting rave reviews. I have polled just about every athletic department employee I've seen, and they all say the guy has made quite the positive, early impression. It's funny, every person has said "real deal", "the man", or "home run", or some other phrase. I'm told he's already shaken the bushes and found some big-time money from at least one new donor. I also was assured U.C. president Greg Williams is 100% on board with getting football every resource possible. It all sounds good for the Bearcats, but action, donors, and fans will determine the final fate.

Someone help me. The immediate reaction to the new Big East was to laugh, ridicule, and talk about what a joke it is. So, what was the alternative for the Big East to survive as a football conference? Just chuck it, and say we give up? It's the best the conference could do to recover. It's a shame the conference found itself in this situation. Maybe the wounds were somewhat self-inflicted, maybe not. But I give the Big East credit for adding some television markets that will come into play in the upcoming negotiations for a new television contract. I work for an NBC affiliate but I have no inside info. However, it stands to reason that the new Comcast/NBC Sports network will need some inventory. I look for Comcast/NBC to make a play.

Speaking of conferences, I'm glad to see NKU join the division 1 party in basketball and other sports. Click on this link if you want to learn more about the Atlantic Sun Conference. I would much rather have the Norse in the Horizon Conference. My next preference would have been the Ohio Valley. But the Norse will probably have more opportunities in the future to join other conferences. For now the important step was to get in the game, and NKU has accomplished that.

Pujols and Reds

2011-12-08T19:12:00.001-05:00

Instead of the Reds improving their club at the Winter Meetings, they seem to be satisfied that the loss of Albert Pujols will help them. It's also possible Prince Fielder will leave the Brewers and the National League Central Division. That would be quite a one-two punch for the Reds main competition to lose. But what about the long-term affect? With the big dollars going out to those two, what will Joey Votto be worth in two years? I can't imagine any way in the world the Reds can afford to pay what Votto could command as a free agent, or potential free agent. So what to do, what to do? Can they afford to trade Alonso? If the Reds really feel they will have the money to pay Votto, then you keep him. But I bet Alonso stays to hedge their bet and as the season rolls along they think more and more about the Votto situation. By keeping Alonso and praying he can play left field, they buy themselves a little more time. But they must think ahead to what these big contracts meam for the future of Votto in Cincinnati.

Bengals Back On Bubble

2011-12-05T00:00:00.002-05:00

I was not counting on the Bengals to get a win in Pittsburgh, but I was counting on another heady, steady performance. Instead it was a blowout. It is just one loss in the standings, but it highlighted the warts that may keep this team from the playoffs. Certainly injuries have taken their toll, but what worries me more is that the Bengals have beaten just one team this season that currently owns a winning record. The 7-5 Tennessee Titans. That's troubling when the Houston Texans bring a 9-3 record to town. A loss to the Texans and the Bengals are in big trouble. I was counting Houston as a win, and I still think that can happen, but it's going to take much better execution that what was on display Sunday. You are never as bad as you look, and never as good as you look. The Bengals are definitely in between. In fact, they could prove to be about average. It is certainly better than I thought they would be in 2011 and they do appear to have a chance to be very good with a little more experience. But this is about 2011, and potential playoff hopes now. Without a win over Houston, those playoffs hopes are just about shot.

So LSU must beat Alabama twice to win a national championship, but Alabama only needs to beat LSU once to win the national title. Does this really make sense? I'm somewhat surprised the BCS went through with this because it screams that this system is a mockery. I would much rather see Oklahoma State get a shot. Ultimately I would much rather see a playoff of 8 teams, or 16. At least that way if Alabama was still matched against LSU in the end, we would know the one loss teams would truly be pretenders. But the way it is now, we just have to take the word of the BCS. And I'm not much for taking the word of flimflam artists.

And The BCS Says The Big East Is A Fraud?

2011-12-02T14:51:00.002-05:00

You want a fraud? The BCS is like the guy who comes around once a year to seal your driveway and rust-proof your downspouts. How the heck can this fraud continue before the very eyes of a nation full of fans? How do we allow these guys to continue to rake in our money, our interest, our passion, only to say "Eat your pudding young man! If you don't eat your pudding you can't have any meat"! Before I reach out and do something I shouldn't to the next BCS official who has the nerve to identify themselves in my presence, let's take a look at the affect this fraudulent, Cosa Nostra-like, grip has forced on one of our national pastimes. It's championship weekend, with conference championship games from coast to coast. But none of them mean a damn thing when it comes to determining a national championship. Thanks BCS. Nice job. So, all of the games in the regular season allegedly mean something. But when it comes to actual playoffs that pair the best of the best in conference championships, well hold on big fella! Your Lordship BCS has already decreed who is number one and who is number two. Thanks for the late season drama. And for you BCS lovers out there, quick! Which conference has the most teams in the top 25 of the BCS standings? If you said the SEC, try again. The Big Ten? Take another stab Bevo breath. It's the Big 12. A conference with 10 teams has six teams ranked in the top 25 of the BCS. This includes a Texas team that is 7-4. But the Longhorns rake in 70 mil a year in revenue and mean a lot to the network that has the most to gain or lose when it comes to the Longhorns. Yes, you are a big part of the problem ESPN. Whether loveable Lee Corso is hurling expletives on live television or not-so-loveable executives are behind the scenes busting up conferences, you keep the monopoly alive. Not true? Talk to you your man at B.C. But I digress, and you wish I would continue to digress. You want a good laugh? Look at 25th rated Missouri. The Tigers have five losses. FIVE! Look at two of their whopping seven wins. One is at home against Miami(OH), which finished 4-8. Another is at home over Kansas. Kansas has two wins this year. Those two KU wins are against McNeese State and Northern Illinois. Missouri did beat a ranked Texas team and a ranked Texas A & M team. A & M is the only road game Missouri won the entire season! You can't make this stuff up. That's another dirty little secret of the BCS and college football's elites. The teams that draw the most fans get to play the most home games. Lets see Missouri go on the road and play, say, Arizona State. I wonder what would happen? Wonder no more, because the Tigers lost in overtime at ASU. ASU finished 6-6 and had a losing record in the PAC 12. But as this posting shows, these rankings are incredibly fraudulent. The BCS is fraudulent. You don't believe me? I'll send a BCS official to seal your driveway tomorrow. Too bad that is not his real job!

Redsfest Brings Reds Back Into Focus

2011-12-01T18:25:00.000-05:00

With Redsfest opening Friday afternoon, many players have returned and are making appearances to help promote the event. One of the big questions surrounded Brandon Phillips. He wasn't on the original list of players for Redsfest. Phillips was at the Lakota West Freshman School Thursday to honor student Meggie Zahneis. Meggie is a wonderful young lady doing wonderful things and you can read my post about her here. Of course Brandon has done a lot of wonderful things for Reds fans, so I could not imagine he would miss Redsfest. Apparently he will not. I asked him "In my heart, I think you're going to show up, are you going to show up?" Brandon flashed his smile along with a laugh and replied, "have I ever missed a Redsfest?" "No!", I responded. "Exactly," said Phillips. "So nobody has nothing to worry about." Brandon went on to explain his strong feelings about attending such fan-friendly events. He credits his mother. "My momma told me this. Momma said, one day people are not going to ask you for your autograph, so you better enjoy it!" Phillips also entertained questions about his contract situation and insisted he wants to follow the footsteps of the man he called his idol, Barry Larkin, and play a long time for the Reds. "I've been talking to my agent back and forth. I'm just going to leave it to Walt (Jocketty) and my agent to get it done. I just know I'm going to be here this year. I'm going to go out there and have another successful year like I've been doing since I've been here. Hopefully we get it done because this is where I want to be. I love my fans. I feel like this is my second home, next to Atlanta, Georgia."
Yonder Alonso is another guy sure to grab fan attention at Redsfest. Will he be traded? If not, what position will he play? I asked Alonso what he thought the fans would be asking him this weekend. He let out a nice laugh and said, "Take a picture? Get an autograph? I hope!" Alonso was laughing the whole time. He knows there have been serious questions. He told me he has worked hard so far this offseason, and has worked hard on becoming a better player in the outfield. He appeared to be strong and in tremendous shape. As for a possible trade, Yonder said, "my teammates call me, what's going on man? And I don't know. I'm working out. I'm getting ready for the season. I'm a Reds (player) obviously, I'm wearing the uniform!" Yonder was dressed in one of the Reds spring training jerseys, all red with "Reds" scripted in white. "I'm going to give my all to this team and this city, and hopefully they can keep me around." Alonso is a great guy and is known by many around the Reds as a guy who works his tail off. He told me he treats every at-bat like it's his last, because he is not taking anything for granted or giving anything away. I know the Reds have to make some moves, but I would hate to see Yonder go.

Bengals Still On Track

2011-11-28T02:52:00.002-05:00

The Bengals are still on track to be in the playoffs heading into the final week or weeks of the season. Before we go any further on the that, I want to say I haven't seen the Bengals with a tandem that adjusts to the ball better than A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham. They've had individual guys who have done it like Carl Pickens, but to have two guys with the kind of fly ball skills of Gresham and Green is rare. Now that I have that off my chest, back to the playoff hunt. My friend Rocky Boiman convinced me on our "Sports Rock" show last night that the Bengals need 10 wins to make the playoffs. Nine is not enough. Rocky bases this on the fact that the N.Y. Jets have 6 wins now, and should easily get to 9 or 10 based on a healthy helping of cream puffs down the stretch. The Jets get Washington, K.C., Philly, Giants, and Miami. They could easily win four of those. The Bengals have Pitt, Houston, St. Louis, Arizona, and Baltimore. There's three wins there, but can they steal a game from Pittsburgh or Baltimore to get to 11? Perhaps. The playoffs are right there for the Bengals to grab. If they can find a way to avoid falling into the double-digit holes they've found themselves in lately, they have a real chance.

While the Bengals are heading to the playoffs, the U.C. Bearcats could be heading to another coaching search. I really feel Butch Jones wants to make a go of it in Cincinnati. But here is where the rubber meets the road: Support. Not just fans in the stands, although it begins with fan support. U.C. has a football budget that is near the bottom of the Big East. Considering the Big East budgets are at the bottom of the BCS conferences, that is an issue. A small Nippert stadium with no club seating and no luxury boxes is a big problem when it comes to expanding the budget. If the fans will flock to PBS, that will help. Funding in general lags for U.C athletics. Mick Cronin has the same problem in basketball, with a budget that was recently near the bottom of the budgets in the conference. That is saying something. Cincinnati is a great place to live. A lot of coaches, not all but a lot, would love to stay put here if the university had the resources to compete with the schools that win big. Imagine if U.C. had the resources of the big dogs. It's amazing the Bearcats compete at all in football the way things are. Imagine if the football program were on a near-equal funding basis. Until that happens, this coach thing is going to pop up every 2-3 years. New A.D. Whit Babcock has a lot on his plate. Funding, funding, and funding. There is no bigger issue.

Relax Buckeye Fans

2011-11-26T22:59:00.000-05:00

Forget about a rare loss to Michigan. Your man is on the way. Even former Buckeye and Heisman trophy winner Eddie George believes Urban Meyer will be named Ohio State's next head football coach in the coming days. Do you think Eddie might have a connection or two with the folks who call the shots in Columbus? The real questions lie with Meyer, and maybe even he doesn't know the answers. Is he healthy and built for the long haul? Or is he coming back too soon? And because of health concerns, can he burn the recruiting and coaching candle at both ends like he did at previous coaching stops? My information says when Urban goes after something, he's all-in. There is no taking it easy. There is no delegation of duties to allow himself to slow down. He also won't allow the Buckeyes to slow down. After years of conservative play calling, get ready Columbus.

Should West Virginia beat South Florida Thursday night, U.C. fans would have to be torn. Sure, you don't want U.C. to lose the final game of the season to UConn. Sure, you never want Louisville to win the Big East title over the Bearcats. But if West Virignia, Louisville, and U.C. all finish with 5-2 records in the Big East, then it's very likely West Virginia gets the BCS bid. But if U.C. loses, and West Virginia is tied with only Louisville at 5-2, the it's the Cardinals winning the tiebreaker and getting the Big East bid. Does any U.C. fan really want West Virginia taking one last Big East bid before prancing off to the Big 12? I'm not suggesting U.C. would ever lay down for anyone, but I am suggesting if U.C. finds a way to lose to UConn (and that should not happen) then the loss will be a little easier for U.C. fans to stomach knowing the Mountaineers will not be leaving the Big East on a high note. Of course this is all assuming WVU gets out of the Big East next year. Stay tuned to Court TV for that show.

Undermanned Bengals vs Undermanned Ravens

2011-11-20T11:55:00.000-05:00

It's official, A.J. Green is out for the Bengals, and Ray Lewis is out for the Ravens. I'm not sure how good I feel about the Bengals chances without one of their main offensive weapons. It's up to Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell to prove they can handle the load. Last week they didn't, even with some big-time help from Andrew Hawkins. Meanwhile, it's a fine mess the BCS has on its hands. It appears the top three teams in the SEC West standings will be the top three teams in the BCS standings. LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas. Reading some comments about what college football is coming to in a few years, this is exactly what the big dogs want. Only a select few with a chance to play in the major bowl games. But this thing is far from over. LSU and Arkansas play next week. Alabama still has Auburn ahead. The BCS has a chance to be the biggest mess ever.

U.C. Did WHAT?! Lost To WHO?!

2011-11-19T20:48:00.001-05:00

If I'm Mick Cronin, Monday night the U.C. basketball team will come out in plain gray sweatshirts and plain gray sweatpants. The old cotton kind with a string in the waistband. They will have plain white shorts with plain white jerseys. The way they played down the stretch against Presbyterian College, they certainly don't deserve to wear the Red and Black colors of the Bearcats. How in the name of George Smith do you blow a 15 point in the final eight and a half minutes over a team called the "Blue Hose"? Teams have been shocked before. In 2007 Kentucky lost an early season game against Gardner-Webb. Then duplicated that feat the following year against VMI. It's not the end of the world. Syracuse lost an exhibition to Division 2 Le Moyne back in 2009, and the Orange bounced back. But in order to bounce back you have to learn your lesson. We'll see if they can learn that lesson in two days, because the Northwestern State team they meet Monday night won 18 games last season. Presbyterian won just 13 last season, but that was their best since joining D-1 in the 2007. Couple the hoops loss with the football loss, and Saturday was one of the bleaker days for U.C. in awhile.

No Help For The Munch Man

2011-11-19T17:31:00.001-05:00

Munchie Legaux was not good in his first start. He wasn't even close to good. His issues were made worse by little or no help by those around him. That means players and coaches. Unlike last week when Munchie seemed to settle in and play fairly well, this week he never had a chance. Munchie missed a ton of receivers, and when he was on target a receiver would drop it. Three or four drops in the first half were costly. When the Bearcats found themselves in second or third down and long, here came the pressure and the blitzes from Rutgers. Legaux had to run for cover. By the way, it seemed the Bearcats were always in second or third down and long. With that part of the offense struggling, Rutgers strangled the Bearcats running game. The game plan was to get running back Isaiah Pead rolling. Pead was bottled up for 28 yards on 14 carries. When the running game stalled the Bearcats offense had no other answers. And that is a problem. We'll hang that part on the coaches, because Munchie looked a lot better rolling out late in the game. I mean late, like when it was too late. The defense did a good job holding Rutgers to 10 points in the first half. But the field goal was set up by a 23 play drive. 23 plays is an incredible amount for one drive, almost unheard of. The defense also allowed Rutgers out of a hole on its own 6-yard line in the third quarter. The first play on that particular drive was a 22-yard run by Jawan Jamison. The second play was a 29-yard run by Jamison. Two plays, two runs, and Rutgers goes from its own 6-yard line to the Cincinnati 43. Rutgers would finish that drive with a touchdown and Jamison would finish the game with 200 yards. So the defense had moments where it contributed to the Bearcats demise. But the glaring issues were offensive. No, Munchie didn't get much help. But he certainly didn't help himself. It had to be a disappointing day for U.C. and Munchie needs to play better immediately if the Bearcats hope to avoid disappointment again next Saturday at Syracuse. That's something the coaches have six days to figure out.

Win By Oregon = Ducks > Tide

2011-11-19T11:47:00.000-05:00

Really Alabama? It's late season and you have Georgia Southern on the schedule? I have maintained for years that if you want to be considered for a national championship, then you should not play 1-AA or FCS teams after September. You know how this BCS things work. If you drop a game early in the season, you have a chance to climb back into the national championship picture. But if you lose one late, you are sunk. So what does mighty 'Bama do? Schedule a freebie late in the season to help guard against a late season loss. That is garbage and 'Bama knows it. Florida does this stupid little trick too. I despise it, and if you think you are good enough to win it all, then you don't schedule cupcakes past September. Honestly, I think the FBS teams should only be allowed to schedule these teams in the first two weeks of the season. I think there is still room for these games, because the big payday of playing at Alabama will make the budget for Georgia Southern. Remember 2004 when an undefeated Auburn team was left out of the national championship game because of a cupcake filled non-conference schedule? Unfortunately for the Tigers, three teams made it through the regular season undefeated, so it was the Tigers getting left out. I realize Alabama played L.S.U. to a closer game than Oregon. But in my opinion, teams have yet to round into shape in September and the goal is to get better as the season goes along. I feel Oregon is a much better team now than the one that lost 40-27 to LSU back in September. LSU and Alabama may be better now too, but 'Bama should prove it. And you don't prove by playing Georgia Southern in November. So if Oregon beats USC tonight, I fully expect the Ducks to leapfrog 'Bama and land squarely into position 1-A for the national championship slot. But this is the BCS, and perennial powers seem to get a little more of a pass than the serfs of the college football world. We'll see if the BCS can get it right.

MLB Moves Do Not Move Me

2011-11-18T00:39:00.000-05:00

I've read a lot of positive things about baseball's latest moves but you won't find those things listed here. An extra wildcard team that qualifies for a one-game playoff with the other wildcard team is gimmicky. I guess if your team is in the game it beats going home, but one game, winner advances? Why not just have a Home Run Derby bewteen the teo squads to save all of the pitching for the real playoffs? So a team that might finish 10 games ahead of another in the standings will have to win a one-game playoff with the lesser team. And baseball prides itself on having a long season so the best have to prove themselves. Then they are affored one whole game to prove the point. Does that make sense? The other big move affects the Reds and that is Houston heading to the American League. It's nice that the Reds will finally play in a division that isn't the biggest in MLB. But with 15 teams in each league, there will be interleague games from the start to the finish of the regular season. No thanks. I'd rather have the Astros back in the N.L. Central. Although baseball may pare back the number of interleague games each team may play, it's still going to stink having interlelague games the entire season.

NKU Still Waits For D-1

2011-11-17T22:37:00.001-05:00

It's too bad that the Ohio Valley Conference said no to NKU joining and therefore delaying the Norse from becoming Division 1. The feeling I had was that the OVC would welcome the Norse. We know Eastern Kenbtucky, Morehead State, and Murray State were ready to bring in the Norse. But they did not get the needed 75 percent approval. Why? It appears a lot of schools felt the Norse would become dominant because of its facilities, possible geographical recruiting advantage, and funding of programs. I can't disagree with the OVC schools fearing the Norse. We were kicking this around the office last weekend and I felt strongly that NKU would dominate the OVC in basketball and have an excellent path to the NCAA tournament every year, men and women. The fact they have a new arena in a metropolitan area woul be huge. But forget the OVC for now. I had always hoped the Horizon League would be the destination for NKU. The Norse would fit well with these schools:Butler, Valpo, Cleveland St, Wright St., Detroit, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Green Bay, Loyola, Illinois-Chicago, and Youngstown St. But that's an even 10, and the Horizon is not interested in expansion at this time. This means it may be the Atlantic Sun or the Summit League. Both recently lost teams to other conferences so it stands to reason they need to add schools. The Summit offers closer schools like IUPUI and IPFW. The Atlantic Sun has four schools in Florida, which might give NKU a nice recruiting boost by telling kids they'll actually be seeing the sun on some trips during the deep winter months of basketball season. I feel the Horizon or OVC are better options but right now it is not NKU's call. The Norse have to take the first step of getting into a Divison 1 conference. That will happen.

Bengals Lose, But Did The Prove Anything?

2011-11-13T19:06:00.000-05:00

Probably. The consensus is the Steelers are still among the elite of the AFC, and by golly, the Bengals were still right there with them. Many will point to the two fourth quarter interceptions as the Bengals demise, but I think it was the beginning of the game that sunk them. The Bengals have a good defense. They should not allow anyone to march down the field on their first two drives, score touchdowns, and build a 14-0 lead. After that, the defense was very good. On those first two drives the Steelers seemed to take advantage of a juiced up Bengals defense, and an aggressive mindset of the line. Mixing in the end-around plays had the Bengals off-balance. It was a little disappointing that once the Bengals tied the game at 17 in the third quarter, they allowed Pittsburgh to answer with an 81-yard touchdown drive. Still, allowing just 10 points after the midway point in the opening quarter shows the Bengals defense was able to get its act together. The game shows the Bengals are in the playoff race for the long haul.

I'm still not sure, and we will never know if someone made the wrong read on the last interception. Andy Dalton appeared to be reading a slant, while Jerome Simpson appeared to be squatting in a seam. That cannot happen in that situation, but at least it's not an epidemic like in years past.

Collaros Surgery, More Munchie

2011-11-13T14:21:00.003-05:00

U.C. Quarterback Zach Collaros will need surgery on his injured right ankle. He will miss the final three regular season games, but could return for a bowl game. The surgery wil be performed Monday. It turns out Collaros fractured the ankle as he was sacked in the second quarter of Saturday's loss to West Virginia at Paul Brown Stadium. He was replaced by backup Munchie Legaux. I talked a little about Legaux in the previous post. I was on the field when he entered the game and I couldn't help but notice the similarities in stature between Munchie and West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. Munchie is listed as being a little taller, but Smith appeared bigger to me than 6 foot 3. Munchie, like Smith, considers himself a throw first quarterback, but both have the ability to bust loose. I saw the Munch Man for little more than a half, but I don't think it is far fetched to see him becoming as good as Geno Smith. Munchie was recruited by a lot of BCS schools such as Oregon and Tennessee, among others. He was a one time commit to Colorado. In doing some research this morning I came across a college football message board that included fans from several schools and he is a hit with the fans. Of course they were fired up about the name. Munchie's name will bring notoriety, but I believe his play will soon be the bigger reson for the notoriety. As Paul Dehner said on gobearcats.com, Munchie already started selling season tickets for next year. Paul's column on Munchie's first big taste of college quarterbacking is a good read.

Bearcats Future, Bengals-Steelers

2011-11-12T21:32:00.000-05:00

U.C. lost a game and a leader on Saturday. But a new leader for the future could be emerging. More on Munchie in a moment. U.C. had more than enough chances to beat West Virginia. If it wasn't the defense letting the Mountaineers out of a hole, it was the U.C. offense or special teams putting the Cats in a hole. You hate to see a kid who cares as much as Zach Collaros go down with an injury. You really hate to see his senior year end this way, so hopefully the news is betting on Sunday. But the future could be in good hands with backup Munchie Legaux. His first several passes were closer to the top floor of the Carew Tower than his wide receivers. But after settling down he looked pretty special. Tall, (listed at 6-4 1/2,, appeared to be maybe a little taller to me) good running ability, and some serious zip on the ball once the nerves disappeared. I'm anxious to see more of him. U.C. still controls its own fate but it may take some Munchie Madness to win out and take another Big East title.
While at the game I talked to a couple of men in Orange sports coats. Orange Bowl reps. I'm not sure what they do exactly, because it's not like there's a whole lot of choices they can make with the automatic tie-ins, but it was neat to see them there. I let them know what a good job they did with the hospitality when U.C. was the three years ago. It was stellar.

Can the Bengals make it six in a row? Heck yeah they can, but will they? I'm really anxious to see Andy Dalton, the cool customer, handle his first outing against the Steelers defense. I haven't seen much that is too big for Dalton so far, so I suspect he'll be all right. The wind could turn out to be a big deal in this game. We could get gusts up to 40 miles per hour. Also big, will Carlos Dunlap be able to play and keep that strong defensive line rotation at the top if its game? I saw Adam Jones at the U.C. game hanging with his former mates on the West Virginia sideline. He sounded like a guy resigned to missing the Pittsburgh game, but he said he would definitely be back for Baltimore. At any rate, I'll join the Enquirer's Joe Reedy in predicting a Bengals victory. I'll go with 20-17, with the Steelers missing a game-tying field goal at the end as a gust of wind blows the ball wide left.

Joe Pa Fired, But It's Not Over

2011-11-09T23:46:00.002-05:00

The Penn State Board of Trustees had to make a stand. It is the type of stand that should have been made years ago by others. How so many people at an institute of higher learning can be aware of sexual abuse of minors and allow nothing to come of it for a decade, if not longer, defies any application of civilized logic. Joe Paterno's firing as Penn State head football coach on Wednesday night will eventually be seen as way too little, way too late. For now, many students are angry with the decision to fire Joe Pa and that emotional response is to be expected. Paterno hoped to finish out the season and coach his final game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. But that would have been a circus, and it would have further eroded faith in an institution and the man who did so many great things in 50-plus years at Penn State. Paterno should have done the more honorable thing and resigned before the board had to take action. But that inaction by Paterno pales in comparison to the inaction by Paterno, his athletic director, and others at the university, when the abuses by former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky came to light. The allegations are so sick I had trouble reading the entire grand jury report.
Perhaps Paterno was not made aware of the seriousness of what the eyewitness saw but even Paterno admitted, "it was obvious that the witness was distraught over what he saw." That in and of itself should have set off more curiosity from the head honcho of the Nittany Lions. Once Paterno told his A.D. about the eyewitness account of the abuse, did Joe Pa never think about it again? Did he ever wonder why nothing had come of it? Did it occur to Paterno that if the allegations were serious and true, Sandusky should have been serving a prison sentence as opposed to still hanging around the program? And it is not just Paterno. All of the adults involved in this should have been wondering why nothing more had come of this situation. Well, that time has come. Everyone involved will have their feet put to the fire. That may not help the poor victims, but those who overlooked these crimes against children need to be held accountable. Joe Pa may be fired, but this story is far from over.

Free Agency Begins, But Should Reds Play Ball?

2011-11-03T12:14:00.002-04:00

We know the Reds needs. Another hammer of a starting pitcher, a closer, and anyone who can play the outfield that doesn't strike out more often than Dusty Baker bites through a toothpick. Left field would be the crying area of need, with third base and perhaps insurance at shortstop at the top of the list position fixes. Good Luck finding any of the above on the list of free agents that hit the market this week. In left field, the bin includes 39-year old Raul Ibanez, who made a mere 12 million dollars last season. I don't see the Reds going that route, and Ibanez appears to be the best of the lot. Others includes Cody Ross and Juan Rivera, not exactly what the Reds need. Third base, forget it. Absolutely nothing, unless Wilson Betemit is your guy. As for insurance at shortstop, how about Jose Reyes? Just kidding. He would solve a lot of issues, but Reyes will break the bank, a bank the Reds don't have. Jimmy Rollins is out of the price range as well. So it appears the best the Reds could do in free agency at shortstop is insurance for Zack Cozart. A guy like Clint Barmes would fill the bill, so would Yuniesky Betancourt. But they'll be looking for money and more playing time than the Reds have available. It's no better among the starting pitchers. With the Yankees keeping C.C. Sabathia off the market the pickings go from slim to none. The best available seem to be Erik Bedard, Mark Buehrle, Edwin Jackson, Paul Maholm, Roy Oswalt, and Rich Harden. Anyone see a hammer to team up with Cueto at the top of the rotation? Buehrle certainly has credentials, but I don't know if his stuff will work at Great American Ball Park. Hamilton High School grad Aaron Cook is out there. If healthy, his killer sinker is perfect for GABP. He might be worth a chance. Another sinkerballer on the market is Brandon Webb. But he spent an entire season with the Rangers trying to come back from shoulder woes, and it just didn't happen. It will still be worth a look at him before spring training to see if he's coming around. Long story short, the Reds are going to have to make deals to improve their club. That means anything can happen. Would they really deal Votto? I doubt it. Brandon Phillips? I doubt that too, although if they think Brandon or Joey are going to be impossible to sign, the Reds may have to do some serious soul-searching to fill their holes. It's not going to happen through free agency, whether they had money to blow or not.

Palmer Performance (or lack thereof) Tops Another Wild Weekend

2011-10-24T00:11:00.003-04:00

Maybe retirement wasn't such a bad idea. Of course it was too much to ask Carson Palmer to step in and play for the Raiders right away. Palmer hadn't played or practiced since last season before joining the Raiders this past Tuesday. It was as ugly as it gets, three interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown. The one returned for a touchdown was on a quick out that was blanketed, and was the kind of decision that would get a junior high quarterback benched. As I was watching this it was really hard to feel bad for Palmer because he's the one who made this bed. I also couldn't help but think of the following: If Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, or any of the other big-time franchise quarterbacks were in this situation, would they look this bad? Who knows? But I highly doubt it. And it was Raiders coach Hue Jackson who called Palmer a "big-time franchise quarterback" after the big-time franchise trade. But Palmer will have more chances to get it right, and I'm sure he will have good games and bad stretches, just like we saw in Cincinnati the past few years. Fortunately for Palmer, he has a couple of weeks to get ready for his next appearance. ``This bye week couldn't be at a better time,'' said Palmer. Not to pile on, but I would suggest this past week would have been a better time.

Can we please pull the plug on prime-time appearances for the Colts this season? Last night's 62-7 beatdown in New Orleans should be enough for one season. They are scheduled for two more Sunday night games on NBC, but those can be flexed out and replaced with other games. The only way that won't happen is if "you know who" makes his return in one of them. But while Peyton Manning hopes to return this season, there is no reason for the Colts to allow that to happen.

How did U.C. do it? With all of the mistakes the Bearcats made at South Florida Saturday, they found a way to pull out a win at South Florida and take over the Big East Conference lead with a 2-0 record. Zach Collaros shook off a couple of brutal interceptions to lead the Bearcats to the win, with Collaros scoring the winning touchdown with just 12 seconds left. A big plus for U.C. in the 37-34 win was veteran leadership mixed with big plays by some youngsters.

Speaking of U.C., the conference thing could be coming to a head. Missouri could let the Big 12 know as early as today that it is leaving for the SEC. Should that happen its possible West Virginia heads straight to the Big 12. The reports with the most common theme have West Virginia making the Big 12 a ten team conference. If they go to 12, it's Louisville, then BYU, or perhaps Cincinnati. There are differing reports on BYU, and nobody seems convinced one way or the other. It may not hurt Cincinnati's chances that it's new Athletic Director comes from a Big 12 school. Whit Babcock spent the past four years at Missouri as executive associate athletic director. I still feel the best fit for WVU, Louisville, and Cincinnati, is to find a way to make the Big East work as opposed to becoming an outpost in the Texas-Oklahoma top-heavy Big 12.

Xavier and U.C. rolled out their basketball teams this past weekend, and both schools have plenty to be excited about. X is ranked 15th in the preseason coaches poll and has a back court many think can get the Musketeers deep come March. U.C. is ranked 22nd and has room to improve, especially if Yancy Gates of this past March and late February is the same player for the Bearcats all of 2011-12. Also, if juco transfer Cheikh Mbodj (I may never spell it right again, so enjoy) is as good as I'm told, look out. Xavier and U.C. are among five teams within a two hour drive of Cincinnati in the top 25. Kentucky is ranked second, Ohio State is third, and Louisville is eighth. How's that for the best college basketball hotbed in the nation? Butler is 31st in the preseason voting.

We have a World Series, with a guarantee of at least six games. The Rangers won 4-0 last night and are tied 2-2 with the team Cincinnatians love to hate. The Rangers and Cardinals play game 5 Monday night.

Where Will U.C. Them Next?

2011-10-19T15:53:00.001-04:00

con·ster·na·tion [kon-ster-ney-shuhn] noun
a sudden, alarming amazement or dread that results in utter confusion; dismay.
(the feeling of hardcore u.c. fans since Syracuse and Pitt defected to A.C.C.)

Consternation is running rampant among the U.C. crowd these days. Check a message board and you will see that conference realignment is the big buzz. The same thing happens at the U.C. football games. Where will U.C. end up when the "haves" of the college football world decide who will become the "have nots"? It appears U.C. is down to a couple of scenarios: A Hail Mary invitation to the Big 12 or remain in a reconstituted Big East. As crazy as it would be to compete in a conference with Texas and Oklahoma, I feel a reconstituted Big East with Louisville and West Virginia is the best scenario for the Bearcats. Should the Cardinals and Mountaineers get invites to the Big 12, U.C. has to close the eyes, tap the shoes, cross the fingers, and pray the Bearcats get an invitation too. Without the 'Ville and WVU, there won't be enough left for the Big East to configure a strong enough conference to remain an automatic qualifier in the BCS. Should U.C. go to the Big 12, I worry about recruiting. With several schools from Texas in the Big 12, I can't imagine U.C. will be pulling major talent out of that state. Meanwhile, do kids in U.C.'s recruiting hotbeds of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Florida want to play in the Big 12? The more I think about it the more I convince myself that recruiting would be fine. But with the bulk of U.C.'s recruiting coming in Big Ten territory, games at Iowa State, Kansas, and K-State might be a tough sell. Certainly having Louisville and West Virginia as partners in the conference would help. Still, to me, it feels too much like an outpost. Plus it would not be as smooth of a path to a BCS bowl game. U.C. has proven it can compete with the schools in the Big East. The Bearcats have come a long ways in five short years of BCS football. That's why the timing of this conference shakeup is so bad for the 'cats. Another five years like the past five and I have little doubt U.C. would be filling Nippert Stadium on a regular basis, and filling PBS for the big games, making U.C. an attractive BCS player . Why such little doubt? Students are going to the games these days. That breeds an alumni base that sees U.C. football games as "thee" thing to do on Saturdays in the fall. Many say it was the Brian Kelly factor that put U.C. on the map. Kelly did a great job creating buzz and he backed it up with winning. He is reviled for the way he left, but U.C. fans need to understand that Kelly's big way of thinking showed Cincinnati that it can done at U.C. But without the BCS carrot dangling in front of a city that considers itself major league, even Kelly would have had trouble getting overflow crowds. That's why another five years in the Big East would have solidified the football program and there wouldn't be this consternation every time an earthquake hits the conference landscape. I think it could be done in the Big 12, but I know it can be done in the Big East. But only if the Big East keeps the automatic qualifier.

Hey! Who Kidnapped The Bengals Front Office?

2011-10-19T00:31:00.000-04:00

Are you kidding me? The Bengals front office did this? They pulled the trigger on a deal that makes perfect sense? It's so out of character that I expect the NFL to show up at the Bengals offices asking for urine samples. Lucky for the Bengals it was Hue Jackson's starting quarterback who went down with an injury last Sunday. Jackson is a former Bengals assistant and is very fond of Palmer. But give the Bengals credit for being shrewd and squeezing more out of Carson Palmer in one trade than the Bengals squeezed out of him in three of the past four seasons. I'm still sitting here late on a Tuesday night, stunned that the Bengals get a first round and at least a second round pick for the fading Palmer. The Raiders must have had patches over both eyes the past several seasons. Who knows? Maybe Palmer steps in and lights it up for Oakland right away. Maybe Chad's route running is what made Palmer look like a frightened Barney Fife trying to figure out how to shoot a gun straight. We shall see. But kudos to Mike Brown for dropping the stubborn mule act long enough to raid the Raiders of valuable draft picks. It's the latest in a string of decisions by the Bengals front office that makes you wonder. Has Mike Brown gone mad? Has he been kidnapped and an impostor has taken his place? No, that can't be it. It was vintage Brown at the January press conference announcing the return of Marvin Lewis as head coach. It was vintage Brown at the pre-training camp luncheon sticking to his mantra that a deal is a deal and if Carson wants to take his ball and go home, so be it. So I really believe it is the real Mike Brown still in the Bengals main office making the main decisions. But what a roll this guy is on. If steps up to a craps table, I'm laying my chips right next to his. In the draft, the Bengals resisted a nice trade offer for their first round pick from Atlanta. I thought it would have been a smart trade, until the first day I saw A.J. Green in training camp. Difference-maker, that's the phrase that jumped into my head. What a great pick. The Bengals also did something in the second round that goes against the old grain. They had decided on an offensive system, and set their sights on the perfect guy to run that system. Andy Dalton looks right at home in Jay Gruden's system. Hopefully for the Bengals these decisions are a trend and not a hiccup in 20 years of futility. The Bengals have a locker room that values team play, a businesslike approach, and good old execution of the plays. All of that makes it a locker room with great chemistry. It may not be good enough to make the playoffs this season, but I am no longer betting against them. Now it's time for Brown to resist pulling in troubled players who can be had for less than market value. If he can resist that, the league may want to skip the urine thing and go straight for the DNA.

Good News For Reds?

2011-10-11T12:31:00.000-04:00

There may be good news in the wake of Reds G.M. Walt Jocketty "angrily" denying speculation/reports that the Reds would at least listen to offers for Joey Votto. Maybe the Reds have plans to raise their payroll in the future to the $100 million range. I don't believe it for a second, but that is the only logical reason the Reds would have zero interest in entertaining offers. In a perfect world Walt Jocketty's denial would make perfect sense. If all payrolls were equal there would be no reason to even think about trading a player as valuable as Votto. But baseball economics is far from a perfect world. Perhaps Jocketty is trying his best to keep the Votto camp happy because they are not totally sold on trading Joey just yet. That is a distinct possibility since coming to grips with trading a great player is a tough thing to do. Plus, they are still at least a year away from having to face the reality of having a $17 million man on the roster. But unless the Reds are going to raise their payroll significantly in the next couple of years, not listening to offers is negligence.

No Flash, Just A Win

2011-09-11T23:50:00.000-04:00

When A.J. Green crossed the goal line with his first NFL touchdown reception, it was nice to see him just toss the ball aside. Hopefully this is the way the "New" Bengals go about their business. Make plays, score touchdowns, go back to the bench, repeat. Andy Dalton looked calm and composed. Early in the game he pump-faked to the right, then found a tight end down the middle. He knew where his receivers were supposed to be and by golly, the receivers were there. Not once did I see receivers looking at the quarterback with confused looks and hands in the air. It appeared the Bengals players were on the same page. For a while, I thought maybe the Browns and Bengals had switched helmets. It was the Browns with 10 penalties in the first half, it was the Browns falling asleep in the huddle, and it was the Bengals taking advantage. It is still a work in progress, and fingers must be crossed when it comes to Dalton's injured wrist. But kudos to the players and the coaches. They appear to be putting football and the playbook first. There appears to be focus. There appears to be respect for the game. I'm not taking any bets on when Mike Brown will sign some knuckleheads off the scrap heap to mess this up, the poor man can't help himself if he thinks he's getting a bargain. But for one Sunday, it was nice to see another team self destruct, and the team in stripes playing with self-respect.

C'mon Carson, Do It!

2011-09-02T19:47:00.002-04:00

Carson Palmer has one last card to play to force Mike Brown's hand. I hope he plays it. For the plan to work to perfection, Palmer needs to hope Andy Dalton looks good in his first couple of starts. If he does, then it's Carson's time to put Brown in a corner. Just imagine if the offense under Dalton is showing progress in Jay Gruden's new system. Dalton was practically hand-picked by Gruden to run his system. Then two games into the growth spurt, here comes Palmer. If Dalton looks good early, Palmer should show up and declare he is back, reporting for duty, ready to hold a clipboard on the sideline while smacking Brown's wallet for close to 700k per game. Would the Bengals really sit Dalton down and insert Palmer, thus stunting the growth of this new offense and new era? Is Palmer really cut out for this offense? We know before wrecking his knee and popping his elbow, Palmer had a very strong and accurate arm. He still flashes that, but it hasn't been there consistently. So the Bengals choices are distasteful: Play Palmer and stunt the growth of a promising Dalton, or have the most overpaid backup quarterback in NFL history. Would Mike Brown really pay Palmer over 600 grand a game to occupy one of the best seats in the house, especially with so many empty seats at PBS that used to be occupied by paying customers? Would Brown do that to prove a point? If he does, then I never want to hear him ask the county for another penny to fix a scoreboard or buy a new leather chair for his office. Mike should do anything and everything to trade Palmer as soon as possible and move on from this idiotic chapter of an idiotic two-decades long novel. Naysayers will point out, "well if Palmer forces Brown's hand, then players will be lined up out the door to get away from the Bengals." I'm not buying that argument during a week that saw the Bengals sign two of their most valuable veterans to extensions. If this team is good enough for Andrew Whitworth and Leon Hall, then it's good enough for a lot of veterans. If someone like Palmer (who should be a leader) wants out, then get him out of here as quickly as possible. You don't win with those guys. If Carson comes back it will be a mess. It's a mess that should have never happened in the first place. Palmer should be on another team, and the Bengals should already be training the draft pick (or picks) they received in return. But since Brown isn't going to fix this mess on his own, maybe Palmer will give him the final shove he needs.

Dalton the Worst?

2011-09-01T12:19:00.000-04:00

If nothing else, rankings and lists get people talking. John Clayton at ESPN ranks Andy Dalton as the worst starting quarterback in the NFL. From reading the article it appears Clayton is also holding the quarterbacks responsible for those around them. He says of Oakland's Jason Campbell, "too bad he doesn't have an offensive line that can block for him." So in these rankings the quarterback is responsible for those "ole'" blocks that can make said qb look like a fool. Dalton's last place ranking should come as no surprise, unless you happened to be paying attention to the Panthers starting quarterback this preseason. Cam Newton is ranked one spot ahead of Dalton. Newton has shown nothing in the "art of an NFL quarterback" department. Dalton has. But Clayton says Newton's "mechanics functioning in an NFL offense have exceeded expectations." Really? Those expectations must have been very, very low for the top overall pick in the NFL draft. Newton has completed a mere 40% of his passes this preseason. Apparently draft position has something to do with the rankings too, since former top pick Alex Smith is rated 28th on the list. Smith has struggled mightily in the league for six seasons. I would take Dalton's chances of panning out over a guy who has had ample time to get it right, but hasn't, in 54 career games. But there is no question Newton's talent is immense, and upside is a huge factor in these rankings. So is experience. Sam Bradford was 30th as a rookie in last year's preseason rankings by Clayton, but shot up to 14th this preseason. Like I said, rankings get us talking. But when it comes to rookies, those rankings can also be severely flawed.

Dog Days But Bradley Shines

2011-08-15T13:02:00.001-04:00

The dog days are here and Cincinnati is left with the fading Reds and a Bengals team that started the preseason like they were a terrible team. They reminded me of the Cincinnati Bengals. They were that bad. I'm not sure what else can be said about a franchise that can't find it's own helmet with both hands, but I'll come up with something down the road. At least the tennis at Kings Island will give us a little diversion this week. My highlight for the weekend was Keegan Bradley winning the PGA Championship. A no-name, a rookie, he came out of nowhere. But oddly enough, I've been following Keegan Bradley for about a year now. Last year at the Chiquita Classic at River's Bend, I was grabbing guys off the practice green to interview. By complete chance Keegan Bradley was one of those guys. He was very approachable, friendly, and a good interview. Golf is in his blood. His father is a club pro and his aunt happens to be hall of fame golfer Pat Bradley. Also during our small talk he mentioned he had attended St. John's and was still a die-hard fan of the Red Storm. He wore his red shirt on Sunday to prove it. So after he was greased with some Big East conversation, he talked a little "mechanics of the golf game" with me. It was a treat so I kept an eye on him to make sure he finished in the Top 25 of the Nationwide Tour and made it to the PGA. He did. But you honestly aren't expecting much from the guy. Still, anytime I perused the leader board I would look for Keegan. Then back in May while on vacation I had a moment to turn on the television to see the end of the Byron Nelson Classic. Leading the pack was Keegan Bradley. I was actually pumped to see the guy win a tournament. I guess that made me a closet-fan of the kid. Now for him to win the PGA Championship is crazy. I can't imagine how he feels. But after watching his game this weekend, he might have a bunch of wins in that golf bag. He can bomb it off the tee, and his putting showed a deft downhill touch. (We won't talk about that chip on 15)

It's Votto or Alonso

2011-08-07T16:07:00.001-04:00

We'll now have to wait for the off-season, but the Reds have to make a tough decision. Or maybe it's not so tough. But they will either have to trade Yonder Alonso, or trade Joey Votto. A lot of people clamored for Alonso to play left field. Those same people were screaming "What?!" when they saw Alonso imitate a drunken Bleacher Bum on Friday and Saturday while chasing balls in the outfield. So here's the decision: you either trade Alonso or you trade Joey Votto. They both appear to be first basemen and first basemen only. Period. End of story.
Obviously Votto will bring you the most in a trade. But do you even open that door and explore moving your best hitter to another team? Different people handle that type of thing different ways. Some will see it as a slap, some will see it as business. It would be difficult to mess with a situation that clearly works so well for the Reds and Votto. Maybe Alonso makes it an easier decision by whacking the ball around at the major league level. Should he continue to do that, I would think he should fetch a decent prize in return. I'm not one to give up easily but I really don't see a future for either one in the outfield. I think you have to move one of the two before next season.

By the way, two quick observations on some new blood in town: A.J. Green is a thoroughbred. He has that "Wow" factor just running around in practice. He reminds me of one of my all-time favorite Bengals, wide receiver Isaac Curtis. A.J. is that smooth, and he's a little bigger. He also reminds me of Carl Pickens (without the 'tude) the way he goes up and claims the ball in the air. I'm never big on spending high draft picks on wide receivers, but this kid looks pretty special.
Observation Two: Dave Sappelt might be playing left field for the Reds for years to come. He looks the part. Oh, he's not 6'2", 220 lbs., but he sure looks like a ballplayer to me. The hit-robbing catch in left field Sunday was a beauty. But the best thing about Sappelt comes in the batters box. He better get the majority of the playing time out there the rest of the season.

Reds Should Sell, Bengals Should Punt

2011-07-28T12:12:00.000-04:00

Not that this is a newsflash, but it's just not happening for the Reds this year. Sure, there's two months left and they can make up five and a half games in that time. However, since starting the season with five straight wins they have shown little in the previous four months that convinces me they can make the kind of sustained push it will take to win the division. So there's little intrigue left. Except for improving the club for the future. Let Frazier play more at third, get Mesoraco up from Louisville, allow Alonso to play a lot, make sure it's plenty of Cozart when he comes off the disabled list. Figure out if Chapman is the closer of the future or a starting pitcher, and get him moving in that direction now. The Reds should sell off Ramon Hernandez and Francisco Cordero. Good guys, loyal Reds, but business is business and the Reds need to get better for 2012. They still have a good young core, but it's not good enough to win a mediocre division. The plan should be to get better, and the time is now.

I, like most, have a bad feeling about the season about to unfold for the Bengals. How do I get excited about them signing a "caretaker" quarterback in Bruce Gradkowski? One-third of his wins as a starting quarterback have come against the Bengals. His success in the NFL has been minimal. But I'm still on board with the signing and the reasons are many. Gradkowski is tough, he was a beast at Toledo, and from what I know he would stick his head in a wood-chipper to get a touchdown. It is also said he will know Jay Gruden's offense and will do anything and everything to help the kid, Andy Dalton. I can't help but like a quarterback from the same hard-nosed western Pennsylvania high school conference that produced Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, and Dan Marino. But this will still be a season of pain. There is a tremendous learning curve for this team. We still don't know how the roster will be filled out with free agents. I think Benson will return, but I'm not so sure without Joseph. Even with Johnathan, the defense has a chance to be good. But it's going to have to be "scarey good" to carry a team going through a complete offensive transition.

Players Punishing Owners?

2011-07-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

The "pie in the sky" predictions of the past two days crashed and burned into the reality that the players aren't dummies. If the owners really changed some language, then your darned right the players are going to read it, read it again, and make sure they aren't getting hosed. The players may be thinking if Mike Brown voted for it, then we must be getting hosed! It could be as simple as Donte' Stallworth saying through Twitter, "unlike congress, the players actually want to read what they are voting on." I also wonder if the players want to punish the owners for opting out of the old deal and imposing this lockout. Not punish them in spite of the players own well-being, but just to make them twist through the weekend. It's fairly well documented that wiping out preseason game revenue will lower the salary cap and end up costing the players money in the end, so it's in the players best interest to play the preseason too. I will say the player reps I've heard this morning have made some excellent points as to why they haven't passed the plan. I just wonder if the players do find something they don't like in the plan, will that lead to more drawn out negotiations? I doubt it would take that long to iron out. I think the players are flexing a little muscle here, and I can't blame them. They also showed some class by issuing the following statement through NFLPA president Kevin Mawae:

STATEMENT FROM KEVIN MAWAE

Player leadership is discussing the most recent written proposal with the NFL, which includes a settlement agreement, deal terms and the right process for addressing recertification. There will not be any further NFLPA statements today out of respect for the Kraft family while they mourn the loss of Myra Kraft.

- Kevin Mawae, NFLPA President

Reds Win But...

2011-07-20T15:49:00.000-04:00

When will they win two in a row? The Reds score three runs (one earned) in three games at Pittsburgh. They were lucky to get out of there with one win. A loss would have left the Reds four games under .500 and six games behind the Pirates. Now they are two under and four games out of first. Not great, but still doable, and it looks and feels better than the alternative. Cueto looked awesome again and the relief pitchers did their job, including closer Francisco Cordero. Cordero has bounced back from that disastrous three-blown-saves week before the All-Star break. But the curious move of the game for the Reds came in the seventh inning. Miguel Cairo was on second with one out. Johnny Cueto came to the plate. He had already thrown 97 pitches on a hot, humid day in Pittsburgh. I can't imagine the Reds really want to push him much further. But Cueto hit for himself and grounded out to short. The Reds ended up stranding the runner. Then begins the bottom of the seventh. Cueto throws one pitch and it's drilled too hard for Rolen to handle and resulted in a Pirates runner on first. Cueto was pulled then and there. Obviously Cueto was on a very short leash to begin with. Dusty said after the game they hoped Cueto could make it through the seventh. On this day, I would have been happy with 6 innings, especially with 97 pitches on a brutal day. But that's what makes baseball great, a lot of second-guessing. Now the Reds need to start stringing wins, and it begins by winning back to back games. They haven't done that since June 14-15. Astounding!!!

What made the Cueto move even more baffling to me was the Reds chose to make a defensive substitution heading to the bottom of the seventh. Stubbs replaced Gomes in the lineup. Gomes had been hitting seventh. So, hitting Stubbs for Cueto and inserting the pitcher's spot in the seventh slot in the lineup might have been the way to go. Oh well, who knows???

What Will The NFL Do?

2011-07-20T15:23:00.000-04:00

The next few days are going to be wild for the NFL. Maybe the next few weeks are going to be wild. Let's say the new CBA is ratified by the end of the week, then what comes next. Some players earlier in the week alluded to the possibility they would be asked to report to three-day mini-camps as soon as the deal was sealed. Training camps would traditionally open late next week. But what about all of the free agents out there? Would the NFL have teams open camp with free agents still available on the market, and how long would that market be allowed to last? In the Bengals case, would Jonathan Joseph not report to camp with the Bengals, but travel around the country to visit other teams interested in his services? That doesn't seem to fit the best interests of anyone involved. The NFL could delay camp for two to three weeks why the free agency gets settled, but that would involve losing a preseason game or two. The owners won't like that much since they keep the gate.
But I think waiting a couple of weeks to settle free agency and maybe hold a mini-camp in the interim is the best course of action.

Where Did All The Runs Go?

2011-07-20T11:28:00.000-04:00

Wednesday morning the talk was about the Reds lack of runs lately. Especially the first two games in Pittsburgh, when not a single Reds player crossed home plate. Two games, zero runs. In the last four games the Reds have scored 1 run, 3 runs, then 0 and 0 in Pittsburgh. You know what comes next. The runs will come in bunches but the pitching won't hold up. Some how, some way, the Reds still lead the league in runs scored. They are two better than the Cardinals, but the Reds have played one more game. It's not one player, but you can't ignore what Jay Bruce hasn't done since being "National League Player of the Month" in May. Since May, Bruce has hit for an average of .217, with five home runs. Three of those homers have come in July, but he is just 11 for 51 (.216) at the plate in July. Jonny Gomes appeared to be coming around with a productive June, but in July he is just 2 for 20 at the plate. So you want to play Chris Heisey more? He is hitting just .211 in June and July, and just 5 for 32 (.156) in the current month. Heisey has provided some pop here and there, but consistency is the biggest problem with the Reds inability to score runs.

Reds Return Ready

2011-07-14T18:55:00.000-04:00

It was a thankful bunch of Reds that returned to Great American Ball Park Thursday afternoon. First of all, they were thankful for an All-Star break that came after a grueling stretch of games. “Monday afternoon I was supposed to go fishing and I couldn’t because I had to take a nap,” said Reds Manager Dusty Baker. “I felt like I was eight years old again. I hadn’t taken a nap in years.” The Reds suffered four one-run losses in the final week before the break. “You don’t realize the mental and physical energy you are exerting, especially in close games,” continued Baker. “Especially when you’re losing close games.”
The stretch of close games was especially tough on Reds closer Francisco Cordero. He had three blown saves in the final week, after having blown just two the entire season. “It’s not a new start but I got my mind clear and just ready to go for the second half,” said Cordero. Cordero said it helped spending the All-Star break with family and friends. “I know I have to do a better job. Everybody goes through a tough time, but you’ve got to be able to continue and do a better job.”
Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo battled mononucleosis in the first half of the season so the break was a welcome relief to him too. But he is also thankful the Reds aren’t buried in the National League Central Division race. They begin the second half just four games behind first place Milwaukee and St. Louis. “I think we’ve played bad enough that we could have been back 8 to 10 games in another season,” said the veteran starting pitcher. Arroyo continued, “To be where we are is not too bad and hopefully we’ll just get off to a good start and feel fresh about the second half and go forward.”
A good start would do wonders for the Reds. They open the second half with a three-game series at Great American Ball Park against the Cardinals. While Cincinnati fans approach the Cardinals with disdain, the Reds approach them with respect. “Any team that gives you as hard of a fight as the Cardinals do, I mean, we never feel like we’ve locked a game down with those guys until you get the final out,” said Arroyo. “You can’t say that about every ball club.”
The Reds and Cardinals both had workouts Thursday at Great American. The four Reds players who played in the All-Star game were excused for the workout and will report Friday. Pitcher Johnny Cueto will start the opening game of the three-game series for the Reds on Friday night.

Here are the pitching matchups and game times:
Fri vs StL:RHP Johnny Cueto (5-3, 1.96) vs RHP Jake Westbrook (7-4, 5.34)7:10 p.m.

Sat vs StL:RHP Bronson Arroyo (7-7, 5.58) vs RHP Chris Carpenter (4-7, 3.85)7:10 p.m.

Sun vs StL:RHP Homer Bailey (3-4, 4.13) vs LHP Jaime Garcia (9-3, 3.22) 1:10 p.m.

So Long Interleague Play

2011-07-03T19:42:00.001-04:00

I don't want the summer moving by too quickly, but I was looking forward to the end of interleague play. I do like the games with Cleveland, and it doesn't really bother me that some years less-than-marquee teams like the Royals come to town. What stinks is the differences in rules. Once again the American League came out on top in interleague play. I believe the American League has better teams. I also believe Detroit manager Jim Leyland has this thing backwards. Let me say up front, Leyland has more baseball knowledge in his cigarette smoke than I have in my entire body. Leyland claims the National League has the advantage in interleague play because American League pitchers do not normally hit in games. He thinks the hitting and bunting ability of N.L. pitchers outweighs the fact that Amaerican League teams have hired offensive machines known as designated hitters. What kind of a luxury is it to have David Ortiz, Jim Thome, or the Tigers' Victor Martinez? The Tigers can afford to save Martinez the rigors of squatting behind the plate every day because they can still get his bat in the lineup every day as a DH. National League teams can rarely afford to carry one-dimensional players on the roster. How nice would it have been for the Reds to have Yonder Alonso taking hacks as a designated hitter during interleague play? It seems the main reason Alonso isn't around for such duty is because he needs to find a position he can play at the major league level. It may not be a huge advantage for the A.L. teams, but it is a bigger advantage than Bronson Arroyo laying down a sacrifice bunt. I do agree with Leyland that the fairest way to solve this issue is to keep the leagues separate during the regular season.

You Never Know...

2011-07-01T18:24:00.001-04:00

...what the day will bring. I was out at the Reds Rookie Success League Friday morning. Along comes Reds owner Bob Castellini and he introduces me to the former president of Mexico, Vicente Fox. Very cool...

Big Stretch Before The Break

2011-06-30T12:06:00.000-04:00

I would like to make some sweeping statement like, "We'll know all we need to know about the Reds when they reach the All-Star break." But I believe our knowledge will be the same then as it is now. At some point this team needs to get traction and reel off some wins. With seven of the next ten games on the road, it's unlikely to happen now. Especially with four of those games in Milwaukee where the Brewers sport a gaudy 29-11 record at home. I fully expect the Reds to win four to five games out of the next ten and remain 3 to 5 games out of first place. The stretch begins with three game at home against Cleveland, then three in St. Louis followed by the four game series in Milwaukee.
At least the Reds can hang their hat on some stellar pitching. The Reds continue to rack up a healthy number of quality starts. Consistent run scoring has been another issue, with the Reds scoring 2 runs here, 2 runs there, then busting out for 10 in a rout. Still, the statistics bode well for the Reds the rest of the way. They are tops in the division in run differential, and that is usually a nice indicator that more wins should be on the way. The left fielders (Gomes, Heisey, Lewis) have fought their way back to respectability, but shortstop remains a bit of a black hole at the plate. Everybody's favorite minor league shortstop, Zach Cozart, has hit .341 in his last ten games at Louisville and had 6 hits in his last 12 at-bats. Just a thought.

Reds Patience Is Wearing Thin

2011-06-23T11:43:00.000-04:00

What are they waiting on? Will Zach Cozart have to hit .350, or will the current major league shortstops have to hit .150? The Reds under General Manager Walt Jocketty have shown an incredible amount of patience, and sometimes that is good. Let's face it, Jocketty's patience is a nice yin for the yang of owner Bob Castellini and his popular "damn the torpedoes! Let's win now!" attitude. But it's time, maybe past time, to see what the kid can do at the major league level. Cozart is presently hitting .320 this season, and that is well above his minor league average. Walt is obviously holding out hope that Janish and Renteria can turn it around and Cozart can continue to develop confidence in his offensive skills at Triple-A. It's much better to call up guys who are a finished product. But when you are trying to win games at the major league level, you don't always have that luxury. I understand the dilemma, and the Reds have a lot of smart people grading their players and measuring their readiness at the major league level. But when your guys at the major league level are stinking it up, you have to make the move.

What about the move at the top of the lineup? Even Chris Heisey says he doesn't agree that one game should garner more playing time for himself. But if I'm making the decision, Heisey is leading off Friday night in Baltimore. For a team that needs offense, you can't sit the hot hand. Heisey hit three home runs and scored four runs Wednesday night. It seems like a no-brainer to me.

For what seems like the first time since Jack McKeon was too young to smoke cigars, the Reds are stocked with up-and-coming talent at their Triple-A farm club. We've talked about Cozart, but you can add catcher Devin Mesoraco, outfielder Dave Sappelt, and outfielder/first baseman Yonder Alonso to the list of players forcing the Reds to take another look. Mesoraco is hitting .322, with an on-base percentage above .400. Alonso and Sappelt are both above .300 but hitting has never been an issue with these guys. Finding a position is the issue with Alonso. He's playing left field at Louisville these days but covering ground out there is an issue.

Reds Take The Great American Test

2011-06-17T12:01:00.000-04:00

The next 15 games for the Reds are against teams from the American League. The next 12 games they will see teams from the American League East Division. The Toronto Blue Jays get the A.L. proceedings started, opening a three game series at Great American Ball Park Friday night. On paper, there is nothing too worrisome about Toronto. The Blue Jays have a mediocre 34-35 record this season, and have lost 8 of their 14 games in June. The worrisome part for the Reds is the Reds themselves. They have scratched out a winning record at home, but not enough of an advantage to stake a claim as the "team to beat" in the Central Division. The Reds are currently 20-15 at home. By comparison, division leader Milwaukee is 25-9 at home. East Division leading Philadelphia is 28-12 at home, while the Giants lead the West with a home record of 19-12. The Reds did themselves a huge favor by playing well on the recent road trip. They have to find a way to make it happen at home. Of course it all begins with pitching. Because of the cozy dimensions, the air current, the humidity from the river, take your pick, hitting is not an issue at Great American Ball Park. That goes for the Reds, and that goes for the opponents. Just consider this about the Reds: They have played 35 games on the road this season and 35 at home. Here are the offensive stats that stand out.
Home:42 home runs, Away: 27 home runs; Home:.276 batting avg., Away:.250 batting avg.; Home:195 runs scores, Away:150 runs scored. We could go on and on about statistics, but the basic issue is this: if the Reds get the solid pitching they've had the past two weeks, they will have a successful homestand. If not, they will continue to hover right where they are. Past history says the Reds starting pitching is a little closer to what we have seen lately as opposed to what they were getting earlier in the season. Johnny Cueto is emerging as an ace. Edinson Volquez without the hair is throwing better. But the one bugaboo that continues to get Reds pitchers in trouble is free passes. They have to cut down on the bases on balls. Especially at Great American Ball Park. That's not the only key to winning at GABP, but it is a big one. The Reds need to start passing the Great American test.

HOCKEY HOOLIGANS? NOT SO FAST

Even though it is not funny, I have to chuckle at the reaction of some who deride those rowdy "fans" who rioted in Vancouver after the Canucks lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to Boston. I would be willing to bet very few of those "fans" could name a single player on the Canucks. I further doubt many were at the arena for the game. Sure, plenty of fans were around when the trouble started, but the trouble was started by the same rebel-rousing criminals that started trouble prior to the Winter Olympics. The Vancouver police say a group of anarchists dressed as fans were the instigators. They brought masks, goggles, and fire extinguishers among other things. So there was going to be hell raised that night in Vancouver, win or lose. If I were in charge of the Vancouver Police Department, I would have rolled out a few water cannons and made those punks wish they had brought snorkels with them too.

BENGALS 122 OUT OF 122

I appreciate the Bengals response to finishing "dead last" in the rankings of major league sports franchises by "ESPN The Magazine", but it reinforces the prevailing thought that things will never change. I suggest you be fair and read their response. There are valid points. The Bengals do have a great group of players to deal with. They are cooperative, friendly, and courteous. The Bengals have done plenty to help the local high schools and their facilities. While I hate to add a qualifier I must point out the program to upgrade local school facilities is a league initiative in conjunction with the NFL Players Association, among others. But from my perspective the Bengals seem to embrace the program. There are positives, and trust me, as much as sometimes I think maybe the city would have been better off if the Bengals had bolted for Baltimore, it would not. But the Bengals response comes off as if the only problems are wins and losses. That's the biggest part of the equation, but even the most pedestrian fan can see other issues. Maybe a small hall of fame, maybe some retired numbers, maybe honoring former Bengals, most of whom are still beloved by the city. They could do plenty to honor the 1981 Bengals during the upcoming season. Honor the different position groups from those teams during the home games, culminating with a 30 year reunion for the final home game. You could have a big celebration the night before where fans can meet and greet the players who took the Bengals to their first Super Bowl. You think that might leave a positive impression on the fans? What about a weekend "fantasy camp" in Georgetown, or PBS, or Wilmington, where fans can go through workouts supervised by the likes of David Fulcher and Eric Thomas? You think that might help relations? I do, and it would take minimal effort. Things of that nature would help smooth some of the bumps in the Bengals road. Wins would be the biggest thing, but there are other ways to get the fans to "buy in" to what you are doing. If they do a few of those things it might take the sting out of other things, like that disastrous news conference announcing the return of Marvin Lewis. That one hurt.

THE NEW TIGER
By the way, as I type this, I'm watching Rory McIlroy bring the U.S. Open field to its knees. Too bad for American golf that the next "Tiger" is from Northern Ireland. Once this kid learns to finish the big ones, it's over.

Good Reds, Bad Reds

2011-06-08T18:43:00.000-04:00

Since the Reds are hovering right around the break-even mark, I'm having trouble deciding if I am optimistic or pessimistic about the rest of the season. So I have to lay it all out and come to some sort of conclusion. Good George is the optimist in me, and there are a few things that have Good George feeling that the Reds will stick around. Bad George is the pessimist in me, and there are quite a few things that have Bad George thinking the Reds won't make it back to the postseason.

Good George likes the way the Reds starting pitching has shown up lately. Johnny Cueto is throwing well, Edinson Volquez made a sweet comeback Tuesday night, Mike Leake has shown well of late, and Bronson Arroyo seems to have battled his way through back problems. So the starting pitching has made it back just in time.

Bad George thinks a few good starts is a long way from giving the Reds what they thought they had when they started the season. Because the starting pitching was so bad the bullpen was burned. You have to wonder if the bullpen will recover to become the "lights out" unit it was earlier in the season.

Good George likes the fact Jay Bruce is maturing into a fine major league player. Will he stay hot at the plate? Not as hot as he's been lately, but taking the end of last season and the first two months-plus of this season and you've got another left-handed star hitter in the lineup. Plus the Reds are near the top of the league in a lot of categories, so timely clutch hits should be around the corner.

Bad George says there are still too many holes in this lineup, and that's why the timely hits aren't there. Scott Rolen can be Mr. Clutch, but he's hurting again. He had strep throat to go on top of that ailing shoulder that landed him on the disabled list earlier this season. Bad George is worried Rolen will not get past the shoulder issue, and may not be the same at the plate from here on out. Then there's left field, and shortstop! Bad George thinks the Reds should quit fooling around and bring up Yonder Alonso to at least platoon in left.

Good George thinks the Reds still have time to get it done. It's early June so it is time to get moving. But it's not like this division is so strong that the Reds can't hang around while they find their groove. They still get good defensive play from most positions and if the pitching can be what Good George believes it is, then the Reds are around for the long haul.

Bad George thinks the Reds better get it moving, and it better happen on this road trip. Let's face it, playing good teams on the road is not what this team needs right now. They are coming off a homestand that saw 5 wins in 9 games. The Reds needed better results. The last road trip was a disaster. The Reds went 2-8 on a ten game trip to Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. The first four games of this trip take the Reds to the home of the defending World Series champions, the San Francisco Giants. The Giants are 16-10 at home this season. Then the Reds play the final three games of the trip at Los Angeles. If the Reds just lost two out of three to the Dodgers at Great American Ball Park, then how in the name of Tommy Lasorda are the Reds going to fare well at Chavez Ravine? Then they come back home to take on the American League East. Bad George ain't liking it at all.

After considering all of the above, Average George has to conclude this team is in some trouble. This road trip and the games against the American League present a stretch that can bury this team. Some things need to change. I'm generally an optimistic person and would love to side with Good George, but on this day, Bad George just makes too much sense.

Extended Vacation Over

2011-06-03T15:05:00.000-04:00

For me... I actually got back to town Tuesday but you know how it is, it takes several days to catch up and get back in the groove. I'm not sure I'm grooving like jay Bruce, but I'm getting close to a return to normalcy. Bruce is maturing into the hitter we all thought he could be. That is one reason to believe the Reds will be in this for the long haul. Despite the 2-10 road trip and the starting pitching woes, I still like their chances. The starting pitching can't be this bad all season, but if it is, then I'm wrong. I'm betting it will be much better from here on out.

Bengals players are banding together for workouts the next could of weeks. The defense will be working out at Ignition in Mason. The last I heard the offense was trying to secure the Jefferson Ave. Sports Complex at U.C. for workouts. I'm told UC is more than willing to let the players use the complex but there are issues of liability to work out. In New Orleans Drew Brees had to jump through some legal hoops to get proper insurance so the Saints could work out at Tulane. It sounds like the same issues are in play here.

The Jim Tressel saga is quickly turning into the Terrelle Pryor saga. With the sweater-vested one in the rear view mirror, the headlights shine brightly on those still ahead on the Buckeyes highway to probation. But before Tressel fades from view, there are some in the know who claim Tressel is taking one for The Ohio State University. Their version of the story states that when Tressel received the original and now damning email, that he did indeed approach the compliance people at Ohio State. He was told by them to sit tight since there was a criminal investigation involved. That could just be Tressel's version of the events, and it doesn't help his cause that he forwarded the email to Pryor's older friend in Pennsylvania. But I allow myself to believe some of this, since I cannot allow myself to believe Tressel would be that stupid. Unless, of course, the tattoo for gear practice was so rampant, it seemed like no big deal to Tressel. I could believe that one too.

A Pleasant Surprise

2011-05-25T20:44:00.001-04:00

Often times my role takes me away from hard core sports and to places where I meet the everyday heroes of life. Last week I went to see the daughter of Jackie Robinson, Sharon Robinson, give out an award at Lakota Ridge Junior High in West Chester. The award is part of the Breaking Barriers essay contest for students in grades 4-8. Sharon Robinson runs the program for Major League Baseball. She is a wonderful person who loves the students and gave an inspiring account of what made he father tick. It's the same thing that makes Lakota Ridge 8th grader Meggie Zahneis tick. She won the contest out of close to 10,000 entrants from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Meggie is a terrific writer and made a big impression on Ms. Robinson. She also made a huge impression on myself and photographer Paul Mato. Here is a link to the story that aired on WLWT that evening. Meggie sent me a nice Thank You note for covering her event, and I thank her deeply for the nice note. Meggie also included the following narrative about the day. It is written from the point of view of her eyeglasses. Yes, she is a talented young lady and in the short time I talked with her she displayed a keen sense of humor. Thanks again to Meggie and Sharon Robinson for allowing us to meet such inspiring people and to be part of a nice, inspiring day!
===================

If Eyeglasses Could Talk…

Finally! It was almost 6 a.m., and though the sun had started to rise, I was feeling pretty lonely after spending the night alone on the kitchen table. My owner, Meggie, snatches me as soon as she plods downstairs, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. The day starts fairly normally; after Meggie’s teeth are brushed and he backpack packed, she gives her mom the obligatory have-a-good-day kiss, and we head out the door. But today, surprisingly, was different. I could sense Meggie was a little jittery during first-period English, and I start to wonder what was going on as the day wears on. Meggie seems restless, as if anticipating something.

Then, at last, I begin to unravel the mystery that was her excitement. After 6th period, I hear a PA announcement calling Meggie to the guidance office. As she practically runs down the hall, I catch a glimpse of a woman in the office window. I don’t know who she is, yet her face looks vaguely familiar and I can’t help thinking I know her from somewhere. But where? As Meggie impatiently yanks open the office door, I instantly become enveloped in a giant hug from the mystery woman, and caught in a blur of excited voices. It’s then that Meggie finally sheds some light on the woman’s identity, with an ecstatic uttering of, “It’s so great to meet you, Ms Robinson!” So that’s who it is! Of course; Sharon Robinson! I’d seen here face before, on the dust jacket of her books. She’s the daughter of Jackie Robinson! After being temporarily jarred by her monster hug, I recover and revel in Meggie’s big moment. But I still don’t know why on earth Sharon Robinson is here, at Meggie’s school, right in the middle of 7th period!

I soon find out. Meggie joins a posse of relatives, teachers, and classmates in the school gym, which is packed full of students, teachers, and even a few guys with fancy cameras. What is going on here? Then the principal, Mr. Gendreau, starts talking and the gym suddenly gets quiet. I notice that for some reason, Meggie and I aren’t sitting with her classmates. Instead, we sit on some folding chairs next to a podium. My curiosity mounts as Mr. Gendreau reminds everyone to be a considerate audience. The secret is then finally revealed – he introduces Meggie as the grand prize winner of Scholastic and Major League Baseball’s Breaking Barriers essay contest!

Meggie then steps up to the podium, quivering with nervousness and pushing me up further on her nose, Then she takes a deep breath and loudly, clearly begins reading from what I guess is her winning essay. Wow! Am I ever a proud pair of glasses! It amazes me to see the world through Meggie’s eyes; I’m looking out at the crowd of hundreds of people gathered, listening intently to what she is saying, loving every moment of it, just as I know Meggie is. My lenses even start to mist up a little bit.

After the presentation by Ms. Robinson, I’m surprised to see a TV reporter rushing up to Meggie. He introduces himself as George, and requests an interview, which Meggie quickly grants. I sure hope by lenses are clean! I stare straight at the camera as Meggie fields George’s questions. Although I am excited, I can’t help but feel a little intimidated by the shockingly bright light emitted by the cameraman’s equipment.

Then, once the interviews are over, we quickly head to Meggie’s teacher’s classroom Mrs. Redman is waiting there with the class. Ms. Robinson signs copies of her book for everyone, and soon it’s time to go home and get ready again – I’m told Meggie, her brother Nick, and I get to go on the field at the Cincinnati Reds game!

We get home with just enough time for Meggie to tear open her new laptop computer, and wow, is it ever a nice one! It’s so think and light that at first I couldn’t believe my lenses. This day was beginning to feel more and more like Christmas morning in the middle of May!

When we got to the ballpark later that night, I couldn’t wait to me Lorrie from the Reds and get the party started! First, though, Meggie and I take in a little batting practice from the stands and meet up with some family members. Then we make our way to the ticket office, where we finally meet Lorrie and another Breaking Barriers winner. Before long, Meggie’s parents bid adieu and Nick, Meggie and I follow Lorrie around the park to the field. Along the way, we pick up Ms. Robinson and get a standing ovation from some people in the Crosley Room. I feel so important! Next, we head down through a tunnel, passing the visitor’s clubhouse, the umpires’ suite, and finally the visitor’s dugout, my excitement mounting all the way. At long last, we’re on the field! It’s truly amaxing to take in – I was astounded by the sheer size of the place. I’m still in awe of the whole thing.

Then Lorrie positions us on the field and tells us to look straight ahead at a camera I can’t seem to find. Regardless, Meggie and Jacob, the other contest winner, smile and wave happily, while I bask in it all, glad to be along for the ride. We go back to the seats and take in the game.

Later that night, after everyone has gone to bed and I’m once again alone on the kitchen table, I think back on what a great day it’s been. I know I’ll never forget it, but at the same time, I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

Thanks to everyone who helped make it an unforgettable day!
Meggie Zahneis

Quick Takes On A Busy Week

2011-05-25T12:49:00.000-04:00

I would have liked to have seen the Reds make their player moves a little sooner, but at least they haven't waited until it's too late. Mike Leake will get another chance, but I would be all for Dontrelle Willis if he were healthy. Chris Heisey needs to take advantage of the extra at-bats now if he wants to become an everyday player in the major leagues. No matter what happens on the rest of the road trip, the Reds will still be a player in the N.L. Central. Good Luck to Francisco Cordero getting career save number 300. He picked up his 299th Tuesday night in Philadelphia. It means a lot to the big guy. He will become only the second pitcher from his homeland of the Dominican Republic to reach that plateau. Cordero tells us that is a huge deal in the Dominican, and a big deal to his family. Coco almost becomes misty-eyed when he talks of being in the 300 saves club with fellow Dominican Jose Mesa. Mesa finished his career with a total of 321, so there is a chance Cordero can become the all-time leader among Dominicans before the end of the season.

I don't think it is posturing from Mike Brown. He will not entertain trade offers for Carson Palmer. That is silly and stubborn and in spite of what is good for the team. However, I believe should Carson sit out the upcoming season, Brown will begin entertaining offers before next year's draft. Mike probably figures he will only be getting picks in the 2012 draft for Carson anyway, so make #9 put his cards on the table.

By the way, the fact Carson had a chance to talk to the media at a golf tournament last weekend but declined tells me ta lot. He condones and agrees with the "trade or retire" demand we have yet to hear come from his lips. What we don't know is why. I'm sure he doesn't like a lot about the way the organization is structured and probably feels there is another way that would make winning more of a possibility. But the timing of the leak of the trade demand, and his silence about the rehiring of Marvin Lewis tells me he might have a problem with the coaching situation and that might be what drove him over the edge.

Edinson Right, But Wrong To Say It

2011-05-22T22:30:00.000-04:00

If anyone but Edinson Volquez had called out the Reds offense, there would be no issue. After surrendering 7 runs, 6 earned, and not making it out of the third inning, Volquez opted to focus on the Reds offense after the 12-4 loss to the Indians. Volquez told reporters that "Everybody has to step up, start to score some runs. In the last five games, how many runs have we scored? Like 13? That's not the way we were playing last year. We're better than that."
Volquez should take a long look in a mirror and think about the 10 starts he has made this season. He has yet to work more than 6 innings, and he has only made it that deep into a game three times. But there is more wrong with the Reds at this moment that one pitcher who gets the ball every five games.
The offense is getting little or nothing from the shortstop position recently. And less than that from the struggling Jonny Gomes. Dusty Baker has stuck with Gomes longer than a lot of managers would, and now it appears others with start soaking up the at-bats.
What makes it seem even worse is the fact the Reds are heading to Philadelphia for a four game series. The Phillies have struggled offensively as well, but they can afford it when they have the best starting pitching in the game. Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay are Cy Young Award winners, while Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels have a history of getting the best of the Reds. Plus, the Phillies will get second baseman Chase Utley back, just in time for the series opening Monday night.
So while it seems bleak right now, the Reds just have to find a way to weather the storm. It's too early to get blown out, but they need to stop the bleeding. In 2010 they were able to do that, but they also suffered through two five-game losing streak last year. You know the bats will wake up, but can that wake up against the dominant starting pitching of the Phillies? That's a good question, but not one Volquez should be asking.

That Didn't Take Long!

2011-05-19T18:43:00.000-04:00

With another loss to the Pirates Thursday, the Reds hold on first place is over. It lasted five days. Of all teams, it appears the mighty Pittsburgh Pirates have the Reds number. That's what makes baseball a funny game. Like Jonny Gomes said after the Thursday's 5-3 loss, "Next year it will be some other team that has our number." But this year it is the Pirates. The Reds make the Pittsburgh starting rotation look like the Four Aces of the 1971 Baltimore Orioles. The Pirates have won 5 of their 6 games against the Reds this season, all of those games have been at Great American Ball Park. Charlie Morton has won 2 of those 5 games, allowing just 1 earned run in 18 innings. Kevin Correia was joined by James McDonald as the other two Pittsburgh pitchers to rack up quality starts against the Reds this season. Like they say, don't get mad, get even. But the Reds will have to wait a while for that to happen. They won't face Pittsburgh again until after the All-Star break. Plus, the final 9 games of the season series against the Pirates will all be played in Pittsburgh. That's right, the Pirates are through coming to Cincinnati in 2011 and can rest easy with a 5-1 record here.
Now it is onto the longest road trip of the season, and it is a doozy! Three games at Cleveland (first place in A.L. Central, best record in baseball), four games at Philadelphia (first place in N.L. East and best record in National League), and three games at Atlanta (5 games over .500). If the Reds come back with a 5-5 record on this road trip, I'll take it in a heartbeat. The offense certainly needs to find some consistency again for that to happen. But I feel this team is good enough to make it happen. Hang on for 10 days then the schedule softens up a little. Should the Reds roll on this road trip, great. But a .500 record will be plenty to let me know this team is once again built for the long haul.

Reds and Redbirds, A Red-Hot Rivalry

2011-05-16T05:08:00.000-04:00

I feel like I woke up and it is the 1970's all over again. But instead of Pete Rose and the Reds staring down "Popeye" Steve Garvey and the Dodgers, it's Francisco Cordero throwing inside to Albert Pujols and the Cardinals. This red-hot rivalry didn't happen overnight, it just feels that way.
Think back to January, 2006, when Bob Castellini took over majority ownership of the Reds. That very day he talked of modeling the Reds after a team he used to have a minority stake in. That's right, the St. Louis Cardinals. Since then Castellini has poured more St. Louis winning ways into the Reds than Budweiser has poured beer into bottles. Exhibit-A is when former Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty became available. Exhibit-B is when Scott Rolen became available. Castellini had to make a large commitment of dollars to acquire Rolen when everyone else said the veteran third baseman was washed up. Rolen destroyed his ex-team this weekend and was a big reason the Reds snatched first place away from the Cardinals. Not all of the ex-Cardinal moves have worked. Jim Edmonds was at the end of the line when acquired by Cincinnati in 2010 and has since fanned the rivalry flames from the St. Louis side of the fire. The jury is still out on the signing of Edgar Renteria. But you don't need an entire roster of ex-St Louis players to foster a hard-nosed approach to winning baseball.
What you do need is something the Reds lacked for most of the past decade, and that is players who feel there is still some value in winning. That is a polite way of saying players who care. They've had those guys in the past, but not a clubhouse stuffed with them in every corner. Now they do. That comes from the top-down folks. A gruff guy who said he was embarrassed by the way the Reds had fallen on hard times has taken ownership of that team and turned it into Charlie Hustle. Finally, the Reds are standing up to the bully in the division. Sure, it was just a three-game sweep in May. But when a nice man like Francisco Cordero gets ready to throw down, the Reds are onto something.

Big Series, and Cedric Is So Right

2011-05-13T14:09:00.000-04:00

The Reds series against the Cardinals this weekend is big. Even though it is early, it's always big when first place meets second place. That's the deal this weekend at Great American Ball Park. But it goes beyond that. As explained in this article on our main web site Marty Brennaman thinks the Reds need a big weekend from a mental standpoint. It should be fun, and there should be big crowds. The Reds need a three-game sweep to take over first place. But winning two out of three would leave Cincinnati just a half game back.

From the "Hammer, meet Nail" department: Cedric Benson hit the nail on the head with his comments about Carson Palmer. Not long after Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said Carson Palmer would be the Bengals starting quarterback if he returns to the team, Benson said it's a bad idea to bring back a disgruntled quarterback. Why do some coaches and front office people and owners find it so hard to see the obvious? Why? Carson is mentally checked out. Even if Carson has a change of heart (like figuring out walking away from so much money is foolish) the Bengals already know his true feelings. They completely blew it a few years back with Ochocinco. Don't blow it again.

Homer Helps

2011-05-05T18:27:00.000-04:00

Having Homer Bailey pitch the way he pitched Thursday afternoon is a nice little boost to the Reds. His first outing for the Reds was supposed to be his fourth rehab outing in Louisville, but in retrospect it looks like the Reds caught a break when they had to reschedule Monday night's rainout. Bailey looked loose and easy as he allowed just one run and struck out seven in six innings. Dusty Baker looked relieved to have Bailey back, and will be even more relieved if Jonny Cueto can give a similar effort on Sunday. Bailey and Cueto were being counted on as two-fifths of the Reds starting pitching rotation, but both had injury setbacks in spring training. As Dusty likes to say, the Reds are almost whole again. Fred Lewis has made his way back from injury and contributed a home run off the bench Thursday. Now they await the return of third baseman Scott Rolen. He's eligible to come off the disabled list tomorrow, but that has been ruled out. He could return early next week in Houston. Speaking of Houston, that's where Homer will make his first start. He is a native of Texas and grew up about two hours away from Minute Maid Park. It's the sixth time Homer has visited Houston with the Reds, but oddly enough, he has never pitched in Houston. In fact, next Tuesday he will be making his first pitching appearance in the state of Texas since he was in high school. Homer talked about how crazy it is that he has been there a number of times but was never in line to make an appearance there. But if you are part of Bailey's hometown fans in Texas, get to him early. He said he will take care of as many ticket requests as possible while he is in Chicago over the weekend, but once he gets to Texas, it's all business. Homer also said "if you see a bunch of country people sitting in one section, they're from my part of the country."

Bengals Latest And Phillips Fakes

2011-05-05T12:08:00.000-04:00

I made it out to see some Bengals players working out on their own yesterday at Ignition in Mason. Click here to see the story.

The Reds had another interesting ninth inning on Wednesday afternoon. Perhaps most interesting was Brandon Phillips plate appearance. With men on first and second with nobody out and the Reds trailing by a run, Phillips decided it was a good time to bunt. He squared around on the first pitch, then took it for a ball. The next pitch he doesn't square around and takes a strike. So now I'm wondering what in the world is going on? Is he bunting or not. Manager Dusty Baker was wondering the same thing. He didn't give the bunt sign at any point to Brandon. He wanted Brandon to swing away. Phillips just thought it was the right thing to do. He wanted to move the runners to second and third with one out. I thought that was the safe play too. So Phillips squared around on the third pitch but took it for ball two. So then Phillips looks down to third base and sees Mark Berry give a fist pump as if to say "hit the dang thing!" So Brandon figured what the heck, I'm giving up on this idea of a sacrifice and swinging away. He comes through with a single to score the tying run, and Jay Bruce finished the game with the walk off double on the very next pitch. Brandon's situation was very interesting for the baseball purists. If he hits into a double play, or fails to move the runners with pop out or a fielder's choice, it would have been "second-guess city" for Baker. But Dusty gives his players plenty of rope to allow his players to success, and it's worked very well with this bunch.

Bengals Move, Palmer Sits

2011-05-01T15:33:00.002-04:00

While the dust settles from the NFL draft, the big neon sign from the Bengals war room says the Carson and Ochocinco era is over. Carson Palmer is the interesting subject here. When he went to Mike Brown and demanded to be traded, Palmer appeared to hold all of the cards. The second round choice of Andy Dalton changed everything. Now Carson will get his wish if there is an upcoming season. He will sit. He will retire. He will listen to the California surf as opposed to hearing cheers, boos, maybe a lot of boos, and referees whistles. Not a bad choice for a guy who has made the money Palmer has made. Maybe Palmer is flat burned out. Whatever the case, the Bengals no longer tie their future success to a guy who has lost his passion to play in Cincinnati. Unless someone bowls Brown over with an offer of draft picks, and it's contingent on the deal happening before the 2011 season, Mike has no reason to be in a hurry. The Bengals will most likely want draft picks (or a pick) for Palmer. Those picks are the same now as they will be after the 2011 season. Mike can't use those picks until April, 2011, or beyond. So why should he be in a hurry? He can afford to let Carson sit. Sure, there's a chance Palmer's value could deflate if he sits out a season. But based on this past weekend with teams reaching high for quarterbacks there is reason to believe someone will hold Palmer in high regard. If Jake Locker is worth the 8th overall pick, surely Palmer could fetch a late first round pick. Look at Carolina for an example of how quarterback crazy the league has become. They spend a second round pick on Jimmy Clausen in 2010, then the top overall pick for Cam Newton in 2011. So let's say any of the quarterbacks drafted this weekend are busts, then Palmer could be in high demand after the season. The problem for Brown and the Bengals, Andy Dalton better not be that bust.

As for the rest of the draft:
The Bengals appeared to help themselves with A.J. Green, Dalton, linebacker Dontay Moch, offensive lineman Clint Boling, and safety Robert Sands. This could be two solid drafts in a row. But drafting is half the battle. Development is the rest. Development has been a huge problem for the Bengals. Mike Brown points to the failed draft of 2005 as an example of how the Bengals development program came off the rails. Brown likes to pretend that draft blew up in the Bengals faces unexpectedly. But there were known risks with that draft. There is hope. Last year's draft picks all seemed to improve as the season went along. When finally given a chance Jerome Simpson (what took so long????!!!) was able to show he had learned a thing or two. Now the Bengals have new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden (a former college quarterback) and a respected wide receivers coach in James Urban. That should be a big positive when developing Dalton and Green.
(Although in Green's case, I don't know how much developing is needed. He appears NFL ready.)

Remember This Gruden Guy, And No Trade???

2011-04-29T00:56:00.000-04:00

And I'm not talking about Jon. Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden may have dropped more good tidbits than his older brother Thursday night, and Jon was on for ESPN's 4 hours-plus of draft coverage. After the Bengals drafted A.J. Green in the first round Thursday night, Gruden entered the press conference room with head coach Marvin Lewis and wide receivers coach James Urban. Lewis left the room after making some fairly reserved comments. Urban gave a nice opening statement about Green, then Gruden took off. "I’m a little bit more excited than anybody else here, I guess. I mean, I feel like I just got up on Christmas and opened up my favorite present. I’m so fired up." said Gruden. Later the former University of Louisville quarterback addressed the question of who will throw the ball to Green "Ah, we’ll find somebody (laughs). Surely somebody ought to come throw to this son-of-a-gun. I might come out of retirement for this guy (laughs). I am fired up. To me, the beauty of throwing to him is that he might be covered and you can put ball up and he will get it." Then came his response to the low score of 10 Green reportedly scored on the NFL Wonderlic test at the combine, “The Wonderlic score (pause)… yeah. I don’t know. All I know is that he plays smart and he makes big plays all the time. He’s consistently done that since he was a freshman in high school, and there’s no Wonderlic test that can take that away. In talking to him and meeting with him, I know that if he is a little slower, which I don’t think he is, we’ll take time with him and make it comfortable for him. That’s our job, and mainly his job (Urban), to make sure that he learns. And he will learn. He’s a great player, and he’s a willing player. He’ll be here on time every day, and he’ll practice hard every day. Wonderlic-shmunderlic. He’s going to be fine.” If Gruden can coach offense the way he answers questions in a refreshing, entertaining way, we're looking at another head coach named Gruden in the NFL.

Marvin Lewis told me Thursday night the Falcons had been talking to the Bengals for the past week. he wouldn't confirm that an offer was made, but if they gave Cleveland 5 picks for the 6th pick, you have to think they were offering at least that to the Bengals. I would have done the deal. The Bengals have too many holes to fill and not enough picks to do it. An extra 2 this year, and an extra 1 and 2 next year would have been handy. Heck, there's no law that you can't use those picks to get something else (Kolb, Flynn) you need when teams can trade again.
Not the best move in my book.

As for Green, think Carl Pickens. Not attitude-wise, but ability-wise when it come to making the contested catch. Pickens rarely, if ever, lost a contested catch. I've seen some tape of A.J., but not a lot. But those who have seen a lot say this guy doesn't lose either. In fact, former Bengal and former scout Charles Fisher went over a play with me that resulted in a Green touchdown on a jump ball. Charles says the cornerback did everything right on the play, but Green still won the battle and came down with the touchdown pass. He is very, very good.

Reds Power Outage

2011-04-24T23:17:00.000-04:00

With Scott Rolen out, it is simple. Jonny Gomes and Jay Bruce need to be at their best. Teams will be more and more careful with MVP Joey Votto, and if there is no one to make them pay for pitching around Votto, then runs are really going to be tough to come by. Gomes and Bruce were a collective 0 for 7 in Sunday night's shutout at St. Louis. I think those two are capable, but they are going to have to crank it up with three games coming in Milwaukee.

After talking with a few more people, I'm really hoping the Bengals can be disciplined in the draft this week. Do not reach. Sure, they need a quarterback, but I would rather address that in other ways than draft a guy well above his value when playmakers at other positions are available. The truth is, the Bengals have other needs besides quarterback. It could take a couple of years to get this train wreck back on track.

Karma Catches Cardinals

2011-04-23T21:49:00.000-04:00

I'm going to call it karma. That might be the easy explanation for the 8th inning in Saturday's game. We still don't know for sure what happened Friday night between the Reds, the Cardinals, and the weather reports. But the Baseball Gods appeared to be paying back St. Louis for some misdeed. The Reds had the most improbable rally in the top of the 8th inning Saturday while trailing 3-2. A one out, two base error, a strikeout to make it two outs, an intentional walk to Votto, Jonny Gomes hit with an 0-2 pitch, and a bases loaded walk to Jay Bruce to tie the game after Bruce fell behind 1-2 in the count. Wow! Then up comes former Cardinal Miguel Cairo and BINGO! A two-run single that proves to be the difference. Now, since Volquez had to be scratched because of the way the weather played out Friday, he could be the man on the mound for the Reds Sunday night. That could bring about another chance for karma. The only time Volquez has pitched in new Busch Stadium was back on June 1, 2009. As bad as the first inning has been for Volquez in 2011, it was worse for Volquez on this night. He left after one inning with numbness in his right hand. That led to Tommy John surgery and Volquez didn't pitch again until July 17, 2010. Should he take the mound in St. Louis Sunday night, he is due for some good karma.

Leake Stops The Leak, For Now

2011-04-21T18:06:00.000-04:00

Mike Leake ended a few interesting days with a much needed quality start for the Reds. The youngster was his normal unflappable self in pitching the Reds past the Diamondbacks Thursday afternoon. I'm still wondering if Leake's side of the Macy's alleged shoplifting story is true, (I've heard it definitely was an exchange gone bad) why the Reds and Leake weren't more pro-active. If that story had come out Monday night, that would have doused two days of bad publicity and radio talkers jumping the gun. But I don't know the legal end of things and it could very well be that attorneys are advising everyone involved to keep a lid on it until a judge rules. I still think something should have been done to get out in front and keep Leake from taking fire the past few days, but the unflappable Leake just takes it all in stride. He probably chuckled when Brandon Phillips praised Leake's poise after Thursday's game, then added, "it feels good for him to steal a win like that." Leake would probably even wear one of these tee-shirts St. Louis fans are preparing to wear for the Reds visit this weekend.

The more important thing is the win ended a brutal home stand that should have been much better. Seven games at home against Pittsburgh and Arizona should have translated into at least four, maybe five wins. But baseball doesn't work that way. The Reds could only capture two of the seven games, including a four game skid. So now they have to find a place to make up for it, and there is no better place than St. Louis and Milwaukee. Take two out of three in St. Louis, two out of three in Milwaukee, and things get better in a hurry. However, the Reds were 3-6 in Busch Stadium last season. The last 3-game sweep in St. Louis came back in June 2006. You want more bad news? Since that 3-game sweep, the Reds have not won a single series in St. Louis. They are 0-10-1 in series and 10-24 overall since that sweep. If nothing else, the Reds are due. They've had better luck in Miller Park, where the Reds won four of six games last season.

The big question: will the gloves come off again against the Cardinals? Maybe, but it won't be the Reds firing the first shot of the battle. There was speculation something might heat up last season in St. Louis, but that was in September with both teams focused on winning a division title. With the way the home stand went, the Reds will be focused on getting that winning feeling back. I suspect the Cardinals will do the same, but since former Reds catcher Jason LaRue had to retire in St. Louis after taking a kick to the head by Johnny Cueto, the Cardinals just might be READY TO RUMMMMBBBLLLLE!

Five Things About The Reds

2011-04-17T22:49:00.000-04:00

After a little interruption, we're back in action. We'll start with five things for the Reds.
1. They'll be just fine. Last year at this time they were swept in Pittsburgh by the Pirates and had a 5-8 record. They had lost five in a row. You don't want to lose to Pittsburgh on their home field but the Reds continue to lead the division.

2. I'm more worried about Edinson Vlquez walking hitters than I am about his poor first innings. Volquez has walked 11 batters in his last 16 innings. That is a terrible trend, but one he can turn around. His pitches still move and seem lively so I'm not hitting the panic button yet.

3. I'm about to hit the panic button with Aroldis Chapman. Is he really best suited to a setup or closer role where he may have to throw four times in five or six days? It doesn't seem to be agreeing with him, but the Reds can give it one more shot in the coming weeks and if he has anymore warm issues it is time to start his transition back to a starting pitcher.

4. It is disturbing that the Reds left 13 runners on base Sunday, but that will happen from time to time. The truth is, scoring runs isn't not a problem so far. They lead the major leagues in runs scored with 92 through Sunday.

5. The Reds still play in a very winnable division. The Cardinals have come to life, but after two weeks of the regular season, there's little doubt who plays the best defense and who will once again have the best offense. That would be the Reds.

A quick plea the Cincinnati Bengals: DO NOT PANIC ON DRAFT DAY!
The Bengals should not reach for a quarterback in round one. The minute a team panics, mistakes are made. Chances are there could be someone in the second round, but there's nothing wrong with finding a stopgap and draft a qb next year. Forcing the issue is not the answer. You have to rind the right guy.

Big Blue Now The Favorite

2011-03-28T20:01:00.002-04:00

First off, a big thanks to Kentucky fans for not tearing me up because of my Ohio State prediction. Honestly, if I had known William Buford would be held to, or clang his way to, a 2-16 performance from the field, I would have taken the Wildcats. All kidding aside it was a terrific game, as good as could be expected. The Wildcats backed up that performance by taking out a good North Carolina team. Kentucky hacked its way through the toughest path to the Final Four and is now the favorite to win it all. While that is my opinion, the boys in Vegas feel the same way. They have it Kentucky, then UConn, followed by Butler, then VCU. Kentucky is a slight favorite over UConn, with the Wildcats an early two point fave.

By the way, VCU taking down Kansas like that was huge. Too bad we don't get to see a similar scenario in December with football. Of course it would not be feasible to have the same type and number of Cinderella candidates in a football playoff, but you could have one, maybe two. But instead we cling to the outdated, old school, can't upset the sponsors, gee that's the way we've always done it bowl system that makes absolutely no sense. They tell me the money wouldn't be the same for a playoff. I'll tell you what, give me a playoff system to sell and I'll double any money being made right now. Heck, ask UConn how great the bowl system is. The Huskies lost
$1.8 million dollars going to the Fiest Bowl!
Anyone want to bet that wouldn't happen in a BCS Playoff game? I'll take every dime you have on that one. By the way, a lot of friends, colleagues, and media members I respect still champion the bowl system. I don't think they are idiots, I don't think they are fools, but I do have a feeling they are all driving a
Model T!

Border War Comes To Cincy

2011-03-24T19:09:00.001-04:00

If you walk around the Greater Cincinnati area you are going to see the signs. Some of those signs are Kentucky Blue and some of those signs are Ohio State Scarlet and Grey.
Most of the collegiate gear in town has something to do with U.C. or Xavier, but there’s enough of the other to spark more than one sports bar argument in Cincinnati on Friday.
Ohio State and Kentucky meet in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament in Newark, New Jersey, at 9:45 p.m. The Buckeyes are the odds on favorite to win the whole shooting match while the Wildcats are talented enough to fire a fatal blast. It’s an intriguing matchup between equally intriguing fan bases.
Kentucky fans think basketball first. Ohio State fans think football first. That might be where the differences end. Both fan bases have made their program the dominant collegiate sports program in their state. Both aren’t afraid to travel long distances to support their team. Both pour huge amounts of money into their program through donations and ticket sales. Both expect to hang banners every single year. Both know how to tailgate with the best in the country. Yes, basketball fans tailgate at NCAA Regional games.
So which fan base will celebrate Friday night with hopes of a Final Four? This is going to be a close call. Ohio State is coming off a dominating performance against George Mason on Sunday. The Buckeyes dropped 16 shots from long range and won 98-66. Senior David Lighty made all seven of his three-point shots. Lighty teams with fellow senior Jon Diebler, junior William Buford, and freshman Aaron Craft for perhaps the best perimeter play in the country. But the man who has turned Ohio State into a national title favorite is freshman Jared Sullinger. The 6-9, 280 pound freshman man-child is averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds a game. If he gets it down low, it’s over. Fellow forward Dallas Lauderdale is 6-8, 255 pounds
But Kentucky is able to match that beef with Senior Josh Harrellson and freshman Terrence Jones. Harrellson has turned into a fan favorite and is nicknamed “jorts”, a reference to a picture of him in jean shorts while attending a U.K. spring football game. He’s worked himself into the starting lineup and grabs close to 9 rebounds a game. He can also score if he’s called upon. But the freshman Jones has been handling most of the scoring load for the big men with 16 point a game. Like Ohio State, the Wildcats have some guards with big-time game. Freshman Brandon Knight leads the way with 17 points a game. Freshman Doron Lamb is pitching in with 12 points per game, while juniors Darius Miller and Deandre Liggins score 11 and 8 respectively.
The fans are even, the players are even, but the Wildcats have a better pedigree in the tournament with 13 Final four appearance and 7 National championships. The Buckeyes can boast 10 Final Fours but just one National Title. However, the Wildcats have never beaten Ohio State in an NCAA Tournament game. The Buckeyes are 5-0 against Kentucky in the tournament play, with the last meeting coming in 1987.
So again, we are back to even. Because I live in Northern Kentucky and work in Cincinnati, I should claim complete neutrality in this game and say it is “too close to call”. But what fun would that be? The Buckeyes only lost twice in the regular season while Kentucky suffered eight defeats. On first blush, I really felt the Buckeyes had the edge. After taking a closer look I don’t think that edge is insurmountable. I’ll go out on a limb and say the experienced Diebler hits a very late three point shot to win it for the Buckeyes. Either way, there will be plenty of fans cheering, celebrating, and backing their teams at Cincinnati establishments. That’s a win for everyone in the border town of Cincinnati.

.

U.C. Exits Tournament As Walker Drops 33

2011-03-20T00:05:00.000-04:00

It was the Kemba Walker the U.C. Bearcats feared. Walker exploded for 33 points in the Saturday night’s NCAA tournament game at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., and the Connecticut Huskies huustled away with a 69-58 win. The Huskies end the season for U.C. by winning their seventh game in a row. Senior Rashad Bishop led U.C. with 22 points.
Cincinnati seized early momentum behind a hot shooting Bishop. Bishop had 10 of the Bearcats’ first 15 points after buring back to back 3-point shots. U.C. jumped out to a 17-8 lead. That lead melted away in a hurry. UConn responed with a 16-3 run to take a 24-20 lead. After the Bearcats steadied the ship, the Huskies extended the lead with a four point possession. Justin Jackson was called for a questionable flagrant foul on Walker. After Walker made both free throws Charles Okwandu hit a jumper to put the Huskies up by 9. Connecticut took a 36-28 lead to the halftime locker room behind Walker’s 15 points.
The Bearcats went toe to toe with UConn in the second half. U.C. scored the first six points before Walker made a jumper to stop the bleeding. The Bearcats eventually took the lead 43-42 with 11 minutes remaining, but the Huskies went on a run behind the play making and shooting of Walker.
U.C. finishes the season with a 26-9 record after making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2005.

U.C. Means Business Now

2011-03-18T20:36:00.000-04:00

After entertaining the media with an "Afternoon at the Improv" on Wednesday, the U.C. locker room was more business-like Friday afternoon. This team always seems to have fun, but they were hyper-fun for 48 hours, and feel a need to dial back a bit and take a shot at the Sweet 16. Larry Davis said the plan is to bear down in D.C., then have fun when they get back to Cincinnati. To really have fun, the Bearcats will have to overcome one of the hottest teams in the country. Connecticut won five games in five days to claim the Big East tournament title, then destroyed Bucknell in the first round of the NCAA tournament. It was just about three weeks ago when UConn beat the Bearcats at U.C. by a score of 67-59. All-Everything guard Kemba Walker had 16 points in that game, many of those points coming in a key second half that put the game out of reach, But while beating UConn might begin with stopping Walker, it doesn't end there. Freshman Jeremy Lamb led UConn with 17 points that day. As Darnell Wilks says, you can't let Walker get his teammates going. When that happens the Huskies become a multi-headed monster. Should U.C. be able to play Saturday night with the same energy and efficiency that was shown against Missouri, the Bearcats have a chance. The U.C. players claim they are still looking for respect. They will get that and more with a win Saturday night. They will earn the school's first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2001.
By the way, the bad blood between Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun and U.C. head coach Mick Cronin seems to be gone. At the Big East tournament Calhoun called out Cronin for being the only Big East coach not to vote for Kemba Walker as part of the All-Big East team. But there was a problem. Cronin said he did vote for Walker and Mick returned fire by saying if Calhoun wanted to know who Cronin voted for, Calhoun should have asked before making public accusations. Today Calhoun said he called Mick and this is no longer an issue.

U.C. Withstands 40 Minutes

2011-03-18T00:23:00.005-04:00

Yancy Gates was right. So were Larry Davis and Biggie McClain. Gates said the Bearcats had seen it all in the Big East Conference, so the “40 Minutes of Hell” coming from Missouri would be nothing new. Davis and McClain said Missouri better worry about the 40 minutes of hell the Bearcats were preparing for Mizzou. U.C. responded with an emphatic 78 to 63 win over the Tigers Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament opener.
After the win U.C. head coach Mick Cronin talked about the lack of respect he feels his team was shown throughout the season. He doesn't expect that to change as the Bearcats advance to meet Connecticut in the next round. The players agreed withe their head coach, but claim it has fueled a fire they think has propelled them to this point. This point is a place the Bearcats haven't reached since 2005.
Thursday night at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., the Bearcats were off to a tenative start against Missouri. Then U.C. awoke to outscore Missouri 37-19 the rest of the way in the opening stanza. U.C. slapped a zone defense on Missouri in the first half that stifled the Tigers as the Bearcats took a 39-28 lead to the locker room.
Missouri made several runs in the second half, once cutting the U.C. lead to six. But the Bearcats responded each time with a flurry of layups and three-point plays. Things went so well for U.C. that Gates canned two 3-point shots in the game, one in the first half and another in the second. After the game U.C. Head Coach Mick Cronin laughed when I jokingly asked him if Yancy now had the green light. Cronin laughed out loud and said, "It's the worst thing that could have happened." Gates led all players with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Dion Dixon had 16 points while Cashmere Wright handed out a game-high 7 assists.
The Bearcats will have the late game again Saturday night. They are scheduled to tip off against Connecticut approximately 9:40 p.m.

Game Day For Bearcats

2011-03-17T13:41:00.002-04:00

U.C. fans have been waiting since March of 2005 to see their team play another NCAA tournament game. That day is here. With the late starting time tonight almost all of those fans waited until today to make their way to Washington, D.C. Of course they hope to stay for the weekend but the Bearcats have to withstand the pressure of Missouri. Sometimes the U.C. guards take care of the basketball and other times there have been issues. The fact that Cashmere Wright has had several days to rest up a problematic knee should be a plus. Wright will have to play a lot of minutes and carry the ball handling load against the Tigers. Where U.C. really needs to win this game is on the defensive end. The defense was solid for an entire season until the meltdown last week against Notre Dame. That would have to be the scary thing for U.C. fans going into this game. Missouri has a very capable shooter who can hurt a team from the perimeter. Marcus Denmon averages 17 points a game and is better than 45% from three-point range. Mizzou's entire starting five averages double-digits in scoring. Outside of the Notre Dame fiasco, the Bearcats have found ways to deal with teams that can score. They'll have to find a way to get that defensive edge back tonight. But U.C. should really exploit the rebounding category. Missouri simply stopped doing windows down the stretch. Granted, the Tigers lost the rebounding battle in their final five games, and lost four of those games. Kansas won the rebounding battle 49-29, including a whopping 16 offensive rebounds. Texas Tech had 15 offensive rebounds against the Tigers in the Big 12 tournament, but the Mizzou found a way to win that one. From the first time the U.C.-Missouri match up was announced, the rebounding battle seemed to be a big key. It still seems to be the big key for U.C. fans hoping to see the Bearcats play their second NCAA game since 2005 on Saturday.

The D.C. Comedy Club

2011-03-16T20:40:00.000-04:00

That's what the U.C. locker room turned into Wednesday afternoon before the Bearcats practiced at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C. During the season we don't get as much of a chance to learn the guys personalities and how they interact off the court because everything is really structured. But when you are in a locker room with some guys and they have some time to kill you can learn a little more of what they are all about. Fun and at ease with each other is what the media was treated to Wednesday afternoon. Teammates egged on Sean Kilpatrick to do imitations of everyone on the team, and everyone around the team. Most of the time was spent imitating adults, like the coaches, trainers, and even team doctors. Everyone laughed, including the targets of the jokes. Darnell Wilks stepped up and did a nice imitation of head coach Mick Cronin throwing his coat, then turning to the bench to grab a player (Biggie McClain) and send him into the game. Larry Davis pitched in with some of his own imitations, including one of Cashmere Wright that Cash captured on video. Davis also lifted the camera from our videographer John Tapogna then trudged around the locker room and trainer's room sticking the lens in everyone's face. They really stole the show and had a nice audience of onlookers. We were able to also get some insight into the game. Wright and Dion Dixon know they'll have to take care of the ball, and Gates is confident the Bearcats can withstand the "40 minutes of hell" Missouri likes to deliver with its frenetic pace on both sides of the ball. Yancy cited Louisville, St. John's, and Marquette as teams that try to make you play at a wild pace. But for the most part, it was a lot of laughter for a team that has known a lot of disappointment and derision over the years. These guys have been looking forward to the NCAA Tournament for a long time. Now they plan to make the most of it. Some might say the team was a little too loose, but I remember the same being said about a Bearcat team in the 1992 tournament. That's not to say this team is Final Four bound, but as long as you know there is a time for fun and a time to get down to business, everything will take care of itself. And if I go to the D.C. Comedy Club tonight, I will not see a better show than I saw this afternoon in the U.C. locker room.

D.C. Just A Sunday Drive Away

2011-03-16T00:53:00.000-04:00

Or in our case, a Tuesday drive. We made it to Washington, D.C., in about 8 and a half hours, and we weren't even pushing it. It's not a bad drive at all. We stopped twice for gas, then had about a 15-20 minute stop to check on the driver of this car.

The young lady driving the car was okay. A bumped forehead and she complained of abdominal pain. She ran smack into the back of this tractor:

The young man driving the tractor was fine, just a little shaken up by the ordeal. It happened on Route 50 in southeastern Ohio just east of Athens. We rolled up on it less than a minute after it happened. We waited for the Ohio Highway Patrol and the paramedics to arrive. Once that was under control we were back on our way.
The route we drove was out of Cincinnati on Route 32. Then 32-50 through Parkersburg, West Virginia. Then Interstate 79 North to Interstate 68 East. We followed that to I-70 East, the I-270 South into D.C. There were no traffic hangups and no construction along the way. Just a clean, straight shot through the foothills of the Appalachians. We'll be looking for fans and looking for the U.C. coaches and players Wednesday afternoon at the Verizon Center. The Bearcats conduct their public practice at 4:25-5:05 p.m. If you are on the fence about coming, I highly recommend it. But check on hotel space. We had a little issue Tuesday night, and it does set you back some bucks. So check ahead, but don't let the drive keep you from coming. There's plenty to do and see in D.C., including a heavy dose of March Madness.

Was Billy Packer Right?

2011-03-14T00:11:00.005-04:00

Billy Packer fired a few shots at the TNT NBA analysts that will now be calling NCAA tournament. Charles Barkley then ripped Packer in a funny rant. Then, on the CBS Selection Show, TNT NBA analyst Kenny Smith gives Packer some ammunition. Smith calls Xavier the dreaded Eggs-Zavier and star guard Tu Holloway Tu Holiday. Xavier and Tu took it well though. Here is Kenny and some reaction from X coach Chris Mack and Tu.

Bring On The Tournaments... Please!

2011-03-07T15:47:00.000-05:00

Thank goodness its tournament time because maybe people will quit talking about Charlie Sheen.
The local teams are all playing better and better. Ohio State destroyed Wisconsin Sunday and looks like the number one team again. U.C. and Xavier appear to be safely in the top half of the bracket. Kentucky finally got the kind of road win in the SEC that should inspire some confidence. Louisville found a tough way to lose at West Virginia Saturday, but the Cardinals still own the 3 seed in the Big East tournament.
Xavier has the A-10 Player of the Year (Tu Holloway) and Coach of the Year (Chris Mack), so it will be an upset if they don't win the A-10 tournament. Of course one bad half of basketball can sink you, and that's why these tournaments are so exciting, anything can happen.
Yes, anything can happen. Just look at the final stretch of six games by the men of Clifton. The Bearcats won five of those games. Three weeks ago Yancy Gates was seen as the poster child for the problems in Clifton. Now he is the poster child for what is right. His numbers don't really reflect the effect he has had on these games but his numbers are solid. When it comes to free throws, his numbers are staggering. Buoyed by his 10 for 10 performance from the line Saturday, Gates is 27-34 from the line in the final 6 games. That's 79 per cent. Before the recent spurt Gates had made just 36 free throws the entire season! His FT percentage was 48. So I submit that the young man has found a peace of mind and a new-found concentration that has translated into production on the court and wins for the Bearcats. And it happened just in time for the tournaments.

Carson Palmer's home in Indian Hill has yet to be listed. At least one of the breathless reports last month said it would be on the market March 1. Sometimes I think Palmer is sitting back and laughing about the whole uproar. But most of the time I think Carson is wishing the whole thing would just go away and he would land with another team. Someone told me recently Carson's wishes to leave Cincinnati are more about the way he has been treated by the city lately. If that's the case then he doesn't have the mettle, the guts, the steely interior to be a leader on a championship team. I remember Bengals quarterback Kenny Anderson lying on the field injured as fans cheered that he would be leaving the game. He dusted himself off and two years later won an NFL MVP award while leading the Bengals to a Super Bowl. I really hope and really doubt it is just the fans running Carson off. It could be a part of it, who knows? He still isn't saying anything. It could be the front office, it could be the coach, or coaches, it could be some annoying teammates, it could be the fans, it could be his wife doesn't like it here, or it could be a combination of all of these things. I've heard all of the above. This week someone will probably tell me he doesn't like the streetcar proposal. That's how silly it is, and that's how silly it will continue to be until Carson finally tells it like it is.

Gates Opens Door For U.C.

2011-02-24T11:31:00.001-05:00

It's not all Yancy Gates, but he is a symbol of U.C.'s recent step back from the brink of a lost season. Yancy was on the floor Wednesday night, scrapping and coming up with a loose ball. Did anyone see that coming 12 days ago? Yancy was ripping away rebounds from a Georgetown team that in the past could take rebounds from opponents with little more than an evil stare. 12 days ago Gates was getting the evil stares from a Fifth Third Arena crowd as he sat at the end of the U.C. bench looking somewhat befuddled at best, and disinterested at worst. It was at this point when it appeared Gates would never be the player Cincinnati thought he could be. He just didn't have the fire, the passion, and the hustle to succeed at a high level. Then came a productive, honest talk with coaches and perhaps a little heart to heart with himself. Talk about immediate dividends. During his first shift against Louisville Gates was playing with obvious passion, fighting for position, fighting to get the ball in the post, fighting to find open teammates, fighting to do those selfless things that don't show up in the box score. He received a nice ovation after that shift. The applause hasn't stopped. Neither have the Bearcats. They are back to the hard-nosed, take no prisoners approach that allowed them to raise expectations while blasting their way through a weak non-conference schedule. Most of the guys kept playing that way, but it works a lot better when everyone plays that way. Everyone, including Yancy, started playing that way just in time to save their season.

After the Georgetown win, U.C. has an RPI at 34 or 33, depending on the mathematician. A lot of people believe they have sealed an NCAA bid. Maybe, probably, but goofier things have happened. They have three more chances to make it a given, so why leave it to chance? Go worst case scenario and say U.C. loses its final three regular season games and the first game in the Big East tournament. That would not look good. But if U.C. keeps playing with the same fire, they shouldn't have to worry about that.

Final Month Is Wide Open

2011-02-23T12:15:00.000-05:00

College basketball is as wide open as ever heading into the final weeks of the regular season. While there is an upper-echelon of teams including Ohio State, Kansas, Duke, Texas, and an array of suspects from Big East, there is no safe bet to get to the Final Four. There is no safe bet to get to the Elite Eight. There may not be a safe bet to get to the Sweet Sixteen. It is that wide open. It's bubble teams? Good luck sorting that out.

On paper, the Bearcats toughest game left would be the one Wednesday night at Georgetown. None of the games left are easy. Should they continue to play with the urgency displayed against Louisville and most of the Providence game, U.C. will make the NCAA tournament. Two more wins, and the 'Cats are a lock. The two home games offer the best chances for wins, (UConn and Gtown) but stealing a game at Marquette next week would be huge. One win, and they might still make it. But they would have to win at lest one game in the Big East tourney. Cashmere Wright and Yancy Gates will continue to be the key.

Xavier did the right thing by not forcing Tu Holloway into another triple-double. The game against LaSalle was long put to rest, and how bad would it have been if Tu grabs that tenth rebound and suffers a high ankle sprain int he process? 15 assists is an eye-popping number by itself. Wow! 15 in a college game. That is tied for second most in school history. Keith Walker had 18 in a game back in 1980. Earlier this season Tu had 14 in a game against Wake Forest. It was good to see X come out an claim this game from the get-go. Every team has a clunker or two and Xavier had one of those letdowns against Fordham Saturday night. It didn't happen against LaSalle as the Musketeers jumped out to a 38-6 lead. I don't care what team you are playing, you jump out 38-6, you are playing some serious basketball. Once again the Muskies are peaking at a good time.

Really? No franchise tag for the Bengals? Does this team just not care about winning at all? Sorry, but I just don't buy the line that the cost for Johnathan Joseph of Cedric Benson is "prohibitive." What a cop-out. Sure, Joseph has struggled with injuries and I understand being leery of that. I'll cut the Bengals some slack if the end up using a transition tag. But it's funny everyone else in the AFC North is using their franchise tag. But not the Bengals, because things are just going so swimmingly well for them. Gimme a break.

While on the subject of franchise tags, it is hilarious that the Browns used their tag on kicker Phil Dawson. I didn't understand when the Bengals did it with Shayne Graham (how did that work out?) and I don't get it now.

A Bailout Plan For Bengals, Palmer?

2011-02-10T17:37:00.000-05:00

The battle lines are drawn. On one side there is a quarterback who doesn’t appear to be interested in playing for the Bengals, and on the other side is an owner who doesn’t appear to be interested in moving forward. This will do the Bengals no good in building a competitive team for 2011 and beyond.

Former Bengals player Solomon Wilcots has a plan that will do the unthinkable. It will make Carson Palmer a happy quarterback and Mike Brown a celebrated owner (at least for a week). But Brown and the Bengals need to act quickly.

Wilcots is now an analyst for NFL games on CBS and also hosts a show on Sirius NFL Radio. On his show Thursday, Wilcots laid out the following plan: The Bengals take their fourth overall pick in the upcoming draft and send it to the Philadelphia Eagles for their pick at 23 in the first round plus quarterback Kevin Kolb and the Eagles. At the same time trade Palmer to the Seattle Seahawks for their pick at 25 in the first round. Presto! The Bengals get a starting quarterback in Kolb and have two first round picks.

I would even settle for a second round pick from the Eagles. It all makes too much sense. “They (Eagles) will not turn down the fourth overall pick in the draft,” said Wilcots. “And the Bengals will not find a player at the quarterback position better than Kevin Kolb in this draft.”

The Eagles were set to make Kolb their franchise quarterback as he entered his fourth season in 2010. But the gunslinger from the University of Houston suffered an injury early in the season. That opened the door for Michael Vick, and the way Vick lit up opposing defenses left the Eagles no choice but to try and find a new home for Kolb.

Wilcots has talked with coaches for the Eagles about Kolb. “They love him. They just love Mike Vick more," he said.

Wilcots agrees with the Eagles enthusiasm for Kolb and thinks he is a perfect quarterback to lead the Bengals into the future.

The second part of the equation makes as much sense as trading for Kolb. Trading Palmer to Seattle would reunite him with Head Coach Pete Carroll. Carroll was Palmer’s coach at the University of Southern California when Palmer won the Heisman Trophy. Palmer often expresses affection for his old coach, so it might be too good to be true.

But the Bengals need to act before the stalemate begins and the Bengals appear to be backed into a corner.

“You should be proactive before the value falls,” said Wilcots.

Proactive and Bengals have not appeared in the same sentence for a long time. But the time has come and the Bengals need to strike before the real battle begins.

No Bluffing At Palmer's Poker Table

2011-02-10T03:36:00.002-05:00

If Carson Palmer puts his house on the market next month, it’s another raise in his high stakes poker game with Mike Brown.

Carson opened with his trade demand to the Bengals president. Brown called Palmer’s bet by making a public statement that he will not consider trading his veteran quarterback. I have a feeling this is going to get ugly and drag on for quite some time.

We still haven’t heard anything directly from Palmer. But once his house hits the market, Palmer could be raising the stakes that he is not coming back to Cincinnati. It could also mean Carson’s wife and kids are not coming back to Cincinnati, and Carson will rent a place during the season.

But there are too many signs that Carson is not bluffing and he is content to sit things out. The problem for Palmer? Brown is not bluffing either, and Brown holds the most chips.

There are people close to the team that feel there is little or no doubt Brown is all-in on this hand. Carson can make demands, he can move out west, but he can’t change teams until 2015 without Brown’s blessing.

It’s not a good plan to threaten Mike Brown with a holdout or retirement when you still have four years remaining on your contract. Especially when you consider Brown has an investment in Carson. Two playoff appearances and no playoff wins in seven years is not a sizable pot when you consider the chips Brown has tossed Palmer’s way over the years. I will be shocked if Brown folds his hand before Palmer sits out at least one season.

Should Palmer go through with the threat, he is really backed into a corner. First of all, if he really retires and sits out the rest of his contract, there are reports he would be passing up close to $50 million. That is not a good plan for any portfolio, even one as impressive as Palmer’s.

Would he really come back to Paul Brown Stadium after sitting out a season, a game, or a training camp? If he or his family were upset with some boos last season, how will he be received after all of this? The only positive for Palmer is that he is so sick with how the Bengals run the organization that he has to leave to keep his sanity. If that is the case, he has a lot of company with the same people who were booing him last season.

For the sake of the franchise, Brown should cut his losses and move on. He should have done that with Chad Ochocinco a few years ago. It’s not like Palmer has played at an elite level recently. Based on his play the past few years, I would be looking to unload a big part of his remaining contract on a team starving for a quarterback.

But that’s me and I’m not the guy holding the biggest part of the chips in this game. Mike Brown holds the chips. Carson seems bent on finding that out the hard way.

So, Was It Super?

2011-02-07T01:32:00.006-05:00

You bet it was, and for one reason: FOOTBALL! It was too bad the Steelers shot themselves in the foot, but it was an entertaining and interesting game to the final minute. I thought the television production was well done, and I thought the game MVP was awesome. Aaron Rodgers is the reason I really enjoyed the game. He has negotiated quite the crazy path to superstar status. He wasn't highly recruited out of high school because of his size, he had to live a draft day nightmare, then had to endure an awkward transition as the Packers did everything but hook a tow truck to Brett Favre's Wrangler jeans so the young guy could get his chance. Through it all, not one harsh word from Rodgers. He saw Alex Smith go number one in the draft ahead of him. Heck, even fellow collegiate quarterback Matt Jones was drafted ahead of Rodgers, and Jones was drafted as a wide receiver. All captured on ESPN while Rodgers sat alone in the Green Room at draft headquarters. The same fans dancing in the streets of Green Bay Sunday night were belittling Rodgers not that long ago because he could never be the legend. Perhaps not, but he has brought as many titles to Titletown as the legendary Favre. It doesn't mean he's as good as Brett, but it does mean this guy has some big-time guts. Aaron Rodgers has endured a lot over the years, and not a harsh word. No drama, no off the field headlines, just FOOTBALL! WINNING FOOTBALL!
Now for what I didn't like. The National Anthem. I'm not much of a pop culture guy so I don't know a lot about Christina Aguilera. I just know she butchered the Anthem. Please NFL, rotate the Anthem between the choruses of the Armed Forces. Please? But Christy, thanks babe for stopping the anthem when you did. I was able to cash my ticket for under one minute, 54 seconds. (she made it by about .6 seconds)
It's also time to dump the halftime show. Who needs all of that baloney in the middle of a football game? I don't care if it's the Peas, The Who, that guy with Janet Jackson, I don't need it in the middle of the biggest game of the year. It just ruins the whole feel of the game, and having a 40 minute halftime or whatever interrupts the flow of the game for the players too. I would rather have frisbee dogs in the background while we get some good football talk than watch a bunch of people dressed like Star Trek rejects dancing all over the turf. It was awful.

Bengals Play Arena Ball

2011-02-04T17:40:00.000-05:00

The reaction to Jay Gruden coming to save the Bengals offense is lukewarm, at best. I like the move. Maybe he wasn't my first choice, but he is a guy I find very intriguing. It's easy to take swipes at Gruden. He doesn't have the track record most NFL coordinators but he does have a knack for being around winning teams. Albeit mostly in the Arena Football League. But at least this is a new brain and a new sets of eyes that have seen things done in different ways. It's not a recycled guy with close ties to the Bengals. Marvin Lewis indicated Gruden is a take-charge kind of coach like defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. He needs to be just that and willing to tell the rest of the offensive staff that things will be coached his way. I'm skeptical that he'll have the means blow out some coaches who don't buy in. If he doesn't, then it wouldn't matter who they hire. He needs to have plenty of authority and Marvin indicated he will have it. We'll see. But I see Gruden able to draw upon lessons learned, whether it be with Howard Schnellenberger at Louisville, his brother Jon in the NFL, or under his own watch in the AFL. He has a 93-61 record as a head coach in the AFL, so he was doing something right. The Gruden hire is by no means a home run, at least not yet. It is a move to go in another direction. It's up to Gruden to prove it is the right direction.

I shouldn't be so stunned that Xavier lost at Charlotte, but I am. For years in Conference USA that place was a snake pit for U.C. Conference road games can be a bear. I could see the games at Duquesne and Dayton becoming stumbling blocks. But Charlotte? That was a bad loss for the Musketeers.

U.C. is up against it Saturday against Pitt. The Bearcats have lost six of their last seven against Pitt, and haven't won a game at Pittsburgh since joining the Big East. I wish I had better news for Bearcat fans but I've seen nothing since the Big East schedule started that leads me to believe the Cats will be stealing a big win on the road Saturday. I'm still looking at 9-9 in the Big East. The could make it to 10, but I'm more convinced of 9 wins in the conference. Then it will take a win, perhaps two, in the Big East Tourney to get them in the dance.

One last thing about the Reds Caravan and how the Reds continue to win the fans over. If you were in line for an autograph and were unable to get one because the caravan had to pull out, you were given a voucher for a free ticket at a Reds game for the upcoming season. Nice.

Mad At Carson? Maybe...

2011-01-26T11:59:00.000-05:00

It's almost impossible to get mad at Carson Palmer. He's a respectful guy and never gets agitated when dealing with the media. But as a Cincinnati kind of guy, the more I think about his trade demand, the more I could find myself getting mad at number 9. While the initial reaction is to blame the Bengals entirely and ask "who wouldn't want out of that organization?", now that the dust is settling I'm a little miffed it's come to this. The internal argument goes something like this:
The Bengals have paid Carson a lot of money for a lot of years, instead of being part of a continuing problem, Carson should try to be part of the solution. On the other hand, maybe he has tried hard to be part of the solution, talked with Mike Brown in the past about things that need to change, and it hasn't happened. Obviously the guy is out of patience.

Carson is a quarterback and with that position comes the responsibility of leadership, and leaders don't walk out on their team. On the other hand, it's hard to lead when management and coaches allow other issues and personalities to overshadow the team concept.

Carson's game has slipped in recent years so who the heck is he to start demanding a trade when his play clearly cost the Bengals, the final game of the season against the Ravens was a prime example. On the other hand, Carson has been battered and taken a lot of lumps for this team so maybe the only way to recapture the glory is a fresh start somewhere else.

This is the worst possible time for Carson to pull this stunt because there is no "qb in waiting" on the Bengals roster. On the other hand, that is not Carson's problem and maybe this is his way to get his younger brother a starting gig in the NFL. I'm at least half-kidding about this paragraph.

But these are the things that have crept in my mind since the initial "Mike Brown has done it again and this franchise is such a mess it will never get it right" reaction. I know Carson probably believes it isn't his place, but I would love to see him release a list of things he thinks the team should change to become competitive with the rest of the NFL. From the number of trainers and equipment guys to practice facilities to the way players can communicate issues to the front office. Players in the league talk among each other all the time, so the players on the Bengals are aware how things work in Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and New England. Tedy Bruschi said on ESPN that when he was a player there was no way he would ever consider coming to Cincinnati because the organization is not committed to winning. He mentioned the lack of an indoor practice facility. It was disheartening to hear yet a confirmation of what we already knew. I remember back in the dark ages of the 90's a player told me the same thing. The Bengals tried to close the gap when they moved into the new stadium, but they didn't go far enough.

So with all of that as a backdrop, it's almost impossible to get mad at Palmer for his trade demand. But the Bengals? Now that's easy.

Bengals Waiting For What? Hopefully Fairley!

2011-01-14T15:33:00.000-05:00

It's been 10 days since the news conference from hell, and the Bengals coaching staff remains intact. If they really felt they needed to make changes on the coaching staff, wouldn't bodies have already been flying out the door? I swear I think they might just stand pat. That will cause a ticket backlash the likes of which we have never seen. Since the announcement that Marvin would come back, I haven't talked with one Bengals fan who is pleased. Not that bringing Marvin back was the problem, but not making other changes on the staff and not changing the way the organization works is a HUGE problem among the base. Not one season ticket holder said they would be thrilled to renew their seats. No doubt, some will find it to difficult to give up their seats. But a lot are going to say adios if something doesn't change. So be prepared for a lot of local television blackouts next season too.

I hope Nick Fairley is around when the Bengals draft fourth. I would take that guy in a heartbeat. The real negative with him is not that he occasionally gets in an extra shot or two, the downside is he only produced at a high level for one season at Auburn. But he was only there for two seasons. I think this guy has found what it takes to be successful. He was almost impossible to block one-on-one in the BCS Championship game. It's not like a quarterback having just one successful year. Quarterback is a more complex position and entails a lot of different attributes to be good. Therefore I would be more than just a little leery of Cam Newton. But Fairley? No doubt, I grab him..

Now comes the test for U.C. Three straight road games in the Big East, the first two against ranked teams. If they play in any of those games the way they played in the first half of the South Florida game, it will be trouble. They reverted back to ways of last season, and I didn't like what I was seeing. At least they are so deep now, Mick has the pleasure of going down the bench and finding someone to spark the offense. But, Ibrihima Thomas has to make good on his promise not to foul out at Syracuse. He has given the Bearcats little or nothing the last three games. And Gates cannot have any more 3 rebound games like he had against South Florida.

So far, so good for Xavier in the Atlantic 10. Yeah, the Musketeers took some lumps in the non-conference portion of the schedule, but those lumps have made this team more than ready for the A-10. They will compete for the regular season title and barring injury, be one of the favorites to win the A-10 tournament. X fans should be feeling a lot better now about their hopes of making the NCAA again.

Change You Can Believe In?

2011-01-04T17:32:00.000-05:00

For those (me) hoping for big time changes with the structure of the Bengals, ain't gonna happen. Perhaps they will make some change among the offensive assistant coaches, but that's about it. Mike Brown made it clear his scouting department is just fine, and Marvin is not, and has never been a puppet. I know Marvin can't say a lot about what is, and what isn't in the contract. But it sounds like about all he got in this deal was an extension of what already existed. I agree with Brown that they have made some nice pickups, and they have some good personnel people, but they need more. He pointed to odell thurman, chris henry, and david pollack as guys who should have worked out but didn't. Well, there is a reason thurman didn't work out, and it is the same reason other teams took a pass on him. So we shall see, but I don't think we'll see much difference from the past 20 years.

Marvin and Mike Continue To Dance

2011-01-03T13:20:00.000-05:00

I really thought something would happen by 1 p.m. Monday with the Bengals coaching situation. But it hasn't. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you realize you're not half as smart as you thought you were. So there could be a lot of things in play here.
1. Mike Brown is really thinking about changes Marvin wants to implement
2. Marvin has been told here's what I have to offer, think it over
3. They both presented ideas and agreed to let the ideas simmer a while

You have to believe Mike does want Marvin back, or this would have been over quickly. I thought with some of the things Marvin said over the past few days, he was in the mood to tell Mike what he wanted and if he didn't get what he wanted, game over. But it is good that they are able to avoid a knee-jerk reaction and realize they have some time to see if this will work. I still am not convinced Marvin will be back. None of the players could shed any light on it. I think if Marvin was close to coming back, they would have some sort of indication. Same with Mike Zimmer. The Bengals defensive coordinator recoiled from questions about Marvin's future. Of course he could find himself in Marvin's office if Lewis decides to go elsewhere.
So I have no feeling one way or the other. The longer this goes gives me no clear indication if Marvin will be back, but at least it tells us that Brown is not kicking him to the curb.

Marvin And Mike's Game Won't Last Long

2011-01-03T01:45:00.000-05:00

I have a feeling this won't last long. I could be very wrong, but here's where I see Marvin Lewis and Mike Brown heading:
Marvin knows what he wants, and Mike knows what he's willing to give. If what Mike is willing to give is enough, then the game would have been over a long time ago. I think Marvin goes in to Mike's office Monday morning, and a short time later they will part ways. Apparently someone from the Lewis camp has already leaked information to the national media that Marvin would like changes in the organization in order to stay. That way Marvin can leave with his head high, even if Mike has already decided to move in another direction. Marvin can say he needs to move on because the organization isn't at a level that will allow him to win consistently. Even if Mike had not made up his mind one way or the other, I doubt he appreciates being put in this position. So if Mike was looking for one more reason to take Marvin out back and pull the trigger, Lewis just loaded the gun for him. I know there's a large faction of Bengals fans who think it is time for Marvin to move one. I think Marvin might even feel that way. But the best case for long-term Bengals success will come if Marvin stays. That means Mike Brown has decided to make some much-needed changes. But I think the odds are about the same now as they were 19 years ago. That's when a guy named Sam Wyche walked into Mike's office and asked for some changes in the organization. Sam and Mike parted ways on Christmas eve. It will be even easier for Mike to part with his head coach on January 3.

What Was That?

2010-12-27T12:49:00.000-05:00

It is only one game, but it makes me think the Bengals rebuilding job on offense isn't as troublesome as I thought it was. Jerome Simpson, where have they been hiding you? Andre Caldwell, stay nice and steady. Jordan Shipley, keep growing, and Jermaine Gresham, gonna be a beast. Those are some thoughts after yesterday's game. The other, and perhaps more important thought, I've never seen Carson Palmer look that comfortable in years. In command, throwing the ball with confidence, and not looking like a hayseed dropped in the middle of Time's Square whistling at all the big buildings around him. I'm not sure Carson is a little skittish with T.O. and Chad, or just wants to keep them happy so he doesn't have to hear the complaining, but something was different Sunday. Against the Chargers Carson definitely took what the defense gave him, play after play after play. Catching the Chargers confused on the bomb to Simpson was the kind of stuff we saw in 2005 when Carson was considered and up and coming elite quarterback. So it's in there, he still has it. And the Bengals stuck to the run. It's probably too late to convince Cedric Benson to stick around, but if he saw what I saw on Sunday, he might give it another thought.

Of course a lot things depend on who will be the head coach next season. I think change is needed, and that's not a knock on Marvin. He gave it a good shot. But if Mike Brown is desperate enough to give the next guy just enough power to name his own staff, then it's another step in the right direction. I don't expect that to happen, but since it's the holiday season, I'll remain hopeful.

Who Will Take The Bengals Job? And U.C., 10-0?

2010-12-19T23:23:00.000-05:00

For about 11 months I've felt this would be the final campaign for Marvin Lewis. The closer to the end of the season, the more apparent it seems. Some close to the team feel it's a given that in two weeks, January 3, 2011, to be exact, the Bengals will have an announcement. Marvin and the Bengals will be parting ways. Since the Bengals didn't make the reported "wish list" of Bill Cowher, who is out there that will take over the team? My early odds:
Mike Zimmer - even (it's Mike Brown's cheapest route, but that move won't sell tickets)

Hugh Jackson-5-1 (he was here before so he knows the pitfalls, so he might pass)
Brian Billick - 10-1 (I think he's itching to get back in, but if he has anything else, forget it)
College Coach 20-1 (those good enough like Jim Harbaugh would wait for better situation)
John Gruden 5,000,000-1 (probably takes $5 million a year to land him, ain't happening)

There are still plenty of few dominoes to fall before the whole coaching carousel settles down in college and the NFL. So there is a chance some viable candidates pop free. But I'm of the opinion it will be a guy who is desperate to get a head coaching gig in the NFL.
Don't get me wrong, Mike Brown treats his people very well. But the current structure of the organization does not allow long-term, sustained success. That has become so apparent after 20 years that capable coaches will prefer to go to places where they feel they can succeed and not constantly fight the uphill battle. It seems to have worn Coach Lewis out. When is the last time you heard him say anything about getting a practice bubble? That was once a battle-cry for Marvin, but he finally realized the Bengals will not build one. Neither will the taxpayers. That's just one example of the headaches facing the next guy who takes the Bengals job. Don't get me started on the structure of the scouting department and how the coaches have to play "catch-up" right after the season. Good Luck to the next man in.

It's great to see the U.C. basketball team winning. I don't care about the schedule, 10-0 is a great start. Sure, there were cupcakes, but this team needed to get it's mojo going. It paid off against Okalhoma. The Bearcats could have folded down the stretch against the Sooners, but they calmly took care of the basketball and made free throws. That's just a couple of good things that come with confidence. Will it translate into some Big East wins? I think so. I think the defense will be there every night. If you haven't seen this team in person (and who has based on attendance figures?) you are missing a team that gives supreme effort. It is a fun team to watch and it's the style that made the Bearcats a well known commodity. Pressing, trapping, getting in the passing lanes, and relentlessly going after the rebounds. They will take some lumps coming up, but who doesn't. Still, Mick deserves some credit for getting this team to play well, play hard, and do it under some stringent guidelines set forth by the university. I hear Mick say the other night that the men's basketball team is tops in the athletic department when it comes to the Academic Progress Report. At least some people from Oklahoma have taken notice.

The Argument Against 18 Game NFL Season

2010-12-14T00:29:00.000-05:00

The Bengals would still have 5 games left to play. Can you imagine? A 2-11 record and you still have to muddle through five more games. Three is more than enough. In fact, I wish there were a way the Bengals could "opt out", or teams eliminated from playoff contention could just be shaved from the end of the schedule. I've long held the opinion that four preseason games are painful and the preseason schedule should be scaled back to a scrimmage and a couple of games. I still feel that way. The starters play less than half the time in the preseason games anyway, and season ticket holders still get gouged for a full price on tickets. But with the NFL dealing with a new agreement, I hope the 18 game regular season schedule is shelved until the Bengals get things right. Or the year 2055, whichever comes first.

Speaking of awful, the "Legends" division and the "Leaders" division? I laughed out loud when I saw this. The Big Ten is smart enough to make major money off of its own television network, then it botches something as simple as this. It is way too generic. Heck, the "Stars" division and the "Stripes" division would be a lot better than this. Nice logo too.

I was really rooting for Cliff Lee to stay away from the Yankees. Then I heard about the Phillies being involved. Dear Lord, if the Phillies land this guy the National League could be locked down for a while.

Back To '93 For Bengals And It Only Gets Worse

2010-12-12T19:16:00.000-05:00

Ten losses in a row. Carson Palmer, Terrell Owens, Cedric Benson, Ochocinco, Leon Hall, Johnathan Joseph, Roy Williams, Keith Rivers, Dhani Jones, Keith Rivers, and the rest. Are you telling me those players can't find one win in the past two and a half months? It's beyond hard to believe. What's even more scary is the road ahead. How do you fix this mess? I have to think Benson and T.O. are outta here. Johnathan Joseph too. And what to do about Palmer? He looks as lost as lost gets and it's not getting better. Honestly, it's time to start over. New head coach with his coordinators and his approach. If Carson fits that approach then fine, and if not, find a way to move him and get on with life. Knowing the Bengals, they will remain a slave to his salary cap number and be afraid to bite the bullet. Knowing the Bengals, Chad will be back because he might put butts in the seats. Knowing the Bengals, they will never build this team beginning with the lines and go from there. Nope, not this bunch. Mike Brown will need a shiny new toy to help him sell seats. Something along the lines of a Cam Newton or an Andrew Luck. The rebuilding is going to get uglier before it gets better. How this team is as bad as the Dave Shula team of 1993 is inexcusable, unbelieveable, but so typically Bengals.

Should they decide to build this team the right way and pay attention to the lines, they have a bit of a head start on defense. Atkins, Dunlap, and Michael Johnson appear to be keepers. Too bad they don't have the same type of core on the offensive line, then this rebuilding project wouldn't be so daunting. The apparent whiff on Andre Smith looms large at this stage.

By the way, what other team on the planet would still be waiting for Jerome Simpson to develop? Does that not say it all about the way this franchise is run?

I am happy the Heisman voters did the right thing and awarded Cam Newton in a landslide. He was by far the best player during the collegiate season. Some dolts actually suggested not voting for Newton because of allegations. Hey, if you have proof the guys was on the take or something, then we'll talk. Until then, Newton is eligible to play and played better than anyone in the country.

since the NCAA is all about rules, can I make a suggestion. No more allowing Division 1A football teams to schedule 1AA teams after September 30. If late season losses are going to hurt teams so much, why should some of these schools be able to play what amounts to a freebie in November? On November 20, Alabama played Georgia State while Florida played Appalachian State. Are you kidding me? It's just another reason why the BCS system is a joke. Imagine if baseball has the BCS system this year. The Reds would have won the Central Division and played a meaningless three game series against the Twins or someone. How do we continue to let this system breathe?

U.C. Hoops Attendance and Gordon Gee, Put A Sock In It!

2010-11-24T13:52:00.001-05:00

Ohio State president Gordon Gee was asked about the possibility of Boise State and TCU playing in the BCS championship game. He arrogantly responded according to this article,

"I do know, having been both a Southeastern Conference president and a Big Ten president, that it's like murderer's row every week for these schools. We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor. We play very fine schools on any given day."

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Gordon, babe, do you remember September 25th? Eastern Michigan? Does a 2-9 record ring a bell? Or what about October 9th? The Indiana team that has an 0-7 record in the conference and was steamrolled for an embarrassing 83 points by Wisconsin? In fact, counting the Hoosiers, you've played the bottom 3 teams in the Big Ten with a whopping three conference wins between them. You didn't leave your home stadium for one non-conference game. Not one! Yet you feel the need to sneer down your nose at Boise and TCU? Really? Look, I feel your Buckeyes should be in the conversation and certainly would give any team in the country as much as they can handle. Your defense is unbelievable. I would love to see Boise and TCU get their shots against your Buckeyes. But you and the mighty BCS keep holding these teams down by excluding their conferences from the big party, and then you're going to blame them for it? Gordon, stick to what you do best by making sure all of the drones keep putting that annoying "Thee" in front of Ohio State University. Unless, of course, you are willing to play a game on that annoying blue turf.

The attendance at U.C.'s first three basketball games has been frightening. A total of 12,690 fans have made it to Fifth Third arena for the first three games. Not enough to declare a sellout if they all showed up at the same time. Last season UC had 13,787 for the first two games. Granted, the opponents have been less than intriguing, but last year began with Prairie View A & M and almost 7-thousand were on hand. Obviously winning will cure that, but the lack of enthusiasm by the base to support the team by just showing up is sad. I have some friends, and some from out of town, who consider Cincinnati a great sports town, but they say the fans are mediocre. I can't argue. They'll come out in droves for the winners. I saw close to 30-thousand fans running the streets of New Orleans last year before the Sugar Bowl. Yet, it's been impossible to get those same people to Nippert Stadium unless the team is winning big. It's not just U.C. fans. You look at the Reds attendance figures from this past season when they were clearly in the race and it was almost impossible to get a big crowd. But give those same fans a cheap bobblehead made in China and they start lining up at 4:30 in the afternoon. The only exception to the rule seems to be the Bengals, and this year it's even starting to catch up to them, like it did in the early part of the decade. Fans should not be asked to accpet inferior products, and that's what they're getting at PBS. I understand that. Same way with the Reds from 2001 to 2009. Same with UC football in certain years. And we know how far basketball has fallen. But Mick or no Mick, it seems to me there are more than 4 to 5-thousand people in this city who would really like to see the Bearcats bounce back and experience a resurgence in basketball. It's tough to recruit to an empty gym. I know UC just landed what appears to be a good recruiting class "on paper." I just hope those kids don't see the same thing I've seen through the first three games of this season.

All of that being said, I'm guessing 5-thousand or so for the game against Savannah State tonight, even though it's not a school night.

Mike Brown's Coaching Problem, and Jimmie!

2010-11-22T00:23:00.001-05:00

The signs point to Marvin Lewis leaving, one way or the other. So when does it happen? With Sunday's smaller than usual crowd leading to a local blackout, and expensive luxury suites coming up for renewal, Mike Brown and the Bengals management team face a crisis. Renewals will no doubt go down after a season like this, unless Mike can create some buzz with a big-time hire. But I don't think Mike's going to get one of the big names to come here under the current structure of the organization. And no offense to Mike Zimmer, a wonderful guy and by all accounts an excellent defensive coordinator, but I don't think elevating Zimmer to head coach in the off-season is going to sell tickets and suites. So Mike may have to move up the timetable and hand the keys to Zimmer soon. If Zimmer has a good December and wins a few games, maybe the masses will start to say "In Zimmer We Trust". Maybe they buy enough tickets and suites to keep the cash running through the Bengals pipelines. If Zimmer fails, then Mike will have to hire someone after the season, and the list of qualified head coaches that will take the bengals bait begin and end with this: desperate. Mike will have to go with a guy on the rebound, or a college coach looking to make a splash in the NFL. The latter option might sell the tickets, but in no way does it ensure success. But under the current management structure, will there ever be success?

There was once a time in the 70's when the Big Red Machine was trailing the Dodgers by a couple of games in early Spetember. Pete Rose was asked about catching the Dodgers in the division race, and Pete said something to the effect of "The Dodgers don't know it yet, but they're chasing us." The Reds went on to win the division. What does this have to do with anything in this day and age? I feel it was the exact same situation in NASCAR with Jimmie Johnson. Denny Hamlin looked like a guy who knew he was meat after last weekend's race. Sure, he still led the points standings, but Jimmie had the edge. Hamlin looked like a mental mess and Jimmie looked like a guy who knew he and his team would cruise home with the win. Five championships in a row. In this day of tight racing, similar teams, a precision and talent up and down the starting grid, Jimmie's fifth in a row is a huge accomplishment. It makes him and his team at Hendrick Motorsports one of the top dynasties of all time!

You Know It, I Know It, And We Can't Do A Thing About It

2010-11-14T23:54:00.000-05:00

You want to fix the Bengals? There's only one way. You know it, I know it, and we can't do a thing about it. Sure, the Bengals will have a season here and there when they make a run at the playoffs, but their current structure allows no chance to win year in and year out. The Bengals need a system. Hire a guy (Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, someone from a winner who's "been there-done that") as your Director of Football Operations. That guy has a system and hires a head coach who believes in the system. The head coach is allowed to hire assistant coaches who believe in the same vision. Not just some assistants, but all of the assistants. If some of the current assistants fit the bill, fine. If not, move on. The Director of Football Operations is also allowed to hire a Scouting Director who knows the kind of guys who fit the system. The Scouting Director is allowed to hire scouts who know how to find the kind of guys who fit the system. If some of the current scouts fit the bill, fine. If not, move on. But everyone from the top down knows the system, knows who fits the system, and is willing to discard those who don't fit the system. From office personnel, to water boys, to star players, to heck, the cheerleaders and mascot, everyone fits the system. Does anyone envision that happening any time soon at PBS? No. Instead, a new coach will come in behind Marvin, that coach will have assistants forced on him, and the dysfunction will continue on. Meanwhile, we're stuck with an occasional run to the playoffs with a first round exit. But more often than not, we'll be stuck with six game losing streaks.

By the way, I hate to see Andre Smith's season come to an end because the guy needs the work. Now it's pretty much another wasted season. A few weeks back I did a story on Andre and needed to find some video of him making some good blocks. That was a chore. I'm not an offensive line coach, but I didn't see a whole lot happening. I saw some real issues with outside speed rushers. So, I'm thinking his future is going to be inside when he comes back. A 6th overall pick in the 2009 draft is a steep price to pay for a guard, but that might be the best option. A steeper price comes if he is a flat-out bust because of the foot problems. One thing is for sure, no way I pick up the option to extend his deal for two more seasons.

Bengals Turning Up The Pace?

2010-10-28T14:58:00.001-04:00

If the Bengals decide now to go uptempo I might take my Marvin bobblehead to the driving range and take a few whacks at it. I've been clamoring for more uptempo, or no huddle, or whatever you want to call it, since the preseason. It always seems to work. They run better out of it, they throw better out of it, and they seem to find a way to keep opposing defenses from loading up and being overly aggressive. I would love to see them use more of it this week against a Miami defense that is very good. I saw Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com had a quote from Andrew Whitworth that the Bengals might go to a faster-paced, 3 wide receiver look. That may not necessarily mean no-huddle, but anything faster paced is fine by me. Especially at this point in the season. There's nothing wrong with what the Bengals did running the ball last season, it worked. If it's working, then keep using it. But it became apparent at the end of last season and the beginning of this one that the Bengals offense wasn't at its best anymore as a plodder. So keep it moving Bengals and do it soon so I have a reason to get back on the practice range. (but I would never risk damaging my taylormade r9 driver on anyone's bobblehead)

Midweek Silliness

2010-10-27T14:19:00.002-04:00

Don't ask me why I'm posting this, other than I just love mascots. I'm constantly getting pictures with Mr. Redlegs, Rosie, Gapper, the Bearcat, Who Dey, and anyone else designed to make me laugh. So imagine my delight when I was at Western Bowl when the Cincinnati Christian University Eagle shows up, trades his claws for bowling shoes, and takes to the lanes. I'm guessing someone lost a bet, but it was hilarious. The Eagle just shows up with a group of guys and takes to the lanes. I just missed him getting a strike, but I did get another good roll, then a couple of classic gutter balls.
First the good...

Now the ugly...

The Eagle and I... (the way I've been bowling lately the Eagle would probably beat me)

Season Quickly Slipping Away

2010-10-24T20:27:00.001-04:00

The Bengals are just about out of time. That first half in Atlanta was flat-out brutal. But after the comeback in the third quarter, I was scratching my head on the decision to go for 2 points after the Shipley TD. Sure, the 2 points would have pulled the Bengals within 3, but it was too early to start playing that game. In the end, it didn't matter. What sunk the Bengals were the mistakes in the first half, and the fumble by Benson in the fourth quarter. Plus, the inability to make a defensive stop when needed bit the Bengals once again. A 2 and 4 record with the slate of games coming their way doesn't bode well. So will there be an ugly meltdown? Maybe the question is when does the ugly meltdown happen?

The fumble call in the Pittsburgh game was crazy. Is there a rule that says if you can't figure out who recovered the ball, you give it back to the offensive team at the line of scrimmage? I've been watching football for a long time. Every time they separate a pile and a guy hands the ref the ball, that team is deemed to have recovered the fumble. A Dolphin handed the ball to an official. So what gives? This needs to be addressed.

I don't know how U.C. went from playing solid football to having a defensive meltdown against South Florida. Yes, the Bearcats are very young on defense. But I don't like the penalties this team is accruing. The Bearcats lead the Big East in penalty yards. They are also dead last in total defense and pass defense. Not good. The game against Syracuse will be a crap-shoot. Also, as of Sunday night the status of quarterback Zach Collaros is up in the air.

You have to love fans who don't take themselves too seriously. At the Hamilton high school game the other night, some Big Blue fans, student we presume, hung this banner. The "L" makes it beautiful!

Is It Better To Be Lucky Than Good?

2010-10-18T19:11:00.001-04:00

In my case, yes, when it comes to golf. I've been hacking for 30 plus years and Monday afternoon I picked up my first legitimate hole-in-one. Hole 4 on the Neumann Blue course on the west side of town. It's a hole I usually come up short on, so I decided to pull out a 5-wood and let it rip. 198 yards from the blues. It felt like I didn't hit it square, but I got enough of it and it was right on target. I was playing by myself (I know, I'm a loser) but fortunately there was a foursome nearby to go check the cup while I stood on the tee-box. A special thanks to Greg Schoenling for verifying that my scuffed up Nike was "In the Hole!" Also thanks to Neumann Golf Course and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission for the cool trophy.

The Whacky BCS Is Back

2010-10-18T00:03:00.000-04:00

I'm convinced it usually works out in the end, but the first edition of the BCS standings show what kind of parity we have in college football. I like TCU, but do the Frogs really deserve to be ranked ahead of Missouri? Maybe, but by 6 spots? Take a look at the two schedules and tell me who has played the tougher teams. Another curious thing about the BCS is Wisconsin. The Badgers just beat Ohio State on the field of play, but the Buckeyes are 10th in the standings while the Badgers are 13th. Huh? So why even play the games? The coaches poll did the same thing. Ohio State is 10th and Wisconsin 11th. What? Did the 31-18 win by Wisconsin mean that little? It's maddening. By the way, the coaches poll is routinely a joke, with coaches favoring teams from their own conferences when they vote. That way, their own strength of schedule goes up. No conflict of interest there, eh? I really hope it comes down to TCU vs Boise State. Then maybe we finally get our little 4 to 8 team playoff to really get the best teams on the field for the championship game.

Nice win for U.C. Friday night in Louisville. I really believe if the Bearcats stay healthy, they have a shot at the Big East. It will take a win on the road at West Virginia, but that's a better shot than I gave them three weeks ago. The coaches and players really deserve a lot of credit for keeping it together and not going off the farm after a rough start.

Exciting Offseason Ahead

2010-10-14T21:50:00.002-04:00

So what will the Reds do with all of their time in the offseason? Probably make things very interesting.
First-Bronson Arroyo says he not only will return for his option year, he fully expects a long-term contract with the Reds before he reports to spring training. This makes a few guys expendable in trades. So who is going to go from the pool of young pitchers? Leake, Cueto, Wood, Volquez, Bailey, and Chapman all have the potential to be mainstays. No way the Reds would entertain the thought of moving Chapman. Everyone else might be fair game and one or two of the young pitchers might bring a bat or a shortstop.
Second-What happens with Cabrera, Hernandez, and Gomes. All three were starting players. I have to believe the Reds exercise the option on Gomes since they can bring him back at a decent rate. But it will be interesting, since the Reds might be able to deal for a left fielder. Plus there's the promise of Chris Heisey. Hernandez might be an even more interesting case. Do the Reds want to shell out $3 million for Ramon when Devin Mesoraco might force his way into Cincinnati by midseason? If the Reds are convinced about Mesoraco's 2010 breakout, it might make sense to go a cheaper route to pair with Ryan Hanigan to start 2011. Ramon has value as a veteran influence, but I'm not convinced he's back. Same with Cabrera. This could depend on the trade market. Cabrera and Ramon brought valuable experience and leadership to this team, but the kids grew up some this past season and Rolen is still around.
Bottom Line-There's a lot of options that allow the Reds to take a good, young, growing club and make it better. They can deal from a position of strength, too. The Reds are not desperate to make a move. We don't know what the rest of the division looks like yet, but I expect the 2011 Reds will be positioned to make a run in the division again.

How this for funny? Early in the week my 85 year old mother calls me, and somehow the conversation turns to the Bengals game. She asked me why the Bengals would throw the ball with under 3 minutes to go and a 7 point lead? My mom doesn't know a whole lot about football strategy, but she knew enough that it makes no sense to put yourself in a position where you just might give the game away.

How much longer will everyone continue to say there's nothing wrong with Carson Palmer? I may be crazy, but is it possible some days his arm feels better than others? There has to be something amiss. His career is sliding badly, along with his quarterback rating. His rating has basically declined every season since 2005. He appears to stare down receivers, and the critical mistakes at critical times in games is something that should not be happening to a guy who has been in the league since 2004.

I shot my mouth off on Sport Rock last week and said I thought U.C. had a great chance at winning the Big East football title again since West Virginia is the only team playing well enough to scare me. I should have mentioned Louisville. I know it's only one game, and it was Memphis, but any team able to administer a 56-0 butt whipping the week before should get your attention. I say the Cats win, but Louisville is better than I gave the Cardinals credit for on last week's show.

This is what happens when you play in the SEC. You are Kentucky. You start the conference season at Florida, then you go to Mississippi, then you get 8th ranked Auburn at home, followed by 12th ranked South Carolina. Oh yeah, and the old ball coach and the Gamecocks just knocked off the top ranked team in the country. Why is it all of these Kentucky fans keep telling me they want to stay in the SEC? I still say the northernmost school in that conference is at a disadvantage when it comes to football.