The Boys of Winter

The weather this weekend in the Queen City is expected to be snowy and cold, certainly not conditions conducive to playing baseball.

But, fans can find plenty of warmth and baseball talk at Redsfest, the Reds' winter carnival making its return to the Duke Energy Center after a two year absence.

Here's a schedule of events clipped from Reds.com.

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/cin/fan_forum/redsfest_schedule.jsp

I'll be roaming around on Saturday afternoon. Hope to see you there.

Random thoughts ...

• Redsfest promises to be bigger and better than ever when it opens at the Duke Energy Center one week from Friday. Really it's just another excuse for George Grande to talk and Bronson Arroyo to play guitar.
• Jason LaRue's dynamic personality (insert sarcasm) won't be missed in the Reds clubhouse. Nor will his trademark response to most reporters' questions, "Of course". Best of luck in Kansas City.
• Is it just me or are the Reds spending an exorbinate amount of time and money trying to fix two areas on the ballclub - bullpen and defense?
• Beating Villanova in the semis of the Paradise Jam was an important win for Xavier. But, as it seems most often to be the case for XU, a marquee victory eluded the Muskies' grasp against No. 8 Alabama in the finals.
• I'm covering UC hoops for the Associated Press early this season. It should be interesting to watch Mick Cronin's kids mature as the season progresses. But, after watching Wofford of the Southern Conference physically manhandle the 'Cats last night, I shudder to think what will happen when they begin Big East play.
• Marvin Lewis arrived in Cincinnati with the reputation of being a defensive mind. In his fourth season as Bengals head coach, I'm not seeing it. One week after the Chargers lit them up for 42 points in one half, New Orleans QB Philip Rivers threw for 510 yards against them. When they're not gettin' the take-a-aways, the Bengals defense is getting blown away.
• Don't get me started on the hypocricy of journalists voting on major awards within the sports they cover. Integrity and objectivity are to be taken very seriously. I'd like to convey that message to the lone writer who cast a 6th place vote for Derek Jeter for AL MVP.

'Bad Boy' sighting

I was in the media room at Fifth Third Arena prior to the UC/Tennessee-Martin game last evening when I encountered an old pal ... Steve Stewart. Yes, the 'Bad Boy' himself.

Stewart was filling in on 700-WLW's Bearcats basketball coverage while Dan Hoard was in Morgantown, WV for the UC football game.

Stewart and I only talked briefly but he appeared to be doing well. We discussed the baseball postseason but we didn't delve into his professional plans.

Like him or not as a broadcaster, Stewart is one Hell of a nice guy and I wish him well.

I'm back

Press Box View has been on a hiatus for a month or so due to my obligations to WCPO.com and a few technical difficulties that appear to have been ironed out.

Anyway, I just returned from Paul Brown Stadium where the Bengals' playoff hopes took a serious hit as a result of a wild 49-41 loss to the Chargers today.

Here's the blow by blow from the Stripes Blog:

http://blogs.wcpo.com/wcpo/stripes/