Reds welcome power trio - Aaron, Cosby and Ali.

Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Cincinnati Reds today announced the MLB Beacon Award recipients at a press conference today at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

The three honorees are Bill Cosby for the Beacon of Hope, Hank Aaron for the Beacon of Life and Muhammad Ali for the Beacon of Change. The MLB Beacon Awards recognize individuals whose lives are emblematic of the spirit of the civil rights movement.

The announcement was made in preparation for the Civil Rights Game, which pays tribute to one of our country’s most significant eras of social change and honors Major League Baseball’s involvement in the historic struggle through which legendary African-American players broke barriers and made important contributions to American society.

The game is June 20th between the Reds at Chicago White Sox at Great American Ball Park. This will be the first regular season Civil Rights Game and the first in Cincinnati since the inaugural Civil Right Game in Memphis, TN in 2007.
“Cincinnati has a rich baseball history and has played a significant role throughout our country’s journey towards civil equality,” said Bob Castellini, Reds President and CEO. “We are working with the City of Cincinnati and many of our community partners and sponsors to make this a weekend to remember.”

In addition to the Civil Rights Game on June 20, there will be a series of weekend events commemorating this special occasion. On Friday afternoon, there will be a roundtable discussion at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which will be moderated by Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogeltree. On Saturday, the MLB Beacon Award winners will be honored at the MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon at the Duke Energy Center, and there will also be a youth summit that day.

Can't blame Miller, but bad timing.

After days of rumor, innuendo and a couple changes of heart, Sean Miller is off to the desert with $18 million over seven years in his back pocket.

Now, on to Xavier, where the timing couldn't have been worse.

By most accounts, next year's Muskies were shaping up to be a preseason top-10 team with Final Four aspirations. Now, we wonder which recruits might bail and if any current players will file their transfer papers.

This possibility makes the coaching search tenuous. It also makes the selection of top assistant Chris Mack more enticing.

The 39-year old Mack might not be ready to take the reigns of a Division I program with two Elite Eights and a couple Sweet 16's in the past 5 years, but he's the one guy who might be able to execute the damage control.

For many recruits, Mack is the face of X. He has a strong relationship with present and future players, as evidenced by the endorsements he's already received from a number of key Muskies.

If you're Xavier AD Mike Bobinski, do you hold out for an external candidate, or do you hire Mack if only for the purpose of stemming the tide?

With one of its greatest teams just months from taking the court, Xavier is in a sticky situation. As Miller heads off to build a national championship contender at Arizona, he leaves a potential mess on Victory Parkway.

In a few short days, the best of times at Xavier became the worst.

No early returns

A seven-year, $161 million investment did not pay dividends on Opening Day as the Yanks' prized pitcher, C.C. Sabbathia, was roughed up for six earned runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings in a 10-5 loss at Baltimore.

Most disconcerting for the Bombers was C.C.'s five walks and zero strikeouts. Too early to declare the honeymoon over, but a quick glance of this morning's back pages confirms C.C. isn't in Milwaukee anymore.

Missing it already

On Opening Day 1999, this wet-behind-the-ears sports writer waltzed into the press box at Cinergy Field for the first time, knowing barely a thing about covering big-league baseball.

There are those who'd argue that remains to be the case, but I'd like to think that during the past 10 years I've grown as a writer and as a person having worked alongside some of the most talented scribes to grace the Reds beat, such as Hall of Famer Hal McCoy.

To be clear, this isn't a farewell speech. I'll be back. Soon I hope.

But, Monday, April 6 marks the first Opening Day in 13 seasons that I will walk into a Reds ballpark carrying a ticket rather than donning a credential.

Sunday's team workout was the first I'd missed since 2000, the first following the celebrated arrival of Ken Griffey Jr.

I haven't attended an Opening Day as a spectator since 1996. I'm anxious to see what I've been missing. I hear beer is in abundance.

The economy has hit hard. The weekly newspaper for which I worked as a columnist since 1997 folded this past winter. In addition, MLB.com, one of my feature writing clients, slashed its freelance budget in response to these difficult economic times.

As a result, my Major League Baseball writing assignments will be fewer. It remains to be seen how few, but I'm still holding out hope that I'll get to cover my share of big-league games at Great American Ball Park this season.

I'm encouraged that business still is good in the freelance writing game. The fall and winter has brought an increasing number of basketball and football assignments, both high school and college. I'd surely trade a handful of them to cover the game I love, as baseball is indeed my passion.

But, tomorrow I'll be shivering along with you, making the best of Cincinnati's most precious day amid the wintery conditions. I'll hoist a beer and hum along to 'Take Me Out To the Ballgame'.

I might even cheer. Shhh. Don't tell anyone.

XM to air entire MLB season

NEW YORK – April 3, 2009 – SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that XM Radio will air every game of the 2009 MLB season live nationwide starting with Opening Night, April 5, when the World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies will host the Atlanta Braves at 8:00 pm ET at Citizens Bank Park. Listeners from coast to coast will hear the Phillies radio broadcast for the game, featuring legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas, Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen, on XM channel 175.

MLB Home Plate, SIRIUS XM’s 24-hour baseball talk channel, will broadcast live on Opening Night from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia prior to the Phillies-Braves game. Scott Graham and former Major League catcher and manager Buck Martinez will host a pre-game special from 5:00-8:00 pm, interviewing players and talking to fans around the country as a lead-in to that night’s game and the start of the 2009 season.

The following day, April 6, XM will carry all 13 games from MLB’s traditional Opening Day. Through the regular season and post-season, XM will air every game from all 30 Major League teams on XM channels 175 to 189. A schedule of upcoming MLB games on XM can be found at www.xmradio.com/mlb. Listeners can also get Spanish-language broadcasts of games on MLB En Espanol, XM channel 174.

On Monday, April 6, MLB Home Plate host and former Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox manager Kevin Kennedy will report live from Fenway Park in Boston before the Red Sox play the Tampa Bay Rays and from 1:00-4:00 pm ET, Seth Everett and former Mets GM Jim Duquette will host a special edition of their daily MLB Home Plate show, Power Alley, live from Camden Yards in Baltimore before the Orioles face the New York Yankees.

"Once again XM listeners will have access to every Major League Baseball game with no blackouts or exclusions,” said Scott Greenstein, SIRIUS XM’s President and Chief Content Officer. “So no matter where they live, fans won’t miss a game involving their favorite team. Plus, they’ll be treated to game calls from some of the game’s legendary voices like Vin Scully, Harry Kalas, Bob Uecker and others.”

In addition to live play-by-play coverage, SIRIUS XM offers baseball fans 24 hour coverage of the game on MLB Home Plate, the only radio channel dedicated to covering Major League Baseball seven days a week, 365 days a year. Now available to both XM and SIRIUS subscribers (XM channel 175, SIRIUS channel 210 with the “Best of XM” programming package), MLB Home Plate offers the most comprehensive radio coverage of the Major Leagues with a daily lineup of talk shows hosted by baseball experts and insiders like Cal Ripken Jr., Bill Ripken, Rob Dibble, Jim Duquette, Kevin Kennedy, Buck Martinez and others.

“MLB Home Plate offers both XM and SIRIUS listeners a true insider’s look at the game,” said Greenstein. “Our hosts provide the kind of perspective that can only be learned as a big league player, manager or front office executive. Listeners can hear compelling interviews with players and managers every day and fans can call in to talk about the topics that are on their minds.”

MLB Home Plate Daily Schedule: (All times ET)

Weekdays
· 7 – 10 am: Baseball This Morning with Scott Graham and Buck Martinez
· 10 am – 1 pm: Power Alley with Seth Everett, Jim Duquette and Billy Ripken
· 1 – 4 pm: Inside Pitch with Jeff Joyce and Kevin Kennedy
· 3 – 6 pm: The Show with Jody McDonald and Rob Dibble
· 6 – 7 pm: XM PreGame (Fantasy 411 6pm – 8pm Fridays with Mike Siano and Cory Schwartz)
· 7 - 10 pm: Game (8p-11p Fridays after Fantasy 411)
· 10 pm – 2am: MLB Live with Joe Castellano

Saturdays
· 8 – 10 am: Minors and Majors with Grant Paulsen
· 10 am – 1 pm: Talking Baseball with Ed Randall
· 1 pm – 4 pm: Game
· 4 pm – 7 pm: MLB Live Weekend with Casey Stern
· 7 pm – 10 pm: Game
· 10 pm – 2 am: MLB Live Weekend with Lee Hamilton

Sundays
· 8 – 10 am: Minors and Majors with Grant Paulsen
· 10 am – 1 pm: MLB Live Weekend with Holden Kushner
· 1 pm – 4 pm: Game
· 4 pm – 8 pm: MLB Live Weekend with Lee Hamilton
· 8 pm – 11 pm: Game
· 11 pm – 2 am: MLB Live Weekend with Joe Castellano

**This schedule is subject to change based on game schedule.

For more information please visit www.xmradio.com/mlb.

Fans to watch Reds BP in Dayton

DAYTON, OH—The Dayton Dragons announced today that Fifth Third Field gates will open at the special time of 1:00 p.m. for Saturday’s 3:05 p.m. Reds Futures Game. Gates are opening one hour earlier than normal for this historic game to allow fans the opportunity to view pre-game activities.

“While we normally do not open the ballpark for batting practice, the Dragons feel that the significance of this event creates special circumstances,” said Robert Murphy, Dragons President. “If the Reds and the Futures Team are able to take batting practice, we want fans to have the opportunity to see it.”

The Reds and the Futures Team are both tentatively scheduled to take batting practice on Saturday. The special 1:00 p.m. opening would allow fans to be present for both rounds. However, batting practice for either team could be waived at the Reds discretion based on weather, travel and/or their arrival time to Fifth Third Field.

Tentative Batting Practice Times

Futures Team: 12:55-1:40 p.m.
Reds: 1:40-2:25 p.m.

The Reds Futures Game offers fans a unique opportunity to see the Reds Major League players along with their best minor league prospects from the Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels. Many current Reds players played for the Dragons including first baseman Joey Votto, outfielders Jay Bruce and Chris Dickerson, third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, and pitchers Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey. Many players on the Futures Team also played for the Dragons including infielder Todd Frazier, outfielder Drew Stubbs, shortstop Chris Valaika, and third baseman Juan Francisco.

The Reds Futures Game at Fifth Third Field is believed to be the first time that a Major League team has played a collection of its top prospects in the ballpark where many of those players once played.

A limited number of lawn tickets remain available for the game. Lawn tickets are $12.00. Lawn tickets can be purchased at the Fifth Third Field Box Office, by calling (937) 228-BATS (2287), or by emailing dragons@daytondragons.com. More information is available at www.daytondragons.com. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

An ode to ink on my fingers

Stored inside a cabinet in my basement office are acid-free boxes designed to preserve history. If you believe everything that's been written and said lately about the demise of newspapers, the boxes protect living fossils.

Alongside clips of stories I've written resides my personal collection of historic newspapers.

One features the complete text of Abraham Lincoln's second annual message to the nation from December 1862, taking up one-third of the front and back pages.

Another from 1796 discusses the transfer of land which would one day become Dayton, Ohio, signed in text by then-President of the United States George Washington.

I have Civil War papers, World War II papers, sports pages from the 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's, a Washington Times that tells the story of Babe Ruth's "called shot" in the 1932 World Series -- although Grantland Rice's tome doesn't mention that Ruth called the shot -- and an 1870 New York Times that recaps a game involving the Cincinnati Red Stockings of George and Harry Wright fame.

This is history, my friends.

Newspaper printed pre-1900 was composed of a mixture of cotton and linen making it virtually indestructible. A 1916 New York Times crumbles at the slightest touch, while papers from the 1700's are as prestine as the moment they were being read by Revolutionaries.

At my fingertips are moments in time captured in ink. Everything from the weather, to various aspects of daily life including classified ads, which most often are entertaining.

Some have fingerprints, coffee stains, cigarette or cigar burns. On December 2, 1862, who was reading the paper that I hold in my hands nearly 150 years later?

As I ponder the so-called "death" of newspapers, I often consider the journalistic loss, the disappearance of our last great democratic watch-dog. But, I also think about the romance that will be lost, the romance which drew me into this business in the first place.

Perhaps in a past life I sat on a train alongside Rice, Red Smith or Ring Lardner, in a smoke-filled cabin en route to the next town where I'll wax poetic in type-set about war, politics, or Ty Cobb.

Despite our difficult economic times, the historical significance of newspapers still is valued in this country.

When Obama was elected President, newspapers flew off the racks and from newstands throughout the country as citizens horded them as keepsakes. We didn't print off web pages and race to Hobby Lobby to have them framed.

From the Titanic to Pearl Harbor to 9/11, newspapers were our window to the world and its most tragic and celebratory stories.

I eat lunch in Downtown Cincinnati most days, and I always take a moment to scan my surroundings to see how many people are reading newspapers. In short, a lot.

USA Today, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Cincinnati Enquirer are the most popular.

The internet is the future, and newspapers are scrambing to keep up. There are many difficult challenges ahead. But, as we look forward to the future of newspapers and consider their value in present society, let's not forget what they've meant to us all along.

When my son, Benjamin, was born on March 3, 2009, I made sure to keep a copy of the Enquirer from that date. It's in an acid-free box in my office, not far from Abraham Lincoln.

What's new at Great American Ball Park?

Reds fans can look forward to these changes at 100 Joe Nuxhall Way during the 2009 season:

$5 Tickets and Menu Items

- $5 Single Game Tickets: $5 Outer View Level tickets are back to give fans a great value throughout the season. Tickets are in sections 509-510 and 536-537 (corners of the upper deck) and are available in advance and on game days, if available. The $5 tickets are available for all regular season games except for Opening Day.

- $1 Menu Items: $1 hot dog, $1 12 oz. Coca-Cola sodas, $1 bag of peanuts, $1 popcorn, $1 ice cream cup...available at two concessions on the fi rst base side, in the Fan Zone and on the View Level.

- $5 14 oz. draft beer: Sold at all beer stands except in club and suite levels

- $7 adult value meal: Regular hot dog, 16 oz. Coca-Cola soda and small chips or snack (18 locations)

- $5 kids value meal: Kids hot dog, small Coca-Cola soda, snack and baseball card (10 locations)

New Ballpark Features:

- HD Scoreboard Displays: New 140-foot x 40-foot High Definition scoreboard/videoboard in left fi eld...new HD “out of town” scoreboard display on the left fi eld fence...768 feet of new digital ribbon boards that wrap almost all the way around the stadium...NL standings displays on the right field light towers.

- FOX Sports Ohio Champions Club: A renovated Club 4192 is now the all-inclusive FOX Sports Ohio Champions Club, featuring a buffet with everything from hot dogs and burgers to subs and pasta, plus unlimited non-alcoholic beverages...and the new Champions Club Boxes featuring “race track-style” boxes and an outdoor bar. Over 40 LCD HDTV’s are prominently displayed in the Champions Club.

- Toyota Tundra: A brand new, bright red, Toyota Tundra is back at GABP for ‘09...and this year there is a “Hit Me” sign located between the Power Stacks in right field. If a Reds player hits the sign, a lucky fan will win the Tundra.

- Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola is now the official soft drink of the Reds. There is a new Coca-Cola sign on top of the scoreboard, complete with the iconic Coca-Cola script logo in red and white.

Two new exhibits at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum:

- Crosley Field Remembered: Visitors to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will be immersed in the sights, sounds and feel of Crosley Field, the ballpark the Reds called home from 1912-1970. Unique visual representations, artifacts and interactive elements combine to bring Crosley Field back to life.

- Negro Leagues and Cincinnati: Through images, fi lm and artifacts, visitors will be able to take a glimpse at a part of Cincinnati baseball often forgotten or ignored. Negro Leagues and Cincinnati will enlighten and remind you of the importance baseball played in Cincinnati to all people.

Reds Go Green

- Recycling: Comprehensive recycling program with Rumpke for all plastics and paper waste with over 100 recycling containers throughout the ballpark

- Carbon Credits: In partnership with Duke Energy, the Reds purchased carbon credits to offsets the estimated fossil fuel emissions associated with the game day operation of GABP for Opening Day and on April 24 in recognition of Earth Day. The purchased carbon emission offsets will assist funding of the Nuevo Chimbote Municipal Solid Waste Composting Project in Peru.

Gillette Civil Rights Game Celebration, June 19-21

- The Reds are honored to host the Gillette Civil Rights Game, with a weekend full of events June 19-21. Held as part of the Major League regular season for the fi rst time, the Civil Rights Game pays tribute and celebrates our country’s most significant era of social change and honors MLB’s involvement.

- An awards luncheon featuring national icons and a youth summit on Fountain Square are a few of the events scheduled for the weekend. The Gillette Civil Rights Game vs. Chicago White Sox on Saturday, June 20 at 7:10 p.m. will feature both teams wearing 1964 throwback uniforms.

After 58 years, Sheppard silenced

When the New York Yankees are introduced on Opening Day at their new stadium, the crowd might not be listening to Bob Sheppard's voice for the first time in more than a half-century.

Sheppard, the venerable Voice of the Yankees who from 1951 to 2006 did not miss an Opening Day, is retiring, according to the New York Times.

Sheppard's resounding monotone style was a signature at Yankee Stadium, where he bellowed out the lineups for some of the Bronx Bombers' greatest teams.

"Now batt-ing for the Yank-ees, Number 2, Derek Jee-tah, Jee-tah", would echo throughout the cavernous confines of Yankee Stadium.

Sheppard's first announced lineup in 1951 included Mickey Mantle, Phil Rizzuto, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra. Now, it appears the 98-year old Sheppard has had enough.

I've visited 30 Major League ballparks. What I remember most about my initial visit to Yankee Stadium is hearing Sheppard's voice for the first time.
He's a true baseball treasure who'll be sorely missed.

http://tinyurl.com/cgo4jm

Futures Roster Announced for Historic Game

DAYTON, OH—An unprecedented collection of Major League prospects will appear at Fifth Third Field on Saturday as part of the historic Reds Futures Game.

The top five prospects in the Reds organization (based on Baseball America’s 2009 Top Prospects List) and most players on the Reds top 30 prospect list are scheduled to play in the game. The “Futures” will play the Cincinnati Reds in the Reds final pre-season game of 2009.

This is believed to be the first time ever that such a highly-regarded group of prospects has played against a major league team in a ballpark where many of the prospects once played on their climb toward the big leagues. Twenty-two (22) of the 29 players on the Futures Team roster have played for the Dayton Dragons.

Thirteen (13) of the top fourteen (14) position-player prospects in the Reds organization are scheduled to play in the game. Additionally, eight pitchers who are listed among the top 30 Reds prospects by Baseball America are scheduled to play. The Futures Team roster includes players from Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A.

Highlighting the Futures Team Roster is the Reds 2008 first round pick and the seventh overall selection of the 2008 draft, first baseman Yonder Alonso. Alonso is currently the top-rated prospect in the Reds organization. Infielder-Outfielder Todd Frazier (#2 prospect), outfielder Drew Stubbs (#3 prospect), shortstop Chris Valaika (#4 prospect), and outfielder Yorman Rodriguez (#5 prospect) are also scheduled to play.

Alonso was one of college baseball’s top players last spring at the University of Miami. He led the Hurricanes to the College World Series and was a 1st Team All-American selection. He hit .370 with 24 home runs and led the nation in walks. His swing produces power to the alleys and is considered a perfect fit for Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark.

“Alonso is the rare hitter who has both plus power and the swing and pitch awareness to hit for a high average as well,” said Baseball America.

Frazier, who played for the Dragons in 2008, was the Reds supplemental first round draft pick in 2007. Frazier first gained national attention in 1998 when he led Toms River, New Jersey to the Little League World Series title. In his first full-season of professional baseball in 2008, Frazier belted 19 home runs and batted a combined .291 between Dayton and Sarasota.

Stubbs and Valaika were both members of the Dragons in 2007. Stubbs was the Reds first round draft pick in 2006 and finished the 2008 season by batting .293 in Triple-A with Louisville. Valaika was the Reds 2008 Minor League Player of the Year when he batted .317 to lead all Reds minor league players. He also hit 18 home runs and drove in 81 runs as a shortstop.

Rodriguez is the youngest player on the Futures Team at age 16. He signed with the Reds last year and was given the largest signing bonus ever awarded a Venezuelan player. He will make his professional debut in 2009 and is considered to be a power-hitter with blazing speed.

Other top 10 prospects in the Reds organization who are scheduled to play are third baseman Neftali Soto (#7 prospect), third baseman Juan Francisco (#8 prospect), and catcher Devin Mesoraco (#10 prospect).

The remainder of the Futures Team roster includes shortstop Zack Cozart (#19 prospect); outfielders Chris Heisey (#22 prospect), Danny Dorn (#23 prospect), and Sean Henry; catchers Craig Tatum (#28 prospect) and Chris Denove; and pitchers Jordan Smith (#13 prospect), Josh Roenicke (#14 prospect), Zach Stewart (#15 prospect), Dallas Buck (#21 prospect), Carlos Fisher (#24 prospect), Pedro Viola (#25 prospect), Sean Watson (#26 prospect), Robert Manuel (#27 prospect), Misael DeJesus, Ramon Geronimo, Aguido Gonzalez, Daniel Ray Herrera, Curtis Partch, Mace Thurman, and Philippe Valiquette.

Roenicke, Viola, and Herrera are still in contention to make the Reds major league opening day roster.

Notes on Other Members of the Reds Futures Team

Neftali Soto
Soto had a huge half-season in 2008 when he batted .340 with 11 home runs and 47 runs batted in while playing in 67 games with the Dragons and Billings. He moved to third base in 2008 after being drafted as a shortstop in the third round in 2007.

Juan Francisco
Francisco is the top power hitter in the Reds organization. With the Dragons in 2007, he led the Midwest League with 25 home runs and then followed that with 23 homers at Sarasota in 2008 to league all Reds minor leaguers.

Devin Mesoraco
Mesoraco was the Reds first round draft pick in 2007 after earning the Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year award earlier that spring. Mesoraco was only the third catcher ever drafted in the first round by the Reds. He played for the Dragons in 2008.

Zack Cozart
Cozart was the Midwest League’s all-star shortstop with the Dragons in 2008 after being selected in the second round by the Reds in the 2007 draft. Cozart was also selected as the Best Defensive Infielder in the Reds organization by Baseball America.

Danny Dorn
Dorn has been an outstanding hitter over three seasons in minor league baseball. He has hit at least 20 home runs in each of the last two years and has posted a career batting average of .297. Dorn looks like a steal as a 32nd round draft pick in 2006 out of Cal State-Fullerton.

Robert Manuel
Manuel was honored by MiLB.com as the top relief pitcher in Minor League Baseball in 2008. He pitched in 52 games and allowed only 12 earned runs all season with a 1.25 earned run average, mostly with Double-A Chattanooga.

Zach Stewart
Stewart began his professional career with the Dragons in 2008 after being selected in the third round out of Texas Tech University. He fired 96 mile per hour fastballs in his first game and allowed only one earned run in 11 appearances with the Dragons, notching a 0.55 earned run average.

The $50 Million Dollar Man

Stephen Strasburg is, by most accounts, not human.

The San Diego State pitcher averages 19.4 strikeouts per innings. Put into some semblance of perspective, this means he pushes the MLB strikeout record every 9-inning outing.

His fastball reportedly reaches 103-mph. He has knee-buckling off-speed stuff, which is grossly unfair. At last check he was 5-0 with a 1.87 ERA. So he can be scored upon, albiet rarely.

Not at all surprising is that fact that Strasburg is represented by Scott Boras, the one man willing to place an obscene enough dollar amount on what scouts have dubbed a once-in-a-decade talent. One report has Boras asking $50 million, give or take a million.

So, the Strasburg Watch begins. Will it be the Nationals, Rockies ... ? Which team will be bad enough to earn the opportunity to draft him? Which team will be brave enough to sign him on Boras' terms? Is Strasburg really this good? Is anyone, for that matter?

http://goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/032309aad.html

He's a funny guy

During my 10 years covering the team, the Reds clubhouse has had its share of psuedo-comedians.

Pete Harnisch's thick Brooklyn-esque accent and incessant practical jokes.

Adam Dunn's self-deprecating humor.

David Weather's southern drawl and down-home metaphors.

But, none quite compare to resident funny man Kent Mercker.

Reds fans will get a taste of Mercker's comedic charm when he debuts on the Reds Radio Network this week, broadcasting spring training games Wed., Thur, and Sat. Mercker might also be part of the regular season Reds radio rotation.

Mercker, a Dublin, Ohio native, pitched for 18 seasons in the major leagues for the Braves, Orioles, Indians, Cardinals, Red Sox, Angels, Rockies, Cubs and Reds (1997, 2003, 2005-06, 2008).

You have to be present to win

I'm not naive enough to believe Sean Miller will retire as Xavier's head basketball coach. The once-in-a-lifetime job he'd be crazy to pass up will one day come. But, the time is not now, and Kentucky is not that job.

Besides, Miller realizes that leaving XU now would be like exiting the party just before they hand out the door prizes.

Coaches always are looking ahead, and Miller sees the promised land in the nearby distance. Next year's Muskies could be scary good, and he knows it.

"Something special", Miller called it.

Two of the best players on the team didn't play this season -- Jordan Crawford and Mark Lyons. Incoming freshman small forward Kevin Parrom could be an instant contributor next year.

Crawford sat out this season after transferring from Indiana. Lyons was ruled ineligible due to courses at Brewster Academy, a prep school in Wolfeboro, N.H., that did not meet core NCAA standards. Both practiced with the team and were impressive, in particular Crawford.

Add to them returnees Derrick Brown, Jason Love, Kenny Frease, Terrell Holloway, Dante Jackson, Brad Redford, Jamel McLean and ... well, you can understand Miller's optimism.

It's hard to find a weakness.

Again, not to sound naive, but Miller is the first XU coach that I believe could be in town for the long-haul.

One, the University now is in position to compensate him fairly.

Two, he has top-notch facilities and an established recruiting base.

Three, Cincinnati is a city where his family feels comfortable.

One day the lure of a stronger conference and the opportunity to compete annually for a national title might steer Miller clear of Victory Parkway.

In the near-term, the spoils of success are his ... right here at Xavier.

For now.

A taste of spring

With plummeting temperatures and snow in the forecast, why not warm up with a little baseball talk?

The Reds' Hot Stove League show will be broadcast live at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum’s Palace of the Fans Theater.

The broadcast is open to the public, with free admission to the RHOF after 5 p.m. The Hot Stove League show also can be heard on 700 WLW Radio and via the internet at Reds.com/hotstove.

Reds' Dickerson does his part

Let me get this straight, there's a Major League Baseball Player who cares as much for the environment as he does about his stats and stock portfolio?

It's true.

Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson is a rare combination of speed, athleticism, and social consciousness.

Through his efforts, Dickerson has taken his "green" initiative beyond the Reds clubhouse to other MLB teams, pro athletes in other sports, and beyond.

Dickerson hit .304 with 6 home runs and 15 RBI last season in 31 games. In his spare time, he saves the world.

http://weplaygreen.org/

Results are in: Rickey runs into HOF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jan. 12, 2009

Henderson and rice elected to hall of fame

COOPERSTOWN, NY) – Rickey Henderson, baseball’s all-time stolen bases and runs scored leader, and power-hitting outfielder Jim Rice were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in balloting verified by Ernst & Young. They will be inducted into the Hall July 26 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Henderson and Rice will be honored along with former Yankees and Indians second baseman Joe Gordon, who was elected last month by the Veterans Committee. The July 26 Induction Ceremony will also include the presentation of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting to Tony Kubek and the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for baseball writing to Nick Peters.

In the BBWAA election, 539 ballots, including two blanks, were cast by members with 10 or more consecutive years of service. Players must be named on 75 percent of ballots submitted to be elected. This year, 405 votes were required. Twenty-seven votes were needed to stay on the ballot.

Henderson was listed on 511 ballots (94.8%) to win election in his first year on the ballot. He becomes the 44th player to be elected by the BBWAA in his first year eligible.

Rice was listed on 412 ballots (76.4%) in his 15th and final time on the BBWAA ballot. He becomes the third player elected by the BBWAA in his final year of eligibility, following Red Ruffing (1967) and Ralph Kiner (1975). Rice received seven votes more than the minimum needed for election.

This marks the 24th time the BBWAA has elected two Hall of Famers in the same year. The two new Hall of Famers bring to 289 the number of elected members of the Hall. Of that total, 202 are former major league players, of which 108 have been through the BBWAA ballot. Henderson and Rice are the 20th and 21st left fielders elected and the first since Carl Yastrzemski in 1989. No other position had gone longer without a new Hall of Famer.

Henderson, 50, is Major League Baseball’s career leader in stolen bases (1,406) and runs scored (2,295) and is second all-time in walks (2,190). He was named to 10 All-Star teams and was the 1990 American League Most Valuable Player with the Oakland A’s, with whom he won a World Series title in 1989. Henderson, who played for nine teams over 25 big league seasons, also won a World Series ring in 1993 as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. He holds the Major League Baseball record for steals in a season with 130, which he set in 1982 with the A’s, and he holds the big league record of 81 home runs leading off games. Henderson received the 13th-highest voting percentage ever, finishing right behind Babe Ruth (95.1%) and just ahead of Willie Mays (94.7%)

Rice, 55, spent his entire 16-year big league career with the Boston Red Sox. The 1978 American League Most Valuable Player finished in the top five of the AL MVP voting five other times, finishing second to teammate Fred Lynn in the 1975 AL Rookie of the Year voting. He led the AL in homers three times, hit .300-or-better seven times and was selected to eight All-Star Games. He is the only player in history to post three straight seasons of 35-plus home runs and 200-plus hits. He finished his career with a .298 batting average, 382 home runs and 1,451 RBIs.

Andre Dawson (361 votes, 67%) and Bert Blyleven (338 votes, 62.7%) were the only other players listed on more than half of the ballots. Rounding out the top 10 were: Lee Smith (240 votes, 44.5%); Jack Morris (237 votes, 44.0%); Tommy John (171 votes, 31.6%); Tim Raines (122 votes, 22.6%); Mark McGwire (118 votes, 21.9%); and Alan Trammell (94 votes, 17.4%).

Players remain on the ballot for up to 15 years provided they receive at least five percent of the vote. Players who will return to the ballot next year include: Dawson, Blyleven, Smith, Morris, Raines, McGwire, Trammell, Dave Parker, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy and Harold Baines.

Tommy John, who received 31.7% of the vote in his 15th-and-final year of BBWAA ballot eligibility, will be eligible for Veterans Committee consideration in the fall of 2010.

Of the 10 newcomers to the ballot, Henderson was elected and nine others did not receive sufficient support of five percent or more to stay on the ballot.

The vote: Rickey Henderson 511 (94.8%); Jim Rice 412 (76.4%); Andre Dawson 361 (67.0%); Bert Blyleven 338 (62.7%); Lee Smith 240 (44.5%); Jack Morris 237 (44.0%); Tommy John 171 (31.7%); Tim Raines 122 (22.6%); Mark McGwire 118 (21.9%); Alan Trammell 94 (17.4%); Dave Parker 81 (15.0%); Don Mattingly 64 (11.9%); Dale Murphy 62 (11.5%); Harold Baines 32 (5.9%); Mark Grace 22 (4.1%); David Cone 21 (3.9%); Matt Williams 7 (1.3%); Mo Vaughn 6 (1.1%); Jay Bell 2 (0.4%); Jesse Orosco 1 (0.2%); Ron Gant 0; Dan Plesac 0; Greg Vaughn 0.

When does the NFL game begin?

That was the running joke among reporters in the press box Sunday afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium.

For 60 agonizingly long minutes the winless Browns and Bengals bumbled and stumbled their way through four quarters.

More than 45 minutes had been played before the first touchdown was scored. The score was 6-3, at that point.

Bengals quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who attended Harvard, which means he's smart enough to choose an alternative profession, threw three interceptions in relief of the injured Carson Palmer.

Eric Wright had one of those interceptions. He returned it 23 yards, then fumbled.

Cue the calliope.

The two teams combined for 15 penalites, and seven turnovers.

Oh, by the way, Cleveland won the game 20-12. The Bengals are 0-4 for the first time since 2002.

What a difference six seasons makes? Well, very little, apparently.

How I spent my "off-day" Saturday ...

Small, but not in stature

Cincinnati Country Day and Summit Country Day are among the smallest schools I'll cover on my high school sports beat for the Cincinnati Enquirer.

CCD has 34 players on varsity, Summit 41. Add them up, and it's still nearly 50 fewer than Division I power St. Xavier.

With tuition costs ranging from $15,000 to $18,000, the kids at CCD and SCDS are the best of the best academically.

But, booksmarts and checkbooks don't mean a thing when these two schools hook up on the gridiron. Annually one of the area's most heated small-school rivalries, CCD/Summit is as good as it gets.

Friday night, CCD clearly was the better team, routing the Silver Knights 21-0.

Although I didn't intend to be, I was included in the post-game celebration when the Indians players decided to dump the celebratory ice bucket over head coach Tim Dunn ... while I was interviewing him.

Thanks for the cold shower. I needed that pick-me-up on deadline.

My Enquirer game story:

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080926/SPT030101/309260098/

Ballpark battered, shattered

Shattered windows in the press box at Great American Ball Park serve as a lingering reminder of Sunday's hurricane-force winds. Still unsure whether the tattered glass could withstand an impact from a foul ball, some reporters, including your's truly, relocated to the second row.

It's an ill wind ...

Well, we could tell it was windy Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

Debris was flying, footballs were doing dances in mid-air, and coaches, players and fans were doing their best to secure anything not nailed down.

But, it wasn't until phone calls from harried family members began pinging the press box did reporters at the Bengals/Titans game realize the extent of the situation's seriousness.

The remnants of Hurricane Ike, combined with a strong cold front, whipped up hurricane-force winds, causing more than 900,000 power outages and numerous reports of damage.

After watching the Bengals bungle their way to a 24-7 defeat, and their first 0-2 start since 2003, I fought my way through the gale and arrived at my car which was parked in a downtown surface lot.

My rear window was shattered, sirens blared as emergency vehicles raced past on streets littered with debris ranging from tree limbs to more substantial chunks of roofing. Then, the horrifying news that four people had lost their lives that day.

It's a Sunday afternoon few Cincinnati residents will soon forget.

Upset front and center

Space in the sports page is often pre-determined, but more often events dictate where a story is slotted.

With Sycamore High expected to roll to an easy victory over Hamilton, no photographer was assigned to the game, and I was planning to spin my lede toward the following week, and the Aviator's much-anticipated clash with Colerain.

But, the Big Blue had other ideas.

Hamilton's 21-14 upset caused a change of plans, with me scrambling for a new angle, and the copy desk promoting the story to C1.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080912/SPT030101/309120076/

St. Excellent

Few high school football venues provide the media with amenities on par with Cincinnati St. Xavier.

Printed rosters, running stats on our laptops, a live internet connection, press passes, assigned press box seat, and a pretty solid spread of food at halftime.

If reporters can survive the breathless excursion from the field to the press box, the lofty perch is well worth the trip.

First class.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080905/SPT030101/309050103/

Photography 101

Fox Sports Aruba

Ahh, Aruba. The ultimate get-away. An escape from the daily grind of the baseball season. Or, so I thought.

While vacationing in Aruba with my wife a couple years ago, we decided to sign up for a pub crawl.

Our plan: get away from the tourist traps, catch some of the local flare, consume a few Balashi's.

Near the end of our trip, and three-sheets beyond the wind, we arrive at a rickety destination in the outskirts of Paradise.

Tiny neighborhood pub with wood floors, oozing with island character, on an off-the-beaten path in Aruba, situated barely 15 miles from the coast of Venezuela.

And, what do I hear emanating from the television? No kidding, it was the all-too familiar chimings of George Grande and Chris Welsh.

Of all the satellite viewing options available to them, this random watering hole in Paradise chose Reds baseball on FSN Ohio.

For me, there is truly no escape.

Another Pulse Weekly revamp

Through the years, Pulse Weekly Newspaper has survived a major name change, shift in ownership, economic downturns, and a revolving door at its editorial offices.

Now, it's about to undergo yet another transformation by the end of the year. More information to come.

For now, visit my blog/column section at the Pulse Weekly web site:

http://www.pulsedt.com/blogs/default.asp?Category=6

As always, thanks for reading, particularly our loyal Downtown Cincinnati lunch crowd. What would we do without you?

Dunn's shrunken heads

Hall of Fame beat writer Hal McCoy and I were milling around the Reds clubhouse Sunday morning waiting to speak to some players when we happened upon Adam Dunn's now vacant locker.

Dunn and his possessions have since departed for Arizona, but a few remain. Namely, some ominous African artifacts still affixed to the wall.

The Cubs have the goat, Red Sox the Babe. McCoy and I decided the Reds must have the curse of "the masks".

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/cincinnatireds/

It's that time again

I remember it well.

The time of year when the sweltering heat of two-a-days evolved into the eager anticipation of game nights.

The Enquirer today published its Ohio high school football preview.

Below is my feature on North College Hill standout Everett Horne, who became the University of Cincinnati's first commitment for the 2009 season.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080818/SPT030101/808180324/

Chris Gruler rights his ship

Just think, you're a No. 1 draft choice fresh out of high school with a $2.5 million signing bonus burning a hole in your pocket.

Barely four years, and three shoulder surgeries later, you're walking through Home Depot when your cell phone rings.

The caller says, "You're finished".

Chris Gruler's story is a true baseball tragedy. But, he no longer sees it that way.

By Jeff Wallner/Special to MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- Chris Gruler was strolling through Home Depot one February afternoon in 2006 when his cell phone rang. The news wasn't good.

Gruler, a promising right-handed pitching prospect, had been drafted No. 1 (third overall) by the Reds in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. But after multiple shoulder surgeries and ill-fated comeback attempts, the Reds released him.

"It wasn't something I had planned for," Gruler said. "At first it was devastating. I felt like I let my family and friends down. I can't imagine how many hours my parents put into Little League and showcases."

At Liberty High School in Brentwood, Calif., Gruler wowed scouts with a 96-mph fastball and devastating overhand curve. As a senior, he went 4-3 with a 1.49 ERA in 11 games, including seven starts, striking out 135 batters in 66 innings.

The Reds rewarded Gruler with a $2.5 million signing bonus, amid much fanfare. Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench, working as a consultant to the Reds, compared Gruler to Hall of Fame hurler Tom Seaver, saying

Gruler had "a better changeup and breaking ball" than the storied Reds pitcher.

Barely four years later, Gruler was out of work.

"I had a hard time sleeping," he said. "Things were not good in my life."

Gruler, who never advanced past Class A, went 3-5 with a 5.08 ERA in 27 Minor League appearances. He struck out 71 and walked 57 in 92 2/3 innings between 2002 and 2006, sandwiched around three shoulder reconstruction surgeries.

Gruler used acupuncture and both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing exercises to regain strength in his shoulder, but to no avail.

Following his release from the Reds, Gruler threw for a couple of teams in Tempe, Ariz., but his shoulder couldn't withstand the strain.

"I tried everything in the book," he said. "You tend to believe what you read about guys being overworked when they're young. But, you know, I wanted to pitch. I wanted to show my stuff. There's no right or wrong. I won't play the blame game. That's not me."

Gruler, who currently resides in Scottsdale, Ariz., channeled his disappointment into a new business venture.

He has teamed up with pal Erik Averill, a former big league pitcher, to form Protégé Branding, which helps professional athletes develop and strengthen their personal brand. Protégé lists ex-Major Leaguer Roberto Alomar among its clients.

Gruler had some advice for this year's No. 1 Draft choice Yonder Alonso, whom the Reds signed late Friday.

"You have to understand baseball is a business," Gruler said. "Appreciate the opportunity that's been given to you. I had to learn the hard way."

Gruler's in the process of writing a tell-all book about his experiences in the game, but says he harbors little bitterness resulting from his release.

"It would be easy for me to say the Reds could have done more," he said. "That would be selfish. A shoulder is such a complex surgery. They did as much as they could."

"Dude" is a Diamondback

Early in his career, Adam Dunn's frequent use of the word "Dude" became a friendly joke among Reds beat writers. Dunn's perceived lackadaisical approach to the game and frequent defensive lapses were less amusing for Reds fans.

Truthfully, the Big Texan was his own harshest critic. Never have I encountered an athlete so self-deprecating.

I recall an interview in which Dunn was describing a sequence of pitches in a particular at-bat.

"I swung and missed," said Dunn. "Go figure."

Dunn considered himself to be an expert on few subjects - football and fishing being among them.

Side note: had the Texas Longhorns not chosen to move Dunn to tight end, he might have been playing quarterback on Sundays.

Don't misread, Dunn was bright, he just managed to stumble over his words at times.

In the visitors clubhouse in Cleveland a few years ago, Dunn overheard a teammate discussing Paris, France. Dunn bellowed, "Hey, does the Eiffel Tower really lean like they say it does?"

Realizing in an instant that he'd just confused the Eiffel Tower with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Dunn put a pillow over his face and hid in shame. Amid much laughter, of course.

Dunn's lumbering style and prodigious power is now on display in Arizona, where he will, much like his old teammate Ken Griffey Jr. in Chicago, try to take the Diamondbacks to the postseason.

Dunn's offensive production cannot be replaced by one player, certainly not via the Reds' budget. His presence in the clubhouse, both personally and professionally, also will be missed.

The Reds are in rapid rebuilding mode. When they return to Great American Ball Park this weekend, I won't be the only reporter asking, "Who are these guys?".

Griffey departure leaves void

When the Reds return home Monday, the double-wide locker in the rear left-hand side of the home clubhouse will sit eerily empty.

For the first time since Great American Ball Park opened, Ken Griffey Jr.'s massive storage trunk and mountains of shoe boxes will be absent.

No longer will the future Hall of Fame outfielder sit at his locker and hold court (off the record, of course) with reporters and teammates, discussing life, family, and only on occasion baseball.

From that aspect, Griffey will be missed.

For the Reds, it was clearly time to move on.

Dunn, Hairston, Bruce makes more sense than scuffling a 38-year old outfielder to right field, and peering closely to uncover signs of his once glorious past. It makes more sense than picking up $16 million as a retirement option.

Griffey had earned the chance to chase his lone remaining goal - a World Series ring.

Griffey's body broke down, to no fault of his own, and the Reds failed in their promise to build a winner around him, but his eight seasons in a Reds uniform were historic nonetheless.

We saw Nos. 400, 500 and 600, and numerous other milestones.

We won't see him catch Sammy Sosa for fifth all-time, that'll happen in a White Sox uniform.

Reds fans rarely saw glimpses of the happy go-lucky "Kid" who endeared himself to baseball fans with his signature wall-crashing, highlight-reel catches at Seattle's Kingdome.

Reds fans likely will remember his spats with broadcasters, media members and them, uniform number flaps, and numerous disablings.

But, when Griffey waltzes to the podium at Cooperstown, likely as a first-ballot entrant, Reds fans should remember this:

Albeit for only a brief period, you witnessed greatness. With all its flaws.

Farewell No. 3.

Moving Day

Follow the Reds with me throughout the 2007 season at Pulse Weekly's web site.

Here's the link to my weekly columns and daily blog page:

http://www.pulsedt.com/blogs/default.asp?Category=6

Please adjust your links accordingly, if you so choose.

Thanks,

Jeff Wallner.

Blogging elsewhere

The transition from Press Box View to my blog on the Downtowner Newspaper's web site is nearing completion.

For those who aren't aware, I've been covering the Reds since 1999 for the Downtowner, a free weekly newspaper distributed in Downtown Cincinnati, Mt. Lookout, Oakley, Hyde Park, Clifton, Northern Kentucky and elsewhere.

This, in addition to my work for the Enquirer, MLB.com, Associated Press among others.

My season credential with the Reds has always read "The Downtowner", but until now our paper did not have a web presence, hence the birth of Press Box View.

In short, you are all invited, and urged, to follow me over to my Downtowner blog, where I'll be posting Reds game updates, news as it breaks and an interesting anecdote or two throughout the baseball season.

Here's the link:

http://www.pulsedt.com/blogs/default.asp?Category=6

Happy pre-Opening Day

Well, it's been a hectic, whirlwind of a weekend ... and it's not even Opening Day yet.

Dot, dot, dot ...

-Big surprise, Fifth Third Field in Dayton was sold out for Saturday's Reds/Marlins exhibition game. Early this season, the Dragons will reach 500 consecutive packed houses - that's more than seven straight seasons.

-Think being a sportswriter is a cushy existence? Perhaps it is, until a foul ball shatters the glass window inches above your head in the press box at Fifth Third Field in Dayton. At least Dragons media relations guru Mike Vander Wood was sympathetic. "Good thing it's shatter-proof glass," he told me.

-If you go to a Dayton Dragons game, Brixx Ice house has a solid beer selection located just steps from the ballpark.

-Sunday's pre-Opening Day workout at Great American Ball Park was a hectic day for me, especially since I was chasing news on both the Cubs and Reds for MLB.com. But, it was also a chance to reunite with a few people I hadn't seen in months:

Old pal Steve Stewart is still pounding the pavement for broadcasting gigs. Steve tells me was a finalist for a couple of TV and radio jobs, including one in San Diego he felt was a lock. For the time being, he's doing around 30 pre-game shows for FSN Ohio and working in the speaker bureau at Great American Ball Park.

Paula Faris is in town covering the Cubs for her NBC affiliate. The former 9Sports favorite is doing well in Chicago. In fact, Paula and her husband, John, are expecting their first child in August. They are living in a neighborhood a few miles north of Wrigley Field. Paula told me today she's still getting used to the Windy City's blistering pace.

Passed by Joe Nuxhall in the tunnel leading to the Reds clubhouse on Sunday. The 'Ol Left-hander said he's feeling "better". It'll be nice to hear his voice on radio on Opening Day.

-In regard to the team, Wayne Krivsky admitted to us on Sunday he's going to pull the trigger on a roster move prior to Monday's game. Will it be made within the organization? Trade? Stay tuned.

-I'm not a conspiracy theorist by nature, but lower back spasms come at an awful convenient time for the Reds and Eric Milton. Eric, take some time off, get things worked out, help us justify your salary. In the meantime, can we have your roster spot?

-Bobby Livingston for fifth starter. He's earned it.

-Josh Hamilton has impressed me on many fronts. First, he's restored his life from the darkest depths. In addition to his breadth of skills, did you know Hamilton could be the fastest player on the team? Met him formally for the first time Saturday in Dayton. He's personable, polite and relates well with his teammates. Hamilton spent more than a few minutes signing autographs following Sunday's workout. A beat writer told me Hamilton did the same thing at spring training.

Play ball!

The catcher(s) in the rye

Even if Chad Moeller comes north, do the Reds really have three catchers?

David Ross is the Reds' starting catcher. Moeller is an adequate back-up.

Javier Valentin is a catcher by trade, but in reality he's a back-up first baseman and the club's top pinch hitter leading them in pinch-hits (12), pinch-homers (4, one-shy of the club record) and RBI (12) last season.

Late-spring injuries forced the Reds' hand in this respect.

Besides, I think too much is made about which players make the Opening Day roster. The Reds roster in April likely will be barely a shadow of itself by August.

Gia Farrell to perform on Opening Day

I consider myself to be a knowledgeable music buff, but there are two genres I simply don't know much about. One is country. The other is the dance-pop-Christina Aguilera-Britney Spears ... well, you know the one.

While doing a little research for the festivities for Opening Day a question arose - who is Gia Farrell and why is she singing the National Anthem on our hallowed day at Great American Ball Park?

Turns out, Farrell is an 18-year old Atlanta Records recording artist from New York. Her song "Hit Me Up" reached No. 6 on the Australian charts and was featured in the animated film 'Happy Feet'.

Farrell is also a very lovely young lady, so gentleman keep your eyes on the flag.

Here it all starts ...

Our Downtowner Newspaper site (www.pulsedt.com) and my subsequent blog remains a work in progress, so we'll keep Press Box View going for some time to come.

While the full-time Reds beat writers have already been going at it for a month or so, my work begins in earnest tomorrow with the start of a 72-hour MLB.com marathon, of sorts.

I leave for Dayton at around 9 a.m. to cover the Reds/Marlins exhibition game.

On Sunday morning, it's off to Great American Ball Park to pen notebooks on both the Cubs and Reds from the pre-Opening Day workouts.

Then, it's an early rise on Monday to spin a story on the Findlay Market Parade and all of the festivities, pomp and circumstance surrounding Opening Day before settling in for the game itself.

I'll link the stories as they are posted at Reds.com.

I must say, I was, and continued to be, impressed by the participants in the Reds blogosphere during this past offseason.

You provide hope that beneath the sparse attendance figures at Great American Ball Park and perceived apathy, there exists a knowledgeable and passionate base of Reds fans which is hungry for a winner.

Play ball!

Big changes at small paper

The Cincinnati Downtowner Newspaper has been treading water for years as a free weekly paper distributed in the immediate downtown area. I've been serving as a sports columnist for the Downtowner since 1999, with Reds coverage being our bread and butter.

Well, big changes are afoot at our little weekly.

A managing editor and staff reporter have been hired, and the Downtowner announced this week that it is nearly tripling its editorial staff, expanding the paper with a new look, launching a web site and extending the distribution footprint beyond downtown into Northern Kentucky, Clifton and the eastern suburbs.

Since all Downtowner columnists will be maintaining blogs on the new web site, which will go live on March 28, Press Box View will ultimately vanish.

My new blog will be linked to my weekly Downtowner Newspaper column, which had no prior web exposure. I'll be adding live in-game reports and breaking news as it happens. Exciting stuff.

Here's the link to the new site (it'll be up in a week or so):

http://www.pulsedt.com/

The timing of the new Downtowner Newspaper's introduction coincides with our Opening Day issue/Findlay Market Parade insert, annually our most popular edition.

Change is good. Once the new blog is up and running, I'll pass along a link to my loyal readers and bloggers, particularly those in Reds land.

For those of you who work or reside within the Downtowner's new distribution area, pick up a copy. I think you'll be pleased with the new design and format.

Right of center

Ok, it's official. When the opposing team's at bat this season, Ken Griffey Jr. will be standing a few steps to Ryan Freel's left.

I realize it's newsworthy that Griffey, in his prime considered one of the finest centerfielders of this era, is moving to right field.

But, it's not like Carson Palmer is being moved to wide receiver. Now, that'd be front page above the fold.

So, Reds manager Jerry Narron has spilled the beans. Now, Griffey will be probed and prodded to see if he's happy with the move. And, every time he sneezes in right field, the move will be documented and dissected to determine how well Griffey's adjusting to his new position.

Forget right field, can Griffey stay healthy enough to play a full season at any position?

Charlie "hustle"

This was a common argument early in the Pete Rose saga - if he bet "for" the Reds to win, it's ok.

Rose was a habitual gambler, probably still is. Those addicted to gambling don't bet to lose. If they do, their bookies, or other shadowy figures prominent in their lives, are eventually going to come calling for their payday. That spells real trouble.

It all breeds corruption and, if let unattended to, results in another Black Sox scandal, which would make steroids look like baby aspirin by comparison.

So, less than 24 hours after the Reds Hall of Fame opened an exhibit in his honor, Rose again succeeded in dishonoring himself, his city and his hometown team.

He's proclaimed his love for the Reds by admitting during an ESPN Radio interview that he bet on his team "every night".

Great. Good form Pete.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070315/SPT04/703150351

Not a betting slip to be found

For once, there's a place where Pete Rose can be remembered for milestones achieved on the field and not his missteps off it.

The Rose exhibit at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum opens on Saturday and continues until 2008.

Covered the press conference and exclusive preview event for MLB.com last evening.

Regardless of your feelings regarding Rose's reinstatement to baseball, Greg Rhodes and the entire staff at the Reds Hall of Fame deserve kudos for giving the playing career of baseball's all-time hits leader its just due.

Although, I'd like for Pete to get through a press conference without mentioning Las Vegas, dog tracks or horse racing, just once.

If Rose didn't have half a brain, he'd have half the hits.

Great American smoke out

Hal McCoy can chew on his trademark cigar, but not light it. The Ol' Left-hander will need to find a new pastime while lounging in the home dugout during BP. Reds fans can smoke 'em if they've got 'em, but they must do so prior to entering the ballpark.

Good thing this didn't come down while Jack McKeon was managing.

Great American Ball Park is smoke free:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070308/BIZ01/303080046

Ohio's smoking ban is (in the process of) being enforced. The Reds are complying in the most efficient manner possible - a widespread, unconditional smoking ban applied throughout the facility.

With the notable exception of the Pepsi Power Stacks in centerfield, of course.

Xavier women punch first ticket

The men's and women's basketball teams at Xavier share more in common than uniforms adorned with a blue 'X' and a home court at Cintas Center.

They both are led by top transfers - Drew Lavender and Joei Clyburn.

They both have a strong core of seniors - Justin Doellman, Justin Cage, Brandon Cole for the men, and Michelle Miller, Suntana Granderson, Miranda Green, DeAnna Mason for the women.

They both have young head coaches - Sean Miller and Kevin McGuff - who were top assistants at Xavier and elsewhere.

In just a few days, they'll share something else - an NCAA Tournament berth.

Xavier's women got it done Monday night with a 65-59 victory over St. Joseph's in the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship game at Cintas Center.

With XU beat reporter Dustin Dow swamped as he prepares for coverage of the men's A-10 Tournament which begins Wednesday in Atlantic City, I was pleased to fill in on covering the women's A-10 tourney semis and finals.

Link to my Enquirer story this morning:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070306/SPT0102/703060328/1065

March madness, sadness for some

Just back from covering Xavier's womens hoops team in the Atlantic 10 conference tournament at Cintas Center for the Enquirer.

The Muskies overcame a 3-for-13 shooting performance from Amber Harris, their leading scorer and A-10 Rookie of the Year, and rallied to beat Temple 54-53.

Xavier will play St. Joseph's in Monday's championship game at 5 p.m. with the winner earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

St. Joseph's semifinal win today over George Washington, ranked No. 8 in the nation and on a 19-game winning streak, came as a surprise to most in attendance, including those close to the team. The upset loss left a Washington Post beat reporter and team officials scrambling to change flights and hotel arrangements.

As maligned as the A-10 has been among mens' basketball conferences, it's a pretty strong womens' league. In fact, if St. Joe's topples Xavier on Monday, the A-10 will likely get four teams into the NCAA Tournament - Xavier, GW, Temple, St. Joe's.

As for the Xavier mens' NCAA chances, these comments just in from ESPN:

Should be in: Xavier [23-7 (13-3), RPI: 32, SOS: 86] I've probably undersold Xavier in past editions of D65. Now that X is the co-champ of the A-10 after eight straight wins to close things out -- to go with nonconference wins over VCU, Villanova, Illinois and K-State -- the profile looks very solid for an at-large. The Musketeers need to avoid a quarterfinal A-10 flameout, but I like their chances a lot right now.

No inductee? No problem

Aside from Cooperstown, New York's need for tourism dollars and Major League Baseball's own private initiatives, who's to say there has to be an induction ceremony at the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum every summer?

Perhaps the Veterans Committee is sending the proper message but being overly stingy with its voting, failing to elect a single player in three consecutive votes.

Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark feels the committee's apparent lack of "cooperation" merits an investigation, of sorts.

"We are disappointed that no one has been elected in the three voting cycles," Forbes Clark said. "We will be evaluating this process and its trends at our next meeting ... and discussing whether there should be any changes."

What, like uncovering a new crop of more deserving candidates?

In my opinion, the National Baseball Hall of Fame was built for the likes of Ruth, Mays, Cobb and Aaron not Craig Biggio, who with his 3,000th hit this season will likely earn serious consideration.

The most unfortunate part of Forbes Clark's argument is ... she's right. The criteria for Hall of Fame candidacy has been diluted to the point where an argument can be made for virtually any player if you use the dreaded "if he's in, then he should be in" formula.

I, for one, would love to see former Cubs third baseman Ron Santo get his just due, based on the criteria the writers have set forth. Perhaps the veterans have other ideas.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2781628

Perez wins health battle, now back to baseball

How could I forget perhaps the best budding comeback story of spring camp - Miguel Perez.

Perez, an eloquent minor-league catcher and accomplished violinist, is trying to recover from a blood clot which required the removal of his right rib to relieve pressure on an artery. Shortly thereafter, Perez developed internal bleeding from an infection resulting from the surgery.

Perez, 23, is finally starting to concentrate on baseball again. The ever-articulate backstop says he's gained a new prespective on baseball and life as a result of his recent health issues.

"You're here today, but you don't know if you'll be here tomorrow," Perez said. "That's what I learned from this experience."

Best news of camp ... thus far

It's uncertain whether Paul Wilson will be a major contributor for the Reds this season, but just hearing some positive news in regard to the right-hander's progress will do for now.

It was sad to watch Wilson, one of the true gentleman in the game, become increasingly frustrated during his rollercoaster rehab last season.

I was among the throngs of media who ventured to Dayton to watch his encouraging rehab start with the Single-A Dragons only to see it all unravel for him soon after.

Wilson is a freak when it comes to physical conditioning. Not sure if there is a more physically-fit pitcher in the big-leagues, but even Wilson admits that he can overdo it at times.

Several observers at spring training camp in Sarasota say the early returns on Wilson are outstanding. But, live game-action still awaits as do many other hurdles and obstacles that will test Wilson's mettle.

One thing about this year's Reds, they have a laundry list of guys worth rooting for this spring. Among them are Wilson, Josh Hamilton, and Eddie Guardado who are trying to make comeback bids, and Homer Bailey who is looking to make his much-anticipated debut.

Plenty of storylines to go around.

Nuxhall misses pitch to Hall

Well, I guess if you have spent 35 years broadcasting Kansas City Royals games, you deserve something.

Better luck next time, Ol' Lefty.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2775431&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

Columbus covers the Reds ... too

Beginning January 1, the Columbus Dispatch stopped charging a fee for access to its web site.

After being largely invisible to most area fans who could point and click to the Enquirer, Post and Dayton Daily News sites for free, the Dispatch is now a more easily-accessible outpost for Reds news and opinion.

The Dispatch's Jim Massie has been covering the Reds beat for many years, and he does one heck of a job. Massie fills in on the Ohio State womens basketball beat during the baseball offseason, but he'll be picking up full-time Reds coverage shortly.

If you have room in your links, I suggest you add the Dispatch prior to Opening Day.

What, no hot tub injury?

Unlike the Chicago Cubs' reckless right-hander Kerry Wood, the Reds' rumored-to-be right-fielder Ken Griffey Jr. maintains a rather mundane lifestyle off the field.

Speculation ran rampant about how he suffered a broken right hand this winter, but Griffey cleared the air for Reds beat writers yesterday in Sarasota.

Griffey's injury didn't occur in a barfight, during a 100-mph motorcycle romp or, like Wood, falling out of a hot tub. Griffey, 37, said he got into a wrestling match with a 13-year old ... and lost.

"I was wrestling with my kids, starting with the youngest (Tevin)," Griffey told Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News. "We were wrestling and the other two (Taryn, Trey) jumped on. The oldest (13-year old Trey) rolled over on me and I lost my balance. I used my wrist to try to avoid falling on the other two. Trey felt really bad about it."

Did I say "mundane" lifestyle? Griffey's injury occured on his yacht. Trust me, it ain't no bass boat.

From hospital to Hall?

That's the hope for Joe Nuxhall.

Not there's ever a good time to be hospitalized, but for the Ol' Left-hander this couldn't have been worse timing - the first week of spring training and just days before the announcement of this year's Ford C. Frick Award winner.

Nuxhall, 78, is currently residing at Sarasota Memorial Hospital where he's being treated for a recurrence of lymphoma.

"The treatment is going well," said Nuxhall's son, Kim, yesterday. "He was up walking, which is good. The next thing are the spots on his leg, how they're going to treat those. If he has chemotherapy, he'll come back home, if they think that's best. If he has radiation, he'll stay (in Sarasota)."

Nuxhall is among the finalists for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award given for broadcasting excellence. The winner will be announced on Thursday.

First things first, Joe. Get well. The Hall of Fame comes second.

Yes, I cover girls basketball ...

When you're coaching girls basketball players who are more likely to become doctors, lawyers or corporate executives than play college hoops, all you can do is have fun.

Such is the case with Indian Hill High School head coach Don Ulmer.

"We get up and down the floor well," Ulmer says of his team. "And, sometimes we remember to take the ball with us."

For those not aware, kids at IHHS generally aren't lacking financially or intellectually.

But, last night Ulmer's Braves were outsmarted - go figure - by Western Brown head coach Jon Crall who drew up a new defense at halftime to help rally his team to a Division II sectional win:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070216/SPT0301/702160428/1068/SPT

Trust me, covering prep girls basketball can be entertaining at times, sans dunks and vertical leaps measured in feet, of course.

Sir Albert the Citizen

Albert Pujols, who was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, became a U.S. citizen this past week.

The Cardinals slugger's new-found citizenship is an admirable achievement, but the means by which he attained the title is even more impressive.

Pujols aced the citizenship test in much the same manner in which he has bashed NL pitching for the past five seasons - with a perfect score. Yep, Pujols got 100-percent of the questions correct.

Sure, he was given the standard study guides, but it's still an impressive feat. Here's a copy of the test. Give it a try. Don't cheat.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/blinstst.htm

Standing in line is sooo 2005

I remember how much fun it was to take the train to Wrigley Field and "camp" outside the ballpark for bleacher seats which were sold, not in advance, but day of game only.

Bleacher seats cost $2 then. A gallon of gas cost less. Some traditions die hard.

With increasing demand to buy online, the age-old custom of camping out to purchase seats for concerts or major sporting events is becoming, well, a thing of the past.

Innovations such as Tickets.com and ticket bundling marketing strategies have made standing in line and speed dial a passing fancy. Nowadays, all you need is a broadband connection and a credit card and you can snare any ticket you wish.

Last year, some fans camped out for a week for Opening Day tickets. Do the words "wind chill advisory" mean anything to you?

Anyway, the attached Enquirer story uncovers how the Reds are out to spoil your fun ... so to speak. Opening Day tickets are no guarantee, unless you're a season ticket holder.

So stay inside, before you catch a death of cold.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070209/SPT04/702090447

Arroyo: "The fans have embraced me here"

Last spring, Bronson Arroyo was anything but happy to be in a Reds uniform. He was in the process of building a house not far from Fenway Park when his beloved Red Sox traded him to Cincinnati in exchange for Wily Mo Pena and cash. Arroyo's bitterness still lingered when he joined the Reds in spring training.

But, after a stellar 2006 season in Cincinnati, Arroyo began to feel more at home. Today, the 30-year old right-hander signed a deal that will, in principle, keep him in the Queen City for several more years.

"I still have fond memories of Boston," Arroyo said. "But, the fans have embraced me here. Obviously, I wouldn't be signing a deal that keeps me here for another five years if I didn't enjoy myself. Locking up a deal like this is once in a lifetime."

For the Reds, who inked Aaron Harang to a long-term deal on Tuesday, it's more like twice in a week.

Dynamic duo inked through 2010

When the Reds acquired right-handed pitcher/musician Bronson Arroyo from the Red Sox last spring, comical reliever Kent Mercker said, "Well, our karaoke just got better."

The Reds starting rotation improved as well.

The Reds today rewarded Arroyo with a two-year contract extension through the 2010 season with a club option for 2011. On Tuesday, right-hander Aaron Harang avoided arbitration by agreeing to a four-year contract through the 2010 season with a club option for 2011.

Last season, Arroyo and Harang became the first duo in Reds history to produce at least 200 innings and 184 strikeouts each. They tied for the major-league lead in starts. Arroyo ranked first in the majors in innings pitched (240.2). Harang finished third in the NL in that category (234.1).

Arroyo, 30, last season was a National League All-Star and was voted by the Cincinnati chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America the winner of both the Johnny Vander Meer Award as the club’s Most Outstanding Pitcher and the Joe Nuxhall Good Guy Award.

On March 20, Arroyo was acquired from the Red Sox in exchange for Wily Mo Pena and cash.

Thou shalt covet pitching

When it comes to right-hander Aaron Harang, ‘Thou shalt not covet’ is one commandment the Reds have chosen to ignore.

The Reds yesterday signed Harang to a four-year contract worth more than $36 million. The new deal virtually assures he’ll be a Red through the 2010 season with a club option for 2011.

Harang went 16-11 last season with a 3.76 ERA with a NL-leading 216 strikeouts and six complete games, becoming the first Reds pitcher to lead the league in both victories and strikeouts since Ewell “The Whip” Blackwell did it in 1947.

Fans frustrated with the Reds’ inactivity in the free-agent pitching market can take some solace in the club’s decision to reach into the coffers to retain Harang. It’s a move for the future, not the quick-fix strategy we’ve seen all too often.

“We couldn’t be more excited about getting a deal done,” said GM Wayne Krivsky at Tuesday's press conference at Great American Ball Park. “This sends a heck of a message to our fans and our players. It shows a commitment by ownership to step up and keep Aaron here for the foreseeable future.”

Did you hear the one about the ... Chargers?

SAN DIEGO -- Chargers strong safety Terrence Kiel was cited for urinating in public last month, his second run-in with the law in less than three months and the eighth by a San Diego player since April.

So, let's cue up the most popular Bengals jokes and make them applicable to the Chargers:

1. What do you call a drug ring in San Diego? A huddle.
2. Four San Diego Chargers in a car, who's driving? The police.
3. Why can't Terrence Kiel get into a huddle on the field anymore? It is a parole violation for him to associate with known felons.
4. Coach Marty Schottenheimer has adopted a new "Honor System" for his players - "Yes your Honor, No your Honor".
5. The Chargers knew they had to do something for their defense, but they couldn't get the defensive coordinator they really wanted: Johnny Cochran
6. How do the Chargers spend their first week at mini-camp? Studying the Miranda Rights.

Nice for a change, huh Bengals fans?

The young and the Mayo-less

NORTH COLLEGE HILL -- Things are back to normal at North College Hill High. Well, almost.

Like two roving marauders, O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker swept into and out of this sleepy village just north of Cincinnati, leaving in their wake two state titles, a wealth of national attention and a load of controversy.

The thousands of fans who watched Mayo, Walker and Co. play hoops in college-sized arenas the past two seasons have been reduced to a couple hundred well-wishers at the tiny but adequate gym adjacent to the high school.

Mayo is tooling up for USC at a high school in Huntington, WV. Walker is playing for Bob Huggins at Kansas State. Meanwhile, NCH is getting by without them.

Returning contributors Damon Butler, Nathaniel Glover and Alphonso McPherson are beginning to gel just in time to make a run at another state title. While in the category of a miracle, a third-straight crown won by the Trojans without the Big Two would be some story.

Got my first chance to see NCH play basketball with homegrown talent last night, and they weren't bad:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070131/SPT0301/701310386/

Triumph amid tragedy at Taft

WEST END -- "Anyone with a G.P.A above 2.7 in the house?" the PA announcer bellowed to the crowd at last night's boys' basketball game between Taft and visiting Hughes. Many students in the stands responded with cheers. "Anyone accepted to a Division I college in the house?", he asked. More cheers.

Taft High School was in the news recently when shots were fired on campus by a student. It's an all-too familiar scene in this inner-city neighborhood where drugs and violence have become a way of life for many residents.

Although security remained tight on Saturday, the atmosphere in Taft's gym was one of positive encouragement, spirit and teamwork.

My task was to cover the game for the Enquirer and submit a roughly 500-word story on deadline for this morning's edition. But, it didn't take long for me to realize that there's a much bigger story at Taft, and a much more important tale than the one I was assigned to write.

That senior Derius Hemphill hit two free throws to lift Hughes to a last-second victory is certainly noteworthy. The Big Red has had to deal with the death of their head coach, Greg Mills, who passed away last year and a couple of key players who decided to transfer.

But, important too is that amid all of the challenges facing them collectively, students, faculty, and spectators chose to forgo their Saturday night plans to gather in this rustic, steamy gym and celebrate school spirit and a sense of community.

Here's a link to my story. While a decent representation of the game (I hope), it doesn't even begin to tell the whole story of what's happening at Taft High.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070128/SPT0301/701280446/

Don't 'reference' Bengals players

When the concept of the 'role model' was first suggested in the 1950's, sociologists divided it into two distinctly different parts.

The 'role model' was someone who had assumed a position or "role" in life (doctor, fireman, professional athlete, astronaut) that you desired to assume yourself.

The 'reference model' was someone whose actions and behavior you chose to emulate.

So, in answer to the oft-asked question, "Are professional athletes role models?" the answer is yes. But, the concept of the role model has been grossly skewed by our generation.

Current Kenton County Jail resident Chris Henry is a role model to anyone who desires or dreams to one day play wide receiver in the NFL.

Henry is nowhere near being a reference model for your children, or anyone else for that matter. His character and conduct is clearly not something to be emulated.

If your son or daughter says Chris Henry is their favorite "player" on the Bengals, that's ok. But, we as adults and/or parents need to make that distinction clear.

If your child says Henry or (insert criminally-inclined Bengals player here) is their favorite "person" on the team, grab the nearest bar of soap.

I think Paul Daugherty's column from Tuesday summed it up best:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070123/COL03/701230377/1082/SPT

Saarloos as a goose

The Reds this week acquired right-hander Kirk Saarloos (pronounced SAHR-lohs), the newest addition to my Microsoft Word dictionary.

Judging by his persona with the media, Saarloos seems to be a pretty cool customer. Here's a sampling of quotes.

On his various roles with the A's:

"That is cool. Save a game. End a game. Start a game. Win a game. What's next? Maybe I'll get an at-bat."

On a particularly rough day against the Detroit Tigers:

"When your day's (insert expletive), that's what happens. Even (good) pitches are hits."

On his new home, Great American Ball Park:

“It seems home runs don’t get hit into the first or second row. They always seem to go into that 23rd or 24th row. It seems like it’s built downhill."

His perspective on life and career:

"Whenever I catch myself feeling sorry for myself, I just think about all the other people in the world who have real hardships. Me? I'm in the big leagues. How bad can it be?"

Winter warm up

The Reds are inviting fans to attend tomorrow’s sendoff for the 2007 Reds Winter Caravan.

A pair of motorcades, one heading north and one heading south, will leave at 10 a.m. from Crosley Terrace on the front doorstep of Great American Ball Park. Fans attending will receive complimentary admission to the Hall of Fame.

GM Wayne Krivsky, manager Jerry Narron, pitcher Todd Coffey, outfielder Chris Dickerson, infielder Brandon Phillips, 2006 Minor League Player of the Year Homer Bailey, former pitcher Tom Browning, Chris Sabo, Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman and son Thom will be in attendance along with chief operating officer John Allen and VP business operations Phil Castellini.

Super Bowl tickets "never go on sale"

Want to know one reason why the Super Bowl isn't as exciting to watch as the World Series?

Here you go:

Face value for tickets to Super Bowl XLI is around $700. A lofty amount, but the saddest news is that few average citizens will ever get to sniff a Super stub at that price.

"The general public will never have legitimate access to Super Bowl tickets," said one ticket broker. "They never go on sale."

The tickets that aren't gobbled up by corporate sponsors will be held in lotteries for season ticket holders of the Miami Dolphins (it's their stadium), Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears. The rest are divided up among NFL teams and league officials.

On the street or on the web, Super Bowl tickets will sell for several thousand dollars.

The mass majority of fans in Dolphins Stadium next week have no allegiance to the Colts or Bears. They are there to be seen, collect their duffle bag of Super Bowl goodies, show off their ticket stub in its laminated lanyard, and mingle with fellow "dignitaries".

So, in between your chips and dips, take a moment to listen to the crowd when a touchdown is scored in Super Bowl XLI.

The fans heard cheering are those who care. They will be far outnumbered.

Vern Ruhle loses battle with cancer

The Reds released the following statement this morning:

It is with great sadness that the Cincinnati Reds announce the death of former pitching coach Vern Ruhle, who died at 11:00 p.m. last night at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston of complications from a donor stem cell transplant for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Ruhle, 55, is survived by his wife Sue, daughter Rebecca and son Kenny.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Ruhle entered last season as the Reds’ Major League pitching coach, but during routine physical examinations in February he was diagnosed with cancer. He missed the entire season while receiving treatment for multiple myeloma.

For the 2007 season, Ruhle had been assigned to work as the organization’s pitching rehabilitation coordinator at its minor league complex in Sarasota, Florida.

“The baseball and Cincinnati Reds families mourn the loss of an excellent coach, wonderful husband and loving father,” the club said in a statement. “In his 35 years in professional and collegiate baseball, Vern touched many people inside and outside the game. We are privileged to have been a part of his life. He will be greatly missed.”

Bengals receiver in star-studded ad

Britney Spears won’t star in Chad Johnson’s Super Bowl commercial but Paris Hilton reportedly will.

The NFL Network is planning a spot featuring the Bengals receiver hosting several famous “friends” at his own private Super Bowl bash.

Among the celebs expected to join the party are L.L. Cool J, Rascal Flatts and Martha Stewart. Janet Reno and David Beckham are on the network’s “wish list”

Spears was politely told “no” when she offered to participate.

"She's too much of a train wreck," said an NFL insider. "Besides, we already have Paris Hilton."

Johnson’s commercial is shaping up to be a super hit.

Ross catches Reds pitch

For more than five seasons, one thing was a certainty for the Reds - Jason LaRue behind the plate. With LaRue traded to the Royals, the Reds are handing the reins over to 29-year old David Ross.

Today Ross avoided arbitration by agreeing to a two-year deal through the 2008 season reportedly worth $4.5 million with a club option for '09.

Shortly after being acquired in a trade with the Padres during spring training, Ross quickly assumed the role of starting catcher batting .255 with 21 home runs and 52 RBI. He appeared in 90 games, catching 32 of Bronson Arroyo’s 35 starts.

"It'll be a different feel than I've ever had before," Ross told MLB.com. "Usually, I'm going to spring training battling for a job. It's nice to know I'll be able to go down there preparing to win."

Ross impressed many within the Reds organization with his professionalism and competitive spirit. If he can cure some of his fundamental struggles on defense, Ross has the potential to be mentioned among the finest catchers in the league this season.

A glimmer of hope

Ohio State receiver Anthony Gonzalez part of solution, not problem inherent in college athletics.
Well-done piece by Rob Oller in today's Columbus Dispatch:

http://dispatch.com/football/football.php?story=dispatch/2007/01/12/20070112-B1-04.html

Big Mac has my vote

Enquirer feature writer, and respected baseball buff, John Erardi approached me in the press box at Paul Brown Stadium recently to get my thoughts on Mark McGwire and the Hall of Fame.

Erardi asked if I have a HOF vote. I do not, but I was more than happy to offer him my opinion.

It it were up to me, McGwire would be a Hall of Famer. Here's why:

I have no rock-solid evidence, scientific or otherwise, to prove that McGwire's accomplishments in the game were steroid-induced. None.

I have conjecture and opinion, much of which is akin to the Monty Python skit in which an angry mob agrees to burn a woman based on the conclusion that if she floats she's made of wood and thus a witch.

Even if it was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, which it's clearly not, that McGwire took steroids, how can we accurately quantify the statistical impact of the drugs? Did they help him hit 100 more homers? 50? 30?

Who knows.

Besides, baseball had yet to institute a policy on performance-enhancing drugs. What McGwire reportedly did was not, technically anyway, against the rules.

Now, before you accuse me of being naive, I'm sure that McGwire was taking something, just as I'm sure that O.J. Simpson probably had something to do with his wife's murder.

But, I still believe in the concept of a fair trial. Without proven guilt, I must assume innocence until jurisprudence runs it's course.

If McGwire took steroids, what did he really do? He attempted to make himself bigger, stronger and better by using a technology readily available in this era.

Remember, if steroids didn't have health risks, they'd be perfectly legal and free for use by anyone who cared to.

The irony is that baseball writers/journalists are the ones doing the voting, the same writers who must type 'allegedly' in their stories until justice has been appropriately served.

In lieu of proper justice for steroid-era ballplayers, many baseball scribes have decided to annoint themselves judge and jury.

Not me. Mark McGwire would get my vote. If I had one.

Big Willie bringin' it

Got my first chance to review the tapes of Bengals post-game comments from Sunday. Willie Anderson's comments, some of which have already made it into print, are particularly notable.

It's not unusual for reporters to flock to Anderson's locker following games, but after Sunday's playoff hopes-imploding loss to Pittsburgh, it was soapbox central for the 13-year veteran offensive tackle.

The highlights:

"People should be embarrassed by the performance of our football team. I don’t have time to stay positive. Next year might be my last year. Who knows. Time’s running out for a lot of us. I started off with eight (wins) in my rookie year. It took me 10 years to get to 11 wins. Now, I’m back to eight. We keep fighting the same fight.”

“We have guys shooting shots in their arms, foots and their knees just to try and play. We do have those guys. It’s not a totally negative situation here. We have a group of veterans who stay late, meet on their own with the coaches, put in the time. We need more of them.”

“We’ll never get over the hump with selfishness. It isn’t all about talent. You need selfless players. The lack of that hurt us.”

“The coaches know what the problems are. We knew where they were last season. We just thought they’d go away. We need to shake things up. If people hate hearing the truth, I’m in the wrong business.”

"I want to use my words smartly, but when I think about the amount of time we use up practicing and meeting just to go 8-8 … that pisses me off.”

Good stuff.