The powers that be must have liked it so much when I'm gone...that they're giving me more vacation time!! I'll try and keep the blog updated as much as possible...I'm sure you care. A lot.

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Still no progress for Andre Smith / Bengals.....Alvin Keels arrived and departed from Cincinnati on Sunday without a deal for first-round pick Andre Smith. Keels met for four hours with Katie Blackburn and Mike Brown, but no progress was made. Judging by a post Keels made on his Twitter page, it sounds as if both sides remain entrenched in their positons. "Leaving Cinci. Not any closer on a deal for Andre Smith. Mike Brown says ‘the ship has sailed on the slotting system."

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Carson likely out against Rams this week.....Palmer didn't participate in the Cincinnati Bengals' practice Monday, getting treatment on his ankle instead. Palmer suffered the injury during the preseason opener, and sat out a game last Thursday against New England. He's not expected to play Thursday night against the St. Louis Rams at Paul Brown Stadium. Palmer said Monday he's confident he'll be ready for the season opener against the Denver Broncos because the ankle is getting better each day.

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Bengals ink backup kicker....they sign rookie Sam Swank from Wake Forest on Sunday, giving them another option while Shayne Graham recovers from a groin injury. It appears Graham will sit out Thursday as well.

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They also add a DT
Official Release
<blockquote>The Bengals today signed free agent DT Langston Moore, a fifth-year NFL player who broke into the NFL with Cincinnati in 2003 and 2004.

Moore (6-1, 305; South Carolina) played for Detroit the past two seasons. He played 16 games for the Lions in 2007, logging 37 tackles and two sacks, and he played nine games for Detroit last season, with 27 tackles and one sack. His Lions contract expired following last season, and today marks his first NFL signing for 2009.

Moore was a sixth-round Bengals draft choice in 2003. He did not play in ’03, spending most of the year on the practice squad, but he played 15 games with eight starts for Cincinnati in 2004, with a career-high 41 tackles and a sack. He played for Arizona in 2005 and for a portion of 2006.

He has 51 career NFL games played with nine starts, and has logged 116 tackles with five sacks and three forced fumbles.</blockquote>

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Bengals mired in mediocrity
ESPN.com
His critics say he runs the franchise like a mom-and-pop organization while corporate America crushes him. They say he doesn't have the football mind to make personnel decisions, and cares more about money than winning. They don't really know him, and Brown seems to like it that way.

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As we head into Week 3 of the NFL Preseason, I think it's time to look at Super Bowl odds....

1. New England: 4 to 1
2. Pittsburgh: 15 to 2
3. NY Giants: 9 to 1
27. Cleveland: 50 to 1
T-29. BENGALS: 75 to 1

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The injuries continue to mount for the Reds....Pitcher Aaron Harang’s season is over. He returned to Cincinnati Saturday night and had an emergency appendectomy. Outfielder Chris Dickerson is headed for the disabled list with a sprained ankle. Catcher Ryan Hanigan has a mild concussion.

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Former Reds owner dies at 93....William J. Williams, a driving force in Cincinnati sports and a former owner of the Reds, passed away on Sunday night at 93. Williams is also remembered as one of the Queen City's leading businessmen and charitable forces for decades, but he's best known as the man who steered the Reds' Big Red Machine to its 1970s glory

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So much for sports betting in Delaware....

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Congrats to Marvin Lewis
Official Release
<blockquote>Marvin Lewis will become the first coach to receive the national Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy, in recognition of the impact of his work and the example it sets for all of professional sports. The Marvin Lewis Community Fund, established in 2003, has invested more than $5 million and touched the lives of nearly 250,000 people in the Cincinnati area.

The Sports Philanthropy Project (SPP) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) established the Patterson award in 2005 in memory of Steve Patterson, the UCLA basketball star, NBA player and college coach who became known, during and after his career, for his belief in and practice of the power of sports philanthropy to make a difference in people’s lives. Patterson died of cancer in July 2004 at the age of 56.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for something I care about so deeply. To me, the impact we’ve been able to have in Cincinnati has been every bit as important and fulfilling as coaching football and winning games,” Lewis said.</blockquote>

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Democracy as it was really intended.....

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Who you are is what counts
P-Doc, Enquirer
The cheering stops, the camaraderie disappears and very soon, playing golf and driving your kids to school is all you have to do. A life of defining who you are by what you do is over before you reach middle age. It happens to almost all of them. It happened to Brian Kinchen.

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Pete Rose will never be in the Hall of Fame
Jayson Stark, ESPN
Bud Selig will never make it happen. I know that. I'd say you could bet the beach-house mortgage on it, except I'm pretty sure all gambling analogies were also banned from Pete Rose stories for life by Bart Giamatti. But even if Selig somehow changes his mind, even if some future commissioner reopens this case, the living Hall of Famers who make up the Veterans Committee aren't ever electing Pete Rose. Ever.

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Eric Davis talks baseball, Reds
Louisville Courier Journal
The former Cincinnati Reds star and current special assistant to Reds general manager Walt Jocketty has kept his athletic build. It’s hard to believe he’s 47.

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Demetrius Jones now starter at LB for UC.....It’s far too early to proclaim that Demetrius Jones has successfully completed the transition from quarterback to linebacker. After all, he has yet to play his first game at his new position. But he has handled the move well enough after what was perhaps some initial hesitation to have ascended to the level of starter and has shown signs of becoming an outstanding outside linebacker.

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Former Bearcat earns MVP in af2 Championship Game....

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Xavier reels in another recruit....Indiana swingman Justin Martin today gave a verbal commitment to XU for 2010. The 6-foot-7, 200-pound player, who attends Lawrence North High, is ranked 83rd in Rivals.com's Class of 2010 and 18th among small forwards.

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Cyclones add forward and defenseman
Official Release
<blockquote>The Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators, announced this afternoon that they have agreed to terms with forward Adam Krug and defenseman Kirk Medernach for the upcoming season.

Krug, 26, signed with the Cyclones at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season from Adrian College. The Bulldogs missed out on an NCAA Division III postseason berth despite posting a 27-1-1 record. Adrian College won its final 26 games of the season to capture the Midwestern Collegiate Hockey Association’s regular season and tournament titles. Adam was the third-leading scorer in NCAA Division III hockey (netting the most by any senior player) with 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points in 28 games. He signed with the Cyclones on March 13 and netted a goal and two assists for three points in eleven games.

The five-foot-eleven, 170 pounder from Livonia, MI began his college career at Wayne State (2004-05) and played two seasons with the Tartars, collecting 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points in 67 games. After Wayne State discontinued Division I hockey, Krug transferred to Adrian and was a two-time All-MCHA selection and a two-time All-Academic choice. During 2007-08, Adam was the MCHA Player of the Year after turning in a 30 goal, 47 assist, 77 point effort in 29 contests. He was also selected as a West Region All-American.

Medernach, 24, spent the 2008-09 season at Mercyhurst College, playing in 29 games and picking up a goal with ten assists for eleven points and accumulated 46 penalty minutes. Kirk signed with the Cyclones on March 26 and played in one game (March 28 at Johnstown, a 2-1 Cincinnati victory).
The six-foot-four, 225 pounder from Cudworth, SASK appeared in 128 games for Mercyhurst and had four goals and 25 assists for 29 points and 272 penalty minutes. During 2007-08, Kirk led the school in plus/minus at +14.

“Adam Krug and Kirk Medernach both got a taste of pro hockey here last season,” Cyclones Head Coach Chuck Weber said. “That little extra experience will be helpful as they prepare for their rookie seasons.”
The signing of Adam Krug and Kirk Medernach brings the number of players on the Cyclones roster to nine. They join forwards Jonathan Duchesneau, Barret Ehgoetz, Dustin Sproat and Mark Voakes and defensemen Jamie Coghlan, Brian O’Hanley and Jason Woll.</blockquote>

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ESPN will televise the USC / Ohio State game in 3D....

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Had to find a babe worthy of a vacation blog....I found her: Kayla Collins...

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FAIL of the day....

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Vacation Food Porn...introducing the Toolbox Torpedo

Hard-workin’ blue collar folk will appreciate this one. Now they can bring their tools and lunch to work at the same time. The Toolbox Torpedo’s got ham, turkey, salami, Swiss cheese, provolone and lettuce, and comes with a wrench and Phillips on the side.

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I'm thinking about starting to watch a new TV show on vacation....Mad Men. Everyone I talk to says it's outstanding. Hell, anything with January Jones is worth a look...

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Katrini Darrell (aka American Idol "Bikini Girl") in said bikini....

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Youngest pervert you'll see today....

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The 25 Manliest Movies Ever Made
Entertainment Weekly

12. DR. NO (1962)
Manly Man: Sean Connery
There are other, better Bond films one could put on a list like this - From Russia With Love actually has Bond breaking up a gypsy scuffle with the words ''Stop the girl fight!'' - but 007 has never been this lean and mean. It also features Ursula Andress in the best bikini ever.

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I kid you not, when I was younger I really wanted to do this....build a homemade roller coaster in my backyard...

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When you're a golf course groundskeeper and you come across a 10,000-year-old mammoth tooth...you're probably not gonna need to be a golf course groundskeeper for very much longer.

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Today's Definition of Duh....Authorities say a Largo man was arrested after being accused of leaving two small children in his vehicle while he was in a Clearwater strip club.

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Very happy that Kate Mara is on this season of Entourage....

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Aaron Harang out for the season after emergency surgery....Saturday night Harang had a season-ending emergency appendectomy at The Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati...he expects to be released from the hospital later today.

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Pete Rose's true legacy
John Erardi, Enquirer
Because of Rose’s transgressions - and assuming that Baseball may never relax the standard set by Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis when he banned eight Chicago Black Sox players for their role in throwing the 1919 World Series to the Reds - some historians say Rose may be forever linked to Shoeless Joe Jackson.

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Palmer might sit vs. Rams
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
The third preseason game is known as the team’s dress rehearsal for the regular season, as the starters play the whole first half and a possession or two of the third quarter. Ideally, all the starters would play in this one, then work only a series or two Sept. 3 against Indianapolis.

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Todd Frazier promoted to AAA....Todd Frazier, the No. 2 prospect in the organization, was promoted from Double-A Carolina to Triple-A Louisville Saturday. Frazier, 23, hit .290 with a .350 on-base percentage /.481 with 14 home runs, 40 doubles and 68 RBI in 119 games for Carolina. Frazier was drafted as a shortstop. He played left field, third base and first base last year. He started this season in left. But he’s been playing second base recently. "He’ll move all around," player development director Terry Reynolds said. “But I think he’ll play primarily second."

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Fantasy Football Monday...

Current Draft Averages

So you didn't get Adrian Peterson....who do you go after next?
CBS Sports

Could Quinn or Anderson be a good backup QB for your team?
CBS Sports
The QB battle in Cleveland is clearly one of the most intriguing ones in the league this preseason, and Anderson certainly did more for his cause than Brady Quinn did on Saturday night. Still, the winner of this battle is at best worth using as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy option and can be drafted with a late-round pick.

Is Matt Schaub really a number 1 QB?
ESPN
Most of our fantasy experts say yes, as well as, apparently, a number of those who posted in Conversation after I wrote that I'd take Matt Ryan over Schaub in a "Man to Man" against Eric Karabell. Now, I love Matt Ryan's upside, but quite honestly, that decision was more about not liking Matt Schaub as anything else.

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Tiffany Selby will cure your Monday hangover....

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Monday Food Porn....introducing the Silly Rabbit

French toast breaded in crushed Trix cereal.

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FAIL of the day...

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Lady goes all "Office Space" on her broken lawnmower....

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The Kansas City Chiefs might not win very many games...but their marketing department have scored some serious points with this promo video...

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Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis get it on in their new movie....per the script review: "In this movie, Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis have sex...And not just nice sweet innocent sex either. We're talking ecstasy-induced hungry aggressive angry sex." When does this movie come out again??

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The most annoying laugh you'll hear today....

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Bengals Hard Knocks ratings increase again....The club said Saturday Nielsen Media Research reports the network has experienced significant ratings increases with the first two episodes of "Hard Knocks ’09: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals." Compared to 2008 when the Dallas Cowboys were featured, national household ratings for the first two shows are up 44 percent, and national household impressions are up 53 percent. In the key category of males ages 25-to-54, the shows were up 50 percent in rating and 57 percent in impressions over 2008.

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Carson, Shayne both miss practice on Saturday...

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Andre Smith needs to get to camp
P-Doc, Enquirer
Andre Smith is entering Week 4 of a holdout that’s growing larger than his abdomen. Every day he misses, it gets bigger. Bigger isn’t better. He and his agent Alvin Keels might think they hold some cards, but they’re wrong about that. Anthony Collins could play Smith’s position, right tackle, like an elephant on roller skates and it wouldn’t matter to the Brown Family. Big negotiations are the Family Super Bowl. They’d just as soon win a big negotiation as hoist the Lombardi Trophy. And they’re just very, very good at it.

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Bengals still shy of playoff caliber
Fox Sports
I'd be lying if I said I didn't like what I've seen and heard of Bengals camp in Georgetown, Ky., thus far. The Bengals seem to be shedding that "Bungles" image this summer. They're probably still a playmaker or two short on offense, though.

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Chris Henry seems to have turned corner
ProFootballTalk.com
Chris Henry, the former poster child for the Bad Newz Bengals, quietly has made a turn for the better, on the field and off. And the change has not gone unappreciated. Asked about the transformation he's seen from Henry, Palmer said, "He's made some mistakes and had his fair share of problems and things go wrong but he's got a great group of people around him in times of need. He's changed his mindset, changed the way he acts and it's been a pleasant surprise for us."

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Sucks to be a Jacksonville Jaguars fan this year....The Jaguars play the first of 10 home games this year Saturday night - two in the preseason and eight in the regular season - and the team has already announced all 10 will be blacked out on TV because of a lack of ticket sales.

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Big Ben has hurt Achilles.....Ben Roethlisberger injured his right Achilles tendon when offensive tackle Max Starks inadvertently stepped on it during the Steelers' practice Thursday. But an initial medical examination revealed no significant damage, a team source said.

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Dusty says he doesn't see Brandon Phillips at shortstop...."Not he’s the caliber of Joe Morgan, but that be like moving an All-Star second baseman to shortstop. You try to develop a shortstop and leave that strong position alone."

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Another entry in Brian Kelly's preseason diary....

We’ve reached that point in training camp where I have to decide when to start to pull back on quarterback Tony Pike’s reps.

I’m starting to think about his pitch count right now. You start to look at some of the impact players and you start to ask: Does he need to take 7-on-7 reps in the first two periods? Let’s just go with the red zone reps for Tony Pike. Mardy Gilyard probably doesn’t need to run all the first-team reps.

I’m starting to look at the bigger picture and not necessarily protect players, but make sure the reps they’re getting right now are value reps. I don’t want them just to be taking reps because it’s part of the practice schedule. I’ve got an eye toward Rutgers.

I make those decisions by communicating with the players. I’m in the locker room. I’m in the training room. I talk to them at dinner and ask how they feel. I’ll tell them, I’m thinking about doing this. How do you feel?

Now a guy like D.J. Woods does not want to miss one rep because he knows the competition level. I understand that. That’s fine. We’ll let that thing play out. But does Aaron Webster need to take half-line cover two reps today? We’ve got 15 of them. Probably not. He looks pretty good right now. So we’ll pull him out. I have to go around and do that, not the assistant coaches.

The point is that the players are not going to come to me and say they need a break. But I think a head coach has got to have his fingers on the pulse of what’s going on with his personnel. None of our guys is going to say they want the day off. I’ve got to find out and talk to different personnel.

Paul Longo, our strength and conditioning coach, he is hawking practice, walking around, looking at guys to see if there’s some fatigue, and he gives me input. I try to be proactive with that.

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Bearcat WR Gilyard says they'll have best offense in Big East...."If we’re clicking, and we’re starting to click," Gilyard said, "I don’t see no doubt about us leading the Big East in all offensive categories. I have no doubt in my mind about that."

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The NFL hypocrisy continues.....The NFL will try to crack down on binge drinking by fans at games during the 2009 season. Following up on the Fan Code of Conduct it implemented last season, the league office is making recommendations to teams about maximum serving sizes for beer, wine and spirits sold at games and about the number of alcoholic drinks a customer can purchase at one time.

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Baseball fans say steroid-users are worse than Pete Rose....In a poll of 1,010 adults taken this month, 75% said they thought players using performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids was more serious, compared with 14% who said Rose's offense was worse. Nine percent viewed them as equally serious.

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Fantasy Football Weekend....

Choosing a QB
CBS Sports
Hands down, the three quarterbacks at the top of every Fantasy owner's wish list are Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Between past performances and expected production in 2009, all three of these guys are believed to be candidates to deliver at least 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. That's rare air among Fantasy quarterbacks.

Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers aren't locks to top 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns this season, but they might - and even if they don't they'll come close. In the case of Rodgers, his rushing totals make up for his passing touchdown totals.

Ravens RB Ray Rice has potential for breakout fantasy year
CBS Sports
Rice has the chance to be on the field a lot for Baltimore in 2009, which didn't happen in his rookie season last year. He was overshadowed by LeRon McClain and shared the ball with an injured and inconsistent Willis McGahee. Rice also suffered a calf injury toward the end of the season, which didn't allow him to fully enjoy the Ravens run to the AFC Championship Game.

Current QB Draft Averages

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Calipari gets support around state
AP
The NCAA's report did not mention Calipari, good enough for members of one of the nation's most ardent fan bases. "I'm not worried about it because they have never said Coach Cal did anything wrong at all," said Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, who chatted with Calipari for several minutes early Thursday. "I think he's a very upstanding guy. I think that's his reputation and I think that reputation will be with him here. I really don't foresee any problems."

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Hoosiers induct Bob Knight to school's Hall of Fame....Former Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight will be inducted into the university's athletics Hall of Fame nearly a decade after he was fired for violating a zero-tolerance policy imposed by then-IU President Myles Brand.

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Cubs sold to family for $845 Million....The announcement came Friday, nearly 2.5 years after the marquee baseball franchise and historic ballpark were put up for sale. Tribune said it is selling all but a 5 percent stake, for about $845 million.

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NCAA ruling a hit on Calipari's reputation and UK's
Mark Story, Lexington Herald Leader
Is it part of the job of the head coach to keep agents away from his star players? Is it part of the job of the head coach to identify and steer clear of people in recruiting who are capable of perpetrating academic fraud to get a player eligible? Ultimately, isn't the best way to accurately judge a head coach's commitment to rules compliance based on what happens to the programs he runs?

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Babe of the Weekend....Kimmie Jean

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Weekend Food Porn...introducing the Ol' Brown Eye

A chocolate frosted Krispy Kreme donut filled with a Krispy Kreme donut hole.

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Newsflash!!: There have cheerleaders in rugby, too. They are attractive...

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FAIL of the weekend....

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WTF of the weekend....

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Brittney Spears is looking good....again...

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Best invention you'll see this weekend....introducing the Arkeg...The Arkeg "Drink N Game" is a combination of a full-sized video gaming console with 24-in HDTV monitor with 69 pre-loaded games... AND... a 5-gal kegerator draft system. Yeah, you read right. It’s a video game and draft beer dispensing system in one. You might want to wipe that drool from your chin.

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Best protest sign you'll see this weekend....

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And the award for creepiest float goes to....

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Miranda Kerr has posed in a bikini this weekend......sweet....

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Fish Tank, 1....Hungry Cat, 0....wait for it, wait for it...

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This Weekend's Definition of Duh....What would you do for a Klondike bar? If you answered burglarize a house, you're not alone.

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Bengals / Patriots review...

- How about Chad Ochocinco kicking an Extra Point right down the middle....outstanding! And as Paul Keels said on the telecast..."he's gonna be hard to live with after that." I have a feeling we'll be seeing that on Hard Knocks next week.
- J.T. O'Sullivan is not a very good quarterback. Let's hope we don't have to see him past September 6th.
- Cedric Benson looked very strong again....when he got motoring, he was running over people.
- Gotta love seeing Keith Rivers take down Tom Brady.
- You have to be somewhat impressed with the Bengals first-team defense, though. They kept the pressure on Brady and with the exception of a couple big plays, held a very good offensive team to limited yards in the 1st half (which, let's be honest, is the only important half). I would have liked to see a few less missed tackles, but it wasn't horrible.

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Reds wrap up homestand with win thanks to Drew Stubbs....say what you want about the Reds as a whole. Say what you want about Dusty Baker, Walt Jocketty, Bob Castellini, and the rest of the team. It's always cool seeing a GW home run...especially when it's a young guy's first career homer.

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Jonny Gomes possible trade bait?? A scout mentioned to John Fay yesterday, "He could help a team get through September."

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Santucci clears waivers, placed on IR
Official Release
<blockquote>Center Dan Santucci, a third-year player from Notre Dame, has reverted to the Bengals reserve/injured list after clearing waivers. Santucci, who suffered a foot injury in practice on August 5, was waived/injured on Monday of this week.</blockquote>

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Memphis to forfeit record wins in record breaking season
ESPN
Memphis will be forced to vacate the NCAA-record 38 victories from its Final Four season of 2007-08 under former coach John Calipari because of NCAA violations, several sources told ESPN.com. The NCAA Committee on Infractions will announce its findings in a 3 p.m. ET conference call from Indianapolis. Dr. Shirley Raines, president of Memphis, told The Associated Press the school will hold its own media conference shortly afterward.

....Calipari responds....

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Another entry in the Brian Kelly Diary
Enquirer

There is no overall commissioner of college football, just commissioners of the various leagues, but if there were such a position and the job were offered to me, here's what I would do to improve the game:

The first and probably the most important thing would be to crown a national champion, not have it decided by the polls. Whatever that format equals, I think it has to include the bowl games, so it would be the bowl games plus one or two games.

Second, I think there should be five years of eligibility. When you look at the rosters, we've got 85 scholarships. Twenty-three or 24 of those 85 players are going to be redshirted, so what's your roster, really? You're going to play with 60 guys or fewer.

I think you should have five years of eligibility. Let your freshmen play in the first year; it saves money on fifth-year guys. We're paying for their fifth year of school because they played as freshmen.

I believe that because the recruiting process is moved up, with the Internet and information being out there and kids making early decisions, it makes sense to sign them early and get them locked down if they're committed. If they're not committed, then keep recruiting until February. I know the Big East and the Atlantic Coast Conference have partnered to push that legislation this year.

I would not necessarily want to play exhibition games the way the NFL does. College football, the way it's set up right now, allows you an opportunity to ease into the season.

With that, I think we've rewritten the playbook. We've got a playoff. We're giving them five years and signing them early.

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Miami and UK will face each other on the hardwood in November....The RedHawks will play the Wildcats on Monday, Nov. 16, at Rupp Arena. It will be the second game of the season for coach Charlie Coles’ team, which opens Nov. 13 at Towson.

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Plaxico Burress pleads guilty to charges, gets 2-years in jail.....The ex-wide receiver pleaded guilty to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a lesser charge than he initially faced. Under a plea agreement, he agreed to a two-year prison sentence and two years of supervised release.

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Sunday Night NFL games will be available online again this year...

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Fantasy Football Friday....

Beanie Wells' ankle in bad shape...Cardinals RB Beanie Wells left practice Wednesday to do some rehab exercises for his injured ankle. But CBSSports.com National Columnist Mike Freeman, at Cardinals training camp on Wednesday, said Wells does not appear to be in good shape and could be limited with the ankle problem. Continue to monitor Wells and his ankle problem, but he's still worth a mid-round pick based on his potential, when healthy.

Keep an eye on Brian Westbrook
ESPN
Brian Westbrook told the Philadelphia Inquirer that despite the fact he's practicing again, he doesn't think it would hurt him if he sits out the entire preseason. Presumably, Westbrook wouldn't make such a statement unless someone in the Eagles organization had given him a hint that that's how the next month would play out, so we're not likely to see Westbrook in game action until Week 1, which is what I've been saying since May. LeSean McCoy is a must-handcuff running back for anyone with the temerity to draft Westbrook.

Mock Draft of the Day.....a look at the first 2 rounds...

ROUND 1

ROUND 2

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A look into the Reds future...
From Jamie Ramsey

INDIANAPOLIS 6, LOUISVILLE 4: 3b Juan Francisco went 2-for-4 (2r) with his 3rd home run in as many days...LF Danny Dorn added 2 hits, including a double and a run scored...LHP Ben Jukich (7-6) started for Louisville and was reached for 6 runs on 12 hits in 5.0 innings (2bb, 4k)...LHP Lee Tabor pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief (2h, 1k).

CAROLINA 2, JACKSONVILLE 4: The Mudcats dropped their 3rd straight...RHP Jerry Gil (2-2) started for Carolina and allowed a pair of runs on 5 hits in 3.0 innings (2bb, 1k, 1hr)...RHP Ramon Geronimo pitched 3.0 scoreless innings of relief (0h, 1bb, 1k)...the Catfish scored 2 runs on 6 hits...SS Zack Cozart went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI...1b Logan Parker added 2 hits.

JUPITER 8, SARASOTA 4: Jupiter crossed the plate 5 times before Sarasota even had a chance to bat, and they didn’t look back...RHP Curtis Partch (1-2) gave up 6 runs on 4 hits in 2.0 innings to suffer the loss (5bb, 3k, 2wp)...RHP Justin Freeman fired 3.0 scoreless innings of relief (2h, 1bb, 3k)...2b Alex Buchholz paced the offense with 2 hits and 3 RBI (double)...RF Kris Negron belted his 1st home run as a SaraRed.

DAYTON: The Dragons were off yesterday celebrating the 75th anniversary of the first All-American Soap Box Derby, held in Dayton (the event was permanently moved to Akron in 1936)...our own Marty Brennaman participated in that first derby and finished 3rd in a soap box car he affectionately named “The Slow Kiss”.

IDAHO FALLS 3, BILLINGS 6: RHP Oscar Castro (1-0) gave up 2 runs on 1 hit in 6.0 innings (1bb, 7k, 1hb)...he didn’t allow a hit until 2 outs in the 6th inning...RHP Brian Pearl notched his 5th save (0.1ip)...the Mustangs plated 6 runs on 11 hits...SS D.D. Gregorius went 2-for-5 with 2 doubles, an RBI and a run scored...C Mark Fleury, LF Tyler Stovall and DH Yen-Wen Kuo each added 2 hits.

GCL REDS 6, GCL TWINS 3: RHP Harold Johnson (2-1) gave up 3 runs on 2 hits in 5.2 innings for the victory (4bb, 2k, 1hb, 1hr)...RHP Marcos Molina pitched 2.0 scoreless innings of relief for his 1st save (1h, 3k)...the Reds scored 6 runs on 5 hits...C Tucker Barnhart went 2-for-4 with a double, 1 RBI and 2 runs scored...CF Juan Silva (2r) belted his 1st home run.

MINOR LEAGUE NEWS

THE JUAN AND ONLY: 3b Juan Francisco (Louisville) last night vs Indianapolis belted his 3rd home run in as many games and is hitting .421 since his promotion from Carolina on Saturday (8-for-19, 6r, 2 2B, 3hr, 7rbi, 1.000 slg.)...he has 2 hits in 4 of the 5 games he’s played for Louisville.

“COME ON DORN:” OF Danny Dorn (Louisville) has 10 hits over his last 19 at-bats (.526), including 4 multi-hit games in that span...since 6/1, Dorn is batting .331 (59-178) and since the All-Star break he’s hitting at a .354 clip (.424obp)...on the year, Dorn is batting .276 with 13 HR and 43 RBI in 102 games.

GLORIOUS GREGORIUS: SS D.D. Gregorius (Billings) last night vs Idaho Falls went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 7 games...the 18 year-old Dutchman has hit safely in 33 of the 36 games he’s played this season for Billings (.329, 22r, 13rbi, .386obp)

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Cyclones sign Brian O'Hanley
Official Release
<blockquote>The Cincinnati Cyclones announced today that they have agreed to terms with defenseman Brian O’Hanley. The Cyclones are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators.

O’Hanley, 24, enters his second season as a professional after splitting last season between Fresno and Cincinnati. Starting the season with Fresno, Brian saw action in 27 games and had three assists and 14 penalty minutes for the Pacific Division leaders. When the Falcons folded on December 22, he signed as a free agent with Cincinnati. He played 43 games for the North Division champions and notched eight assists and 37 penalty minutes. His first goal as a professional was netted in the fourth game of the division semifinals—a Cincinnati victory that evened the series at two games apiece. The Cyclones would win that affair in seven games and advance to the American Conference Finals before being eliminated by eventual Kelly Cup champion South Carolina.

The five-foot-eleven, 190 pounder from Quincy, MA earned three varsity letters at Boston College, appearing in 112 games during his career and netting six goals and 19 assists for 25 points and 44 penalty minutes. O’Hanley was selected in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks in the ninth round (267th overall pick). Twice during his career with the Eagles, Brian was a part of a squad that advanced to the NCAA championship game.

“Brian O’Hanley was a welcomed addition to our hockey club a year ago,” Cyclones Head Coach Chuck Weber said. “He was a stabilizing force in the back last season and we will need more of that type of steady play this year.”</blockquote>

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TGIF Babe of the Day....Kayti Currington

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Friday Food Porn....introducing the Fool's Gold Loaf Sandwich...

A loaf of hollowed out bread filled with creamy peanut butter, a jar of grape jelly, and a pound of bacon.

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The 100 Most Iconic TV Show Intros of All-Time
Super Tremendous

#8 The A-Team - Dorks need to accept the fact that they should never make attempts at humor and that's all there is to say about that.

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Now this is just too bad....Two Flowery Branch brothers are in jail after reportedly interrupting a threesome and beating a man in his own home.

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Heidi Watney from NESN in Boston vs. Erin Andrews...who ya got?? (vote under polls)

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FAIL of the day....

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Focus on backups tonight vs. New England.....For fans still breaking into a cold sweat over the inability of the Bengals’ offense to move the football last year after Carson Palmer was injured, Thursday’s second preseason game at New England could help alleviate those concerns. With Palmer doubtful to play after spraining an ankle in Friday’s preseason opener at New Orleans, J.T. O’Sullivan and Jordan Palmer will get extra snaps at quarterback at Gillette Stadium. It is likely O’Sullivan will play 1 1/2 quarters and Jordan Palmer will go the rest of the way.

More on the matchup tonight....

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Bengals boost Hard Knocks ratings....The Aug. 12 telecast at 10 p.m. EDT delivered a 1.66 national household rating and 533,000 national household impressions. Compared to 2008, when the Dallas Cowboys were featured on Hard Knocks, the premiere episode was up 28 percent in household rating and 35 percent in household impressions.

I wonder what last night's episode will draw...

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Anthony Collins filling Smith's shoes
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
Collins started six games at left tackle as a rookie last year and was going to be used as the backup at both tackle positions before Smith’s absence. Collins played right tackle as a sophomore at Kansas before moving to left as a junior. He left school a year early and was drafted in the fourth round by the Bengals.

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What to watch for in tonight's Bengals / Patriots game
John Thornton, AllProBlogger.com
What are you looking to see from your team? From a player and coach perspective, I can tell you that teams will play this game with the same approach as the first preseason game. The starters may play into the second quarter this week, instead of a few series. But most coaches will pull their key guys out after 15 plays no matter what. Teams value practice evaluation more than they do game evaluation at this point of the season because teams are not showing a lot of plays during the preseason. So what a player does in practice on a day in, day out basis, will go a long way into who makes the team. That’s why you will see guys that make a lot of big plays in exhibition game and still get released. That same player may have had trouble with picking up the teams system during practice, but excelled in the vanilla preseason game.

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Taveras to DL with quad injury, Stubbs gets his shot....Taveras was hurt in the seventh inning of Tuesday's 8-5 loss to the Giants. He grounded a ball to the pitcher but appeared to hurt himself as he ran out of the batter's box. The Reds are looking to see if Stubbs can excel with his bat. The 24-year-old Texas native was batting .268 with three homers, 39 RBIs and a .353 on-base percentage for Louisville. He was the International League leader with 46 stolen bases in 54 attempts. On top of that, Stubbs was rated in Baseball America as the International League's best defensive outfielder, as having the best arm and as the best baserunner.

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Cueto likely to the DL too....he'll will go on the DL with shoulder "inflammation." Micah Owings will start Friday. He'll return the rotation for the Aug. 31 doubleheader.

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Look who St. Louis has signed now....

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Thankfully the Mariners signed Bill Hall so there's no chance he comes to Cincinnati....I threw out his stats last week and it's pretty freaking obvious he's not headed in the right direction.

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New O-line leaders emerge for Bearcats....This season, there are two seniors to replace Canfield – center Chris Jurek and left tackle Jeff Linkenbach. Jurek has shown his importance the past two seasons, and Linkenbach – in the eyes of strength coach Paul Longo – has made the most progress in the weight room of just about anybody on the Bearcats squad.

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Bruce, Phillips, Votto up for Aaron Award....Three Reds hitters have been nominated for your vote for the annual Hank Aaron Award. First baseman Joey Votto, second baseman Brandon Phillips and right fielder Jay Bruce -- the top three home run hitters on the team -- will get your consideration.

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UC solid in secondary
Bill Koch, Enquirer
Mike Mickens completed his eligibility last year as the University of Cincinnati’s career interceptions leader with 14. DeAngelo Smith was second with 12. Brandon Underwood, also gone from last year’s Big East championship team, shared the team lead in 2008 with Mickens at four each. All three were drafted by NFL teams in April – Smith and Mickens going to the Dallas Cowboys, Underwood to Green Bay. That’s quite a hit to take at one position group, but UC coach Brian Kelly and defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs believe the Bearcats are well-stocked there even without such stalwarts.

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Brian Kelly's Diary...If I Were Commissioner

There is no overall commissioner of college football, but if there were such a position and the job was offered to me, here’s what I would do to improve the game.

The first thing and probably the most important thing would be to crown a national champion, not have it decided by the polls. Whatever that format equals, I think it has to include the bowl games, so the bowl games plus one or two games.

Second, I think there should be five years of eligibility. When you look at the rosters, we’ve got 85 scholarships. Twenty-three or twenty-four of those 85 are going to be redshirted, so what’s your roster really? You’re going to play with 60 guys or less. I think you should have five years of eligibility. Let your freshmen play in the first year. It saves money on fifth-year guys. We’re paying for their fifth year of school because they played as freshmen. It makes to sense to me.

I believe that because the recruiting process is moved up with the internet and information being out there and kids making early decisions, it makes sense to sign them early and get them locked down if they’re committed. If they’re not committed, then keep recruiting until February. I know the Big East and the ACC have partnered to push that legislation this year.

I would not necessarily want to play exhibition games the way the NFL does. College football, the way it’s set up right now allows you an opportunity to ease into the season.

With that, I think we’ve rewritten the playbook. We’ve got a playoff. We’re giving them five years and let’s sign them early.

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NFL on NBC will continue...The NFL and NBC are extending their contract for "Sunday Night Football" by two years. The league's teams approved the extension at an owners meeting Wednesday in Chicago. The original six-year deal will now run through 2013. The network will continue to broadcast 16 regular-season Sunday night games, the Thursday night season opener, and both wild-card Saturday games. Flexible scheduling will remain in effect for the final seven weeks of the regular season, allowing NBC to change which game it shows to ensure the matchup has playoff implications.

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So basically the Miami Dolphins front office is starting to look like Dancing with the Stars....Venus and Serena Williams were the latest public figures to jump on board with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. Marc Anthony and Gloria Estefan previously bought stakes in the team, and Jimmy Buffet bought the naming rights to the team's stadium for 2009.

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Two former Bearcats playing for af2 title this weekend....in other news, people are still playing arena football....FYI Nick Davila (former UC QB) along with Kevin McCullough (former UC LB) are playing for the title in Arena 2 this weekend in Vegas for the Spokane Shock. Spokane is coached by Cincinnati / Deer Park native Adam Shackelford. Nick was named all AF2 as a QB and led the league in pass efficiency (126.0) and threw for 3800+ yards with 86 TDs to only 9 INTs.

hat tip to Sports Agent to the starts Brian Redden for the head's up!

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Spend your Thursday with Morgan....

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Thursday Food Porn...introducing the Double Bypass Burger

A burger topped with five slices of bacon, four slices of cheese, two fried eggs, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and onion between two grilled cheese sandwiches.

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FAIL of the day....

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TGIT...here's your Cheerleader of the Week
Valorie Darling, Oregon

Name: Valorie Darling
Birth Date: May 31, 1985
Hometown: Spokane, Washington
School: University of Oregon -- Go Ducks!!
Year: Senior
Major: Political Science
Minor: Journalism and Mass Communications

1. In 10 years, I'll likely be: Married with a great career and beginning to start a family. I also want to continue to do charitable work in my community.

2. Why I love (Oregon): UO is a liberal community that has the most beautiful campus with friendly, down to earth students that put an importance on being environmentally conscious. It is also known for having an innovative athletic program and being home to iconic track star, Steve Prefontaine. I love being part of something so incredible and having the opportunity to cheer in front of Autzen Stadium's 60,000 screaming fans, "The Pit" of Mac court and experiencing the legendary Hayward Field.

3. Movies I can't live without:Goonies, Walk the Line, Dumb and Dumber, I Am Sam, and Wedding Crashers.

4. Music I can't live without: The Fray, Jack Johnson, and any country.

5. TV shows I can't live without:Grey's Anatomy and Friends.

6. One misconception about cheerleaders: That we are not a sport! Cheerleading is more than cute girls and big hair. Our sport incorporates gymnastics, dance, and acrobatics. Our "daily triples" are extremely intense and our season lasts all year long. We cheer for football, volleyball, basketball and wrestling, as well as having our own national competition in February and attending several community & charitable events.

7. My favorite sport is: Football (to watch); Wakeboarding (to do).

8. My favorite teams are: The Ducks of course!! I also grew up loving the 49ers and Giants because I lived in San Francisco when I was younger.

9. I like to spend my weekends: Hanging out with my friends and catching up on errands. I'm obsessed with making "to do" lists.

10. Strange and unusual fact about me: I like my french fries extra crispy.

11. My friends would be surprised to know that I: Love to go camping, fishing, and be away from my daily routine if I get the chance. (The reason they wouldn't know this is because I rarely get the opportunity) It's easy to get caught up in the fast lane and there's nothing better than nature to bring stillness back into your life.

12. If I Had More Time I Would: Take a nap!

13. Favorite Foods: Thai food and gelato ice cream, but definitely not together!

14. Five People I'd Like To Have Dinner With (Living or Dead): Audrey Hepburn, Reese Witherspoon, Kelly Ripa, Ryan Reynolds & Justin Timberlake.

15. Favorite Activity: Scrap booking, traveling, decorating, and spending time with friends and family.

16. Next Risk I Want To Take: I love to take risks and do things that push me to the limits and scare me! For my 21st birthday I went skydiving and last year I ran the San Francisco marathon. The next risk I'm going to take is moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting and dancing.

17. Every Woman Should Have: A man in her life that treats her like a queen! Lucky for me I have two; my boyfriend and my puppy, Achilles!

18. Places I Want To Visit And Why: One of my best friends and I are backpacking through Europe this summer and we are going to go all over, but we want to spend more time in Italy, Spain and Greece. I also would eventually love to go to Thailand, Africa, and Australia.

19. Typical Day: School in the morning, work (Dutch Bros. Coffee) in the afternoon, cheer practice in the evening. Then make dinner, do homework and relax.

20. Perfect Date: I love to be surprised! My favorite thing is to take day trips and do outdoor activities, but don't forget the food!

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The 35 One-Hit-Wonders of the 1980's....

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Coolest kid you'll see today...

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Well, I'm back from a mini-vacation....I'm sure you're thrilled. I'll try and make up for lost time on the blog today.

First a couple of my thoughts on the big news I missed:

Michael Vick signs with Philly....I don't think anyone can defend Michael Vick as a person. What he did to those dogs is absolutely horrible. But he's paid his time in jail, he's gotten the approval of a very well-respected coach / mentor in Tony Dungy, and from a business perspective, he's not making a lot of money. Consider what a healthy, speedy Michael Vick could bring to an offense in Philly already stocked with some speed. I didn't get to hear the reaction from fans around here when the news broke that the Bengals had offered him a deal initially....but I say good for them. I believe Philly will be a more versatile team with Vick. I kinda wish the Bengals had closed the deal.

Bengals Hard Knocks....I'm officially fired up for football!!!!!! That opening sequence gave me chills. As expected Chad was pretty amusing, even if you don't like him anymore. Are you adding "Child, Please!!" to your vocabulary? I really liked how they set up the Reggie Kelly injury and tied in the growth of Chase Coffman along with it. It's really interesting watching the dynamics of the locker room and seeing how they interact with each other during dinner, on the field, and elsewhere. Oh, and on an unrelated note, Jim Lippincott is a scary, scary looking man. Anyone else kinda intrigued / concerned by the meeting room scene with Mike Brown and the coaching staff? As expected, NFL Films and HBO have exceeded expectations...LOVED the first episode and am looking forward to another one tonight.

Reds continue to struggle....looks like I didn't miss much there.

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Andre Smith still not close to signing....One of those rookies, Bengals tackle Andre Smith, is reportedly $5-$10 million apart in contract negotiations with Cincinnati, according to NFL Network's Steve Wyche. The Bengals reportedly increased their offer recently, but it is still less than the deal handed to Vernon Gholston in the same draft slot last year. Wyche says that Smith's holdout is in even worse shape than Michael Crabtree's and could go right up until the start of the regular season, if that soon.

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Carson Palmer out tomorrow vs. NE
ESPN

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Bengals waive Dan Santucci
Official Release
<blockquote>The Bengals today released C Dan Santucci in the “waived/injured” category. A third-year NFL player from Notre Dame, Santucci suffered a foot injury in training camp on Aug. 5. If Santucci clears waivers tomorrow, he will revert to the Bengals’ Reserve/Injured list.</blockquote>

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Bengals add pair of TE's.....The Cincinnati Bengals have made a move to stock their most depleted position, signing free-agent tight end Kolo Kapanui, who was released by the New Orleans Saints after an arrest. The Bengals also signed tight end J.P. Foschi, who played 11 games with Oakland in 2005-06 and seven for Kansas City last year. He was waived by the Raiders on Saturday.

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Marvin Lewis talks about his "meetings" with Mike Brown (as seen on Hard Knocks)....

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Reds sign top 2 draft picks....Deals with right-handed pitcher Mike Leake, the eighth overall selection in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, and supplemental first round choice, right-hander Brad Boxberger, were announced about 30 minutes before Monday's midnight ET deadline.

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Mike Leake happy to be a Red
John Fay, Enquirer
Mike Leake’s deal with the Reds wasn’t official until about a half hour before Monday's midnight deadline. But there was no drama like last year with Yonder Alonso. “I was involved the whole time,” he said. “I knew it was going to get done. It was good to get the rest.” There was little urgency to sign Leake, the right-hander from Arizona State, because his workload during the college season meant he wasn’t going to pitch much – if at all – this summer. Still, it was good to get in the fold.

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Isn't it time to protect Johnny Cueto?
Hal McCoy, DDN
There are indications that Cueto might not make his next scheduled start Friday in Pittsburgh. On the same night (Saturday) that the Washington Nationals were committing assault and battery on Cueto (2 2/3 innings, seven runs, eight hits), Micah Owings was throwing 5 2/3 scoreless innings on rehab for Class AAA Louisville against Toledo.

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What should the Reds do? Nothing...
John Fay, Enquirer
I've come to the conclusion over the last couple of the days after talking to some Reds insiders that the best course of action this offseason will be to do as little as possible as far as free agents. I base this on a couple of things.

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Jocketty answers the "plan" question
John Fay's Blog
"The plan is...we have a plan, let’s put it at that...The plan is to try and develop quality young players and build a foundation for the organization for the long-term, not just the short-term."

Do you think you can compete next year?
"I don’t know," Jocketty said. "I don’t know what the competition will be next year. I would hope we were competing this year until we got hurt."

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Big East reaches agreement with Champs Sports Bowl (because there aren't enough bowl games as it is)...The BIG EAST Conference has reached a four-year agreement with Florida Citrus Sports and the Champs Sports Bowl to send a team to the Orlando, Fla., game beginning in the 2010 season. The Champs Sports Bowl will have the first selection from the BIG EAST after the league's BCS representative has been determined. The BIG EAST's opponent for the game for 2010-13 is to be determined. The payout to the BIG EAST could reach $2.4 million.

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UC Football kickoff event coming to Dave and Busters....The University of Cincinnati football team and head coach Brian Kelly will hold a public season kickoff event at Dave & Buster's tri-county location from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31, 2009.

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Former Bearcat signs with Buffalo....linebacker Ryan Manalac previously had a tryout with the Cincinnati Bengals in the spring, but was not offered a contract. He was a two-year starter at UC, tallying 195 tackles, including 114 unassisted stops, nine tackles for a loss, and 10 pass breakups during his collegiate career.

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Follow Brian Kelly on Twitter....

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Selfish Favre returns to feed ego
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
What do a nasty pimple, a pesky cockroach and Brett Favre all have in common? You'll have a damn tough time getting rid of any of them. At least with the zit, you can eventually pop it (yecch) or use some cream to remove it. The cockroach can get the Mike Vick dog treatment. Zap.

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Ohio State loses another player to injury...Ohio State offensive lineman Justin Boren sustained a sprained knee during practice Friday and will miss several weeks, a source told ESPN affiliate Web site Bucknuts.com. Boren, projected to be Ohio State's starting left guard, is expected to miss no more than three weeks with a sprained MCL, the source said. Ohio State was unable to confirm the injury.

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College Hoops update....ESPN's weekly College GameDay show will make one stop in Lexington this basketball season, the network announced Tuesday. Kentucky's game in Rupp Arena against Tennessee is ESPN's prime-time selection for Feb. 13. Live College GameDay broadcasts will air from Lexington that day at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. with the game starting at 9 p.m.

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College Basketball's Top 10 Coaching Scandals...
Sporting News

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Fantasy Football Wednesday...

Vick is a fantasy waste of time in 2009
CBS Sports
If you're looking for a backup quarterback who might get on the field for a few plays this season, we have one for you. His name is Pat White. White, a rookie quarterback for the Dolphins, should provide as much production as Michael Vick this season. He might even be better than Vick. Fantasy owners in standard-scoring leagues shouldn't worry too much about Vick. He is starting his comeback as a backup quarterback with the Eagles, and it's unlikely he'll get much playing time this season barring an injury.

Week 1 Fantasy Stockwatch
CBS Sports

THREE UP
Tom Brady, QB, NE
LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI
Jeremy Shockey, TE, NO

THREE DOWN
Kerry Collins, QB, TEN
Jamal Lewis, RB, CLE
Kyle Orton, QB, DEN

THREE TO KNOW
Glen Coffee, RB, SF
David Clowney, WR, NYJ
Chaz Schilens, WR, OAK

Ranking your RB draft choices
Fox Sports

Is Favre a safe fantasy pick??
ESPN
I think you can make a pretty convincing argument that Favre comes to an even better situation in Minnesota than he had with the Jets last season. Certainly the Vikings have a better running back, and while the new offensive line might represent a slight downgrade, it's still above average. The receiver quality is about the same if not a little better: Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, Bobby Wade and Percy Harvin compare favorably with Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery and Chansi Stuckey. And one presumes Favre will be more comfortable in an offense directed by his old buddy, Darrell Bevell. I'm expecting Favre to have some fine (and inevitably overhyped) highlights in '09.

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Hump Day = April Gutierrez

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Wednesday Food Porn....introducing Oreo Stuff Dip

Oreo cream centers removed and melted into a dip.

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FAIL of the day...

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Michael Vick dog jerseys now available in Philly. Too soon?

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27 Playboy Plamates on Twitter...

Kayla Collins (@kaylacollins)

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Today's OH S**T moment...

Female Pedestrian Killed Crossing The Street by Full Speed Truck

Didn't look both ways. Also I wonder if she had Ipod headphones in...

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Extreme Lake Rope Swinging.....DO NOT try this at home....

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Best scientific study you'll read about today....video games are good for your health...

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Today's Definition of Duh....You've gotta be awfully stupid to get arrested for your fifth DUI. You've gotta be even dumber to get that DUI by driving a snowmobile on the snowless highway in August.

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I am on vacation. Can....you....believe it?? Now I know what you're thinking....how does this guy get a vacation, he barely works!? I don't know how it happened either. Nonetheless, I'll be blogging occasionally throughout the weekend so check back for updated nonsense. In the meantime, enjoy this.....

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Did you watch Hard Knocks Wednesday night?? What did you think? I'm gonna try and find the episode of it online since I'm not shelling out for HBO. If you know of any good sites to watch it...please send me the link!

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Fresh start for Roy Williams, Bengals D
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is taking the fifth these days when it comes to his five-time Pro Bowler. "People are going to say I'm biased, that he's my guy," Zimmer said Tuesday of Roy Williams after practice. "I'm out of it. Don’t ask me. Ask the secondary coaches. That's what I've asked them to do. Kevin (Coyle) and Louie (Cioffi). I want them to let me know how they think he's doing."

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D-line could develop into a force
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
A look at the names on the Bengals’ defensive line shows it is one of the deepest position groups on the team. But success for the line this season boils down to one important factor: a pair of healthy ends in Robert Geathers and Antwan Odom. With the sixth-year veterans healthy for the first time in nearly a year, the team is looking for both to have bounce-back seasons. If they do, it could help the Bengals revive a pass rush that has been lacking the last two years.

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Another updated Bengals depth chart....

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Cedric Benson has won a lot of fans in the Bengals locker room
Yahoo Sports
The Cincinnati Bengals’ starting halfback took a handoff from Carson Palmer and slipped between the center and left guard, a basic play in a mundane drill amid the typical training camp grind. What happened next appeared equally unremarkable, but it revealed everything you need to know about the rehabilitation of Cedric Benson.

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If the Bengals did this...they would get RAILED by the national media....At least 14 Pittsburgh Steelers participated in a shooting party with Pennsylvania State Police troopers at the Greensburg barracks, using state police ammunition and illegal assault weapons from the evidence room, sources say.

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Bill Hall has been designated for assignment by the Brewers? You interested in bringing him here? I'm not.

Hall's Numbers:
2006: .270, 35 HR, and 85 RBIs
2007: .254, 14 HR, and 63 RBIs
2008: .225, 15 HR, and 55 RBIs
2009: .201, 6 HR, and 24 RBIs (through 76 games).

....that's what we call a trend.

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RedHawks football scrimmage this Saturday in Oxford....The full-padded scrimmage begins at 10 a.m., pitting Miami's high-powered offense -- featuring quarterbacks Daniel Raudabaugh, Zac Dysert, Clay Belton and freshman Austin Boucher -- against a re-tooled defense, starring Caleb Bostic, lineman Martin Channels and defensive backs Jeff Thompson and Jordan Gafford.

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Efforts to reform BCS face tall order in Congress
CBS Sports
Peering down from the podium, the Republican said in his Texas twang that unless the officials took action toward a playoff system in two months, Congress would likely move on his legislation aimed at forcing their hand. More than three months have passed, and Barton's bill hasn't moved. Such is the way with college football and Congress.

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Since I'm gonna be on vacation....I found a babe that should satisfy you until my return. Yes, I said it. Her name is Ashley Smith....

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FAIL of the day...

hat tip to Tim A. for the photo

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GREAT deal of the day...

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Best prank you'll see today....

hat tip to Buckey Mike for the link

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TGIT...here's your Cheerleader of the Week
Kate Glover, Texas

Name: Kate Glover
Hometown: Olney, Texas
School: University of Texas at Austin
Year: Senior
Major: Corporate Communications

I love my school, but I almost went to: There was no other choice! I applied to one other school (TCU) during a free-application time, but I knew all throughout high school that I wanted to come to UT and be on Texas Pom.

My best physical feature is: My hair. It is one of those versatile heads of hair that can be curly, straight or have big curls that can be easily teased to make the big Texas hair that we all love so much.

If I had to watch one movie on loop for ever, it would be: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. I think that Kate Hudson is one of the cutest actresses and is so funny!

If you looked at the "most played" songs on my iPod, you'd see a lot of: Rap and R&B. Being on Texas Pom involves a lot of hip-hop and I am always looking for new and interesting beats to dance to.

My worst habit is: Finishing other people's sentences. I know that it is so annoying for the person I am talking to.

My gameday superstitions are: Drinking a diet coke at the stadium before the game. I know athletes aren't supposed to drink soda before being active, but it always hypes me up!

I'd love to trade places for a day with: Kristen Chenowith. She is my favorite Broadway actress and has an amazing voice. She is also so adorable!

The talent I'd most like to have that I don't possess is: Golfing. It is one of those recreational sports that I would be able to carry with me throughout my entire life.

These three things top my bucket list: 1) Be on Broadway; 2) Go to London 3); Be diligent enough to run a marathon.

I'd want my last meal to be: Steak and baked potato. I'm a "red meat and carbs" kinda girl.

The most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to me during a game is: We rotate sides throughout the game, and one time, as we were running to our next spot, I jumped up to give someone a high five. As I was coming down to land, I lost my footing and fell flat on my face!

Three things I'd take to a desert island are: My Bible, a photo album of my loved ones and some sunscreen. I hate being sunburned!

My favorite sport and professional sports teams are: Obviously my favorite sports team is the Texas Longhorns, but my favorite professional sports team is the Dallas Cowboys.

My one guilty pleasure is: Diet Coke. That is the one unhealthy thing I could never give up.

My celebrity crush is: Channing Tatum. He can dance, play basketball, play soccer, act and is very, very attractive.

Five people I'd like to have dinner with (living or dead) are: Hilary Rodham Clinton, Oprah, Maya Angelou, Susan B. Anthony and Amelia Earhart. I was raised to be an independent woman who can make a difference. They all made history by proving that women can do anything they set their minds to.

My friends would be surprised to know that I: Was a band nerd. I played the trumpet from sixth grade through 12th grade.

The next risk I want to take is: Getting a job! Starting any next chapter is a risk considering it is out of our comfort zones.

The reality show I'd do best on is: The Amazing Race.

The worst date I've ever been on was: When the guy I was out with thought it was a date and I didn't... I must have been so rude the whole time because I acted like we were just hanging out as friends! I didn't realize he had asked me out and that we were on a date!

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What a girls drink says about her...
Holy Taco

Cheap Beer

What She Thinks It Says: I'm a tough woman. I'm not high-maintenance, and I like to party. Just gimme a sixer of PBR and a filthy back patio, and I'm good to go.

What It Really Says: My college boyfriend was in a shitty band, so I got used to cheap, crappy parties. For $7.50, you can probably get me drunk enough to go home with you, but I'm definitely gonna throw up on something of yours.

Pick-Up Line You Should Use: "Hey. My bed has a mattress on it. Pretty fancy, huh? Let's go f**k."

Expensive Beer

What She Thinks It Says: I've been drinking for a while. I'm sophisticated enough to be selective, but I'm still down-to-earth enough to be content with beer. Plus, expensive beer tastes better than crappy mixed drinks.

What It Really Says: I like fancy glasses.

Pick-Up Line You Should Use: "Somebody in my family is remotely German. Wanna look at some heirlooms and f**k?"

Wine

What She Thinks It Says: I'm way more classy and sophisticated than the other girls in this trashy bar.

What It Really Says: After my third glass, I'll be grinding my ass against someone on the dance floor.

Pick-Up Line You Should Use: "Yeah, my dad does own a car dealership. Hey, you wanna go f*ck in my new H2?"

Tequila

What She Thinks It Says: I'm here to party. I'm hanging with my sorority sisters tonight, and we own the night! We're gonna get super-wasted super-quick, and just dance the night away. Woo hoo!

What It Really Says: Tonight, I'm getting "Bad Guys from Three Amigos" drunk.

Pick-Up Line You Should Use: "I've got an extensive Lil' Wayne collection back at my apartment. C'mon, I'll carry you back there and then we can f**k."

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WTF of the day....

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If you like G.I. Joe...you'll LOVE this...

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The most amazing dance performance you'll see today....

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Vacation Food Porn...introducing the Domino Sandwich

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Horny dogs + News Anchors = Hilarity....

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The parade of terrible reality shows continue....thanks MTV! Ashton Kutcher has created a show called American Idiots....described as an extreme reality series, features a cast of "idiots" who re-enact popular viral videos for cash prizes.

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A new study has found some groundbreaking scientific information (and this is a direct quote from the article)...."Men Want Sex."

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Best umbrella you'll see today...

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Johnny Cueto update....he is doing better today. Turned out to be a cramp in his left hip. He will still make next start on Saturday.

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Scott Rolen placed on the DL....as his concussion-like symptoms persist. Rolen was beaned by a 92-mph Jason Marquis (Colorado) fastball Aug. 2. He played two games since but has been idled since this past weekend. "It's the right thing to do," Rolen said. "This apparently clears up with inactivity." Rolen said he still has occasional headaches and fuzziness.

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Nick Masset promoted in Reds bullpen....David Weathers' departure means a promotion, of sorts, for reliever Nick Masset in the Reds' bullpen. Now the set up role belongs to Masset, who had been manager Dusty Baker's primary choice in the sixth and seventh innings - especially when he needed a groundball or a double play. In 43 games this season, Masset is 4-1 with a 2.74 ERA, while opponents are batting .190 -- including .176 among right-handed hitters. Of his 32 inherited runners, 14 have scored.

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I wanted to weigh in on the Andre Smith situation....yesterday on both Mo and Lance's shows, there was discussion regarding "blame" or "fault" when it comes to the Bengals top draft pick and his contract holdout. Here's my two cents: Don't hate the player, hate the game. If you're Alvin Keels, Andre Smith, or anyone in his entourage...you stand pat and wait for the Bengals to budge. You a top draft choice coming to a city that NEEDS you. This is an opportunity to make a huge payday...perhaps one of many...but perhaps one of few. Andre Smith and company should look out for themselves...and they are. It's the Bengals that will be to blame...IF this contract holdout results in O-Line struggles and early losses. The Bengals can try and poo-poo it all they want...but the bottom line is that the team NEEDS Smith's talent with the offensive line in a major state of flux. If Mike Brown, Katie Blackburn and the rest of the Bengals brass believe that staying stubborn is going to give the team a better chance to win...they're crazy. As always, though, the decision makers at Paul Brown Stadium fail to see the big picture.

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No surprise, but Ohio State's Tyler Moeller out for the season....Tyler Moeller will be out for the season. Tressel confirmed that, and said at one point, he was worried Moeller's career might be over. Now it appears he could come back next season. Tressel did not address any details of what happened, but he did strongly suggest that Moeller was not at fault in any way.

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UC football practice is underway....follow all the action here...

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Brian Kelly's Diary from yesterday's practice...
Enquirer
The general feeling from the first day is that our kids feel like BCS football players. Adidas has really invested in our program. Our kids look great in terms of gear.
Our kids are totally confused right now because they have five laundry loops of clothes. They have two loops for practices, whether we’re in full gear or half gear. We have a loop for weight training and conditioning and then we have two loops for during the day or the evening just walking around.
I asked the guys, have you ever had five loops and Craig Carey told me when he got here they had to bring their own loops. So I thought what really stood out today is that our guys feel really good about themselves in terms of being treated like a BCS program.
We haven’t even talked about last year. Everything that we’ve talked about is about the present. It’s about right now. And as I told our football team, I made it clear to them, winning is an option. You can choose not to do the things necessary to win as a player. And each one of our kids you can tell that they want to win because they’re doing the right things necessary in the weight room, in the classroom.
I told them if you’re not hungry then you don’t invest in winning the same level as somebody who is and I see our kids really wanting to win football games.

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Xavier Basketball releases non-conference schedule...

NOVEMBER
Fri. 13 - Youngstown State
Tues. 17 - Bowling Green
Sat. 21 - Sacred Heart
Thurs. 26 - Marquette (ESPN2)*
Fri. 27 - Creighton or Michigan (ESPN or ESPNU)*
Sun. 29 - Alabama, Baylor, Florida State or Iona (ESPN2 or ESPNU)*
*Old Spice Classic

DECEMBER
Fri. 4 - Kent State
Tues. 8 - at Kansas State
Sun. 13 - Cincinnati
Sat. 19 - at Butler
Wed. 23 - Miami University
Tues. 29 - LSU

JANUARY
Sun. 3 - at Wake Forest

FEBRUARY
Sat. 13 - at Florida

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Speaking of Xavier, they've lost a recruit to Ohio State.....I don't know if this is especially surprising, but sources say J.D. Weatherspoon has chosen OSU. The Columbus native re-opened his search after Sean Miller left for AZ. The small forward is in the Buckeyes' class of 2010.

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Michael Vick signing is coming soon, so says Tony Dungy...."Michael bounced teams off me - "hey, these people called, what do you think," Dungy said. "I think something's gonna happen this week."

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A couple of UK football players suspended....University of Kentucky senior center Jorge Gonzalez and sophomore wide receiver Aaron Boyd have each been suspended, UK announced in a news release on Tuesday.

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A twist in the Rick Pitino extortion case....the Louisville coach told police that he had consensual sex with and paid for an abortion for the woman who has been charged with trying to extort him, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported on Tuesday.

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SHOCKER of the day: people LOVE watching the NFL....The NFL doesn't need trickery to outdraw baseball. Any game will do, as Sunday's Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, between the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills showed. The exhibition opener - and the NBC debut of the Al Michaels-Cris Collinsworth team - attracted 61% more viewers opposite a contest that counted: The New York Yankees completing a four-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox. Of course, the NFL had the significant broadcast-vs.-cable edge.

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Michael Vick to the Ravens??

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Fantasy Football Wednesday...

The Texans have some fantasy studs-to-be
CBS Sports
Steve Slaton looks around the offense and sees talent everywhere. He knows the Texans are loaded. Andre Johnson could be the best wide receiver in the NFL. Matt Schaub showed in four December games last year he might be ready to establish himself as an elite quarterback. Owen Daniels has blossomed into a solid tight end. Kevin Walter is becoming a good complementary wideout. And then there's Slaton, who had a tremendous rookie season and is poised to become a star running back in his sophomore campaign. Houston has a chance to score plenty of points this season, which is why the prediction here is to ride the Texans in your Fantasy league.

Is Knowshon Moreno a safe pick?
CBS Sports
Maybe it's just Josh McDaniels trying to motivate his young running back by complimenting the competition. Or maybe he's just as confused as the rest of us. Thanks to McDaniels, the running back situation in Denver is a mess. The rookie coach might be screwing up a future star in rookie Knowshon Moreno if you follow what he's said so far in the offseason and training camp.

Brian Westbrook to return to the field soon....The Sports Xchange reports that Brian Westbrook probably will begin practicing later this week. He had surgery on his ankle in June and hasn't been cleared to play yet. Westbrook has been able to participate in some individual drills, but this would be a significant step in his recovery. As long as he's fine for the start of the season, he can return to being an elite Fantasy option.

Keep an eye on the injury wire....Wide receivers are dropping like flies, and the preseason games haven't even gotten into full swing yet. Two of ESPN's top 20 wideouts for standard scoring are likely to miss their respective teams' entire slate of tuneups after injuries sent them to the sidelines: Carolina's Steve Smith (projected No. 4 with 199 fantasy points) and Tampa Bay's Antonio Bryant (projected No. 16, 153 points).

Defense / ST Fantasy Projections

Top 10 Wide Receiver Fantasy Bargains
Fox Sports

5. Laveranues Coles - Bengals: He may be receiving less attention moving from the glare of New York's bright lights to the small market of Cincinnati. But he can still be a legitimate fantasy starter with talented Carson Palmer as his new quarterback.

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Hump Day = Sophie Monk

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Wednesday Food Porn.....introducing the McDonald's Mega Tamango

A McDonald’s Big Mac with egg and bacon.

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FAIL of the day....

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Reggie Miller likes "sex-ting" 25-year old women....

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How to date out of your league
COED Magazine

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Coolest sand sculpture you'll see today...

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If you like Simon Cowell, you're in luck....if not, sorry....

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Today's Definition of Duh....60-year-old grandpa John Moyer visited Walt Disney World. He was hanging in Toontown when he ran into Minnie Mouse. As he took a photo with her, he reached up and gave her fake-mouse boobs a little squeeze. Just for good measure, he patted her on the butt. The grandkids were watching.

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I is educated...

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WTF of the day...Pee-wee Herman will return to the stage in a limited engagement run of "The Pee-wee Herman Show," starring Paul Reubens, on Nov. 8 at Hollywood's Music Box at the Fonda Theater. No word yet if Laurence Fishburne will be reprising Cowboy Curtis.

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Self Magazine must have a very good digital photo editing staff....

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I might have to try this next time I hit the casino boats....there is a simple and sure-fire way to win at the roulette table - as long as you have deep pockets and a faith in probability theory. Well, I've got a faith in probability theory at least.

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How does 230 MPG sound? Apparently, it's coming....Basically, you will be able to drive the Volt for about 40 miles using the lithium-ion batteries. For those driving less than that, gas mileage is essentially unlimited. It is only after 40 miles that the Volt will start using gas.

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Harang and Arroyo clear trade-waivers
Fox Sports
Reds starters Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo have cleared trade waivers, a major-league source told FOXSports.com. Since Harang and Arroyo went unclaimed, it's apparent that other teams don't value them at the full amount of their respective salaries. But it's possible that the right-handers could interest teams searching for veteran rotation help down the stretch.

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Scott Rolen unlikely to play in St. Louis series....Reds third baseman Scott Rolen will likely miss at least three more games due to the presence of post-concussion symptoms. Following the team's 5-2 win Sunday against the San Francisco Giants, head athletic trainer Mark Mann told reporters Rolen wouldn't engage in any strenuous physical activity until his symptoms (including an inability to focus) subside.

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And as if the Reds didn't have enough injuries...Reds RHP Johnny Cueto left tonight’s start at St. Louis after 2.0 innings with a tight left hip flexor. He will be examined today in St. Louis.

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What is it about Cincinnati sports and contract holdouts...now the Reds' negotiations with their top have stalled...

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As if you haven't heard by now, the Kenny Watson era is over....
Official Release
</blockquote>The Bengals on Monday made the following roster moves:

- Terminated the contract of HB Kenny Watson, releasing him to free agency. Watson is an eighth-year NFL player. He saw action in 10 games for the Bengals last season, with 55 rushing yards on 13 carries and three receptions for four yards. He has 83 career NFL games played, with 1651 rushing yards and 1015 receiving yards.

- Waived FB J.D. Runnels, Jr. Runnels is a third-year NFL player. He did not see game action in 2008, but was on the Bengals practice squad for a portion of the season and was signed to the team's 2009 offseason roster on Dec. 30, 2008.</blockquote>

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Bengals camp updates with Joe Reedy...

- At fullback, Jeremi Johnson, who has had a good camp and is down to 275 pounds, has moved ahead of Fui Vakapuna.

- At right defensive tackle, Tank Johnson is ahead of Pat Sims while Michael Johnson is now listed as the backup right defensive end. Antwan Odom is listed as the starter while Frostee Rucker is now third.

- At tight end, Daniel Coats is listed as first string with Ben Utecht at second string.
- Defensive tackle Jason Shirley has been moved to the offensive line and is the third-string left guard. Shirley was wearing No. 70 during today’s practice.

- On the offensive line, Augustus Parrish is the backup left tackle and Dennis Roland is backing up Anthony Collins at right tackle. Those changes were made due to first-round pick Andre Smith remaining unsigned. At center, fourth-round pick Jonathan Luigs has moved ahead of Dan Santucci.

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Weight-watcher Johnson atop depth chart at fullback
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
After Johnson was released by the team last November, many were wondering what the team’s next move would be at fullback during the offseason. But when the revisions to the depth chart came out Monday, Johnson is back at first string as the Bengals prepare for Friday’s preseason opener at New Orleans.

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Andre Smith in a tough spot
John Thornton, AllProBlogger.com
Bengals OT Andre Smith is in between a rock and a hard place. He wants to be in camp, but he cannot accept the rumored $33 million dollar deal that the Bengals are offering. The Bengals are feeling squeezed as well. They are not going to give Andre a 23% increase like the Raiders gave the WR Darrius Hayward-Bey at the 7 spot. Who’s to blame? I blame both parties. We all thought that there was no way that Andre Smith would be in camp on time. I wrote about this before the draft. In fact, that was one of the reasons I didn’t want the team to draft Andre. It is easier for another position to come in and play after a long holdout than it is for an OL, especially one that is changing positions. So if we knew this, why didn’t the team and agent know this? If I were the Bengals, I would have flipped out as soon as I found out that Al Davis and the Raiders were picking behind me. Al Davis doesn’t care about pay scales. He will even give guys more money than they are worth, just to screw up everyone else. The Raiders overpay free agents and the they overpay draft picks. That being said, the Bengals should have gotten the deal early. Maybe give Andre more than you were willing to give initially, but know that he will be in camp on time, and you won’t have to compete with the Raiders.

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Could UC be the marquee team the Big East needs?
Bill Koch, Enquirer
The charismatic Kelly, never one to hide his light under a bushel basket, would love nothing better than to display his wares strut on the national stage. And with the wide-open spread offense he employs, he certainly has the elements to make the Bearcats attractive to television. But he knows that UC isn’t there yet, that what the Bearcats accomplished last year was little more than a major first step.

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Fantasy Football Tuesday...

Dilemma brewing in Big D
CBS Sports
One is Smash, the other is Dash and the third one is Tash. Together they make up one big headache for Fantasy owners despite the fancy nickname. Marion Barber is Smash because of his hard-hitting running style. Felix Jones is Dash because of his speed. And, well, Tashard Choice is Tash because of his name, but he's a talented running back as well.

Beanie Wells injury update...Arizona RB Beanie Wells missed another workout with a sprained right ankle on Monday, raising doubts that he'll play in the Cardinals' preseason opener. Wells should be healthy soon, which is good news because this injury could have been far worse. He will likely share carries with Tim Hightower, but Wells has an opportunity to be the best rookie RB this year. He even has the potential to contribute right away, but this latest injury is a reminder of how prone he is to getting hurt as he dealt with nagging injuries in college. We like Wells as a No. 3 Fantasy RB, and he's worth a mid-round pick in seasonal drafts, a middle-round choice in dynasty/keeper leagues and a Top-5 pick in rookie-only drafts.

Steve Slaton a risky pick?
CBS Sports
Texans RB Chris Brown, who missed all of last year with a back injury, is on track for a full recovery this year. And it appears like the Texans are using Brown as a goal-line back behind starter Steve Slaton. We don't expect Slaton to come off the field, but the Texans likely don't want to wear him down for a full season. Slaton should still be drafted as a No. 1 Fantasy RB with a first-round pick. He will continue to get the majority of carries even if Brown takes away a few touchdowns.

2009 Kicker Projections

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Wanna play in a Fantasy Football league with me?? I have created a 1530 Homer Fantasy Football League for anyone who wants to join. But space is limited...so if you're interested in playing...EMAIL ME and I will send you a league invite!

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Great to see Aaron Boone back on the field.....Aaron Boone is back playing baseball, appearing in a minor league game in Texas less than five months after open-heart surgery. Boone batted second Monday night for the Corpus Christi Hooks, a Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. He swung at the first pitch and popped up to the first baseman in foul territory.

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Why Young, Bush, and Leinart went bust
Fox Sports
Their football futures were so bright, their potential so limitless, it would have been hard to imagine that the three college superstars had just peaked. Bush, Young and Leinart were taken Nos. 2, 3 and 10, respectively, in the 2006 NFL draft. But in the three years since, Canton has faded beyond the horizon as expectations have been adjusted downward for the once-dazzling trio.

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Ohio State LB Moeller to leave hospital soon....Ohio State junior linebacker Tyler Moeller underwent successful surgery this weekend and will be released from the hospital soon, a source close to Moeller told Sporting News on Sunday night. The source did not disclose the exact injury, but Columbus station WCMH-TV reported over the weekend that Moeller sustained a head injury.

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Xavier recruiting note....Chris Mack added to his first recruiting class with North Carolina native Jay Canty, a 6-foot-5 small forward that committed last night. He joins Jordan Latham in XU's Class of 2010.

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Hamilton gives more reason to not to believe in fairy tales
CBS Sports
Hamilton was a tall tale, but he was also a hypocrite in the mold of other religion-slinging men who speak of family values while having a little something-something on the side. Hamilton is no different from the Mark Sanfords or John Ensigns who instruct others how to live their lives while failing to practice what they preach.

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Congrats to former Miami RedHawk Ryan Jones....The Nashville Predators have signed restricted free agent forward Ryan Jones. The team said in a news release Monday that Jones has signed a two-year, $975,000 contract. He played 46 games with the Predators during his rookie season, scored 17 points with seven goals and 10 assists. Jones was drafted by Minnesota in the fourth round in 2004.

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UFC 101....summing it up...

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Cyclones add Dustin Sproat
Official Release
<blockquote>The ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones have agreed to contract terms with forward Dustin Sproat.

Sproat, 28, enters his second season as a professional after splitting last season between Fresno and Cincinnati.

Starting the season with Fresno, Sproat played in 16 games and collected a pair of goals and four assists for six points with the Pacific Division leaders. When the Falcons folded on Dec. 22, he signed as a free agent with Cincinnati.

He appeared in 39 games with the Cyclones and had 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points.
Sproat had nine multi-point games and was the second-leading scorer on the squad in the postseason with seven goals and eight assists in 15 games. He also had a pair of two-goal games in the Kelly Cup playoffs.

The 6-foot, 190 pounder from Red Deer, Alberta earned three varsity letters at Princeton, where he led the ECAC in scoring (15-12-27 in conference games) his junior year (2004-05). In his three years at Princeton, Sproat played in 92 games and collected 28 goals and 29 assists for 57 points.

“Dustin Sproat proved to be a valuable contributor for us last season,” Cyclones coach/vice president of hockey operations Chuck Weber said. “He is a solid two-way hockey player and an excellent contributor on special teams. Having averaged nearly a point per game with us last season, we are expecting a big year from him.”

The Cyclones addition of Sproat brings the number of players under contract for 2009-10 to six.

Forwards Jonathan Duchesneau, Barret Ehgoetz and Mark Voakes and defensemen Jamie Coghlan and Jason Woll are the others.

The Cyclones open the season at Elmira on Friday, Oct. 16 and, after three road games, play their home opener at U.S. Bank Arena against Wheeling on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

There will be a special divisional championship banner raising ceremony prior to that game.

The Cyclones are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators.</blockquote>

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Tuesday Time Vampire.....Brittany Hawks

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Motivational Poster of the Day....

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Tuesday Food Porn....introducing the Cap'n Crunch Donut

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I'm pretty sure this kid has never seen the light of day...

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15 most creative business cards you'll see today....

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FAIL of the day....ripping your boss on Facebook (even though you're Facebook friends)

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Reds trade David Weathers to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for a player to be named.....Weathers was 3-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 43 games before being dealt. The Reds have a pool of players to pick from. They are young players. The club has until Oct. 15 to decide. If they choose not to take any of the players, they’ll get cash instead.

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Scott Rolen was scratched with concussion-like symptoms.....He'll be re-evaluated today in Cincinnati by concussion specialist Dr. John Brannan. "It's the same thing he's been going through," Dusty Baker said. "He didn't feel too good after the game last night. He took batting practice but he's not feeling like himself. It's not surprising." Baker said there's a possibility that Rolen will rejoin the team in St. Louis. "He could," Baker said. "I'm sure he'll want to." It would be Rolen first trip back St. Louis since he was traded in 2007.

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It appears Yonder Alonso had a setback....he was shut down after two at-bats in his rehab assignment with GCL Reds last week. "He didn't look right," farm director Terry Reynolds said. "So we put him back on the disabled list." The Reds hopeful that Alonso will play before the season ends. But they're running out of games.

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Baker remains upbeat, despite struggles
John Fay, Enquirer
"I don’t see why I wouldn't be back," Baker said. "We’ve got a whole different team than we had last year, and we’ve got a whole different team this year than what we started with. I don’t think Bob came out and said that, I think he was asked. There’s a difference."

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More lame apologies by juicers
P-Doc, Enquirer
Big Popper Ortiz said he was sorry for something. He didn’t know what. The Boston Red Sox erstwhile slugger apologized Saturday for taking an over-the-counter something or other, he didn’t remember what it was, just something he believed would make himself better at his job. It might have been against the agreed-upon rules. It might not have been. Ortiz didn’t know.

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Notes from Saturday's Bengals Mock Game
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com

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5 things to know about Bengals
CBS Sports

5.The interior defense has been an issue for the Bengals for a long time. But that should change this season. Domato Peko is already a good player inside at tackle, but the Bengals have high hopes for second-year player Pat Sims. He is a big, physical player who showed some quickness during the drills I watched. Veteran Tank Johnson is in reserve and gives the Bengals a nice three-man rotation. Look for Sims to really step up his game this season.

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Carson, Chad in sync
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
With the passing game getting its moment during Saturday’s mock game at Georgetown College, Chad Ochocinco seized the spotlight for the first time during training camp. After a slow start, Ochocinco, Carson Palmer and the rest of the black team offense
were able to put things in gear.

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Bengals want to lose "loser" moniker
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
In 40 seasons, the Bengals have had 13 teams with a winning record and only two since 1990. It is a franchise that has chewed up and spit out coaches like David Shula and Bruce Coslet, making it a supposed burial site for coaches. With all that as a historical backdrop, and the loser legacy, why it is that I think the 2009 Bengals will be different? Am I crazy? "No, you're right on," Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco said. "We will be good." I thought that before taking my training-camp trip to see the Bengals, and now I'm even more convinced of it. The Bengals will push for a playoff spot - and maybe more.

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Countdown to Kickoff: Bengals
Fox Sports

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Perfect storm for holdout
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
Here's what we know. The two sides are at least $7 million apart, and the Bengals' offer is $33 million - or more importantly, $5 million below what Darrius Heyward-Bey got from the Raiders July 31 as the seventh overall pick. We also know the Bengals traditionally have holdouts; Smith, the No. 6 selection, has had a rocky offseason; and his agent, Alvin Keels, is dealing with two high-profile contract situations. That all adds up to perfect conditions for a lengthy holdout.

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Josh Hamilton admits to relapse.....Hamilton created headlines last season with his inspired comeback from the depths of alcoholism and drug abuse to lead the major leagues in RBIs and nearly win the Home Run Derby. The All-Star stood at his locker at Angel Stadium a couple hours before game time Saturday and told about a dozen reporters how much he regretted what happened at a bar in Tempe, Ariz. Prior to this latest episode, Hamilton said he hadn't drank since Oct. 6, 2005.

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NCAA shoots down Ohio State's "on the road" practice plan....

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College Football Top 100
Sporting News

46. Cincinnati....UC was the Big East's biggest surprise in 2008. Coach Brian Kelly, in just his second season, guided the Bearcats to a Big East championship, winning six of seven conference games, and a BCS bowl bid. But after an Orange Bowl loss to Virginia Tech, Cincinnati returns just eight starters—only one on defense.

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Fantasy Football Monday....

All about timing with Tight Ends
CBS Sports
Here's the reality of tight ends: The best ones put up numbers equal to quality wide receivers. But to get those tight ends, you typically have to draft them among said receivers in your draft, namely Rounds 4 and 5. We've previously pointed out how thin the receiver crop is this season, and if you miss on filling your starting lineup with receivers from the Top 25 or so, you could have some issues later on. Taking a tight end in Round 4 or 5 could lead to significant trouble filling other starting spots, receiver or otherwise, later on.

2009 TE Projections

Avoid Patriots RB's in your draft.....In standard Fantasy leagues, the advice here is to avoid all Patriots running backs on Draft Day. Sure, Maroney has some sleeper value if he can return to his 2007 postseason form, and Taylor, Morris and Faulk will have their moments. But since they're splitting time, they're splitting production and will only cause a headache. You can find better reserve running backs.

Top 10 Fantasy RB Bargains
Fox Sports

6. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints....As the backup to injury-prone Brandon Jacobs and the Giants' complementary runner, Derrick Ward ran for 1,000 yards, and totaled 41 receptions and 1,409 yards last year. Ward has since moved to Tampa Bay. If Ahmad Bradshaw can withstand his fellow young competiton, he is next in line to receive those rushing attempts and receptions from the backfield.

Be careful drafting Jets RB's because of platoon.....An intimidating triple threat is developing in the New York Jets' backfield. The Jets already had one of the league's best running games a year ago with AFC rushing leader Thomas Jones and the quick and versatile Leon Washington. Last year, Ryan's Baltimore Ravens made it to the AFC championship with Le'Ron McClain, Willis McGahee and Ray Rice all getting more than 100 carries. However, like last season with the Ravens, all three getting regular carries will hurt all of their Fantasy values.

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Rachael Neiberding is your Monday Hangover Cure...

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Monday Food Porn....introducing Ultimate Biscuits

Three biscuits topped with ham, pork sausage, bacon, cheese, two over easy eggs, and gravy.

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FAIL of the day....

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Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane goes all Andy Kennedy on some cabbie in Buffalo....

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You can't make this stuff up....a "Saved by the Bell" porno is apparently in the works...That's right, airbrushed and tanned porn stars will soon be going at it at on the gang's table at The Max

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The Five Hottest Sports Wives
Bleacher Report

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Worst news you'll hear about today.....Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane says his "perfect scenario" would be to do the show for "another couple of years and then wrap it up."

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Best Movie Sequels of All Time
The Pulse

The Godfather, Part 2

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We've seen the bacon bra...but now Keds in introducing the Bacon Shoe

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Today's Definition of Duh....Hot dog heartache has come to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the Parks Department on Friday evicted a weiner vendor who couldn't pay his $53,558 monthly rent.

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