Show preview
Sports Talk, 6-8:30
Topics
Reds
Bengals: T.O. or Bryant?
Conference tournaments: The redundant cash grabs I have little use for
Guests

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The streak is over
UC 69 Rutgers 68....without a suspended Rashad Bishop
UC moves to 17-14....guarantees a winning season
Next up: Louisville, Wednesday at 9:05.
They win for the first time in March under Mick Cronin (1-12)
They win for the first time in the Big East tournament (1-3)

Your Wednesday project: Listen for the number of UC "fans" that call in and credit the team for winning without Bishop, in March, in the Big East tourney and securing a winning season. Compare that to the number of UC "fans" that previously called complaining about UC not being able to do any of the above.
I'll keep track of emails. Bonus points for hearing the UC "fans" that call and point out it was "just" Rutgers.

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Get a $14 ticket to the Reds for just $8
There are four Kid Glove Games this season for the Reds
Game 1: Reds vs Dodgers, Wednesday, April 21
Game 2: Reds vs Mets, Tuesday, May 4
Game 3: Reds vs Pirates, Monday, May 24
Game 4: Reds vs Pirates, Tuesday, May 25
Click on the link below to purchase ticket vouchers for just $8 each.
Vouchers can be exchanged for a $14 view level seat at GABP.
All proceeds go towards the purchase of baseball and softball equipment for youth in the Greater Cincinnati area.
The Reds allow Kid Glove to print 40,000 ticket vouchers. Team and/or organizations then receive 100 percent back from their ticket voucher sales to purchase equipment.

Click below for more info and your form to mail in:

Order form and ticket info

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T.O. has landed
Joe Reedy, Cincinnati.com
"I paid attention to some of the things that happened in the playoffs and leading up to the playoffs," Owens said. "Chad and I both can alleviate a lot of pressure off each other and we can make Carson's job a lot easier."

UC news
PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Two days after being selected as one of two unanimous selections to the BIG EAST Conference All-Rookie Team, University of Cincinnati freshman guard Lance Stephenson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln) was named the league's Rookie of the Year, the conference office announced.
Stephenson is the first UC men's basketball player to earn the distinction since the Bearcats joined the BIG EAST in 2005-06. He joins DerMarr Johnson (1999-00 Conference USA), Danny Fortson (1994-95 Great Midwest Conference), and Dontonio Wingfield (1993-94 Great Midwest Conference) as the only players in program history to earn freshman/rookie/newcomer of the year honors.
The preseason BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, Stephenson led all BIG EAST freshmen in scoring in overall (12.0 ppg) and conference-only games (12.1 ppg). He also finished in the Top 5 overall among league freshmen in rebounds (5.3 rpg/4th), steals (1.0 spg/5th), and assists (2.4 apg/4th).

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Show preview
Hot Stove, 6-7pm..Marty B with me for the entire hour taking your calls
Sports Talk, 7-8:30
Guest
Dan Hoard
Topics
Reds
Bengals
College hoops

LeBron coming to Cincinnati
From US Bank Arena
The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by NBA MVP and Perennial All-Star Lebron James, are coming to U.S. Bank Arena to take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 in an NBA preseason game. This will be one of the few times Cincinnati residents will be able to see the NBA live in their home town.
James will team with fellow All-Star and former MVP Shaquille O?Neal, guard Mo Williams, and recently acquired forward Antawn Jamison, as they go head-to-head against the 76ers big guns, Andre Iguodala and forward Elton Brand.
DON?T MISS THE EXCITEMENT!!! This is a great opportunity to witness some of the best players in the NBA right in your own backyard.
Tickets go on sale Monday, March 15th and are available at the U.S. Bank Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information visit www.usbankarena.com.

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Jocketty on Chapman's chances

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T.O. visit won't happen today. Is there room for T.O. and Brant?

(U.S. Presswire)
T.O. and Cincy? Stop the train....I'm getting off
CBS Sports
I've tried to help as much as I could, from complaining to mocking to openly ripping them for their behavior and their personnel decisions, and with my help the Bengals reached the playoffs in 2009. It was a good partnership, the Bengals and me. But it's over.
Because this? I cannot condone this. And I cannot complain or mock or openly rip it---because I cannot comprehend it.

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Tale of the tape: T.O. vs Bryant

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Cronin: Bar set too high for Gates

Cronin on Gates
Cincinnati.com
An interesting exchange today at Mick Cronin?s press conference between him and Channel 5's George Vogel, who asked the UC coach to address critics who say Yancy Gates hasn't gotten any better and that Gates should be more of a force in the low post.

What was written about Gates in November of 2006

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Prize packages
Sporting News Today
UC/Big East basketball players receive a Nintendo Wii package at the Big East Tournament this week.
XU/A-10 basketball player receive their choice of one: iPod dock audio system, Bose earbuds, digital camera, portable DVD player, SwissGear Army backpack, jacket, and eco friendly water bottles

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Hoard on the Fu ManChu

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Big East's Big Spenders? Just check the standings
NY Times
A subject lingering in the background, however, is how the financial investment of the league's programs is seemingly tied to their success. It is not a hard-and-fast relationship, but it is easy to look at the standings and then the expense numbers and see how they are intertwined.

Click here to compare how much UC spends/makes for each sport compared to every other school

Expenses by team
UC basketball: $4.0 mill
UL basketball: $8.6 mill

Revenues by team
UC basketball $5.1 mill
Louisville basketball $25.4 mill

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Sporting News Mock draft: Bengals take Michigan DE

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UK news
LEXINGTON, Ky.---UK freshman John Wall has been named SEC Player of the Year by league coaches as announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
Wall, a 6-4 guard from Raleigh, N.C., is UK's all-time leading freshman scorer and assist leader. He leads the Southeastern Conference and ranks fifth nationally in assists (6.2). He is also fifth in the league in scoring (16.8).
Wall is the first Wildcat to be named SEC Player of the Year since Keith Bogans received the honor in 2003 and is the 13th Wildcat to be named the league's Player of the Year. He is also the second freshman to be named the conference's Player of the Year. Chris Jackson won the award as a freshman in 1989.
Teammate and fellow freshman DeMarcus Cousins was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. He is the second Wildcat to receive the honor; however he is the first player in UK history to receive the award outright. Patrick Patterson was named the league's Co Freshman of the Year in 2008.
Cousins has set all-time records for Wildcat freshmen in double-doubles with 18, and rebounds with 312, while averaging 10.0 boards a game, second best in the SEC. His 18 double-doubles is the most in the league this season and the most by a Wildcat since the 1973 season.
Cousins, Wall and Patterson were all voted First Team All SEC by league coaches, while Cousins, Wall and Eric Bledsoe were all named to the SEC All Freshman team.
Patterson was also selected to the league's All-Defensive team.
It is the first time in UK history the Wildcats have had three players named First Team All SEC by the coaches and the second time in three years that UK has had three players named All SEC by conference coaches.
This season also marks the first time in UK history the Wildcats have placed three players on the Freshman All-SEC team

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(Getty Images)
Chapman justifies hype in debut
Joe Posnanski, SI
"I mean, holy cow," says longtime Kansas City scout Art Stewart.
Holy cow. There was a time in baseball when baseball phenoms would just show up, when blazing fast and switch-hitting sluggers would wander out of the Oklahoma mines and 17-year-old pitchers throwing 100 mph would walk off of farms in Iowa. But now--- you can follow baseball prospects through high school, through college, through the minor leagues, you can see film on them on the Internet, you can hear scouts talk about them, you can find prospect lists that go all the way to No. 2,000.
And then here comes Chapman.

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First impressions of Chapman: Oh, my

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Chapman throws hard, but he's no Tim Belcher

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Chapman has ace potential
Keith Law, ESPN
I got my first live look at Aroldis Chapman on Monday in a game in Goodyear, Arizona, that was attended by a few hundred other people--probably not what the city of Goodyear had in mind when they paid for the stadium---and I have a two-word scouting report: That'll work.

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Latest NIT bracket from NIT-ology

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Happy Birthday
Aaron Boone turns 37 today

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UK is young and dumb

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Chapman dazzles in debut
Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune With apologies to Jon Landau and perhaps Stephen Strasburg, I have seen the future of pitching and his name is Aroldis Chapman. He's lean and tall, as wide-eyed as a kid at his first carnival, and he throws a baseball with the speed and handling of a Porsche on the open road. The Reds somehow stole him away from the serial talent collectors with a guarantee of $30 million that they will one day consider the down payment on their re-emergence as one of the major leagues' relevant teams.

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Fan of The Wire? Look what is out today on DVD

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Soldier Field targets Notre Dame for 2012

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Chad with Dancing with the Stars partner Cheryl Burke

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Highest paid NCAA basketball coaches
1. Calipari, 4. Matta, 5. Pitino, 9. Huggins

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The SEC's best: Wall or Cousins?

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XU news
CINCINNATI---Sophomore Jordan Crawford, the leading scorer in the Atlantic 10
Conference at 19.7 ppg. to go with 4.7 rpg. and 3.0 apg., has been named as a
Third Team All-American by Sporting News. SN announced five All-American teams
with five members on each team for a total of 25 honorees. Crawford is the only
Atlantic 10 player listed on the All-American teams.
Crawford is the first Xavier player to make one of the top three teams on a
major All-American listing since 2003 National Player of the Year David West. In
addition, Crawford is the first XU player to ever earn such a prestigious honor
as a freshman or sophomore. For the record, West (2001) and Byron Larkin (1986)
were AP Honorable Mention All-Americans as sophomores.
In addition to the national honors, Sporting News announced All-Atlantic 10
honors as well. Crawford was named A-10 Player of the Year and senior Jason Love
was named Second Team All-Atlantic 10. Foxsports.com released its A-10 awards as
well and also picked Crawford as the A-10 Player of the Year. The Atlantic 10
Conference coaches had Crawford on their First Team and Love on their Third
Team.

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Bengals mourn passing of Ken Dyer
Bengals.com
Bengals president Mike Brown was there that day.
Oct. 3, 1971.
Brown can still see the 6-3, 190-pound Dyer motionless on the grass after the 6-1, 225-pound Brockington had broken past the line of scrimmage. Brockington did that a lot that year, his rookie season in which he bounded for 1,105 yards in one of those 14-game seasons. On this day he would finish with 120 yards on 19 carries in a 20-17 win over the Bengals.
But it was one carry that Scott Dyer has never seen on film but changed everything.

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Francisco already a cardboard god
ESPN

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Fay: Go ahead and get excited about Chapman
Cincinnati.com
"I'm not saying Chapman is going to be Randy Johnson, but he has a chance to be great.
In the five times I've seen him throw, I?ve seen nothing but good things.
So, again: Dream big, Reds fans."

C. Trent with more on Chapman

and Mark Sheldon with still more on Chapman

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Panel Part 2: Playoffs need fewer days off, shorter spring for MLB
USA Today
Major League Baseball needs to revise its postseason schedule, USA TODAY's committee says, if baseball wants to protect the integrity of a true championship season.
Baker suggests a return to playing two games a day during the League Championship Series, which might
hurt TV ratings but reduces days off. But with fewer days off and a shorter spring, would baseball try a
revenue-generating extra playoff round?

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Cincinnati Roy Hobbs adult baseball team looking for players
From Jason Earhardt
One of our league's better teams is in need of a few players. This would be a
great opportunity to join a very well established team that finished second in
our league last season.
Individual player costs are going to be in the neighborhood of around $250-$300
per player. These costs cover umpire expenses ($70 per game), field costs,
uniform expenses, and equipment. If you are able to make the commitment both
time wise and financially, contact Jeff Craft via e-mail at jcraft21@yahoo.com
Here is a little background info on the league:
The age requirements are as follows: players must be 25 before Dec 31st 2010,
and in order to pitch you must be 28 by December 31st 2010.
Most teams keep around 18-20 guys on their roster. I know this might seem like a
lot, but it is necessary due to work schedules, vacations, injuries, etc. You
need that many to ensure you get at least 13-14 to show up each game. There is
plenty of attrition over 4 months and a 30+ game schedule.
Game days are Wednesday nights at 6:30 and Sunday mornings at 9:30. Opening day
is just 7 weeks away (Sunday April 25th) This league is a lot of fun, if you
have played at least at the High School level (or equivalent) in the past you
should be fine, there aren't any former big leaguers out here!
Game scores and stats are posted on our league website www.cincyroyhobbs.com and
game scores are put in the sports page of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
If you have any questions regarding the league in general you can e-mail Jason
at je8674@yahoo.com

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Show preview
Sports Talk, 6-9pm
Guest
Chris Mack, 6:34
Mike Bobinski, XU A.D./NCAA selection committee member, 7:05
Jeff Brantley, 8:05
Topics
Reds: Chapman reaction
Goodyear: Anyone go last week?
Bengals
College Hoops
The Oscars

Tank returns
According to Tank Johnson, on Twitter, he has reached a new deal with the Bengals
"Cinci we got a deal! Very greatfull to The Browns and all the Who Dey Nation!!! I'm Baaaaaaaack!!!! Now let's win some more"

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Chapman's first outing is first rate

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Bryant visiting, Bengals interested in Buchanon

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Cronin: "I've got to deliver"

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Bryant to visit
From Adam Shefter, ESPN on Twitter
Free agent WR Antonio Bryant is headed to Cincinnati for a visit tonight and tomorrow. He could be the Bengals WR.

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Quote of the day
Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune on Twitter
*Just saw the future of pitching. His name is Aroldis Chapman ... Seriously, he looks like a great $30 million investment for the #Reds.

*I know it's March, not June, but #Reds look good to me. Yes, they could use a known bopper, but top to bottom they match up with the #Cubs

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Chapman today
2 innings, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 k's
Faced 7 batters....26 pitches, 15 for strikes
Where can I get a Chapman jersey? Maybe I keep my Arroyo...use the A.....and add the C h p m a n?
Saturday April 10 vs Cubs...1:10 start. His ML debut? Oh baby!
John Fay tweeted that one scout had Chapman at 102 mph.

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Bearcats getting ready for Pro Day

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Reds-Royals today..running boxscore Plenty of good seats available

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Holy! Joanna Krupa

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Things noticed
10 schools have their men's and women's team ranked in the AP Top 25 this week
Xavier: men 24th, women 5th
Others: Kentucky, Duke, Ohio State, West Virginia, Michigan St, Gonzaga, Baylor, Georgtown, Tennessee

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XU stuff
From Mark Wagner
Winningest "rookie" coaches this season
1. Chris Mack, Xavier, 23-7 .767
2. Josh Pastner, Memphis, 23-8 .742
3. Shaka Smart, VCU, 22-8 .733

Best record in March/April, since March 2002
1. Kansas 54-14 .794
2. Memphis 52-16 .765
3. North Carolina 47-16 .746
4. Xavier 41-15 .732
5. Ohio State 38-15 .717

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Catching up with Nick Van Exel . He's an assistant coach at Texas Southern.

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Take your pick
3 WR's for the Bengals to consider...you'd think one has to wind up here. Which one do you want and why?
Consider: Age, production, baggage, cost, compensation.

Antonio Bryant

Terrel Owens

Brandon Marshall

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Sandra Bullock won Best Actress last night for her role in The Blind Side. It's very rare for a Sports Movie or an actor/actress in a sports movie to win Oscar recognition. Read the article below. I had one of the authors on a couple of months ago. If we have time in the 8pm hour tonight, we will try to fill the four categories listed below.

Snubbed sports movies
The Sporting News
When it comes to the Academy Awards, sports movies have traditionally been as welcome as Terrell Owens at a McNabb family picnic. Just three have been honored as Best Motion Picture in the Awards' 82-year history -- Rocky in 1976, Chariots of Fire in 1981 and Million Dollar Baby in 2004.
Maybe justice will be served. But it rarely is. So we've prepared our own all-time ballot, honoring the great sports-movie performances that never got a nod on Oscar Night.

Best lead actor

Best supporting actor

Best lead actress

Best supporting actress

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Unreal
UConn women go for an NCAA record 71st straight win tonight vs Notre Dame. They won yesterday to tie their own NCAA record at 70 consecutive wins. UConn is 31-0 this season and winning by an average of 35.6 points per game. Actually I looked up their schedule because I found that margin of victory hard to believe. It's true. Their closest margin of victory is 14 vs St John's. A 19 point win over Florida St is the only other game with a winning margin less than 20. They have wins by 70, 67, 55, 42, 42.
They have outscored their opponents 2,571 to 1,467....including a first half margin of 1,419 to 727.

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Latest bracket
Jerry Palm, CollegeRPI.com
Seedings
1 Kentucky
2 Purdue, West Virginia
3 Ohio State, Kansas State
6 Butler
7 Xavier
9 Louisville
13 Murray St
Conference bids
9-Big East
5-SEC
4-Big 10
3-A-10
Last four in: Georgia Tech, Memphis, Seton Hall, San Diego St.
Close, but NIT (Not In Tournament): Arizona St, Rhode Island, South Florida, UAB.

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Happy Birthday

Mickey Dolenz, of The Monkees, turns 65

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Stuff

Friday Night Lights sacks Landry

Tressel doesn't duck issue of gays in sports

Frank Martin gets extension at Kansas State

NFL Free Agent Watch List : Here is who remains and who has been signed

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Peter King on free agency
SI.COM
In 2008, as a precursor to their Super Bowl seasons, Arizona and Pittsburgh signed no one from other teams in the first two days of free agency. In 2009, as a precursor to their Super Bowl seasons, New Orleans and Indianapolis signed no one from other teams in the first two days of free agency.
That's the thing about free agency: We celebrate it like it's a huge event, like if you get nothing done the opening 72 hours, your season's down the drain.
There's a clarion call out there, and it's screaming: Free agency is vastly overrated.

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Happy Birthday
Former Reds catcher Don Werner turns 57 today. Drafted in the 5th round in 1971, Werner played with the Reds from 1975-80. He hit .165 in 212 ab's with the Reds. He's the answer to a trivia question..for catching Tom Seaver's only no-hitter...June 16, 1978.

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Local product fulfills mom's dream on UK Senior Day
Lexington Herald Leader
Terri Krebs, Mark's mother, first battled breast cancer nine years ago. Last summer, the doctors said her cancer had spread to her bones, lungs and liver.
"It's been going downhill the last couple of months," Mark Krebs said. "Her walking has decreased. She's not really mobile anymore. She's still fighting, but it's weighing on her a lot more than it has in the past."
Tuesday will be Terri's 49th birthday.
More than anything, the gift Terri wanted was to be in Rupp Sunday so she could be with her son on the day when, traditionally, Kentucky senior basketball players start their final home game.

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Turner a success story at OSU
Cleveland Plain Dealer
"My first two or three months, I didn't know if I could play at this level," Turner said last week, as he waited for a Sports Illustrated cover shoot. "Every team I played on in practice, we lost. Minutes weren't coming that easy, either, especially if Jon Diebler was hitting his jump shot that day. I was playing less and less, and I really had to get used to it."
That's not the typical path of today's college star. Among the last 15 players to win a national player of the year award, only Duke's Shane Battier, the 2001 player of the year, and Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin, the 2000 player of the year, scored fewer points as a freshman than did Turner.

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N.I.T-ology
UC projected as a 4-seed for NIT at this moment
Sean Miller and Arizona 4-seed
North Carolina 6-seed
Tubby and Minnesota 1-seed
Devan Downey and SC 8-seed

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Little help here
I'm looking for a video camera. In addition to shooting family stuff, I want to use it to shoot and upload stuff to my blog. I'm hearing great reviews of the Flip Ultra HD. John Thornton and Artrell Hawkins rave about it.
What about the Flip Mino HD?
I've heard good things about this one from Sanyo...the Sanyo Xacti CG10 .....and the Sony Bloggie.....Do you have one? Got any other suggestions?

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Chapman ready for Monday debut
Mark Sheldon, MLB.COM
For the first time this spring, when the Reds play the Royals at Goodyear Ballpark, Cuban pitching sensation Aroldis Chapman will face batters wearing different uniforms and his stadium performance will be open to the public.
Chapman, who is competing for the fifth spot in Cincinnati's rotation, will work out of the bullpen behind starter Bronson Arroyo against Kansas City during the 3:05 p.m. ET game.

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A-10 news
NEWPORT NEWS, Va.---Junior guard Kevin Anderson of Richmond has been named the 2009-10 Atlantic 10 men's basketball Player of the Year in voting conducted among the Conference's 14 head coaches.
The A-10 coaches also selected Fordham's Chris Gaston as the Rookie of the Year, Chris Johnson of Dayton as the recipient of the Chris Daniels Award as the league's most improved player, Temple's Ramone Moore as Sixth Man of the Year, Damian Saunders of Duquesne as Defensive Player of the Year and Temple's Fran Dunphy as Coach of the Year.
All-Conference first team: Jordan Crawford, Xavier
All-Conference 3rd team: Jason Love

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Jordan Crawford got hosed
How did 14 A-10 coaches watch this season and decide Kevin Anderson of Richmond was the A-10 Player of the Year?
Crawford played five fewer minutes per game...but averaged more points, rebounds and assists per game.
Here is the overall breakdown
Player: Crawford vs Anderson
Minutes: 31.8/36.7
Points: 19.7/17.8
20+pt: 15/12
-10pt: 1/3
Rebounds: 4.7/3.4
Assists: 3.0/2.7
Turnovers: 72/74
FG%: .456/.463
FT% .775/.835
3pt%: .399/.340
Steals: 39/56
Here is the A-10 breakdown
Player: Crawford vs Anderson
Minutes: 32.5/36.8
Points: 20.2/17.1
FG% .467/.446
FT%: .833/.855
3pt%: .416/.323
20+pt: 9/6
-10 pt: 0/3
Rebounds: 4.8/2.9
Assists: 50/43
Turnovers: 50/32
Steals: 23/21

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Thornton: Bryant better fit for Bengals than T.O.

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Big East news
PROVIDENCE, R.I. For the third straight year, Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody
was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, the league announced.
All Big East 1st team
Greg Monroe, Georgetown, C, So., 6-11, 247, New Orleans, La.
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, F, Sr., 6-8, 255, Schererville, Ind.
Dominique Jones, USF, G, Jr., 6-4, 205, Lake Wales, Fla.
Wes Johnson, Syracuse, F, Jr., 6-7, 205, Corsicana, Texas
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-2, 190, Herndon, Va. *
Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia, F, Sr., 6-7, 225, Newark, N.J.
All Big East Rookie Team
Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati, G, Fr., 6-5, 210, Brooklyn, N.Y. *

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Think Mardy Gilyard wants to be a Bengal?
Check out what he was wearing Saturday at a Kenwood Mall autograph signing.
Thanks to Alex Ansara for passing along the photo. He was having Mardy sign a print he drew of Gilyard.
Alex told me: "I asked if he has a 2nd choice of teams if he doesn't end up in Cincinnati, and he said "There's Cincinnati, and there's everything else...I don't want to go anywhere else."

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Paige Nemec, the subject of our wrestling debate Thursday night, became the first female to win an Ohio High School State Tournament match.

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Marvin began asking exploratory questions about T.O a month ago-Steve Wyche, NFL Network

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Headed to Goodyear?
If you travel to spring training at some point this month be sure and call-in with a report.
Let me know what you think...like and don't like. Call while you are out there or when you return.

Reviews from Goodyear
Emails from listeners:
"While this is my first Spring Training visit, I can not compare any other facility, however I can say that Goodyear Ballpark is nicer than I expected based upon the media reports. I'm staying in Phoenix and it's about a 20 minute drive from the Sky Harbor Airport. The ballpark actually has a Skyline Chili booth where you can get cheese coneys.....a very nice touch. The Reds had George Foster signing autographs in left field for $10. The concessions are pretty good but you're definitely paying "Major League" prices for beer and hot dogs. A high point is the gift shop. It's huge and has a lot of people there to assist you. The Reds souvenir t-shirts celebrating the "Inaugural Year" at Goodyear are really nice. I'm definitely coming back with one.
My only complaint yesterday (besides the Reds lack of offense and pitching) were the ushers. They really need to lighten up! I bought a $27 ticket in section 113 right behind home plate, however the section was covered in shade. While I'm here to watch the games, I'm also here to see the sun. I walked around to the left field line to sections 103 - 105 where the sun was bright, and the open seats were plentiful. I could not get the ushers to let me down and grab a seat even though I showed them my more expensive ticket. Every time you go to the concourse and come back to your seat, the ushers demand to see your ticket. It got to be a little obnoxious, especially since they only had 4,000 people in a 10,000 capacity ballpark."

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Willie and Rudi want to play in 2010

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Cardinals not a lock in NL Central

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Bruton Smith lobbies for Kentucky
FoxSports
Smith would like to have seven Cup venues. He said Friday he is "very confident" that SMI's Kentucky Speedway, which the company bought for $78.3 million in December, 2008, will be included on the 2011 Cup schedule.
But the inclusion of Kentucky on the schedule means the removal of another venue's date. Smith knows which one, but was not ready to say---at least not directly.

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Do you tailgate? Check out the 2010 Tailgate Census

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Trade for Boldin is good move for Ravens
Baltimore Sun
Boldin is a Derrick Mason-type receiver, but younger, bigger, stronger and faster. He is proven and will help the Ravens. The best thing about this deal is that the Ravens can still get the vertical threat they need in the draft, and/or a tight end. Like last season, they still might be able to find a cornerback in the later rounds.
If Boldin can stay healthy, and with the addition of Donte' Stallworth, if he can return to form, the Ravens have become serious contenders. They should be able to win defensive games as well as shootouts.

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NHL ratings already in the tank
NY Daily News
Just look what went down here on Thursday night. The Penguins, featuring the NHL''s marquee faceman, Sidney Crosby, invaded the nation's biggest media market to play the Rangers in the Garden on MSG.
The game pulled a .96 rating. Let's put this in perspective. On Thursday afternoon the Mets played an exhibition game against the Cardinals on SportsNet New York. The Mets won, 17-11. By the third inning, there was a bunch of strangers playing. The game was not even in HD.
The grapefruit matchup still recorded a 1.13 rating. When a marquee contest like Penguins-Rangers can't beat a meaningless exhibition baseball game in the ratings department, well, so much for all that Olympic noise. By the way, Thrashers-Islanders on MSG+ Thursday night notched a .23 rating. So, the combined Rangers/Isles rating (1.19) barely beat out that meaningless Mets game.

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It's time for Marshall to go
Denver Post
"I'll never be your beast of burden. Never, never, never, never, never, never, never be."
-- The Rolling Stones
Brandon Marshall was The Beast. And he was The Burden. Ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever was.
Now, we will find out how badly (or goodly) Seattle wants to embrace Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde.
Please, pretty please, Seahawks, take Marshall, don't leave him

More on MarshallIf the Seahawks decide they can't reach an agreement with Marshall on a new contract--- he figures to command a deal of at least $10 million a year---or the team decides surrendering the No. 6 pick is too costly, there isn't much chance of Seattle acquiring the receiver for alternative compensation via trade.

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2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship
Tuesday, March 9
First Round - Campus Sites
# 9 Duquesne at #8 St. Bonaventure 7:00
#10 George Washington at #7 Dayton 7:00
#11 Massachusetts at #6 Charlotte 7:00
#12 Saint Joseph's at #5 Rhode Island 7:00 (Cox)
Friday, March 12
Quarterfinals - Boardwalk Hall - Atlantic City, N.J.
Game 5 - #1 Temple vs. #8/#9 winner 12:00 (CBS CS)*
Game 6 - #4 Saint Louis vs. #5/#12 winner 2:30 (CBS CS)*
Game 7 - #2 Xavier vs. #7/#10 winner 6:30 (CBS CS)*
Game 8 - #3 Richmond vs. #6/#11 winner 9:00 (CBS CS)*
Saturday, March 13
Semifinals - Boardwalk Hall - Atlantic City, N.J.
Game 9 - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner 1:00 (CBS College Sports)
Game 10 - Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner 3:30 (CBS College Sports)
Sunday, March 14
Finals - Boardwalk Hall - Atlantic City, N.J.
1:00 (CBS)

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2010 Big East Tournament
Madison Square Garden
Tuesday, March 9 First Round (ESPN2)
No. 9 USF (19-11) vs. No. 16 DePaul (8-22)....................................... Noon
No. 12 Connecticut (17-14) vs. No. 13 St. John's (16-14).................... 2 p.m.
Tuesday, March 9 First Round (ESPNU)
No. 10 Seton Hall (18-11) vs. No. 15 Providence (12-18).................... 7 p.m.
No. 11 Cincinnati (16-14) vs. No. 14 Rutgers (15-16)......................... 9 p.m.
Wednesday, March 10 Second Round (ESPN)
No. 8 Georgetown (20-9) vs. USF/DePaul winner................................. Noon
No. 5 Marquette (20-10) vs. Connecticut/St. John's winner.................. 2 p.m.
No. 7 Notre Dame (21-10) vs. Seton Hall/Providence winner............... 7 p.m.
No. 6 Louisville (20-11) vs. Cincinnati/Rutgers winner........................ 9 p.m.
Thursday, March 11 Quarterfinals (ESPN)
No. 1 Syracuse (28-3) vs. 8/9/16 winner............................................. Noon
No. 4 Villanova (24-6) vs. 5/12/13 winner........................................ 2 p.m.
No. 2 Pittsburgh (24-7) vs. 7/10/15 winner........................................ 7 p.m.
No. 3 West Virginia (24-6) vs. 6/11/14 winner................................... 9 p.m.
Friday, March 12 Semifinals (ESPN)
Thursday afternoon winners............................................................. 7 p.m.
Thursday evening winners............................................................... 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 13 Championship (ESPN)
Semifinal winners.......................................................................... 9 p.m.

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Feeling blue
North Carolina got hammered 82-50 by Duke last night. It's their worst loss in seven years. And their lowest point total under Roy Williams. Carolina is now 16-15/5-11. They are the 10th seed in the ACC tournament.

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Selig: Cincinnati deserves All-Star game

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Cueto pitches, Wood impressive

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(AP photo)
XU grabs share of 4th straight A-10 title

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Hamilton's left shoulder improving

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UC will play Tuesday at 9pm. Cronin objects to ambush of his players.

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UC down the stretch under Mick
'06-07: 1-11 in last 12
'07-08: 0-7 in last 7...including CBI loss
'08-09: 1-6 in last 7...including losing final four games
'09-10: have lost 6 of last 7 and 7 of the last 9
Mick is 0-12 in March at UC
2006-07: 0-1
2007-08: 0-5
2008-09: 0-4
2009-10: 0-2

UC basketball under Mick Cronin
Season..Record..Conf.....RPI....SOS
2006-07: 11-19.....2-14......197......47
2007-08: 13-18.....8-10......118.....11
2008-09: 18-14.....8-10.......84......44
2009-10: 16-14.....7-11.......67......11

Slip slidin' away
Ever see a team get games flipped on them like UC?
Check out UC's leads that eventually turned to losses this season
13 vs West Virginia, lost by 6
12 vs Seton Hall, lost by 7
11 vs Louisville, lost by 8
10 vs Gonzaga, lost by 2
7 vs Pitt, lost by 3
6 vs Syracuse, lost by 17
6 vs Marquette, lost in OT
5 vs Xavier in OT, lost by 4
3 vs St John's with :19, lost by 2
Also....down three at the half, outscored 45-21 in 2nd half vs Georgetown

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Teams should gladly give up 1st rounder for proven WR's

Tight end will visit Bengals next week

Ring, ring...Bengals place calls to T.O. and Bryant

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Anyone notice who is introducing Hal McCoy's reports from Goodyear? Former CBS sideline reporter Jill Arrington

Lincoln, Reds off to rocky start

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Reds getting accumstomed to Goodyear

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State of the Bengals: What the 2009 film revealed
NY Times
Yes, Darrelle Revis stifled him, but looking at the season as a whole, Ochocinco was still football?s quickest receiver in and out of his breaks, and he was a menace running after the catch. The problem? There were no other receiving threats

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Wright St baseball knocks of #1......again
From WSU
For the second time in two seasons, the Wright State baseball team has knocked off the #1-ranked team on its home field as the Raiders scored single runs in the third and sixth and made that stand up for a 2-1 win over the Virginia Cavaliers at Davenport Field in Charlottesville, Virginia, Friday afternoon. Virginia (6-2) was the top-ranked team in the Baseball America and Rivals.com polls for the last two weeks. It was the second time in two seasons that the Raiders have knocked off the #1-ranked team on its home field, having accomplished the feat on March 24, 2009, with an 8-5 win at Georgia.

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Vaughn happy he chose UC
Indy Star
Vaughn originally committed to IU, but didn't meet freshman eligibility requirements and attended a Cincinnati prep school for one year instead. That turned out to be the season that IU coach Mike Davis resigned and was replaced by Kelvin Sampson, who didn't recruit him.

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Looking for a baseball team for your son?
Do you have a son that plays baseball that is in need of a team in the Northern Kentucky area?
Tim Grubb is coaching a District 28 Knothole team. He's looking for players born on or after May 1st 1999.
Tim is a terrific coach and great teacher of the game. He has a son, Ty, that he coaches.
Casey played for him for two years.
If you are interested in more info contact Tim at artyjenkins@yahoo.com.

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Palmer says T.O. OK

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Bearcat Olympics: The Water Balloon Toss

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Bearcat blitzed in second half

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UC reaction
Friday was a good day for UC basketball. Athletic Director Mike Thomas opted to continue on the path of patience and understanding, rather than cave to the vocal minority and message board mob. Mike Cronin will return next season.
No real shock. A June 15, 2009 extension should have eliminated any fan drama.
Mick has four years left on his contract and he will be given the chance to continue building up UC basketball.
In four years he has failed to make the NCAA tournament. But he's accomplished two things this administration wanted from him.
He's repaired the image of UC basketball....recruiting solid student athletes that have stayed out of trouble.
In a perfect world year four would have seen UC back in the NCAA tournament. Rarley is life perfect.
UC has four years invested in Mick. He began rebuilding the UC basketball house with no materials four years ago.
To have fired him after this season would have been to look at the house, realized it needed more shingles to finish the roof, and decided to tear down the house and start over. No A.D. in his right mind was going to choose that option.
UC is 16-13 vs the 11th toughest schedule in the country.
Had they taken care of Seton Hall and St John's they'd be 18-11/9-8 and tomorrow's game would be the biggest in years.
But, that didn't happen. And it's frustrating. I get frustrated.
But most fans understand the process isn't clean and pretty or done in a microwave.
Attendance is up nearly 9% from a year ago.
The pressure certainly isn't off Mick. And I wouldn't feel real comfortable if my future was tied to Yancy Gates.
But next years will include a base of seniors with three years of Big East basketball under their belt (Bishop,Davis and Wilks).
Add Gates, Thomas, Dixon, Stephenson and Wright to that mix. Toss in Sean Kilpatrick and 2 incoming freshmen. Factor in an easier non conference schedule. What you have is the makings of an NCAA team. For Mick's sake, it had better be.
Mick has lost the benefit of the doubt with a lot of fans. They are tired of excuses/explanations.
They want results. Not could, should, might. Understood.
But today's news takes Mick's immediate future off the table. Which is a good thing. He's coming back.
The debate off his status for next year is removed from radio/TV/newspaper and message boards.
And it's taken his future out of the equation in recruiting circles.
All that remains is whether the angry vocal minority is going to rally behind the team or dig in against it.

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Show preview
Sports Talk, 6-9pm
Guests
Mardy Gilyard, 6:35
Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets/Team Canada, 8:05
Topics
Reds: Did you listen today?
Bengals
UC/Mick: He's coming back. Your reaction?
Off The Beaten Path: It's Oscar weekend..time to hand out our Sports Movie Oscars.
Categories
Best performance by actor in role of an athlete
Best performance by actor in role of coach/manager
Best supporting actor
Best actress
Best scene
Best non athlete/coach/manager role

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Thomas: Mick Cronin will return next year
Bill Koch's blog

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UC basketball attendance/NCAA rank
8,528 this season
7,818 2009 (70)
8,543 2008 (63)
8,831 2007 (63)
9,300 2006 (53)...Andy Kennedy
11,304 2005 (27)...Bob Huggins' final year
12,805 2004 (24)
12,182 2003 (25)
12,058 2002 (25)
12,906 2001 (19)
13,176 2000 (23)
12,977 1999 (24) Kenyon's injury
'98: 11009 (31)
'97: 13158 (21)
'96 12719 (26)
'95: 13099 (23)
'94: 12629 (27)
'93: 12238 (28)
'92 10111 (38)
'91 10188 (37)
'90: 9273 (51)
'89: 3572 (143)
'88: 5113 (101)
'87: 4785 (96)
'86: 6630 (72)
'85: 8070 (53)
'84: 4752 (104)
From NCAA

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UC down the stretch under Mick
'06-07: 1-11 in last 12
'07-08: 0-7 in last 7...including CBI loss
'08-09: 1-6 in last 7...including losing final four games
'09-10: have lost 5 of last 6 and 6 of the last 8
Mick is 0-11 in March at UC
2006-07: 0-1
2007-08: 0-5
2008-09: 0-4
2009-10: 0-1

How much progress is enough?
UC basketball under Mick Cronin
Season..Record..Conf.....RPI....SOS
2006-07: 11-19.....2-14......197......47
2007-08: 13-18.....8-10......118.....11
2008-09: 18-14.....8-10.......84......44
2009-10: 16-13.....7-10.......63......12

Latest bracket
Jerry Palm, CollegeRPI.com (7:54am Friday)
Seeding
1 Kentucky
2 Purdue
3 Ohio St
6 Butler
6 Xavier (Jerry has a 1st round game vs Ole Miss)
10 Louisville
11 Dayton (Jerry has a 1st round game vs Butler)
Last four in: Mississippi, Notre Dame, San Diego St, Virginia Tech.
Close, but NIT (Not In Tournament): Connecticut, Charlotte, Illinois, Mississippi St.
By conference:
8 Big East
5 A-10, SEC
4 Big 10

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SI ranks the GM's in MLB. Where does Walt rank?

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T.O. looking better for Bengals

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C. Trent has video of Chapman yesterday

Frazier fine after beaning

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Will Leitch writes about the Reds for Dead Spin

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Chad running naked in Hollenbeck Park in LA park? Make it stop

It's part of the newest Reebok campaign

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Coles: "Carson wasn't comfortable throwing to me"
Star Ledger

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(AP photo)
Chapman has much to learn
NY Times
Chapman, a Cuban defector who signed a six-year contract, threw 12 strikes among 17 pitches. He mixed 2 sliders with 14 fastballs and tried a changeup for his last pitch, fooling Wilkin Castillo for strike three.
"I had no chance," Castillo said.
In a larger sense, the Reds were thought to have no chance at landing Chapman, who defected from the Cuban national team during a tournament in the Netherlands last July 1. Chapman, now 22, had struck out eight over six and a third innings at the World Baseball Classic, and his fastball has been clocked at 100 miles an hour.

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Click here for details on Nick Brunker's 2010 Battle of the Babes

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(AP photo)
Chapman sparks hype, hope
USA Today
Frequently mentioned but less appreciated are the off-field difficulties inherent in making such a drastic life change: learning a new language and culture, adjusting to new food and surroundings, plus accepting that a family reunion might be a long time in coming.

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(NY Daily News photo)
On this date: The strangest trade in sports history

1973: New York Yankees pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson make a stunning declaration. The left-handers announce that they have traded wives, children, and family dogs. The announcement sends shock waves through the baseball world. -Baseball-Reference.com

A look back at the trade and impact

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Will fans make trip to Goodyear?
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Hall of Famer Joe Morgan will throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench will catch it. Other members of the Big Red Machine, which won the World Series in 1975 and 1976, on hand will be George Foster and Ken Griffey.

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Stuff

Top 10 free agent bargains: Former Bengal WR #1

UK's Senior Day should be for seniors

UC studiespremium seating at Nippert

Mick Cronin says he's not worried about his future

Do you tailgate? Chech out the 2010 Tailgate Census

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Bid on Opening Day club boxes
Beginning at noon today, fans can bid on reds.com to experience Opening Day in the Champions Club Boxes. These semi-private boxes allow you to enjoy the April 5th game in style with a high-top table and chairs along with a flat-screen TV. Located just steps away is the all-inclusive FOX Sports Ohio Champions Club, where you can enjoy unlimited pizza, pasta, nachos, soft drinks and more. You'll even receive two drink tickets per person for alcoholic beverages, which you can order from your seat or at the nearby outdoor bar area. The first round of bidding starts Friday, March 5 at noon EST. The Champions Club Box tickets are auctioned in packages of four, six and eight tickets with the final round of auctions ending on Friday, March 19. Link to auction page: www.reds.com/tickets. All proceeds from the Club Box auctions will benefit the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, and winning bids will receive annual memberships to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.