I get an e mail tonight from a guy who says I shouldn't talk about the BENGALS.

I DON'T CARE WHAT HE THINKS.  Why should I ?  Should I change my thought process and my show because of the e mail ?

I'm not comparing myself to Boomer, but if you think for a second he cares about what you might think about his radio show in NY, you are in the same boat as the guy who says I shouldn't talk about the BENGALS.  

It's a mindset about doing a show.  It's a smart mindset.  

What makes America great is, you can think anyway you want.  And that, I respect BIG TIME !

by the way, whoever put up those numbers about DUNN, it's the best blog I've since since we've started.  NOW THAT IS A GREAT BLOG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just had '5' comments in my blog to approve.  I just hit the button to approve all '5'.  I have no idea if it will or not.  I will put this blog up and then check.

Mike Florio is very good.  What I like is his "national" perspective.  On the one hand, what Carson says about the defense being faster and tougher to get things done off of is terrific.

If that holds up in September, it's time to get excited.

But, until it happens, it hasn't happened.  Which is what Florio, from profootball.com believes. His other point is, is there a problem with the offense because it's tougher for them to get things done.

Speaking of DUNN, is it possible that he's starting to hit another level.  Until the other day, that thought never hit me. He's 28, he might be hitting his prime. Right now he's carrying the load.  He's done that before. 

When he's not hitting, DUNN is a lot like so many in baseball.  They fight themselves.  They beat themselves up. Dealing with that is big.

Can Dunn hit over 50 this year and drive in 115 plus ?  It's not a stretch if he continues to hit.  I'm not smart enough to predict this, but I am open minded to the possibility he's changing. 

Is this fair ?

Mike Brown: In addition to being among the chintziest owners in major professional sports (as evidenced by his insistence on retaining the league's sparsest scouting department), Brown is a funny man.

I have always believed that Mike Brown wants to win.  I have never doubted it.  I know it's not a popular opinion.  His ways haven't worked, and I can see the difference.  But, I understand why many can't see it because of all the $$$ and emotion you've invested on bad Sundays.

How many of you know people who are very smart and at the same time very stubborn in doing things their way.

I'm a big fan of Tony Franklin.  It will be interesting to see if Auburn's offense changes as much as I think it will because he is in control.

"I've gotten a taste of it with my business in Texas and in Alabama," Franklin said. "They're very serious about it in both states. On the high school level in Texas, if you have a bad season, they'll fire you in the middle of the school year.

 "The difference in Alabama? If you have a bad season, they'll kill you."

To those that think I don't and or won't post comments.  NOT TRUE.  I've had a problem putting comments up for weeks.  James who is in charge of this at Clear Channel is trying to help.

I will, when it's working properly, put most if not just about every comment up.  I don't care if you agree or disagree.  That has NOTHING to do with me putting up a comment.

But, if I think it's an attack I might pass.  And it doesn't have to be an attack on me.

 If C. Trent chooses to put on all of the comments he gets.  Great.  That's his choice.

But, I am having a technical problem and I am not the kind of person that figures anything out with computers when there is a technical problem.

To my blog on Posada and Junior.  Maybe I didn't explain it good enough, or perhaps you didn't get it.

Before Posada got hurt again, he was ticked off that he wasn't catching all the time. 

Posada was awful throwing out runners.  It was tough on him not being in the lineup with his gear.   

Posada, like Junior is a good guy with a lot of pride.

As athletes get older might they often can't admit the change in their skills. 

But, in NY, Posada was taking a lot more heat than Junior takes in Cincy.  I've said it forever.  Junior is lucky he didn't play the last 7 years in NY.  The print boys would have eaten him up.

Dealing with athletes who have done it, and might be a shadow of what they once were, isn't easy.

Athletes are often the last to realize that they can't do what they used to do. 

You can put Junior and Posada in that boat. 

Sometimes I see someone say that if I don't agree with you I won't give the caller space.  That's silly.  Some of the most enjoyable callers are the debates.  I can be loud and come strong to the mic, but so what ?

And what would shock those that say that, are the e mails who thank me for letting them talk when they have a different opinion.

Check out C Trent's interview with Bronson.  It's a must.  Really good stuff !

I don't agree with Bronson that if the REDS move him, they are throwing in the towel.  But, you can't blame him for feeling that way.

This makes no sense.  It comes from a NY writer who I normally like.  Jon Heyman from SI.

"The Yankees were hoping to get by without acquiring a hitter. But with Jorge Posada, who looked like he might be relegated to DH duties anyway, now joining Hideki Matsui on the DL and a threat to miss the season, they may have to make a deal yet. They do not want to part with their better prospects, so they may have to concentrate on players whose salary is high and contractual situation isn't ideal. How about Adam Dunn? The Yankees don't seem to love him. But at $13 million this year and with free agency pending, the Reds couldn't expect too much in return."

Why would Dunn the way he is hitting be given away like a bag of donuts.

I sound like a broken record, but his value as a DH in the American League should be much higher and it should be giving  Walt J. some choices.  I don't get it.

It's really simple.  Common sense says, that unless you get the value of  '2'  potential first rounders, or something in the ballpark of the value of what Milwaukee received, why trade him. 

I'm not saying Dunn is as valuable as CC, whose done a great job with Milwaukee, how many have hit more home runs ?

Mike Florio is a guest tomorrow at 8.

I didn't hear Carson tonight, but we will take the best of Carson from his conversation with DOC in the 6am hour.

Erin Andrews stiff us TWICE !!  Not once.  I could have ripped her on the air big time, but didn't.  Mo did. 

None of us knew it until Matt Jones, a popular Kentucky blogger called to let me know, but deadspin.com had it for a while as their lead story this afternoon.

It's still on their site.

Erin was supposed to be on the air with my friend and colleague Alan Cutler yesterday morning. She stiffed him

There is a lot more to this story.  Tomorrow morning, I will share.

Mike Florio does a very good job.  Worth a read on Farve.

We reiterate that this is an unconfirmed tip.  Then again, unconfirmed tips have been working out pretty well for us of late, so we're more inclined than usual to press our luck.

Chris Redman is a class act.  Glad to see he is back in the NFL. 

"(Fans) were calling me names -- like I did something to dogs," Redman said.

Looking forward to seeing how Joe Blanton helps Philly.  He was on the same staff as Brandon Webb at Kentucky.  Do you wish he ended up playing for the REDS ?

Growing up in Edmonson County, Ky., a rural area just outside of Bowling Green with no stoplights that is home to Mammoth Cave National Park, his future had always seemed generally solid

To last nights game.  Drives me nuts when a pitcher doesn't hustle off the mound to cover first.  I get sick and tired of watching a pitcher jog, and then see he's needed and take off.  YOU RUN FIRST, and then if you aren't needed, you chill out.

Homer hurt himself in the first inning with not covering first.  He might have gotten out of the mess if he played DEFENSE.

But, you have to give Homer some credit for responding the right way in the second inning after he was talked to in the dugout by Dick P. the pitching coach.

Homer getting out of the jam in the 5th was TERRIFIC.

But, will someone explain to me why he started the 7th inning ?  Why not take him out after 6 ? He gave up only two runs.  He feels great about himself.  He would be mad for not pitching the 7th.  He wasn't going to complete the 7th because of his pitch count.  He gives up a home run and DUSTY pulls him in the 7th. 

Fogg the pinch hitter makes NO SENSE.  The whole world knows he's bunting.  The defense took so much space away, there wasn't much room.  Fogg strikes out.  I wonder what the bench was thinking when they saw DUSTY make that move.

Patterson can't bunt ?  Oh, that's right.  For 3.5 million you save him for defense later in games.

Coco was awful.  He says he has to do better.  He now has blown as many games as Stormy did last year.

Another game the REDS should have won.  Sounds old !

Keep on giving Homer the ball.