Why must some fans greet a feel good story with such hatred?
ESPN 
Josh Hamilton says he can handle the taunts that some fans hurl in his direction. But where is the line between heckling and abuse?
"Where's your crack pipe, crackhead?
"Joshie, I've got some blow!"
"Snort that line! Snort that line! Snort that line!"
They screamed it in Detroit and Boston. They will, as sure as the summer's soft breeze, scream it in New York and Oakland, Chicago and Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Anaheim.

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Did you catch Josh?
Josh Hamilton joined Mo this morning. I'll replay part of it this afternoon.

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Show preview
John Feinstein, my favorite writer of all-time
Max Holt, Purcell Marian product/won national championship with Penn St volleyball
Topics
Reds: Votto and Volquez the day after
Wimp!: A-Rod's wife says he's a wimp for fainting in the delivery room. Do you have a story of the birth of your child?....or....are their things you are a wimp about?
Image makeover: Any athlete take the PR hit that Kobe Bryant did, but manage to reinvent themselves like Kobe?

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Brat camps out
Bengals.com
GH: But, it's not exactly back by committee, right?
BB: Rudi will be the main guy. But there will be a series somewhere in the first half for DeDe and a series somewhere for Kenny. Or, maybe a special play at some point for Kenny or DeDe where we'll put them in for a snap. We'll utilize those guys and utilize their talents.

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Events for a cause
Got an event you want to promote? Want to help out? Check out the FORUM section.

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Building a new Big Red Machine
Steve Phillips, Baseball Tonight
The Reds haven't made the playoffs in 13 years, and a slow start this season cost GM Wayne Krivsky his job. So how can new boss Walt Jocketty build a new Big Red Machine?Baseball Tonight analyst and former Mets GM Steve Phillips has a few ideas.

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My guy Tarek, at What If, to deliver keynote speech
Cincinnati Regional Chamber

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Thought of the day
"Listening to Reds fans anymore has made me realize that the entire
baseball IQ of this city has dropped to so such a low level I fear that
it will never recover."
-Listener Al G.

Agree? Disagree?

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Jr destined to stand atop Gen X pedestal
Seattle PI
Baseball cards, to candy, to video games, to fashion. For nearly every teenage interest I developed, I was able to buy a product with Junior's mug on it.

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Things that make you go hmmmm
Anyone else notice that when fans in this city criticize the likes of Castellini, Brown, Krivsky, Bratkowski, Narron, LeBeau, Coslet, Dunn, Stanton, Weathers, Adam H... the debate is about performance and actions. Yet when fans in this city criticize Dusty, Marvin, Jr or Chad.....the calls and emails pour in stating this city is racist?

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Maxim Hometown Hottie
Careful opening

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Image makeover
Jim Rome mentioned yesterday how Kobe Bryant has reinvented himself over the last five years. From the rape allegations to losing commercial deals to fighting with Shaq to clashing with Phil Jackson to wanting out of LA in the offseason.
Now...he's MVP, and has led the Lakers to the best record in the West. What athletes have taken the PR/image hit that Kobe took and survived and then prospered again?
Last night he accepted the MVP award and said:
"I'm at a loss for words, I don't know what to say," Bryant said as the Staples Center crowd of 18,997 roared its approval and chanted M-V-P. "I love you guys so much. We're going to play until June. Let's get this party started."Following the presentation, Bryant's wife and two young daughters gave him with a bouquet of flowers at center court.

Kobe a changed man
Deseret News
When Kobe Bryant formally accepted his first NBA MVP trophy from league commissioner David Stern on Wednesday night, the Staples Center venue awash in Hollywood glitz and glamor, the Los Angeles Lakers' superstar did so as a changed, perhaps even humbled, man.

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Votto's bat
The Reds Hall of Fame and History Museum acquired the bat Joey Votto used Wednesday to hit three home runs.  In his last at bat, he cracked the bat when grounding out.  The bat will be on display at the Hall of Fame next week. 
During the next homestand for one hour prior to the game, Hall of Fame visitors will be allowed to don white archival gloves and actually touch the actual bat and have a photo taken with it.

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