Sports attendance up, hot dog spending down
Reuters

Coolers/food at the ballpark
I continue my quest to inform all fans they can take food and drinks into GABP.....and save money.
This afternoon I went to BP/Sub Way andbought a meatball foot long and two plastic bottled drinks for Casey and myself....Total: $7.24. Casey will pick out peanuts, chips and fruit snacks from our cupboard. Simple as that.
Here is the rule on coolers at GABP
Guests are welcome to bring SOFT-SIDED coolers into Great American Ball Park provided the coolers' dimensions do not exceed the 16" x 16" x 8" inch Major League Baseball size requirement. HARD-SIDED coolers of any size are prohibited from entering the ballpark. Coolers and all carry-in items are always subject to inspection by Reds personnel prior to entrance to the ballpark or at any time while inside the ballpark. The Reds are not responsible for HARD-SIDED coolers that are left outside of the ballpark gates. Guests are strongly encouraged to return their HARD-SIDED coolers to their vehicles.

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Bengals alumni update
Ludwig At Large
......He lives in Ironton, Ohio, and is a corrections officer in the Department of Youth Services at the Ohio River Valley Juvenile Corrections Facility in Franklin Furnace, Ohio.

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On this date: June 30, 2006
I'll never forget where I was. I went to bed around 10pm because we were getting up at 4am to drive to Southport, NC. It was 7-0 when I went to bed.

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Casey will be joining me tonight
Last chance...Homer Outing tonight
Sun/Moon Deck
Cost: $11....regular price $22
Call 513-765-7600, hit option #2, mention HOMER to get discount
Reds will accept orders til 4pm this afternoon.

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Monday
Guest
Shayne Graham, Bengals
Topics
Reds: Good luck figuring this team out. Good enough to tease you, but flawed enough to frustrate you. Maybe have been Dunn's best all around game as a Red.
Bengals: Where does the offense rank in the AFC North?
Majoring in Athletics: Why can you major in music, art, and broadcasting...but not athletics?

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Amy Ryan returns to The Office
Variety
"I don't know what they're going to do with the character," Ryan said, "but as it was written, there's certainly a lot of potential. It's a funny thing to enter a show that you're a great fan of -- and it's nice to tell lighter stories. I love the dark, grittier side of life, but it's nice to take a break from that, put a skirt on and brush your hair."

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On this date
1970: Riverfront Stadium opened in Cincinnati as home of the Reds and Bengals.
A crowd of 51,050 watched the Reds fall to the Atlanta Braves 8-2. The stadium project was rushed to be ready for the July 14 All-Star game. The stadium was ready for baseball. However, there was no power in the concession areas, and the parking garages, elevators and press box were not completed. Seats had not been fully installed in two sections in the field level behind home plate. The Reds had to borrow seats from the Convention Center. The scoreboard had issues, going blank at times or displaying garbled messages.

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Guy Trippin'
Milford Boy Scouts of America Troop 128 Ultimate Guy Trip 2008 Edition......
Yosemite, San Francisco, Alcatraz

Alcatraz.....where my listeners eventually wind up? Robert Young of Milford proudly wears my shirt to the clink.

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NBA age limit/image troubles Oscar
Indy Star
"I think that's illegal, to be honest," Robertson said. "If you can go to the army and fight in Iraq at 18, why can't you play basketball?

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Maloney outstanding at AAA
Louisville Courier Journal
Maloney (8-4) allowed just three hits and walked none, striking out eight in going the distance.

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Wanted: Movie Review
Kelly and I saw Wanted last night. Not bad. Not great. I've buy it On-Demand before you pay $9.25. Think about that....$9.25 for a movie. Previews are now about 15 minutes long...about 7 minutes of movie previews and 8 minutes of commercials.
Action flick about a fraternity of assassins led by Morgan Freeman. I'd watch Angelina Jolie in anything....anything. She has the best lips/eyes combo on the planet. James McIlvoy is pretty good. Very cool action scenes and chases.
I'd give it a 2.25 stars out of four.

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Optimistic Browns better watch out for Big Ben
The Sporting News
This is a new situation for the Browns, who are coming off a 10-6 season in which they barely missed the playoffs. It was only the Browns' second winning season since 1999. Now the Browns are expected to win, and that's a different kind of pressure, one some teams have trouble getting used to.

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I've always been fascinated by this sport

Sri Lankan batsman Chamra Kapugedera prepares to play a shot as Pakistani wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed, left, looks on during their super four round match for the Asia Cup Cricket Championship at National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan on Sunday, June 29, 2008.
(AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

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Dodgers get no-hit, get the win
LA Times
The Dodgers became only the fifth team in the modern era of baseball to win a game without getting a hit. The last team to do it was Cleveland, which was no-hit by Matt Young of Boston for eight innings but won, 2-1, on April 12, 1992.

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That guy
Hal McCoy, Dayton Daily News
Suddenly, with no prompting, Baker became the first member of the Reds to bring up a name lurking in the shadows: Josh Hamilton.
"We lost a big bat to Texas, but we obtained Edinson Volquez," he said, without anybody asking about Hamilton. "Hamilton was a big bat in the lineup that we miss, and we certainly have to start hitting."

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Maxim Hometown Hottie
Careful opening

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Dusty's next on mailing list
John Erardi, Enquirer
We feel strongly that if Teixeira signs here, you'll be in the postseason six of those eight years, and in the World Series three times.

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Former Bearcat showing grit in comeback
Cleveland Plain Dealer
"I know fans have been wondering how serious this is and whether or not I'll be back," said Holly in a phone interview. "But I expect to make a full re covery with no loss of speed or strength. A delay is not a denial. I'll come back better, stronger, faster and more mature than before."

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Hilarious?
How does Dusty keep putting Corey Patterson in the lineup and keep a straight face?
Saturday night was his 39th start of the season.
He's hitting .189 in 190 ab's with a .225 OBP
He hit .200 before being demoted to AAA.
Since being recalled, he's 7 for 45.....a .155 average AND .155 OBP
If this organization is not capable of finding someone to take his at-bats, what possible reason is there to believe in this organization?
Going into Saturday night 273 batters have had at least 150 plate appearances this season.
Patterson ranks 269th with his .189 average.....ahead of Austin Kearns .187, Asdrubal Cabrera .184, Andruw Jones .165, Tony Pena Jr. .154
If Dusty believes Corey Patterson is the answer, what exactly is the question? __________

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Breaking down the AFC North
Scouts Inc
Six analyst debate the best offense in the AFC North....not a single mention of the Bengals in the discussion....at all.....ever. Are they right?

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What a game
Saturday afternoon I watched the 1992 Duke vs Kentucky, East Regional Finals on ESPN Classic. Dang, that was such an amazing game: Duke 103-102 OT.
What a shot by Sean Woods, (Named Mississippi Valley St Coach this week) to give UK the lead with 2.5 seconds.
What calm by Christian Laettner to catch, fake, turn, shoot and hit to win it.
What a range of emotion from the look on Thomas Hill's face to the dejection of the UK players. Cool scene as Coach K sought out Richie Farmer to hug him.
If I remember correctly, I was almost late to the Hoosier Dome to broadcast the state championship game between Richmond and Laffayete Jefferson. We were watching UK-Duke from our hotel room.

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Bailey hammered
Louisville Courier Journal
Bailey (4-6) gave up eight hits, including Mike Hessman's 25th home run. The right-hander struck out five and walked three.

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Bailey bashing
Dayton Daily News
A major-league scout saw Homer Bailey pitch in Louisville last week and said, "He was throwing 94 miles an hour batting practice fastballs. No movement. Gave up 10 hits, some to guys in the lineup who can't hit.
"Then he said in the paper the next day that he thought he pitched good," the scout said.

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Blue Jays grounded
(AP) Indepenedence, KY
The Blue Jays fell to the Green team Saturday morning at Summitt View Elementary in the NKYA U9 championship game. The Jays lumber, which had produced 33 runs in the previous two games, was silenced in a 10-0 loss. The Green team, flashed leather and lumber in an impressive performance.
Coach of The Year Tim Grubb and the Jays finish their magical season 12-1-1 with a North Division Championship.

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UC lands four from Indy
Indy Star
"One of the big reasons is the coaching staff," Pike coach Derek Moyers said. "They've really invigorated and revitalized that program. Kids want to play for them. (Assistant coach) Kerry Coombs goes 100 miles an hour as a recruiter and has made this area a priority."