Homer gets the call Sunday
Redsminorleagues.com

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Crawford picks XU
Mike DeCourcy, The Sporting News
Former Indiana guard Jordan Crawford, who averaged 9.7 points as a Hoosiers freshman, has decided to transfer to Xavier.

Also...Mike on X and new three point line

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Must See TV tonight
Burn Notice, 10pm, USA Network
"When spies get fired, they don't get a letter from human resources.
They get BURNED...
This summer, USA Network presents the second season of Burn Notice, a sexy, action-packed original series starring Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Westen, a blacklisted spy. Dumped in his hometown of Miami without money or resources, Michael struggles to put his life back together and find out why he's been burned. In the meantime, he uses his unique skills and training to help people in need ... mostly people who can't get help from the police.
Burn Notice also stars Gabrielle Anwar as Fiona, a beautiful ex-IRA operative who happens to be Westen's ex-girlfriend."

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The chase continues
Griffey and Dunn: 91 rbi's
Josh Hamilton: 89 rbi's
Speaking of rbi's...Edwin Encarnacion has 7 in his last 21 games. He has 32 for the season and is on pace for 59.

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Reds baseball or Little League?
Who brings snacks and drinks today?
Enquirer
HAIRSTON OUT: Baker continues to shuffle four players through three spots in the lineup.Jerry Hairston Jr. was out of the lineup Wednesday.
With him out, Baker inserted Jay Bruce into the leadoff spot.
It was a curious choice, considering Bruce went into the game 0-for-his-last-13 and hitting .167 over his last 30 at-bats.
Hairston is one of the few hot hitters the Reds have. He entered Wednesday hitting .370 in the leadoff spot.
"I hate to have him out at all," Baker said. "But, out of fairness, most everybody else has been out. He'll be in the game some time (Wednesday)."

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Local product headed to Turkey
NKY.COM
"But if you had told me when I graduated from Highlands (High School) five years ago that I'd be playing in Turkey, I'd have looked at you cross-eyed," the 2003 Kentucky Mr. Basketball said.

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Thursday show
Guests
Dustin Carter and Scott Goodpaster
Topics
Reds
75 Things Every Guy Should Do At Least Once: From Esquire Magazine
Who Am I?

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Thursday's guests
Dustin Carter and Scott Goodpaster will join me in studio Thursday afternoon at 3pm.

Dustin and his performance trainer Scott Goodpaster recently were guests on The Best Damn Sports Show Period.

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Down on the farm last night
Redsminorleagues.com

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Here come the Rangers
USA Today
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Josh Hamilton pumped his right arm as he rounded first base, as much in relief as celebration. The real fun came when he was mobbed by his teammates at home plate. The Rangers (48-44) moved four games over .500 for the first time since 2006, and got within 6½ games of the AL West-leading Angels.

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This is an email I received from loyal listener/friend Norm Cox. We sent him three boxes of supplies last week.....envelopes, baby wipes, powder, hand sanitizers, etc.

Reflections of my July 4th weekend!
July 4th 2008 has come and gone once again I'm away from my friends and family serving in the Middle East. I find myself here now for the second time. I hear of cookouts and fireworks, parties and fun at home. People are relaxing playing games having a beer or maybe some Iced Tea. For the most part they take a brief moment to remember me and all the other service members who are serving with me and have served before me. Here in the Middle East it is well over 110 degrees as we strap on a weapon to stand a watch, drive a security patrol, hit the Chow Hall for some dogs and burgers. With the sound of gunfire off in the distance we go about the daily routine trained and ready. We share the base and the fight for freedom with a Multi National Force. I see uniforms from Japan, Korea, Poland, Romania, Australia, Tonga and many more. As a world we are in this together as a world we stand strong.
On this 4th I am given a unique opportunity along with 1215 other Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines, I get to stand proud in the Palace of Saddam Hussein and raise my right hand and state the following oath.
" I (state you full name) do solemnly swear/or affirm that I will support the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the Officers appointed over me, according to the regulation and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
Imagine the feeling and the sound of 1215 Americans taking the oath at the same time in Baghdad Iraq, in the Palace of Saddam Hussein, on July 4th OUR Independence Day. The message we hope to convey to America, our enemies here and the entire world is "We are here and we will stay till the job is done. As we re-enlist we think of our family and friends back home and say "We do this so you won't have to". We now enter 35 years of a 100% voluntary military. We in the armed forces love our country, our freedom and your freedom as well. I ask that as you live everyday and enjoy what America offers you, you think of the men and women and the sacrifices they make for you.
That is how I spent my July 4th how did you spend yours?
I am an American Serving in the U.S Navy.

YN1 Norman D Cox

 

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Survey says...
The Sporting News
Players aren't always so candid, or verbose, with their feelings about opposing players. But they're willing to share their opinions under the veil of anonymity, which is what 473 of them (261 voters in the N.L., 212 in the A.L.) were provided in return for their answers in a survey conducted by The Sports Xchange. Then we turned to big league scouts to give us the lowdown on the top guys.
Best NL pitcher
1. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks, 36 votes
2. Edinson Volquez, Reds, 19 votes

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Odds on deals for Dunn, Jr and Arroyo
CNNSI
8. Adam Dunn, Reds outfielder. It's time to finally change the climate in Cincinnati, and that means the perennially-on-the-block Dunn has to go. His all-or-nothing hitting style and weak performances in the clutch will limit his attractiveness, however. Odds for a deal: 1-2.
16. Ken Griffey Jr., Reds outfielder. He wouldn't mind a deal to Tampa Bay. But how much does he have left? Odds for a deal: 4-1.
22. Bronson Arroyo, Reds starter. Same boat as Byrd. Odds for a deal: 2-1.

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Maxim Hometown Hottie
Careful opening

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Numbers of the night
3 and 2
3 errors by the Reds last night
2 hits by the Reds last night

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Take a seat
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Jim "Mouth" Purol, an Anaheim, Calif., stuntman who plans to sit in every seat at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., to raise money for charity, began the task Monday and plans to finish it by Friday. He goes for about 12 hours at a stretch, then sleeps on a cot in a locker room.

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Best way to get to Cooperstown? Go left
Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Ninety percent of the human population is right-handed, but in baseball 25 percent of the players, both pitchers and hitters, are left-handed," Peters said. "Do lefties have an advantage? They definitely do. The statistics bear that out."

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Maloney and Hanigan deliver for Bats
Louisville Courier Journal
Bats starter Matt Maloney (9-4) was solid, allowing all three runs -- only one earned -- off five hits and two walks in 62/3 innings. He struck out seven.

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Reds-Padres, May 25, 2008
The boxscore that will live in infamy

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Yep...Reds baseball 2008
Dusty said in the pregame that Monday night the Reds were as "spiritless" a team as he had ever seen.
Heck, why not, having just won four in a row and begining a crucial trip?
And Adam Dunn said it's tough to stay focused before the break. Maybe fish hooks to bait?
Marty described Tuesday's performance as simply, "ugly"
I've got news for Bob C........this team could be spiritless and save 2.7 million a year on their manager by bringing back Miley, Narron or Mackanin. And their ace pitcher wouldn't be headed to the DL.
How's Mama?

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Vacation with Grandpa and Grandma
Dinner at Goobers Restaurant on Andy Griffith Parkway in Mt Airy, NC.
Can you guess Casey had ribs? Tomorrow they will hit the pool and the Dixie Stampeed.
Final destination is Southport, NC. Kelly and I will join them Saturday.

Peyton goes with the Lasagna

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