Five years ago today, June 20, 2003, a perfect stranger saved our son's life.
Today is the anniversary of Casey's bone marrow transplant. Casey was diagnosed with AML (acute myelogenous leukemia) on July 31, 2002. Casey remembers bits and pieces, but a lot of what he went through is fading away. He went through tests, round after round of chemo, multiple doses of radiation, cat scans, spinal taps and other procedures. His hair fell out again and again. He got fevers. He threw up.
The day he was diagnosed, I did my show from Georgetown for the start of training camp for the Bengals. I was driving home when Kelly called and said they were on their way to Children's Hospital. His doctor said something wasn't right with his allergies. We had grown concerned with the swelling around his eyes and a bump on his forehead. After a night of tests we were told he had leukemia. The bump and swelling were leukemia cells gathering in his sinus area.
Casey was a big fan of Bob The Builder at the time. On the spot, in his hospital room, we created our own saying, "Can we fix Casey, yes we can.". Kelly and I cried that night but said that would be the last time we would cry. We could not change what had happened, but we could work on the future. The round of phone calls to inform family and friends was rough. Each call pounded home the reality of the situation..
Casey stayed at Children's for over 200 days all together....in for 46 days...home for a few days....back in for 38 days and more chemo. On and on it went. We felt as though we were on a treadmill that never stopped. We set up a rotation to always have someone with Casey at the hospital. Most of the time Kelly stayed with Casey during the day. Our parents, who came from Indianapolis, Chicago, Charlotte and San Francisco, or our neighbor, would watch Peyton. On a typical day, I would go to the hospital after work at 6pm, and spend the night with Casey. Kelly would come by in the morning. I'd run home, shower, work on my show, play with Peyton and head to work. Peyton was just a month old at the time and wasn't allowed to visit Casey. She has just recently started asking about why Casey was in the hospital.
I'll never forget what I consider the defining moment of Casey's fight. I was putting him to bed after a day of throwing up. I said, "Tomorrow will be a better day." He looked up at me and asked, "Was today a bad day?" One of the roughest days was when doctors inserted a feeding line. The chemo made eating impossible at times. Doctors had to insert the line thru his nose and into his stomach. It broke my heart to hold him and hear the screams as they threaded the line. He had it put in on three different occasions.
Casey responded well to the initial treatment and after about nine weeks...the leukemia cells were gone and he got to go home. We were so excited. We thought we were through the toughest part. Sadly seven weeks later the leukemia returned. We were playing in the basement when I took the call from the doctors with the news. How do you tell a three year old he's going back to the hospital and has to go through it all again? Casey said we'd just have to knock the "ickey stuff" out of his body again. But this time, things were much more complicated.
The leukemia was aggressive. It had returned in his jawbone. Our only option was a bone marrow transplant. Kelly, Peyton and I were not a match. We were at the mercy of the marrow donor registry of over seven million donors. Doctors could not find a match. They did find a donor close enough to a match to try it. It was Casey's last chance. He was given a 20% chance of survival. The donor was a mother in the Boston area. She had been in the donor registry for ten years and had never been called. She had moved several times and it was difficult for the registry to track her down. They finally did and she agreed to be his donor.
His transplant took place around 6pm on June 20, 2003. I've never been so scared in my life. Yet, the transplant was simple. They hooked him up to a drip line and it took about an hour and twenty minutes. He was wide awake and aware of what was going on. During the transplant he watched Trading Spaces. Midway through the transplant he said he was hungry. He requested spaghetti and meatballs.
We woke up each morning after the transplant checking his skin. We feared Graft vs Host Disease...rejection of the marrow. Eventually he was allowed to come home. But because of fear of colds and germs, he was not allowed out around the public for a year. His body would not have been able to fight off colds and infections. We got creative with getting him out of the house. He loved car washes. He loved driving around the country/farms. We did both...a lot. We'd pull up along fences with cows and he would moo at the cows. Each day we asked Casey if the marrow felt like his own yet and he said no. After one year he finally said yes.
Over the past five years his doctor check-ups/visits have gradually been reduced. From once a week to once a month to now once every six months. The three year anniversary was a huge hurdle for him.. Doctors say there is no longer a reason to believe the leukemia will return. Doctors in general hesitate to use the word "cured" these days. The five year mark is significant. Casey moves from being treated by the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit to the Long Term Care Doctors.
He will face issues from the leukemia and radiation treatments he received the rest of his life. He has bad teeth. They are coming in every which way...and loose. Some teeth have no roots. He had two teeth pulled two weeks ago. He got a bottom retainer last week. He got top front braces this week. He has cataracts. He will have surgery on one eye later in the summer and the other eye around Christmas. He's learning to deal with his vision issues and playing baseball. Some days he gets four hits, some days he strikes out three times. He says the pitches are right on him before he gets a good look at them sometimes. Considering what he's faced, we can all deal with crooked teeth and glasses.
Today we thank God for providing Casey with the strength and support to fight through this. We thank family and friends for the support structure provided. They came to town and stayed weeks at a time to help us. We thank the doctors and staff at Children's Hospital.. We thank listeners to the show that provided thoughts and prayers with calls and emails of well wishes for Casey. And we thank everyone for charity events done to help us raise money for Make A Wish, the Leukemia Society and Children's Hospital.
As much as Kelly and I tried to be a rock for Casey, he set the tone for our family....at age three. His positive attitude inspired us. He never complained about anything. When I'd think I had a bad show or bad day, I'd walk into the hospital room and see his smiling face and he put it all in perspective. I once said leukemia had met its match.. I was right.
Casey is now 8-years old. He will enter the 3rd grade. He loves school, loves math, reading and video games. He gets great grades. He plays baseball and basketball.. It's fitting that we celebrate this day by him playing a baseball game tonight. We are so proud of him. He's our hero. We love him very much. Here's to a Happy Anniversary!
Here is a column Paul Daugherty wrote about Casey five years ago
Here is another column by Doc shortly after the diagnosis
Casey last Friday at the Reds game
Casey, at age two, with new sister Peyton. Less than a month prior to his diagnosis
(Enquirer photo)
Sean Casey stopped by to see Casey at the hospital
Need a head count: Going to HOMER Outing #2? Monday June 30 vs Pittsburgh New location: Sun/Moon Deck Cost: $11....regular price $22 Tickets MUST be purchased in advance of game Call 513-765-7600, hit option #2, mention HOMER to get discount Email me if you would like an order form to fax your order lance1530homer@fuse.net
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My reaction to JP and Dunn A. And? B. So? C. The truth hurts D. JP said what most in baseball,I talk to, think, they just don't say it in the media E. Until the Reds think the same way about him, they will never take the next step I'll take F..................all of the above I am tickled that Dunn said he didn't care what JP said......yet Dunn proceeded to call him a clown, point out he doesn't live in the country(?) and cuss a couple of times. Ok. I'm also tickled at the thought this was bad timing because it will light a fire under Dunn for the Toronto series. Wouldn't that prove a point about Dunn? You can argue all you want about JP saying it publicly. Dan O'Brien never said anything close to that strong about any player when he did the weekly show with me. But please, set aside that issue and look at what he said. The only people that would argue are related to Dunn and/or have not watched him much.
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A Bengals feel to it Is it me...or do the last 7+ years of Reds baseball all just kind of run together? Same feel, same issues, same debates on players, same debates on direction of franchise. Are they buyers or sellers? Lack of clutch hitting, lack of consistent contact, lack of leaders, no leadoff man, no #5 starter, no catching. Too many errors, too few double plays turned. Injuries. Hoping and thinking guys will "get it". Bad base running. As for manager, see any difference between Dave Miley, Jerry Narron, Pete Mackanin and Dusty Baker....other than about 2.6 million a year? The owners change, the GM's change, the managers change...the results stay the same....losing seasons.
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Blue Jays GM slams Dunn National Post "Do you know the guy doesn't really like baseball that much?" Ricciardi said to the caller. "Do you know the guy doesn't have a passion to play the game that much? How much do you know about the player? "There's a reason why you're attracted to some players and there's a reason why you're not attracted to some players. I don't think you'd be very happy if we brought Adam Dunn here ... "We've done our homework on guys like Adam Dunn and there's a reason why we don't want Adam Dunn. I don't want to get into specifics."
Here is the interview: From The Fan 590 in Toronto. It's a weekly Q/A with fans that call in. Scroll ahead to 21:38 of the interview. WOW!
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Roenicke has baseball in his blood Louisville Courier Journal Roenicke, 25, was just a year old when his father, Gary, won a World Series ring as an outfielder with the 1983 Baltimore Orioles. His dad spent 12 seasons in the major leagues and is now an Orioles scout.
Joe Blanton update The A's pitcher allowed eight runs in three innings last night....his shortest outing since May of 2005. He is 3-10 overall, 1-6 since May 2. It's the earliest that an A's pitcher has lost 10 games in franchise history.
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Vacation stuff We've been busy: Coney Island, Peyton's birthday skating party, father daughter day at Otter Totter, Gameworks, Bob Evans birthday dinner, two Reds games, batting practice in the backyard....still ahead Kings Island, Krazy City, Kung Fu Panda movie, Casey's 5-year anniversary party.....
Peyton celebrates her 6th birthday. I'll spare you the sight of the six inch long purple bruise on my hip from my fall.
Casey at the Red Sox game
The Mayor talks with Johnny Bench and his son
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Hopper activated, Bailey sent to AAA Prior to tonight's game, the Reds returned from a rehabilitation assignment and reinstated from the 15-day disabled list OF Norris Hopper and optioned to Class AAA Louisville RHP Homer Bailey. Hopper has been on the 15-day DL since 4/23 with a nerve irritation in his right elbow...in 6 rehab apps at Louisville and Sarasota he is hitting .292 (7-24). Bailey went 0-3, 8.76 in 3 starts during his stint with the Reds. The Reds have not named a starting pitcher for Saturday's game at Yankee Stadium.
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Wii advice Got a favorite baseball video game? Anyone have/played MLB2K8? Any advice would be welcomed. Casey already has MVVP '05 from Gamecube and The Bigs from Wii. I'm getting tons of email support for MLB Power Pros. We might just wait til Power Pros 08 comes out next month.
Chad has surgery Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle today in Cincinnati. The procedure was performed by Bengals orthopedic surgeon Angelo Colosimo, and was completed without complication. Johnson's ankle is expected to be ready in time for training camp. The Bengals report to training camp at Georgetown (Ky.) College on July 27, with the first practice scheduled on July 28.
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Bearcat Bowl II replay CINCINNATI - ESPNU will re-air the University of Cincinnati's Bearcat Bowl II spring football game four times over the next two weeks, beginning tomorrow (June 19) at 6 a.m. The game features Black Team quarterback Demetrius Jones' dramatic 23-14 come-from-behind victory over the Red Team. Jones led the Black Team back from a 14-10 fourth-quarter deficit as he tossed a 57-yard touchdown pass to Marshwan Gilyard with 1:14 remaining. Defensive back Brandon Underwood sealed the victory on the ensuing drive for the Black Team as he returned an interception 67 yards for a touchdown. Originally carried April 26 on the Ohio News Network (ONN), the broadcast features the play-by-play call of Tom Gelehrter and his analyst Jim Kelly, Jr. along with sideline reporter and ESPN veteran Betsy Ross. Bearcat Bowl II Schedule of Telecasts on ESPNU Thursday, June 19 - 6 a.m. Saturday, June 21 - 4 p.m. Friday, June 27 - 10 p.m. Monday, June 30 - 5 p.m.
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Bengals extend deal with Georgetown The Bengals and Georgetown (Ky.) College have agreed on a one-year extension of the team's contract to hold training camp at the college's East Campus Athletic Complex. The agreement now runs through 2009. "We're happy to announce an agreement to extend our relationship with Georgetown College," said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. "We like the traditional setup of conducting training camp away from our in-season facility, and, really, the setup at Georgetown's athletic complex is perfect for all of our camp needs. "Additionally, we can't say enough good things about the college's staff members who run camp for us. Not only can they do just about anything we would ever need them to, but they also make us feel very much at home." The Bengals have held training camp in Georgetown since 1997. Players and coaches will report to this year's camp on July 27, with the team's first practice scheduled on July 28. "Our relationship with the Cincinnati Bengals organization continues to be a very positive thing for the college, and we're glad they're confident enough in us to extend the agreement for another year," said Eric Ward, Georgetown College athletic director. "We have a great working relationship with the Bengals' staff and coaches, and know what they expect from us when they arrive for camp."
The Wire: Season 2.....SPOILER ALERT We are finished with it. Loved it. Didn't love it as much as season one...but it was still very good. Loved the character development. Liked the diversity in the plot with The Port and the cargo/union workers. Frank Sobatka, Nick and Ziggy were nice additions. Can't believe they killed off "D". Could have used more Stringer. Can't wait to watch Seaon Three. C. Trent told me he gave the "package" to Doc...and Doc still has it. He better hurry up!
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25 Worst Sitcoms All-Time For Mo and Trent's records....here are the ones I watched: 24. Charles in Charge: Nicole Eggert? Enough said. Plus, I lived with my neighbors for two summers and ran their house/took care of the kids when I was in college. 22. Webster: I identified with his size 19. Mr Belvedere: How can you not like Uecker? 17. The Ropers: Any Three's Company spinoff is good enough for me 9. Perfect Strangers: What? Among the worst? Come on! Love Larry and Balki 3. Yes Dear: Not sure why, I just did
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Xavier news Kenny Frease, a 7-0 and 265-pound center from Massillon (Ohio) Perry High School, plans to begin classes at Xavier University in July and will compete as a freshman on the men's basketball squad beginning this Fall. Prior to his arrival, though, Frease will be taking a trip to France later this month to compete as part of the USA Elite National U19 Team in tournament action against seven other countries. The roster of 12 U.S. players and the coaching staff depart the U.S. for Douai, France, on June 22 and will return on June 30. Team workouts in France begin on June 23, while the tournament games run June 25-29. Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Spencer Hawes, Thaddeus Young, Rudy Gay, Shelden Williams, Dajuan Wagner, and Josh Boone are just a few players who have competed in this event. Xavier head coach Sean Miller is excited about Kenny Frease's future. "Kenny Frease has great size as a basketball player," said Miller. "However, with that size he has a very high skill level for someone as young as he is - he has the ability to shoot and is an excellent passer."
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Things that make you go hmmmm If you add up all the time he spent doing interviews in the offseason, how many body parts could Chad Johnson have had operated on? Had he been worried about his team he would have had the surgery and been ready to go last week. But a clown is a clown is a clown.
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It's too late for Chad Ludwig At Large On the surface, it appears the Cincinnati Bengals' eighth-year veteran wide receiver is finally doing the right thing - for himself and the team - by having painful bone spurs removed. But the reality is ... the arthroscopic surgery is coming much too late in the offseason.
Embarrassing I still can't believe what I saw out of the LA Lakers last night. 131-92? With their season on the line? So much for picking LA because of Kobe and Phil. At least the Michael vs Kobe comparisons can be put away for a while. Anyone seen Gasol and Odom? Easily the worst "effort" in an NBA finals I have seen in my lifetime. The Boston Celtics reached inside the Lakers, removed their heart, and stomped on it. David Stern should have stepped in and canceled the 2nd half for the good of the sport.The Lakers defensive effort for six games was nothing short of pathetic. Congrats to the Celtics. Rings for UK's Rajon Rondo and XU's James Posey! From 24 wins to NBA champions. Doc Rivers picked apart and exposed every single weakness the Lakers had. Makes you wonder how LA got as far as they did.
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Chad to have surgery Wednesday Enquirer Limited last week at mandatory Bengals minicamp because of a tender ankle, wide receiver Chad Johnson will undergo arthroscopic surgery but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp. It opens with reporting day July 27 and the first two practices July 28.
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Iraqi children enjoy Reds' donation MLB.COM The hats White received from the Reds went to a group of children in a small town he patrols regularly. Now, each time he patrols the town, he sees the children wearing their new hats.
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Rookie diary: Keith Rivers Fox Sports ......checking in from Cincinnati, where we just finished up our mandatory mini-camp. Everyone was here and we were all focused on getting better as a team. I know there's been some stuff out there about Chad Johnson, but this was all about football and putting things together so that we can take the next step. It was a great experience.
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Tiger, Rocco save world of sports ESPN Take that, Chad Johnson and your insufferable bitching; Chris Henry and your one-for-the-thumb arrest record; Jeremy Shockey and your grudges. You've been replaced.
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Xavier news Xavier University junior forward Derrick Brown is among a select group of elite college basketball players that have been selected to be a counselor at both Nike's Vince Carter Small Forward Camp and the LeBron James Skills Academy. Both events, which take place within the next month, will provide Brown the opportunity to work with the country's best high school players and challenge himself against some great competition. Xavier head coach Sean Miller is excited about Brown's ability to help this year's Xavier squad. "Derrick Brown is extremely versatile and also very intelligent as a basketball player," said Miller. "As he continues to add strength and size to his frame he will be more productive in the low post area. His greatest strength as a player lies in the fact that he can do virtually everything on the court to help his team win at both ends of the floor." The Vince Carter Skills Academy takes place June 25-27 in Orlando, Florida. The LeBron James U.S. Skills Academy takes place July 5-8 in Akron, Ohio. The goal of the Nike Skills Academies is to instill the fundamentals into the next generation of top players. Each academy focuses on strength and conditioning and skill development. In addition to the on-court instruction the players also get to hear from the NBA athletes and the coaches on life lessons and what it takes to make it at the next level.
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UC football season tickets pass 10,000 CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics announced today its football season ticket sales eclipsed the 10,000 mark for the first time in program history, finishing the week at 10,191. "To have broken the season ticket record last month, and now pass the 10,000-ticket plateau two and a half months before the start of the season is unbelievable and exciting," said head coach Brian Kelly. "This is a great day for our program, the University, and the City of Cincinnati. All of the support we continue to receive from everyone is inspirational and keeps our players and coaches energized as we prepare to compete for a BIG EAST Conference Championship this fall." Just last month, UC passed the school record of 9,155 set in 2002 when fans were required to purchase football season ticket packages to receive UC basketball season tickets. In the 19 months since the department removed the requirement, season ticket sales have climbed 57 percent from 6,495 in 2006 to its current level. "Our ticket sales are going at a record pace for a second straight year and will only continue to be strong as we head into the 2008 season" says Director of Athletics Mike Thomas. "Our football program is coming off a great season with a school-record 10 wins and No. 17 national ranking. We are looking forward to seeing the new season start on August 28 when Eastern Kentucky comes to town and experiences our Nippert Stadium environment." Two of the most popular season ticket packages, the Bearcat Lair ($90 per seat) and Family Plan ($199 for four seats), are going rapidly and could be sold out by the end of the month. Fans are encouraged to act now before they are gone. Once the two packages are sold out, fans will be able to purchase UCATS Reserved or Non-UCATS Reserved plans. Season tickets can be purchased by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX or going online to www.CATSTIX.com.
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We had a catch!
What a blast on Sunday! Congrats to Charley Frank, the Reds Community Fund and the organization for another fantastic Father's Day Catch. It was hot. Homer Bailey wasn't very good. The catch was awesome. Me, Casey, Peyton and my dad were on the field afterwards. What a great way to celebrate Father's Day, Peyton's 6th birthday and Casey's five year annivesary of his bone marrow transplant. We've done the catch three straight years now. Loved the Field of Dreams music playing. The kids loved seeing themselves on the video board. It was very cool looking around and seeing fathers and sons of all ages playing catch. Great fund. Great people. Great cause. Great time had by all.
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Great story on the friendship of Rose and A-Rod ESPN Little did Rose know, but A-Rod was dying to reconnect. By late June, A-Rod had drifted into a hellacious 1-for-14 slump, so he had an agent friend contact Rose at the Field of Dreams store. By June 30, the slump had bottomed out at 3-for-23, and Rose noticed on TV that A-Rod was "swinging at bad pitches away." He felt A-Rod had fallen into the habit of trying to pull sliders to left field, and so, on July 1, Rose fired off the following text:
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US Open: Wow! What great theatre. That was unreal. I plopped down in from of the TV and didn't budge. 91 holes for the US Open Championship....19 of them Monday. Epic. I didn't want either guy to lose. I wanted another hole of sudden death. Rocco becomes my 2nd favorite golfer. How gutty and classy is he? My kids watched the final nine holes...perhaps because I was making so much noise. Can you imagine going to bed Sunday night knowing you were going head to head for 18 holes vs Tiger Monday? And then Rocco fell behind by three shots. Then he rallied to lead by one going to 18 for the second straight day, Tiger's focus and drive is amazing. The only athlete I can compare him to is Jordan. I still can't believe what I watched .....from his back nine Friday through Monday afternoon. He wins his 14th major on the heels of knee surgery? Gotta be kidding me. Great lead: Alan Shipnuck, CNNSI With a throbbing knee and a pounding heart, Tiger Woods made one last improbable escape Monday and won the U.S. Open in a 19-hole playoff over Rocco Mediate, his 14th career major and maybe the most amazing of them all. Cameron Morfit, Golf Magazine Women ran from hole-to-hole in flip-flops. Men scurried around in bare feet. Children climbed trees, and the hotels bordering the 18th hole opened the hatchways to their roofs. There was confusion: What happens if they're still tied? And there was panic. For those who were too slow or too proud to wade into the scrum, or just not tall enough to see, fans with tiny TV sets gave a running blow-by-blow.
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The Mayor comes home
(Photo from listener Brian)
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Undeniable greatness makes Tiger so loveable MSNBC The biggest roars should have been for Rocco Mediate, not Tiger Woods. That's how it is in America. We cheer for the underdog and find reasons to tear down the guy on top. But it doesn't work that way for Tiger Woods, just as it didn't work that way for Michael Jordan. It's as if once you get to a certain level of excellence, a level so obvious that even the most iconoclastic curmudgeon can't miss it, the rules get suspended; the hero gets a pass.
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Sights seen Friday night Casey and I were at the Reds game. We were seated about 25 feet from the Red Sox on-deck circle. I told Casey not to holler at Sean Casey because he was working and had an at-bat to think about. In the 9th inning Sean is taking warm-ups swings. He glanced over and saw us. He yelled "Hey, Lance and Casey!", and waved to Casey with a big smile on his face. Casey hadn't seen Sean in probably two years. Cool night. Fireworks were spectacular!
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Coolers/food at the ballpark I continue my quest to inform all fans they can take food and drinks into GABP. A caller to Sports Talk Sunday was complaining about not being able to afford to eat or drink at games. Prior to Sunday's game I went to BP/Sub Way and got two foot longs and four plastic bottled drinks....Total: $15.60. We made Peyton a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We has the kids 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.
From listener Chris: "Can't thank you enough for the advice on the coolers at GABP. We took four sandwiches, five bottles of water and some Busken's cookies to the game Saturday. Probably saved quite a bit of money, and my family had no idea about it."
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Former Bearcat graduates, 15 years later Josh Katzowitz, Dayton Daily News "My wife graduated from the University of Cincinnati, and she was like, 'You need to go back. You're going to tell your kids that they're going to have to go to school, and you speak at these camps and you're stressing education. You don't even have your degree,' " the 39-year-old said. "She had a point. I had a lot of people pushing on me.
Mackanin on Bailey Hal McCoy, Dayton Daily News Even before Bailey's awful appearance - brief as it was - former Reds interim manager Pete Mackanin, now a Yankees scout, had this assessment: "I've never been a big Homer Bailey fan. He doesn't have any pitches to go with his fastball and he doesn't locate his fastball very well."
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On this date in Reds history (From Steven Sharp) Tom Seaver pitched his only career MLB no-hitter -- Friday night, June 16, 1978, at Riverfront Stadium, to defeat the Cardinals, 4-0. Seaver only recorded three strikeouts for the game. The starting pitcher for the Cardinals was future Red John Denny. In addition to recording the final out unassisted, Dan Driessen also homered to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. Ray Knight was a defensive replacement at third base for Pete Rose in the eighth inning -- the only line-up change made by Sparky Anderson for the game. Ken Griffey was leading the NL in batting average. Don Werner caught the no-hitter. Werner played 50 games for the Reds in 1978, started 37 games, and did not record a single multi-hit game all season
***** Palmer follows closely in brother's footsteps Josh Katzowitz, LA Times Across the field, Jordan Palmer is working just as hard. He's not coaching the young receiving corps, but nonetheless, he's throwing and practicing and learning the lessons his brother teaches. He's showing the Cincinnati coaching staff -- which has long since departed -- how much he wants a job as the Bengals third-string quarterback, his big brother's backup.
Un-FREAKIN'-believable!!! Did you see Tiger on 18??????????? He's not human. All of us let out a scream and leaped off the couch! You have got to be kidding.
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"Junior Cabernet"anyone?
Ken Griffey, Jr. with his "Junior Cabernet" taken at his Charity Wines launch Sunday, from the Riverfront Club at Great American Ball Park following the Reds game. Featured with Junior is Chris Welsh -- Reds TV Analysis, who served as emcee at the wine launch. The wine is hitting store shelves this week around Cincinnati, Ohio and in Northern Kentucky. Ken Griffey, Jr. is donating 100% of his proceeds to the Ken Griffey, Jr. Family Foundation to support at-risk children through the Boys & Girls Club of America, as well as sick children through donations to children's hospitals in Cincinnati, Seattle and Florida. More than 30 professional athletes across baseball, football and hockey have released a charity wine in the last year, resulting in donations exceeding $1,000,000. In Cincinnati, Barry Larkin is releasing "B-Lark Merlot," Homer Bailey is releasing "Homer Chardonnay," and Cincinnati native (now with the Boston Red Sox) Kevin Youkilis is releasing "SauvignYoouuk Blanc." Learn more at www.charitywines.com.
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Walt ready to clean house NY PostNew Reds GM Walt Jocketty has told counterparts he wants to clean house, notably of free-agent-to-be outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn, plus Ryan Freel and - in the right deal -starter Bronson Arroyo.
**Unconfirmed reports indicate Jocketty hopes to get a rosin bag, fungo bat, pack of Big League Chew and a bottle opener for them
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Stubbs wins MVP From Jamie Ramsey of the Reds In last night's 47th annual Florida State League All-Star Game, Sarasota OF Drew Stubbs earned the "Star of Stars" award as the game's MVP, going 1-for-4 with a walk and a 2-run homer...Stubbs' West Division team defeated the East squad, 9-3 in front of 3,402 fans at Viera, Florida's Space Coast Stadium...Other SaraReds to see action in last night's titanic struggle included DH Juan Francisco (1-for-3), LF Chris Heisey (0-for-2) and RHP Ramon Geronimo (0.2ip, 0h, 0r).
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Dunn deal or done in Cincy? Fox Sports From Ken Rosenthal "Get ready for the next round of Adam Dunn trade talks. Dunn loses full no trade protection Sunday. After Sunday he can be traded to all but 10 teams without his permission. Dunn told me he hopes for a resolution soon...and says the trade talks get old. He added he's open to an extension. The Reds have made no contact with him about a deal."
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Classy Jr deserves shot at World Series Chicago Tribune Griffey is a modern-day Ernie Banks in a couple of ways. He's one of the greatest ambassadors that baseball has had and, sadly, he never has stepped onto the biggest stage.
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Simply jaw dropping!
(AP photo) Tell me you saw Tiger drop a 70 ft. eagle putt on 13, roll in an eagle putt on18 and a birdie chip-in on 17! He takes the lead going to the final round of the US Open. Simply spectacular. I still can't believe it. Coming off knee surgery? First tournament he's played in since. Unreal. His knee buckled on the 15th...and he used his club as a cane at one point to climb out of the bunker.
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Sox treat fans royally with win in Queen City Boston Herald This laid-back, family-oriented location may be a bit too quiet and slow for the throngs of visiting Bostonians who have complained about finding little to do in the Queen City. Yesterday, however, the Red Sox gave their followers more than they could handle at Great American Ball Park in a potential watershed victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
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Bengals need a split from Chad Yahoo Sports Believe whatever you want, but understand this: The time has come for the Bengals to stop trying to figure it out. It's time for the Bengals to get rid of Johnson.
Crawford's brother bound for UK? Lexington Herald Leader "He knows about Coach (Billy) Gillispie through watching Joe play for them ..." Mrs. Crawford said. "I think he's a tremendous coach."
Dr J helped NBA soar to new heights Newsday "I don't like guys jumping up on the scorer's table and shaking their shoulders or shaking their bottom as if they're extra special - more special than the other 11 guys on the team. This image of Bill Russell and his 11 teammates holding one another's hands as they run off the court, I would love to see that happen once again."
Did you see it? Yonder Alonzo took one the other way, about 400ft to LCF......the kid can rake
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Father & Son Home Run Leaders Bonds (Bobby 332, Barry 762).. 1,094 GRIFFEY (SR 152, JR 600)....... 752 Alou (Felipe 206, Moises 332)... 538 Perez (Tony 379, Eduardo 79)... 458 Bell (Gus 206, Buddy 201)........ 407 Berra (Yogi 358, Dale 49).......... 407
Most HR On Father's Day (All-Time) Joe DiMaggio....................... 12 Stan Musial.......................... 11 Reggie Jackson...................... 9 Eric Karros............................. 9 Johnny Mize........................... 9
Most HR On Father's Day (Active) Ken Griffey Jr........................ 5 Manny Ramirez....................... 5 Mike Cameron........................ 4 Jim Thome............................. 4 8 players tied......................... 3
Most RBI on Father's Day (Active) Ken Griffey Jr...................... 15 Carlos Lee, Mil...................... 15 Jim Thome, WSox................ 14 Manny Ramirez..................... 14 Omar Vizquel, SF.................. 13
Father's Day stats courtesy Elias Sports Bureau
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Maloney struggles again at AAA Louisville Courier Journal Maloney allowed nine hits and the five runs, striking out five and walking three. Matt Belisle (3-0) pitched 11/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win.
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Reds and Kings Island team up In addition to the Double Play package going on sale, Monday, June 16 is also Reds Day at Kings Island, as park visitors will have an opportunity to see Reds players, mascots Gapper and Mr. Redlegs, the Reds Crew, Reds Rally Pack, Reds Rover and much more! This special event includes two live Reds shows in the International Showplace Theatre (1:00pm and 3:00pm). The shows are included free with park admission, on a first-come, first-served basis. Catcher Paul Bako, outfielder Ryan Freel, shortstop Jerry Hairston, shortstop Paul Janish, outfielder Corey Patterson, first baseman Andy Phillips, second baseman Brandon Phillips and pitcher David Weathers are the players scheduled to appear.
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Oldest former major leaguer about to turn 100 AP "Babe Ruth hit a home run, and I wanted to show them how fast I could run," he recalled about being driven in by Ruth after walking in his first major league plate appearance in 1930 with the New York Yankees. "So I get into the dugout and -- finally -- Babe got into the dugout. He patted me on the head and said, 'Son, you don't have to run like that when the Babe hits one.' "
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Couch sets sights on the future Lexington Herald "I'm done with football," said Couch, who failed to earn a spot with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007. "I've had two shoulder surgeries the past three seasons and it's not going to hold up for me anymore."
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Cool story Community Press As soon as the team heard about the damage, everybody volunteered, said Pat Nerl of Alexandria, who will be a senior in the fall and plays on the team as a shooting guard. There was no hesitation, Nerl said
****Still looking Several times in the past I've tried to do a feature pointing out positive/feel good stories in sports. It has never taken off. No idea why. I'd like to reference these type of stories whenever I find them. No set day. No set time. Just a quick mention and move on. . I just get tired of the constant ranting and raving.....and the inability for people to be happy about/react to anything positive. What could I call these mentions? Got a name? Ideas submitted so far: Honorable Mentions, Good Sports, High Fives Jump in FORUMwith suggestions.
Bruce is #1 in Baker's eyes The Boston Globe Bruce, called "The Natural" by many scouts, has off-the-chart skills. He's not a burner by any means, but he can run well enough to steal bases. He can hit for power - projected at 25-35 homers - and for average. The ceiling seems to be very high, so much so the Reds will likely sell off Griffey to the highest bidder. With Bruce's popularity creating excitement, his presence would likely soften the blow of Griffey's departure.
Top 10 Father and Son baseball duos Chicago Tribune 1. Ken Griffey -Ken Griffey Jr.: The elder was a regular for one of the greatest teams in history, Cincinnati's Big Red Machine; the younger is sixth all-time in home runs and a future Hall of Famer. They played together in Seattle and once hit home runs in the same game.
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Reds Harang loss on Red Sox Boston Herald With a nasty, electrified weather system rapidly approaching, the Red Sox first road game against the Cincinnati Reds since the 1975 World Series took on a desperate feel, as the teams raced last night to get in an official game before the deluge fell.
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Bench book signing Hall of Famer Johnny Bench will be signing copies of his new book, "Catching Every Pitch: How To Handle Life's Pitches" at the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum on Saturday, June 14 at 1 p.m. A hero of the Reds 1975 World Series win over the Boston Red Sox, Johnny will be signing next to the World Series trophies on display at the Reds Hall of Fame. Copies of the book are available for $25 at the Reds Hall of Fame. Limit two signed books per customer. No other items will be autographed. Admission to the Reds Hall of Fame is $10 for the entire year. $8 for seniors and students.
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Reds aquire pitcher The Cincinnati Reds today acquired from Kansas City RHP Henry Arias to complete the March 19 deal that sent RHP Brad Salmon to the Royals for a player to be named later or cash. Arias, 23, will be assigned to Class A Dayton. This season for Burlington he went 2-3 with a 3.78 ERA and 2 saves in 18 relief appearances. He originally was signed as a non-drafted free agent on February 4, 2003. Arias graduated from Espiritu Santos School in 2002.
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NFL suspends Henry indefintely The Sporting News Henry has been arrested five times since the Bengals made him a third-round draft pick out of West Virginia in 2005. His misconduct was one of the factors that prompted Goodell to tighten the league's policies last year and strengthen its punishment for players who get in trouble with the law.
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The Week In Reds Baseball Have you checked out the new weekly show on Homer? The Week In Reds Baseball airs Saturday mornings from 8-9am. The show features extended highlights from each game during the week, interviews and features. Ken Griffey Jr was featured this week.
