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 theFORUM 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.
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?
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.
Cisco Carlos 1967 White Sox 0.86 ERA 7
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Ferdie Schupp 1916 NY Giants 0.90 ERA 11 GAMES
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Dutch Leonard 1914 Red Sox 1.00 ERA 25
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Three Finger Brown 1906 Cubs 1.04 ERA 32
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Bob Veale 1963 Pirates 1.04 ERA 7
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Edinson Volquez 2008 REDS 1.06 ERA 7
GAMES STARTED
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Wow Edinson Volquez didn’t allow more than 1 earned run in any of his first 7 starts. No Reds pitcher had accomplished that feat since earned runs became an official statistic in 1912 (courtesy Elias Sports Bureau).
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How about Joey Votto!? Three home runs today. He becomes the 23rd players in Reds history to accomplish the feat. It has occured 28 times in franchise history. Aaron Boone was the last Reds player to accomplish the feat....in 2002 and 2003. Other Red who have done it since 1990: Branyan '02 Vaughn '99 Hammonds '99 B Boone '98 Greene '96 R Sanders '95 Larkin '91
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Elder product ready to carry heavy load for ND Chicago Tribune An hour or so earlier, the Elder High School weight room sounded like an auto
plant assembly line, a chorus of soprano pings and husky thuds. The crowd behind
that clamor has dispersed. Now it's just Kyle Rudolph, cast-iron slabs of weight
and dubious, overly loud 1980s music.
Kelch added to Reds broadcast team Class AAA Louisville Bats veteran announcer Jim Kelch will join Hall of Famer Marty Brennaman or Jeff Brantley on 14 Reds on Radio broadcasts this season...Kelch is in his 20th season as the play-by-play voice of the Louisville club...he previously worked Major League games as a fill-in for the Reds and St. Louis Cardinals broadcast teams...the Peoria, Illinois native began his broadcast career with the Class A Peoria Chiefs in 1984...he joined the Bats in 1989 after a 2-year stint as broadcaster for the Class AA Chattanooga Lookouts...Kelch also is the radio voice of the University of Louisville's women's basketball team...for the Reds, he is scheduled to work 5/12-5/15, 5/30, 6/1, 7/18-7/19, 9/2-9/4 and 9/18-9/20.
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Wednesday show Guests Tim Bray, Kentucky Speedway, previews ARCA race this weekend Brian Cleary, UC baseball coach Topics Reds-Cubs recap Top 10 most impressive single day athletic accomplishments: Your votes are in. Ethics In Sports: Do you take exception to the White Sox clubhouse shrine of sex dolls? See story below Fore!: Are you a dangerous golfer? Check out the website devoted to dangerous and bad golfers. Got a story you would like to share about your play? Wimp!: Are you a wimp about anything? A-Rod's wife says he's real wimpy around doctors A-Rod passed out during daughter's birth '04 *Got a story about the day your child was born?
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Your votes are in Yesterday, we discussed the most impressive single day athletic accomplishments in sports history. I didn't bring it up til late in the show. I will revisit the topic early today. I compiled your calls and emails to make a Top 10 list. Let the debate begin. Top 10 Most impressive single day athletic accomplishments: 10. Mark Whitten, 4 hr's and 12 rbi's in game vs Reds '93 9. Fernando Tatis two grand slams in one innings '99 8. Rick Wise, no-hits the Reds and hit two homers '71 7. Bob Beamon shatters the world record for the long jump in the '68 Olympics. His jump of 29 ft 2.5 inches, breaks the previous record of 27 ft 4.75 inches. 6. Don Larsen pitches the only perfect game in World Series history in '56 5. Roger Bannister becomes the first to break the 4-minute mile in '54 4. Gale Sayers scores 6 TD's on 14 touches in '65.... 4 rushing TD's, a punt return for TD, and a catch for TD. 3. Secretariat wins the '73 Belmont by 31 lengths 2. Jesse Owens sets three world records and ties another at the '35 Big 10 meet in Ann Arbor. The performances comes in a span of 45-minutes. 1. Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points in a '62 NBA game vs New York. His total is 19 points better than the second best ever, Kobe Bryant's 81 points.
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It's official....Reds talk has Jumped The Shark Things heard from callers today 1. Time to fire Dusty 2. They should trade Aaron Harang. Welcome to Reds baseball 2008...the team is 13-21....the GM has been fired, the manager is going nowhere, and the batting order has been shuffled 97 times. And....only 128 games remain.
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Thursday topic? Nicknames Uncovered What about a topic on how/why teams got their nicknames? What is a Georgetown Hoya? What about a St Louis Billiken? Pro teams as well.....NLF, NBA, MLB. Pick a name, research it...report in Thursday? What do you think?
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Do me a favor If you need to contact me, do it thru the contact section here....or...email me at lance1530homer@fuse.net. Don't use my Clear Channel address. I rarely check it. Thanks
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Defense never rests for former Musketeer Yahoo Sports Reaching down to clip the tape on his ankles had turned into pure agony Tuesday night, Posey's body too sore to bend one more time. For a defender, this is the most taxing job in basketball: Defending LeBron, and giving up your body for the greater good.
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Prince may ascend to throne in playoffs Detroit Free Press "I told him that he's the one guy who has the most room for improvement," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. "He's at a point right now that these playoffs could become his stepping stone for this eventually becoming his team. He can be that guy."
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What they are saying in Chicago Chicago Tribune "Look, I maintain we're going to play better," Piniella said. "But I also maintain two things-that the division has gotten better and teams enjoy beating the Cubs a lot more than they did last year. I see it. I see how excited St. Louis was when they beat us. I saw how excited Milwaukee was when they beat us.
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Ethics In Sports: Got a problem with this? The White Sox created a clubhouse shrine with two female blow-up dolls to change their luck over the weekend. All heck broke loose.
Sox blow it with sexist shrine Sun Times But this isn't about reporters' feelings. Reporters are conduits to the fans. What a team does behind closed doors is its own business. But once the locker room opens, the franchise is on public display. So, how do you like your team now, Sox fans? Do you think the players respect women? I'm not so sure about that.
Juvenile stunt?, No shock Sun Times'' First of all, I don't think we tried to disrespect anybody or to hurt anybody's feelings,'' Guillen said. ''We just tried to have fun and keep the team loose. Obviously, a lot of people took it the wrong way.''
Never a doll moment Sun Times ''One hundred percent of the people in the clubhouse are 18 years old, and that's a private thing. If the players do it in the dugout where everyone can see or in the hotel lobby -- we did it in our clubhouse, and a lot of things happen in the clubhouse. I don't really know why people are making it a big deal. If people got their feelings hurt because of that ... they don't really know much about baseball.''
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How would Reds fare vs her? Ryle's Kirsten Allen fired a one-hitter yesterday. She has allowed one earned run in 23 games this year. GAMES. Not innings. She has 129 career wins. Unreal.
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For my money There is nothing more entertaining on TV, that is sports related, than TNT's Inside The NBA. Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkely and Kenny Smith are outstanding. It's the best pre/postgame breakdown of games ever offered. They are hilarious.
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#1 pick headed to Dayton Dayton Daily News Joining the Dragons today will be catcher Devin Mesoraco, the Reds' No. 1 pick in last summer's draft, and first baseman Logan Parker, who was rehabbing an injury. Parker was here last season. Both additions have played only in extended spring games so far.
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Do people think we are dumb? I get such a kick out of those, including Jr, trying to downplay the USA Today story yesterday. Jr said, "It's the exact same thing I said last year, so why is it such a big story now?". I heard C. Trent tell Cut Man it is people creating something that is not there. So Jr decided to talk about something that is not there? Yea, he does that a lot. Look, who is kidding who? It's a story because it's one year later and Jr's saying the same thing. He's in the final year of a contract that includes an option or a buyout. There is a decision to be made. Do you think Bob Nightengale just happened to run into Jr in Atlanta..and just happened to write about his days being numbered? Come on now. USA Today writes no talks have taken place, much less negotiations, and that's nothing? Please. It's insulting. Why do you think the fact there have been no talks or negotiations were made public? And, the Mariner's president just happens to pick up the phone and comments on his love for Jr? This was about laying the groundwork for Jr's departure. And that's not nothing.
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Jr.....Going, going, gone....soon Paul Daugherty, Enquirer The Reds will part with Griffey, maybe after the year is up, maybe sooner. There is still the matter of trying to profit on his "race" to 600 home runs. Any time after 600, all bets are off.
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Mariners manager on Jr Seattle PI Seattle manager John McLaren, one of Griffey's best friends in the game, was very careful Tuesday not to say anything that could be construed as tampering. But he hasn't lost his affection for Griffey. "Kenny is one of my all-time favorites," McLaren said. "I think he was the player for the '90s. I can't comment on somebody else's player, but I think the world of him. I'm anxious for him to get his 600th homer, and I think if he had been healthy (since leaving Seattle) he'd be at 700 now."
Power Outage Tuesday night the Reds and Cubs participated in only the 31st homerless game in the 422-game history of Great American Ball Park, the first of the 2008 season...it is the fifth homerless game here involving the Cubs...it happened 4 times last season, most recently on 8/8 vs LAD...only once in the ballpark's existence has there been a streak of 2 straight games without a home run by either team (8/6-8/7, 2005 vs Fla).
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What up? Officials from Indiana University have notified the University of Cincinnati of their intention to cancel the baseball contest between the two schools scheduled for Wednesday. The game will not be made up. "It is unfortunate that Indiana chose not to play us," UC head coach Brian Cleary stated. "Obviously, we enjoy playing teams from our region and this cancellation leaves us in a bit of bind in terms of scheduling." The Bearcats are back in action this weekend, travelling to Seton Hall for an important three-game set with the Pirates beginning on Friday.
Bengals news The Bengals today acquired rookie WR Travis Brown of New Mexico on waivers from Seattle. Brown (6-3, 202) was a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection as a junior and a senior. His 182 career receptions rank third in New Mexico school history, and his 2196 receiving yards rank fifth. He was signed by Seattle on April 29 and was waived yesterday.
Henry allowed to go to tryout Enquirer Former Bengal Chris Henry will be allowed to travel to other cities in hopes of reviving his professional football career, a judge ruled today.
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King on Bengals' future at WR CNNSI It sounds like the Bengals didn't draft three wide receivers last week just because of the Chad Johnson holdout and the Chris Henry firing. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis tells me there's a T.J. Houshmandzadeh element to it, too.
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Weathers missed a chance last night I get the idea that people want to give David Weathers credit for showing leadership skills and going to bat for his teammates after Jeff Brantley's comments Sunday. However...he missed a chance to put the focus where it should be...on the performance of the team. Why is David or any other player worried about what Jeff has to say? Heck, why even admit to hearing it? No other player would have heard it 10-minutes after the game. This team is 13-20 because of the players, not a broadcaster. David put the story thru another news cycle. This is about a team's play. Not a broadcastser. The response from Weathers should have been: "Wow...as poorly as we are going as a team, we have a lot more to worry about than what a broadaster says about us. If Jeff doesn't think we are in it to win it, then our play on the field will have to prove him wrong." For David to play the "put on a uniform and get out there" card is a copout. And it's disappointing. This team has worried about what is written and said about them for far too long.
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A triple play last night Not a bad sports night for me Monday 1. Watched Reds vs Cubs at GABP 2. Walked over to catch Cyclones in game 7 at US Bank Arena 3. Capped the night off by watching Chris Paul lead the Hornets over the Spurs in game 2
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UPDATED Show preview Guest Chuck Weber, Cyclones coach Topics Single day performance: What's the greatest athletic perforance for a single day? Not a season. Not a career. Not a streak. A single day. Reds-Cubs Cyclones: Game 7....did you go? 2,523 showed up for the biggest game of the year? NBA playoffs Ethics In Sports: Do you take issue with what the White Sox did in their clubhouse? Read below.
Send Jr home I hope the Reds deal Ken Griffey Jr.... back to Seattle.....today. I think he deserves to experience the final stage of his career in the city that appreciated him the most and saw him at his best. Seattle deserves to see #600. Seattle deserves to see his final at-bat in the majors after witnessing his first at-bat in the majors. Time to send Jr full circle. That isn't meant as a knock on Cincinnati....but rather praise for Seattle and recognition of what's happened. The Reds trumpeted Jr's arrival...but never surrounded the roster with the ingredients to win. Then Jr got hurt....and got hurt again. Suddenly the all-star level play in Seattle was replaced by trips to the DL in Cincinnati. Sadly, and unfairly, Jr became the face of the Reds failures. Fans believe they were sold a bill of goods. Seattle got the best of Jr. Seattle should now get the rest of Jr. Jr is in a no-win situation here. Dive for a ball, get hurt, get blasted by fans. Don't dive for a ball, preserve the body, get blasted by fans. If he stays, does it get better or worse? I'm guessing the fan resentment will grow. Resentment over losing, Resentment over his salary. Resentment for having Jay Bruce's spot in RF. He's chased 600 while staying clean of steroids. But fans see it as crawling to 600 in a losing season. If he doesn't hit 600 soon, any potential anticipation and excitement for history will turn to fan complaints about the wait and the struggle. Heaven help Jr if he gets hurt. Some will say the Reds should squeeze all the marketing and ticket sales they can out of Jr's chase to 600. And that the Reds can't afford to trade him before he reaches the mark. Anyone feel a buzz in the air? The Reds have two more home games before going back on the road for three games. Then they return home next Monday for a seven game homestand. Do you plan to run to the ticket window? A trade makes sense for all sides. Seattle needs offense. Jr can make a heroes return and DH when he wants. The Reds can hand RF to Bruce. Face it, Seattle loves Jr more than Cincinnati ever has or ever will. Seattle's response to Jr last season was magical. Jr deserves magical. Jr. deserves to go home. Send him home. Do it for Jr and for the fans. Start Jay Bruce's career in Cincy. End Jr's career in Seattle. A perfect final chapter.
What is the greatest single day performance by an athlete? Today is the anniversary of: *Roger Bannister becoming the first to break the 4-minute mile in 1954 *Kerry Wood K's 20 in 1998 What do you consider the greatest single day accomplishment by an athlete?
"I wouldn't change anything," says Griffey, who was traded to the Reds on Feb. 10, 2000. "I had to leave Seattle when I did. I just had to. They know the real reason why I left." More than eight years after departing Seattle, it might be time to leave again, perhaps returning to the Northwest. Discuss in my FORUM
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Clones headed to American Conference finals The Cincinnati Cyclones advanced to the American Conference Finals with a 6-1 win over Reading Monday night in the seventh game of the best of seven series. Jason Deitsch and Mathieu Aubin each scored a goal and had tow assists to pace the offense. Cedrick Desjardins stopped 30 shots in taking the win.
(Getty Images) With Cincinnati failing to draft any running backs, Alexander could provide some depth that the Bengals failed to procure last month. It also helps that Alexander, a former Mr. Kentucky football player, is revered in those parts.
Impact NFL rookies WhatIfSports #3: Keith Rivers, LB, Cincinnati Anyone who watched the Bengals last year knows they need help at linebacker. Then, the team let its top tackler, Landon Johnson, go in free agency. Whether the reinstated Odell Thurman or previously injured Ahmad Brooks and Rashad Jeanty return to form or not, Rivers will be given every opportunity to help this defense this season - and he will.
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Boy takes Favre jersey off after four years ESPN Witthoft conceded his son was starting to become more concerned about his appearance after the jersey barely came down to his belt line.
Fox News Bill Bramanti will love Pabst Blue Ribbon eternally, and he's got the custom-made beer-can casket to prove it. "I actually fit, because I got in here," said Bramanti of South Chicago Heights.
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What they are saying in Chicago Chicago Tribune After ripping Cubs fans last month, Reds announcer Marty Brennaman proved he's an equal-opportunity offender, proclaiming during a loss to Atlanta on Sunday that Cincinnati "may never win another game." But the Reds proved him wrong Monday night with a 5-3 win over the Cubs before 20,889 at Great American Ball Park, scoring five unearned runs off Ryan Dempster.
Weathers responds to Brantley's comments Enquirer "All I said is, if it's this easy to play baseball, he should find a uniform and play," Weathers said. "I was basically taking up for my teammates. I heard some comments that he thought guys were quitting. "I didn't feel that way. It's easy to say that when things are going tough for a team. It's easy to dog-pile. I felt like he was doing that."
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5 teams that could get over the playoff hump Fox Sports Cincinnati Bengals (7-9): Despite the recent efforts of linebacker Ahmad Brooks and Chad Johnson, I believe the Bengals have enough talent to stagger into January. Yeah, the blame for most of this risky optimism rests on the shoulders of QB Carson Palmer, but I'm also supportive of adding LB Keith Rivers and DT Pat Sims to the Cincinnati defense.It also should be noted that if Johnson is moved, the Bengals may have drafted one or two kids capable of keeping T.J. Houshmandzadeh from drawing triple coverage.
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US Bank Arena cuts ties with UC-Miami game Enquirer "We were hoping early on when we started the concept that we could build the Miami game into something close to what was happening with UC and Xavier in the Crosstown Shootout," Harris said, "that we could get that rivalry going back and forth and that would boost attendance levels. That never seemed to take off in that vein."
