Lance

    Sunday

    Sunday, November 23, 2008, 09:17 AM EST [General]

    Tickets, get your tickets
    Tickets are still available for the Syracuse game.
    Call 1-877-CATS-TIX or visit CATSTIX.com

    ***

    Bengals news
    * Signed free agent G Evan Mathis, a fourth-year player from Alabama, to the roster. Mathis played in Games 2-8 this season for Miami and was waived by the Dolphins on Nov. 7. He entered the NFL as a third-round draft choice of Carolina in 2005 and played in 25 games with 15 starts for the Panthers over 2005-07. He was waived by the Panthers on Aug. 30 of this year.
    * Signed free agent DE Josh Mallard, a fourth-year player from Georgia, to the roster. Mallard (6-2, 265) played in 11 games last season, three with Atlanta and eight with Denver, posting 20 tackles with 3.5 sacks, a pass defensed and a forced fumble. He was with the Broncos in preseason and was waived on Aug. 26. He entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft choice of Indianapolis in 2002 and played in 13 games. He did not see regular season NFL action from 2003-05 but was signed by Atlanta for 2006, playing in 14 games. His career NFL totals include 38 games, one start, 48 tackles, 8.5 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and three passes defensed.
    * Placed DE Robert Geathers on the Reserve/Injured list. Geathers, a fifth-year player from Georgia, suffered a knee injury in last week’s game at Pittsburgh. He has started all 11 games this season and has 56 tackles, a team-leading 2.5 sacks, a pass defensed, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.
    * Placed DE Frostee Rucker on the Reserve/Injured list. Rucker, a third-year pro from Southern California, suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s game at Pittsburgh. He has played in all 11 games this season, with four starts. He has 35 tackles with one sack, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery, and he is tied for the team lead in forced fumbles (two).
    * Signed DE Victor DeGrate to the practice squad. DeGrate (6-3, 250; Oklahoma State) is a first year player. He entered the NFL in 2007 as a college free agent with Houston, and after being waived in preseason, he spent the final five games of the season on Detroit’s practice squad. He opened the 2008 preseason with the Lions and was waived on Aug. 30.

    ***

    Carson hopes to resume throwing soon
    C. Trent

    ***

    UC can clinch Big East on Friday
    South Florida beat UConn, 17-13, last night in Tampa.
    The loss eliminates UConn (7-4/3-3) from the Big East title.
    Only UC and West Virginia can now claim the BCS bid.
    WVU must win out(at Pitt/home S FL) AND have the Bearcats lose to Syracuse on Saturday to win the league.
    UC is 5-1 in the league....only Rutgers, Pittsburgh and West Virginia could tie UC at 5-2....but UC has already beaten all three.
    So if West Virginia loses on Friday at Pitt, UC wraps-up the Big East before it plays the Syracuse game Saturday.

    ***

    Crew brings home the MLS Cup
    Columbus Dispatch
    CARSON, Calif. --The Columbus Crew capped off one of the finest single seasons in Major League Soccer history with an emphatic 3-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls in the MLS Cup final yesterday afternoon. A sun-splashed crowd of 27,000, including thousands of boisterous fans from Columbus, paid witness at the Home Depot Center.

    ***

    More bowl projections
    ESPN

    ***

    Monday show preview
    I'm back....can't wait!
    Topics
    Topic A: Bengals or UC/College football?
    UC: Did you go?
    College football
    College basketball
    HS football
    Looking ahead
    Tuesday: Former Bearcat Haruki Nakamura will join me. Former Ravens OL Jonathan Ogden checks in. Brian Kelly at 5:30
    Wednesday: Bengals Breakdown at Buffalo Wings and Rings

    ***

    All hail my Bulldogs!
    Butler Bulldogs #1 this morning in the RPI.
    Thanks to Travis Holmes, producer for The Cut Man, for the heads up

    ***

    The Rutgers Mess: A lesson for UC?
    NY Times
    Rutgers, the biggest and most important public university in New Jersey, has spent millions of dollars furthering its ambition to become a major football power that might otherwise have been devoted to academics. It has done so during a period of rising tuition and budgetary cutbacks in academic departments, and, worse, without any real oversight from the university's president, Richard McCormick, and its Board of Governors.

    ****

    Phillies hire Mackanin
    Philadelphia Daily News
    Mackanin, who played sparingly for the Phillies in 1978-79, will be manager Charlie Manuel's bench coach, replacing Jimy Williams, who unexpectedly quit earlier this month. The hiring means former Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo, hired last week for an unspecified position, will spend the 2009 season as the team's third-base coach.

    ***

    Big East Honor Roll
    Connor Barwin, DE, Cincinnati
    - Had three sacks for losses of 22 yards to go with six tackles in a 28-21 win against Pittsburgh.
    Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati - Completed 26 of 32 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-21 win against Pittsburgh.

    ***

    King on Bengals
    CNNSI
    4. I think most everyone missed a important tidbit about Carson Palmer last week -- most everyone but the faithful listeners to the "Opening Drive'' on Sirius NFL Radio. Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said it's very unlikely Palmer will need postseason elbow surgery, and it's quite likely Palmer will play before the end of the year. I've heard people say, "Why risk Palmer's future?'' And they're right -- if there's any risk in injuring the elbow by playing, he shouldn't play. But if there isn't, he should. The other 52 players are playing each week, so why shouldn't their team leader play if he's healthy enough?
    5. I think, by the way, it's idiocy for the Bengals to consider bringing Chad Ocho Cinco back for the 2009 season. What's the point? That the Bengals will be able to puff their chests out and say, "Chad Johnson's not going to shoot his way off this team. No one is.'' Great. So you've proven a point. You can hold onto an ineffective player, and if he goes somewhere else, he could have a Randy Moss-like season in another uniform next year. Big deal. Johnson has been repentant since the incident in Pittsburgh, but so what? There will be another one soon, either before the end of this year or during the offseason. Just move on and cut ties. It'll be better for both parties.

    ***

    X marks the spot in Puerto Rico
    GoXavier.com
    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Holding one of the highest-scoring offenses in college basketball under 60 points, the Xavier University men's basketball team won the Puerto Rico Tip-Off championship. The Musketeers defeated Memphis, 63-58, to begin the season 5-0 for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign.


    Senior C.J. Anderson scored 10 points and hauled in seven rebounds to help the Musketeers earn the Puerto Rico Tip-Off championship. He earned MVP honors for his efforts.

    ***

    Heard it from Hoard
    GoBearcats.com
    "No, wearing the colors of Ohio State, Notre Dame, or Boston College - that's not really for me," Kelly said. "It's really about raising your family in an environment they enjoy and having challenges. If I can keep having those in front of me then I'm at the right place in Cincinnati."

    ***

    Rings run in Guidugli family
    Lexington Herald Leader
    Guidugli's four sons - Gino, Jeff, Ben and Tony - have won seven state championship rings playing football for Highlands. "My boys have to deal with me," Dave said, "because I'm always in the middle of what's happening. Everybody calls me 'The Guy' around here. I've been very lucky to have sons like I have. It's been a lot of fun."

    ***

    Bowl projections
    UC-BC in Orange Bowl
    OSU-Georgia: Capital One Bowl
    UK-Va Tech: Music City

    *D2 football teams scores 93 in playoff win

    *FSU safety wins Rhodes Scholarship, hops on plane, plays in game

    ***

    DeCourcy: This is all Kelly's creation
    The Sporting News Today

    ***

     

    What they are saying in Pittsburgh
    Bearcats hold off Panthers
    "Defensively we could not get them off the field," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "That kid [Pike], I have to give him credit, he played about as good as any quarterback has played against us in the last two or three years. Not only did he get away from our rush, and we got guys who can rush, he made throws, he found receivers down the field and made some excellent throws under pressure."
    Pitt couldn't catch Pike
    Asked if Pitt had lost to a better team, tailback LeSean McCoy shot back, "Better team? No, not at all."

     

    ***

    UL/Elder product says goodbye with class
    Louisville Courier Journal
    In fact, there couldn't have been more than a couple hundred U of L fans who saw what Wood did after congratulating West Virginia's players and accepting a handshake from West Virginia defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel, who had sought him out. While his teammates were streaming toward the locker room, Wood went a different direction.
    He headed toward the stands and started circling to shake hands with the few fans who remained.

    ****

    Lucas notices UK needs a PG
    Lexington Herald Leader
    "It makes you think," he said, "because that's exactly something I'm looking for."

    ****

    Browns back Pro Bowl bid for Rogers
    Cleveland Plain Dealer
    Everyone who's played with him, blocked him, coached him, schemed for him, scouted him or attempted a field goal against him can agree on one thing: Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers is having another Pro Bowl-caliber year.

    ****
    Haruki's notebook
    Carroll County Times

    ****

    Weis' time just about up
    South Bend Tribune
    Unless Weis finds a way to go into the L.A. Coliseum and pull off an epic upset of USC next Saturday, he should not return as the head football coach at Notre Dame next season.

    ****

    Tavern Talks: Bengals
    Today's target is the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are a unique drafting team because they still operate as if they were in the 1960's, as the assistant coaches act as personnel directors at their own positions

    0 (0 Ratings)

    Saturday

    Friday, November 21, 2008, 07:55 PM EST [General]

    One more!
    UC 28 Pitt 21

     

    ***

    I'm home
    Good news...got to go home Saturday afternoon.
    I'm really sore...but other than that...doing well.
    I'm laying around watching football.

    ***

    Oh, to have one of these
    The Sporting News
    Here are the 10 best jobs done by such men, the leaders for executive of the year, to this point in 2008:

    ***

    OSU postgame notes
    Ohio State  42 (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten)
    Michigan 7 (3-9, 2-6 Big Ten)
    *Ohio State is 808-306-53 in its 119th season of play. The win total ranks fifth all-time in Division I college football. The only other schools to have 800 or more wins are Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas and Nebraska. Penn State seeks its 800th victory today against Michigan State.
    *The win improves Jim Tressel's record with the Buckeyes to 83-18 (.822) and his career record to 218-75-2 (.742). Tressel's 218 wins rank as the third-most among active FBS coaches, just ahead of Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer and behind Penn State's Joe Paterno and Florida State's Bobby Bowden.
    *This was the 43rd win for Ohio State's graduating senior class, which ties the record set by the 1995-1998 and 2002-2005 senior classes.
    *The game today represented the 105th meeting between Ohio State and Michigan. Ohio State has played more games against Michigan than any other opponent.
    *Ohio State's all-time record vs. Michigan improves to 42-57-6. Since 1951, the Buckeyes hold a 30-26-2 advantage. Since 1934, the teams have met 75 times, with Ohio State holding a 36-35-4 advantage.
    *Ohio State's record against Michigan in Columbus moves to 23-27-2 with the Buckeyes' fourth-consecutive win in Columbus. The last time Ohio State lost to Michigan in Ohio Stadium was in 2000, 38-26.
    *Ohio State has won seven of the last eight games against Michigan, the exception coming with the Wolverines' 35-21 victory at Michigan in 2003. Jim Tressel is the first Ohio State coach to win seven of eight games against Michigan.
    *With the win, Ohio State has won five-consecutive games against Michigan, the first time the Buckeyes have done so in school history.
    *The 35-point margin ranks as the second-larges margin for an Ohio State win against the Wolverines. Ohio State had a 38-point margin over Michigan in the 1935 win.
    *Terrelle Pryor made his eighth-consecutive start at quarterback for the Buckeyes. He is now 7-1 as a starter. Pryor threw two touchdown passes today, the third time this year he has thrown two or more TD passes in a game. He now has 12 touchdown passes this season.
    *With 134 yards, Chris "Beanie" Wells passed Keith Byars (3,200 between 1982-85) for fourth on Ohio State's all-time rushing charts with 3,276 total rushing yards. This season, Wells has passed Byars, Pepe Pearson, Carlos Snow, Michael Wiley, Antonio Pittman, Raymont Harris, and Calvin Murray on the all-time list.
    *Wells' performance Saturday also marked his seventh 100-yard game of 2008 and 16th of his career.
    *Wells' 59-yard touchdown in the first quarter was his 30th career touchdown and third career touchdown of 50 or more yards against Michigan. Wells had a 52-yard TD against the Wolverines in 2006 and a 62-yarder in 2007. The 59-yard run also was Ohio State's longest play from scrimmage in 2008.
    *Herron's TD run capped a 2-play, 91-yard, 0:39 scoring drive. The scoring drive was the longest in yards this season for Ohio State
    *Ray Small's 81-yard punt return was the team's longest in 2008 and set up Terrelle Pryor's eight-yard touchdown pass to Brian Robiskie.
    *Today marked the fourth time Ohio State has scored 40 or more points in a game this season.
    *Ohio State's defense registered three sacks for 22 yards: Cameron Heyward had one for eight yards, Dexter Larimore recorded one for 10 yards, and James Laurinaitis one for four yards.
    *Ohio State's defense posted 10 three-and-out series.

    ***

    Saints march ends
    (NAPERVILLE, Ill.) - The Thomas More College football team fell, 44-23,
    to No. 2-ranked North Central College in the first round of the NCAA
    Division III Playoffs today (Saturday, November 22, 2008) at
    Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Ilinios.
    With the loss the Saints ended the season at 8-3 and with the win the
    Cardinals improve to 11-0 and will face No. 5-seed Franklin College
    next week in the second round.
    The Saints led, 10-6, after one quarter and then North Central led,
    20-10, at halftime and 30-10 after three quarters..
    On the opening possession of the game sophomore linebacker Matt Clark
    (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) recovered a Cardinal fumble and then the
    Saints went 72-yards in four plays and took a 7-0 lead with 10:13 to
    play in the first quarter when junior quarterback Trevor Stellman
    (Burlington, Ky./Conner) scored on a two-yard touchdown run and
    sophomore place kicker Dustin Zink (Newport, Ky./Newport Central
    Catholic) added the point-after-attempt.

    ****

    Update
    (7:50 pm Friday)
    Mission accomplished. I got my pacemaker his morning. The procedure lasted about 45-minutes. I had a surgical team of all-stars led by Dr. Sheldon Brownstein. I was bummed there was no, "Alive and Kicking" by Simple Minds among their operating room musical selections.
    I was awake the entire time. They made an incision near my shoulder and slide it in. I  had good Karma going in, my patient wristband started with the numbers 41902......which is darn close to Pete Rose's record breaking hit 4192. The signifigance of that was lost on the nurses.
    Afterwards I felt great....thinking it was a piece of cake. I had lunch in my room with Kelly. Then it hit me. It must have been a train. I thought if I took a deep breath I was done. I felt ten times worse than Tuesday.
    But two percocet later I was much better.
    I'm hoping to go home Saturday. I have my left arm in a sling and can't raise it or use it for a couple of days. I chose the left side for the pacemaker because I write with my left hand and hold my cellphone to my right ear. They don't want you to hold the cellphone on the same side.
    Dr. Brownstein autographed my x-ray with the pacemaker inside of me. Very cool looking. Can't thank you guys enough for all the emails with thoughts and prayers. Gotta go....nurses are going door to door with ice cream!!
    PS Did Marvin really opt for a field goal?

    *****

    Sad news
    From the Reds
    It is with great sadness that the Cincinnati Reds tonight learned of the death of longtime Major League Baseball official scorer Glenn Sample.
    Sample, 77, died today at 5:30 p.m. at Mercy Hospital in Western Hills. Funeral arrangements are pending.
    "Our baseball family is stunned and saddened by the news of Glenn's passing," said Reds Director of Media Relations Rob Butcher. "Since 1980, Glenn was a fixture in the press box at Reds games. He was a remarkable person who touched all of our lives through his unwavering devotion to the Reds, the University of Cincinnati and our city. We are privileged to have been such a large part of his life. Our thoughts and prayers are with Glenn's family and friends."
    The 2009 season would have been Sample's 30th as a Major League Baseball official scorer

     

    0 (0 Ratings)

    Thursday

    Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 10:19 PM EST [General]

    Awesome
    Kelly brought Casey and Peyton by Thursday night! I hadn't seen them since Tuesday morning. They got to hang out for a few minutes. I showed them all the stuff in my room, the stuff attached to my chest and explained what was going to happen Friday. Leave it to Casey to ask the key question: "Instead of putting in a pacemaker to jumpstart your heart when you faint, why don't they just figure out how to stop you from fainting?"

    ***

    Friday show
    Bengals Breakdown
    Buffalo Wings and Rings...Princeton Pike
    Mo Egger will fill-in for me. He will be joined by David Fulcher and C. Trent.
    It's a regular show with food, fun, prizes and football..........AND your calls with reaction to the game.

    ****

    UC-Pitt...it's a sellout
    CINCINNATI - Tickets for the University of Cincinnati football team's Ring of Red matchup with Pittsburgh on Nov. 22 have sold out, the Department of Athletics announced Thursday.
    The No. 19/20 Bearcats (8-2, 4-1 BIG EAST) and No. 20/19 Panthers face off Saturday at 7 p.m. in Nippert Stadium in a game televised by ESPN2. Cincinnati sits in first place in the BIG EAST standings, a half-game ahead of Pittsburgh and West Virginia.
    In celebration of Ring of Red day, all UC fans are encouraged to show up early, be loud, and wear red. The Bearcats will don their new adidas-made red jerseys for the first time this season and the first time since 2003. 
    Game day activities begin at 5 p.m. when the Bearcats make the "CAT WALK" from the Kingsgate Marriott heading south through Sigma Sigma Commons, ending up at the entrance to Nippert Stadium.
    Patrons are advised to make their way into the Stadium beginning when gates open at 5:30 p.m. and should be in seats no later than 6:45 p.m. as UC football will honor 2007 team MVP Ben Mauk with his belated Senior Day presentation.

    ****

    Heard it from Hoard
    GoBearcats.com
    I don't ever remember being as geeked about an upcoming sporting event as I am about Saturday's UC-Pitt game.

    ****

    Hey...here I am
    Good news....I'm alive and blogging.
    Bad news.....I'm in the hospital and need a pacemaker.
    What a wild couple of days.
    After experiencing 36 hours of mild discomfort in the right side of my chest, I decided to go to the emergency room. While in the exam room I starting feeling lousy after taking Nitroglycerin and fainted. I have always fainted easily. 
    But the next thing I knew there were 8 doctors and nurses surrounding me. This time, instead of just fainting, my heart actually stopped, and I flatlined for 60-seconds before coming out of it on my own.
    Everyone was freaked. In fact, my cardiologist said he's never seen/heard of someone flatling for that long and coming out of it on their own. I didn't really believe it until I saw the printout. It's kind of scary to see a heartbeat and then nothing but a flatline from 12:06 to 12:07. I feel like I've become a case on "House".....everyone that sees me says, "so you are the guy that flatlined for 60 seconds.".
    Long story short.... it appears my chest discomfort was simply stress related.
    Luckily, the fainting shined the light on the bigger issue...my vagal response(fainting). My heart may have stopped for a shorter amount of time during other times I fainted but I didn't realize it. This time I was on a monitor that recorded the event.
    Wednesday I went thru a boatload of testing....from the stress test on the treadmill to an echo and other stuff. There is no damage to my heart...no blockages...nothing...heart is strong and fine.
    My options...roll the dice that the fainting/fllatlining doesn't happen again..while I'm alone or for a longer amount of time...OR.....get a pacemaker to shock my heart if/when it does occur again.
    I'll take Door #2 and pacemaker. I'll probably have it done Friday.
    I'm in the excellent care of my two new favorite doctors...the best in the business......Cardiologist Stuart Steinberg and Electrophysiologist Sheldon Brownstein.
    If not for John Fay's column in The Enquirer (about his heart issues) I don't think I would have gone to the emergency room Tuesday. Thanks John!
    I feel fine....no pain or discomfort. I'm a little bored....I have to sit around Thursday and do nothing. The burger Kelly brought me beat the mystery meat served for dinner. A nurse did come room to room with ice cream Wednesday night!
    I have cable, (I watched UK-UNC and will watch the Bengals) and my laptop.
    And hey, nothing beats being alive.
    I really miss Casey and Peyton...they are not allowed on my wing.
    Nick will fill in again Thursday. Mo will host Bengals Breakdown Friday at Buffalo Wings and Rings with David Fulcher and C. Trent.
    I told the doctors I have to be up and ready by Sunday. A month ago I bought tickets to take Peyton to see The Cheetah Girls at US Bank Arena.
    So..... this is my first official blog posting from a hospital.
    I'll be blogging and answering emails Thursday. Catch you then.
    PS
    Since I'm gone, the Reds can go ahead and make some moves

    ****
    Thursday thoughts from the hospital room
    *Is the Bengals game tonight good for a man in my condition?:)
    *Nurse today looks like Mary McCormack...as Marvin would say, that's a good thing.
    *Breakfast of french toast and sausage links. Amazing something that looks so good can taste so blah.
    *Ever try sleeping in a hospital room....with nurses checking blood pressure, temp, ect?
    *My What If Sports Hardball Dynasty team went on a seven game winning streak without me.
    *Hey, 9:30 am, The Jerry Springer show is on against the Tyra Banks show...tough call.
    10am, Hey, Lap's on ESPN.....Chad did what?
    *10:30am, Kelly brings McDonalds for breakfast...yes!
    *11am, hospital chaplain Mike stops by....says he reads the blog and listens all the time....very cool! What a kind man. I'll take all the friends in really high places I can get.
    *11:15am, your email thoughts and prayers are overwhelming...thank you.
    *11:40am, Dr. Steinberg stops by....says he and Dr. Brownstein agree I'm "an odd case". PS Kelly says she's know that for years. 
    *11:50am, Rachel Ray is making pumpkin turnovers. I've told Kelly to take notes for Thanksgiving.
    *1pm, lunch is here...amazing how food taste without salt. I either had chicken noodle soup of strips of paper.
    *Listening to Joe and Byron call the XU game
    *Green light: I'm offcially a go for a Friday morning pacemaker procedure. Maybe I ask Mo to use his webcam for it? Or a live blog from it:)
    *4pm best news of the day...report card day. Casey got straight A's.....Peyton got straight O's....for Outstanding!

    ****

    From the Bengals
    Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco will be deactivated for tonight's game at Pittsburgh, for violation of a team rule. The Bengals will have no further comment until after the game.

    *****

    Chad stuff.....did he really over sleep for a meeting?
    FOX Sports Radio NFL Insider, Adam Schefter of the NFL Network, told Brian Webber and James Washington why Chad Johnson may have been deactivated for this evening's game in Pittsburgh...  
    SCHEFTER: I got a call this morning, very early this morning, that there was some type of altercation, whatever that may be, with the Bengals last night where either, and I don't have full specific details, there either was a fight or he walked out of a team meeting or both. And I called the Bengals early this morning, I left a message. I didn't hear back, and then all of a sudden about 45 minutes or an hour later I got an e-mail that the team had deactivated Chad Johnson tonight. They would have no further comment until after the game. But I think what happened was the model behavior that he has been on throughout the course of the year certainly went on reserve. Basically he resorted back to being the old Chad Johnson we've heard about. Because if you'll remember at the start of the year there was a verbal deal that was made where if he was on his best behavior, didn't cause any problems, didn't do anything, the Bengals would agree to sit down and listen to what he had to say during the off season about a potential new contract or a trade, or whatever it is that would make him happy. Well clearly this does not go along with what the Bengals had requested from Chad Johnson at the beginning of the season. And you have to wonder how this will affect his long term future there.

    0 (0 Ratings)

    Tuesday

    Monday, November 17, 2008, 06:04 PM EST [General]

    Show preview
    Guests
    Brian Kelly
    David Hyde, author of 1968: The season that saved OSU football
    Steve Wolf, Xavier analyst
    Topics
    Bengals-Steelers
    College football
    Change: Barack Obama would like to see a college football playoff. What do you want to see changed in sports?
    Greatest American rock band is?

    ****

    Galleries of the week: Vanessa Raia    Keeley Hazell
    Careful opening

    ****

    Win the Pepsi NFL Cap Package
    Register to win.
    We also have a set to giveaway Friday's at Buffalo Wings and Rings.

    ***

    Best American rock band all-time?
    Tonight The Eagles return to Cincinnati and US Bank Arena.
    The Eagles played Riverfront Stadium in front of 52,000 fans in 1978.
    This line from The Enquirer's Sunday Q/A with Don Henley caught my eye:
    "The Eagles were arguably the most successful American rock band of all time by the time you called it quits in 1980."
    Do you accept that statement as true? Are The Eagles the best American rock band all-time? Let the debate begin.....

     
    (Provided / Andrew Macpherson) 
    Don Henley (far right) and Glenn Frey (far left) formed the Eagles in the early 70s. Joe Walsh (second from left) and Timothy B. Schmit joined the band in 1975 and 1977, respectively.

    ***

    Things noticed
    Point spreads
    OSU -20.5 over Michigan
    UC -4.5 over Pitt
    Steelers -10 over Bengals

    ***

    UC-Pitt tix available
    As of 9am, you could get two tickets in section 116, 16 rows up from the field

    Cats vs Canes?
    ESPN

    ***

    Knuckleballing Japanese schoolgirl gets drafted
    AP
    "I always dreamed of becoming a professional," Yoshida said at a news conference Monday. "I have only just been picked by the team and haven't achieved anything yet."

     

    ****

    What Giants are saying about Affeldt
    SF Chronicle
    "I'm thrilled to have Jeremy," Bochy said. "He's without question going to make our 'pen that much stronger with his experience and his arm. I've seen him from the other side and I never liked him coming in with his power arm."

    More Affeldt reaction
    Keith Law, ESPN
    They get one of the best free agent relievers on the market for a contract below the typical length for high-end relievers. Two years is nothing for a quality relief pitcher, not when most get three years and some (like Scott Linebrink last year, who isn't close to Affeldt in terms of stuff) get four. If Affeldt gets hurt, or regresses horribly, the commitment is short. It's absolute sanity.

    ***

    The game, not trophy, spurs rivalry
    Pittsburgh Post Gazette
    "Anytime you have a rivalry with a team it means a lot," McKillop said. "But going into this game, with it being on ESPN2 and a national television audience, with the BCS and Big East tie-ins, it's a little more special. It's going to be a big night. It's going to be a great atmosphere."

    ****

    Pitt develops respect for UC
    Pittsburgh Tribune Review
    "We will definitely not be overconfident," Wannstedt said. "We're playing on the road. They're 8-2. They're the conference leader. They won 10 games a year ago. This is a veteran team that's won a lot of games. Our team knows the challenge we have."

    ***

    What they are saying about XU-Toledo
    Toledo Blade
    Toledo native B.J. Raymond led the Musketeers with 18 points. Raymond's sweet shooting touch was on display as he made 4-of-4 3-pointers. Xavier coach Sean Miller said he thought Raymond was "the best overall player for our team tonight."

    ***

    Gillispie certain UK will improve
    Lexington Herald Leader
    Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie practically guaranteed that his team will play "dramatically" better in its second game of the season.
    But given that the opponent is No. 1 North Carolina, Gillispie sounded braced for an 0-2 start to this season. That would be historic. Only twice since 1926 has UK started a season with two losses: 1975-76 and 2000-01. 

    ***

    Jr's wife: "Go for it"
    Fox Sports
    "She's gone out of her way to tell Ken, 'Do what you want to do,''' Goldberg said. "She said, 'You're only going to play few more years. Since you have not won (a World Series), we want you, as a family, to do what gives you the best chance to play a lot or win a ring.'"

    ****

    Affeldt gone, Weathers ticked?
    Fox Sports
    Don't be surprised if the Reds, after losing Affeldt, fail to re-sign David Weathers, another free-agent reliever. Weathers, according to friends, was upset that the Reds waited until late last week to make him an offer after club officials assured him in September that they wanted him back ...

    ***

    UC hits "unchartered territory"
    Bill Koch, Enquirer
    "It'll be exciting that we're in this but we want this to be old hat," Kelly said. "This is something that you can count on each year in November, that Cincinnati will be competing for a Big East championship."

    ***

    UC WR dismissed
    CINCINNATI - Freshman wide receiver Nick Truesdell (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) has been dismissed from the University of Cincinnati football team for a violation of team rules, head coach Brian Kelly announced Monday.
    "Playing BIG EAST football for the University of Cincinnati is a privilege," Kelly said. "We have expectations for our student-athletes and when those are not met, there are consequences."
    Truesdell played in UC's first six games this season on special teams.

    ***

    Giants sign Affeldt
    MLB.COM

    Things I'm told....numbers on Affeldt deal
    2-year deal $8,025,000
    2009 $3,000,000
    2010 $4,000,000
    Signing bonus - $1,000,000
    $50,000 for All Star
    $100,000 for MVP
    $75,000 for World Series /MVP; $50,000 for LCS/MVP; $75,000 for Rolaids
    ($50,000-2nd;$25,000-3rd)

    ***

    Former Cycline cooking up something big
    AHL.COM
    "I'm never surprised at what I do. I just have to have the chance to do it," said Desharnais, a center. "It all comes down to confidence. When you are confident, everything is good. I'm just having fun out there, trying to do my best."

     

    ****

    Congrats to Jim Hilvert and Thomas More
    Thomas More Saints Coach Hilvert was named coach of the year in the Presidents Athletic Conference. 18 Thomas players were named first, second, and honorable mention for the PAC division.

     ****

     60 Minutes: Obama calls for NCAA playoff
    What would you like to see changed in sports today?

     

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    Monday

    Sunday, November 16, 2008, 04:58 PM EST [General]

    Single Ladies - Beyonce & Justin Timberlake on SNL...classic!

    ***

    Bengals news

    * Signed G Nate Livings to the roster from the Bengals practice squad. Livings (6-5, 335; Louisiana State) is classified a first-year NFL player. He has been on the practice squad for Games 1-10 after playing in all four Bengals preseason games. He was also on the Bengals practice squad for the full 2006 season and for Games 1-15 of 2007. He was signed to the roster in ’07 for the final regular season game, but was inactive for that contest.
    * Placed LB Abdul Hodge on the Reserve/Injured list. Hodge suffered an arm injury in yesterday’s game against Philadelphia at Paul Brown Stadium. Hodge played in six games (Games 5-10) after being signed from the Bengals practice squad and had four special teams tackles.
    * Signed rookie C Digger Bujnoch to the practice squad. Bujnoch (6-5, 285) is a Cincinnati native, a product of Elder High School and the University of Cincinnati. He is the son of Glenn Bujnoch, who played G for the Bengals from 1976-82. Digger Bujnoch entered the NFL on May 1 of this year as a college free agent signee of the N.Y. Giants. He played in all four Giants preseason games, but suffered a knee injury in the preseason finale and was waived/injured on Aug. 30. He reverted to the Giants’ Reserve/Injured list on Aug. 31. He was waived from the Reserve/Injured list with an injury settlement on Sept. 5.

    ***

    Bowl projecetions
    CNNSI

    UC-Maryland
    OSU-Texas
    UK-Houston

    ****

    PSA of the day
    Randall in Colerain called to remind me to disconnect our garden hoses in the front and back of the house. It was a year ago I failed to do this. The backyard hose froze, the pipe burst and our basement floooded.

    ***

    Tickets still remain
    UC-Pitt, Saturday, 7pm
    As of 5pm, you could get tickets in section 116...30 rows up...corner of the endzone.

    BK Friday night: "I think it (Saturday-Pitt) is the biggest game in school history," Kelly said. "There's no question about that. If that place doesn't have 500,000 people in it, I'm going to be pissed. I'm going to be pissed because we've done everything to elevate this football program. If you can't support us next week, there's nothing else we can do. We've won, we've been consistent. It's now time for our fans to show up. They've been good, but it should be the hardest ticket to get in Cincinnati."

    ***

    NY Times love for BK and UC
    Somehow, the Bearcats have managed to lead the Big East in passing offense and passing efficiency, a testament to the reputation that Kelly has forged as a creative offensive mastermind. According to Cincinnati officials, only one other team, Eastern Michigan, has used five quarterbacks this season. It is 2-8.

    ***

    5 things we learned this weekend
    CNNSI
    1. That the SEC was vastly overrated this year. It's funny to think that just a few months ago, people were asking me whether the SEC would ever relinquish its spot as the nation's preeminent conference. If you've been reading me for any period of time, you know I preach that conference strength is cyclical (see: preseason preview) and that every league has its ups and downs from year to year. The SEC has two fantastic teams this year in Alabama and Florida. But remember when there were five SEC teams in the Top 10? Umm ... not anymore.

    ***

    Rudi watch...yikes
    Rudi Johnson vs Carolina Sunday: 5 carries for 5 yards, with a long of 7 yards.
    Last week: 2 carries 4 yards
    Last five weeks: 29 carries 57 yards.
    Kevin Smith of the Lions rushed 24 times for 112 yards Sunday.

    ***

    Bucking the odds
    The Bengals finished +3 in turnover differntial Sunday. The third time they have failed to win this year despite winning the turnover margin.
    Since 200, here is the winning percentage of NFL teams by +/-
    +3 .885 (Bengals tie Eagles)
    +2 .846 (Bengals lose to Jets)
    +1 .690 (Bengals lose to Titans)

    ***

    UC in BCS bowl game a nightmare?
    Fox Sports
    Sugar Bowl:
    Nightmare matchup: Florida vs. Cincinnati. The Gators would be sorely disappointed and probably wouldn't travel as well as hoped, especially to face Cincy. And hey, this could happen.
    Orange Bowl
    Nightmare matchup: Any 8-4 ACC team vs. Cincinnati or (even worse) Ball State. Yes, it'd be fun to have an undefeated team, and David Letterman would surely watch, but how many Ball State fans are out there? If Utah and Boise get bumped off, the rankings would probably guarantee Ball State a BCS spot ... and somebody would have to take them

    ***

    Have you seen Troy Polamalo's pick!!?
    Wow

    ***

    A November to remember: 1-0-1
    Nov 2: Bengals beat Jacksonville
    Nov 9: Bengals don't lose to the BYE
    Nov 16: Bengals don't lose to Philadelphia

    ***

    Big East Honor Roll
    Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati
    - Had 182 all-purpose yards, including a 48-yard touchdown reception, in a 28-20 win at Louisville. Had 109 yards on four kickoff returns and had five receptions for 73 yards.
    Dominick Goodman, WR, Cincinnati - Had nine receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown in a 28-20 win at Louisville. Moved into fourth place on the BIG EAST career receptions chart (183) and tied a school record with his 21st career touchdown catch.
    Brandon Underwood, DB, Cincinnati - Had seven tackles, including one tackle for loss, with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a 28-20 win at Louisville.

    ***

    Show update
    Marvin's news conference live at 3:45

     

    ***

    Local product cooks despite pressure
    Boston Globe
    It's a level of success that was not expected out of the 22-year-old native of Amelia, Ohio. After all, Randolph wasn't even the starting signal-caller at his high school, St. Xavier in Cincinnati. That honor went to Rob Schoenhoft, who was courted by a number of Division 1 schools before settling on Ohio State.

    (He won Patriot League Offensive Player of the week again today)

    ****

    Show preview
    Marvin Lewis, 3pm
    Topics
    Bengals: A tie? I blame this on Bud Selig. Gotta be a better way of OT.
    Project Mayhem: Did you go? Did you follow the boycott?
    College football
    College basketball: What did you think of UC, UK, X...others?
    HS football
    Reds reunion
    UFC

     

    Boycott reaction
    Did you follow Task 3 of Project Mayhem? Who Dey Revolution called for a boycott of consessions and merchandise at PBS Sunday. Did you take food in? See anyone else? Did the boycott have an impact? I'm looking for your reaction.

    ***

    On this date 1968: The Heidi game
    She changed the way we watch sports on television.

     

    ***

    Bengals 13 Eagles 13....where's my sister?
    *Well, there goes 8-8
    *How painful was that? Fitting that nobody won...because nobody deserved to win.
    *Gotta be one of the Top 10 worst games in NFL history.
    *Anything sillier than spending 65-85 dollars and 3+hours to see a game end in a tie?
    *The teams were a combined 7 for 38 on 3rd down. Bengals 4 of 20.
    *Bengals rushed 30 times for 56 yards...1.9 per carry.
    *The Bengals were +3 in turnovers.....and still couldn't win.
    *NFL teams that finished +3 since 2000 win .885 of the time.
    *8 sacks allowed by the OL?
    *How about Chris Crocker? Interception and sack
    *Nice pick by Brandon Johnson
    *How about TJ? Wow....12-149-TD
    *The TD pass from Fitz to TJ was their best looking pass play of the entire season
    *How many drops did Chad have?
    *How about the attempt to tackle Baskett by Marvin White that turned into a 57-yard gain?
    *1st and goal from the one foot line and they settle for a FG.
    *Hey Darrin Simmons, nice special teams again....three penalties, a missed FG and a kickoff out of bounds.
    *How is that Chris Henry impact working out?
    *Bob B. has to be the worst play caller in the history of organized football....gotta love 3rd and 7 run in OT averaging 1.9.
    *Was anyone at the game? You could hear Fitz and the PA all day.
    *When was the last time Shayne made a big kick?

    ****

     

    What they are saying
    Eagles-Bengals Fever! Catch it! Five quarters, 21 punts, 759 punting yards.-Peter King, CNNSI

    ***

    Did you know?
    Bengals all-time leading scorer Jim Breech was 9 for 9 on overtime field goals in his career...an NFL record.

    ***

    Jack Bauer of '24' seeks 'Redemption' in movie
    USA Today
    When we last left Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) and his counterterrorist crew in May 2007, the bad guys, including his father, Phillip (James Cromwell), were vanquished. But Jack, distraught over another very bad day that ended with his love Audrey (Kim Raver) in a coma, wandered along the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, a lone man with a gun.

    ****

    Say what?
    What exactly is the football IQ of a 10-year NFL QB that doesn't know the OT rules ....and wonders about a tie in a Super Bowl?
    "I never even knew that was in the rule book," McNabb said. "I was looking forward to getting the opportunity to get out there and try to drive to win the game. But unfortunately, with the rules, we settled with a tie. When the play was called, I kind of figured, 'I guess there's ties in the NFL.' I hate to see what happens in the Super Bowl or I hate to see what happens in the playoffs. You have to settle with a tie."

    ***

    Chad lined up with Eagles WR's in warmups
    Philly Daily News
    He caught a slant from Donovan McNabb and then raised his face and arms to the heavens, presumably rejoicing in the opportunity to catch a pass thrown by his friend and offseason confidante, as Cinco told reporters in a midweek conference call. Then McNabb and Cinco hugged.....

    ***

     

    What they are saying in Philly
    Eagles' tie translates to loss: If you can't beat the Cincinnati Bengals, not only aren't you going to the playoffs, you don't really belong there.
    Eagles all but dead for playoffs Andy Reid tossed aside the defibrillator paddles and turned off the life-support machinery at 4:51 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.
    OT Rules? Don't ask McNabb And this will always be remembered as the day when the Eagles' quarterback admitted to not knowing that an NFL game could end in a tie.

    ***

    Happy Birthday
    Loyal listener UC Chris turns 42 today

    ***

    The agony of the bet
    Anyone bet the Steelers-Chargers game?
    Pittsburgh was a 5 point favorite.
    They kicked a FG with :10 to lead 11-10. San Diego took the kickoff and lateraled several times trying to keep the play alive, then fumbled. Troy P scooped it up and tumbled into the endzone...TD Pittsburgh. 17-10 Steelers....meaning they covered the spread.
    After a lengthy review, officials called an illegal forward lateral by SD and waived off the TD. 11-10 the final...Steelers win...and don't cover. After the game, officials said they blew the call and the TD should have counted.
    PS First time in NFL history a game ended in a score of 11-10.

    ***

    Thomas More get #8 seed
    CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) - Thomas More College will make its third appearance in the NCAA Division III Football playoffs when the Saints take on No. 2-ranked North Central College in a first round game on Saturday, November 22, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, Illinois.
    The Saints (8-2) won the Presidents' Athletic Conference and claimed the conference's automatic bid to the playoffs and is the No. 8 seed in the North Central regional.
    The Cardinals (10-0) are the region's top seed and an automatic qualifier into the playoffs afte winning the championship of the College Conference of Illinois Wisconsin (CCIW).

    ***

    Things noticed
    VMI lost at Virginia 107-97 last night. VMI was 10-15 last year, with losses to High Point, Northern Colorado, Army, Dartmouth and South Carolina St.

    ***

    Warning
    When it comes to the UL logo at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium...don't look at, pray around, step on, sit on, spill on, or cough on,....or UL coach Steve Kragthorpe will get his shorts in a bunch.
    Also...check this out: FireKragthorpeNow.com
    PS
    Remember this classic line from Rick Minter when he was my college football analyst last year?....he was talking about the hiring of Kragthorpe:
    "If you are going to be given the keys to the Rolls Royce then you better have a valid drivers' license and know how to drive the darn thing and I think that's what the coaching staff down there is finding out because that program was primed and ready to ascend to the next level. So, they have some regrouping to do."

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