Kenny Irons waived after failing physical Official Release The Bengals today waived HB Kenny Irons, under the category of Waived/Failed Physical. Irons failed the team physical earlier this week. Irons, from Auburn, was Cincinnati’s second-round choice in the 2007 draft. He has been unable to play or practice since suffering a torn left knee ligament (ACL) in the ’07 preseason opener last Aug. 9 at Detroit. He spent the ’07 season on Cincinnati’s Reserve/Injured list.
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Irons father: "Kenny will be back" C. Trent David Irons, Sr., has two sons in the NFL and knows a bit about the business
of the league. Although he found out about his younger son being waived by the Bengals from
a reporter's phone call, he's far from surprised or upset by the move. "Kenny's going to be fine," David Irons said on Friday. "It's a minor
set-back, it has to be done for the team. For roster and salary cap
purposes." David Irons said he expects his son to clear waivers and then be put on the
Bengals' reserve list, which would end his season.
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More on the Irons release Enquirer.com In somewhat of a pre-training camp shocker, the Bengals announced this morning that they waived tailback Kenny Irons. He failed a team physical earlier this week, the club said in a press release. Irons played college ball at Auburn and was the Bengals' second-round choice in the 2007 draft. He
has been unable to play or practice since suffering a torn left knee
ligament (ACL) in the 2007 preseason opener Aug. 9 at Detroit. He spent
the ’07 season on the Bengals injured reserve list.
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Major brawl in Dayton results in 17 ejections, felony charge WDTN-TV A major brawl at Thursday night's Dayton Dragons game sent one fan to the hospital, and a pitcher to jail It began
in the first inning with an argument between Dragons manager Donnie
Scott and acting Peoria manager Carmelo Martinez, who was unhappy with
what he considered was a dirty slide by Dragons base runner Angel
Cabrera.
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Peoria pitcher involved in brawl fined 50K, jailed Dayton Daily News A judge on Friday set a $50,000 cash bond for Peoria Chiefs pitcher
Julio Castillo on a felonious assault charge stemming from his beaning
of a fan Thursday during a brawl between his team and the Dayton
Dragons at Fifth Third Field. Castillo appeared via video Friday afternoon, July 25, before Dayton
Municipal Judge Carl S. Henderson. Castillo, speaking through an
interpreter, told the judge his passport is with his teammates in
Peoria, and Henderson ordered that the passport be surrendered.
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Jocketty has strong influence Enquirer.com If you play the stock market the way you follow the Reds, you're living
in a box in the shade of the freeway. A month ago, stock in Bronson
Arroyo was tanking. Sell! Today, stock in Adam Dunn is rising faster
than the cost of a barrel of oil. Buy!
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Favre to report to Packers Milwaukee Journal Sentinel A National Football League source familiar with the Green Bay Packers
and Brett Favre said the Packers have been told by Favre and his agent,
James "Bus" Cook, that Favre intends to report to training camp this
week. NFL Network first reported that Favre might be coming in
to report for camp, and the Journal Sentinel's source said Favre called
general manager Ted Thompson on Wednesday and informed him that he was
planning to apply for reinstatement and report for training camp. The
source said Cook had informed the Packers earlier in the week that
Favre was preparing to come back to play for the Packers.
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UK closing talent gap in SEC East Sporting News Two straight eight-win seasons have Kentucky coach Rich Brooks feeling pretty good. Brooks said Friday at Southeastern Conference media days he
expects the Wildcats to remain a competitive team in the tough Eastern
Division. He said he expects Kentucky to have the best defense and the
top offensive line of his six-year tenure. He also said the team has
considerably more speed and talent than it did when he took over the
program.
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Speaking of UK Enquirer.com Rich Brooks is in no hurry to name a starting quarterback. The Kentucky coach said Thursday there is no timetable for when
he'll decide if Curtis Pulley or Mike Hartline will be under center
when the Wildcats open the season at rival Louisville Aug. 31. "When it feels right, we'll make that decision," Brooks said during the annual Governor's Cup luncheon.
Bengals release Adams The Bengals today terminated the contract of CB Blue Adams, releasing him to free agency. A fifth-year NFL player in 2008, Adams played in 13 games last season in his first year with the Bengals. He recorded seven tackles on defense, 11 special teams tackles and a special teams forced fumble.
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Wake up Browns fans Dayton Daily News And I’m pleased to impart this warning to Browns fans: Quarterback Derek Anderson rocked the NFL in 2007 with an outstanding Pro
Bowl season. He’s tough and aggressive, shows excellent poise in the pocket, and
has terrific arm strength. But know this: AS WE SPEAK, Cleveland’s opponents — defensive players and
defensive coaches — are studying the swashbucklin’ dude who wears uniform No. 3
in burnt orange and seal brown. His footwork, throwing motion and
tendencies. My prediction is the league will catch up to him and he’ll have a sub-par
year.
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OSU picked to win Big Ten, Michigan left out of top 3 Columbus Dispatch Ohio State was picked to win the Big Ten, the conference announced today at its annual preseason
meetings. The Buckeyes have won or shared the title each of the past three seasons. Wisconsin was picked to finish second and Illinois third. The league ranks only its top three
teams.
Baker warns against "what-ifs" Enquirer.com It's easy for the Reds to look back at their post-All-Star break run -
with the two blown saves and one extra-inning loss - and think: We could be 7-0. Reds manager Dusty Baker cautioned against that. "I heard
some guys on the bench talking about it," Baker said. "I told them you
can't think that way. You got to look forward. You start looking back
and start thinking about what-ifs. "I told Adam Dunn about that famous song by Johnny Lee Hooker, 'Don't Look Back.' "
Minor League team holding "Politically Incorrect Night" - The stadium will have `men only' entrances to the game because men are obviously the superior creatures - The first 250 women to attend the game will be given Lowell Spinners
potholders so that they can properly cook dinner for their husbands - There will be designated napping areas around the park available for
all senior citizens to `rest their eyes' because old people get tired
quickly - Fans are encouraged to drive to the game separately and will be given
complimentary gas cards in an effort to use up as much gas as possible - Cars will be needlessly driven between innings as a tribute to gas guzzlers
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Top 10 Best Bar Sports The guys at The Love of Sports are the best at these top 10 lists! And I'm sure that you have played several of the games on their list. Submit some of your own in the FORUM too!
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What's next...a ban on fat people? LA Times A proposal that would place at least a one-year moratorium on new
fast-food restaurants in a broad swath of neighborhoods, mostly in
South Los Angeles, won unanimous support from a Los Angeles City
Council committee Tuesday.
2. My favorite class is: Music 400 -- The Broadway Musical: Reflections of American Diversity, Issues and Experiences.
3. Movies I can't live without: Across the Universe, Love Actually and Breakfast at Tiffanys.
4. Music I can't live without: Jack Johnson, Damien Rice, Jazz and of course Broadway showtunes!
5. TV shows I can't live without: The O.C., I Love Lucy and The Office.
6. What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you during a game? When O.J. Mayo was pushed into foul territory and fell on my knee and all of the
cameramen rushed over to capture my pained reaction on television.
7. My favorite sport is: Football!
8. My favorite professional sports teams are: The San Diego Chargers & Padres.
9. My one Guilty Pleasure is: Gerber Daisies. I always have a vase of them on my desk...even if I have to buy them for myself.
10. My best physical feature is: My smile.
11. A strange and unusual fact about me: I once broke my ankle in a downhill skiing competition in Vail, Colorado.
12. My friends would be surprised to know that I: Used to have aspirations to be an award-winning author and still write music & poetry from time to time.
14. Five people I'd like to have dinner with (living or dead): Jesus, Audrey Hepburn, Adam Brody, William Shakespeare, my father.
15. Three People who annoy me: One of my roommates who makes awful smelling egg whites every morning, Bart Simpson and drivers who don't use their blinker.
16. The next risk I want to take: Skydiving!
17. If your life had a theme song, what would it be? Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson.
18. What reality show would you do best on and why? American Idol. I love to sing.
19. If I won the lottery, the first thing I'd buy would be: A Porsche for my mom. It's her dream car.
20. Describe the worst date you ever went on: It was my first date with this politician, who after three long hours
of describing to me his agenda went on to explain how in two years he
planned to be married and settled down with at least one child. I was a
sophomore in college, so needless to say that we never went on a second
date.
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Ben Mauk still waiting Enquirer.com The waiting continues for Ben Mauk. A little more than a week before the University of Cincinnati begins
football practice on Aug. 1, the Bearcats' once and maybe future
quarterback still doesn't know if the NCAA will grant him a sixth year
to complete his four years of eligibility. He doesn't even know
when the teleconference that will give him the forum to plead his case
to the Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee will be held. Mauk said he doesn't sit around agonizing over what's going to happen. But he would like to have his status resolved.
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They're together again...kinda USA Today Pamela Anderson is shacking up with Tommy Lee again — but not like that. The 41-year-old former Baywatch star is
living with her ex-husband and their two sons — Dylan, 10; Brandon, 12
— in Lee's Calabasas enclave while her new Malibu mansion is under
construction. Anderson says the pair, whose honeymoon video was
infamously unleashed on the Internet, aren't an item again. But she
isn't ruling out the possibility.
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Iraq banned from Olympics BBC The team was already the subject of an interim ban after the Iraqi
government replaced the country's Olympic committee with its own
appointees. Under the IOC charter, all committees must be free of political influence. Iraq had been planning to send a team of at least seven athletes to the Olympics which start on 8 August. Two rowers, a weightlifter, a sprinter, a discus thrower, a judoka and an archer were in the frame for the trip to Beijing.
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I really hope this happens USA Today Beach volleyball could be heading back to school. An NCAA committee voted this month to add sand
volleyball to a list of women's sports being considered for
intercollegiate competition. The sport, known on the professional and
Olympic levels as beach volleyball, could be under NCAA auspices as
soon as 2009-10. "It's a very exciting development, and it's
certainly an acknowledgment that there's substantial growth in
popularity in beach volleyball," said Leonard Armato, the commissioner
of the domestic pro tour. "I think it's going to be an easy transition
for the schools, and there's going to be lots of girls that want to
play."
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They don't make em like Maddux anymore Enquirer.com - Paul Daugherty Throwing is an activity. Pitching is an art. In the 1990s, when the
Atlanta Braves came to Cincinnati and Greg Maddux pitched, it was
appointment viewing at Riverfront Stadium. Maddux painted corners like
Hopper painted loneliness. "Watch this,'' I'd say to whoever was sitting next to me. "Maddux will
strike this guy out looking, three pitches, without hitting 90 on the
radar gun. Good morning, good afternoon, see you later. And none of the
pitches will even scrape the black of the plate.''
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Steve Bartman is an idiot He's gonna turn down 25,000 for a signed photo? Look dude, it really isn't that big of a deal...even to Cubs fans. And even if it were...you gotta capitalize on your fame...or infamy in this case. Just ask William Hung. How can you shun 25 G....just stupid.
Reds undecided with Deadline approaching Reds.com July 31 isn't just a date on the calendar. In Major League Baseball, it comes with a big flashing red light and alert sirens. No one in the Reds clubhouse understands the meaning of July 31 more
than reliever David Weathers. As of Thursday, the deadline where teams
can make trades without needing players to clear waivers is exactly one
week away.
Bengals seem stuck in forward Enquirer.com - Paul Daugherty The Bengals are going forward, moving on, turning the page. That other stuff? That's over, that's done with. What other stuff? We're putting that behind us. We're wiping the slate clean. It's a
new day, a new leaf. No crying over spilt milk here. There is no time.
We're moving forward. "I'm happy with where we are now, going
forward," Mike Brown declared Tuesday. The Bengals owner was talking
about Chad Johnson, who also is going forward. "The offseason is in the
past," he said.
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ZImmer looks for vision Bengals.com The first rule of Mike Zimmer's defense: There are no laws. Which is good news for guys like defensive linemen Frostee
Rucker and Jonathan Fanene, linebackers Eric Henderson and Ahmad
Brooks, and safety Chinedum Ndukwe, and any other defender that doesn't
start but is seen as versatile. "Maybe we don't have the best 11," Zimmer said at this week's media lunch, "but maybe collectively we have 22 to get to 11." Maybe, Zimmer mused with his defense five days away from making
its '08 debut at training camp, they'll have a run group or pass group.
At the very least, he says, the defense is going to do what it can to
stop the run. The schedule says it's a must with half the games against
teams that finished in the NFL's top 10 in rushing last season.
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Rookie holdouts are playing with fire Dayton Daily News Rookie draft picks who hold out for any length of time struggle their
freshman NFL seasons. So here’s my overture to the Cincinnati Bengals’ remaining six unsigned
rookies…WLB Keith Rivers, WR Jerome Simpson, DT Pat Sims, WR Andre Caldwell, OT
Anthony Collins and FS Corey Lynch. If you want to make the 53-man roster and not just play in 2008 — but have a
positive impact — you had better get your Bengal butts signed in time for the
first training camp practice — 9 a.m. Monday, July 28, at Georgetown (Ky.)
College. This year’s camp lasts 19 days (July 28-Aug. 15). It’s the shortest in
memory. It’s “The Big Squeeze.” The learning curve will be swift. You miss a
day; you miss a lot.
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Time to trade Arroyo Enquirer.com At the yard, watching the wondrous Greg Maddux one last time.
First-ballot Hall of Famers don't happen by every day. Anyway, B.
Arroyo was very good again today, pitch-efficient, curveball working.
Of course, it helped that the San Diego Padres are the worst team I've
seen all year, worse than my beloved Pirates, who at least can run a
few credible bats up there. But no matter. Arroyo goes to 9-7, second-most wins on the staff. ERA's still fat, but it's thinning. He has looked good for awhile. Trade him.
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Special teams are hardly so Enquirer.com After a frustrating season of special teams play, sixth-year Bengals
special teams coach Darrin Simmons is ready to put 2007 in the past.
There are many plays he'd like to forget - like Josh Cribbs' 85-yard
kickoff return for the Browns Sept. 16. Or Josh Wilson's 72-yard
opening kickoff return for Seattle a week later, which preceded Glenn
Holt's game-ending fumble on a kickoff return.
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Ryan Freel injury update IF/OF Ryan Freel this morning had surgery to repair the torn distal hamstring tendon behind his right knee. The 50-minute procedure was performed by Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek. Freel is expected to return in 4-6 weeks.
Fogg to miss start Reds.com Josh Fogg had the look of a man who stepped into the octagon for an ultimate fighting match with the wrong dude. "I'm feeling good besides the fact that my face is blown up," Fogg said. The top of the Reds starting pitcher's mouth was swollen and stitched,
the result from being hit in the face by a Joey Votto line drive during
batting practice on Tuesday afternoon.
Because of the injury
to Josh Fogg, the Reds’ pitching rotation for the weekend series vs the Rockies
will be:
Friday, RHP Edinson
Volquez Saturday, RHP Homer
Bailey Sunday,
TBA
Bengals need more wins, less drama in '08 Lexington Herald Leader But first up is the NFL. The Cincinnati Bengals return Sunday to
Georgetown College for another go at training camp. First practice is
Monday. So, as is their tradition, the Bengals brass put on a
surf-and-turf media luncheon Tuesday at Paul Brown Stadium to feed the
need for a late-summer, pre-camp football fix. Owner and
president Mike Brown was there. Head Coach Marvin Lewis was there.
Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, special teams coordinator Darrin
Simmons and new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer were there.
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More buyers than sellers in the NL MLB.com The Reds are closer to the break-even point than the Pirates -- just
four games under .500 -- but 11 games back of the Cubs in an NL Central
Division that also features postseason candidates St. Louis and
Milwaukee. The likelihood of making a serious pennant drive run is
growing slim. With the Deadline approaching in 10 days, the club has yet to
reveal its intentions, but there is no secret it has one big chip to
play in Adam Dunn. The left-handed power hitter will be a free agent at the close
of the 2008 season and could provide a major boost to a team that needs
a big bat in the middle of its lineup. With defensive skills not Dunn's
strong suit, an AL club looking to fill its DH role could be more
suitable. Trading Dunn would signal an obvious end to contention. Dunn is one of 13 potential free agents for the Reds this offseason.
Chad focused on the season Enquirer.com The phone interview had been set up with Chad Johnson to promote the
new Warner Home Video DVD release he narrates about big-time NFL
playmakers, but the Bengals wide receiver wanted to talk more about the
offseason past and the season ahead of him. Johnson, who had arthroscopic ankle surgery in mid-June, less than a
week after he was limited in the team's mandatory minicamp, said he was
progressing well but not sure when he would be 100 percent and back on
the field. "My whole focus right now is on Baltimore," Johnson told The Enquirer about the Bengals' opening game Sept. 7 in Maryland.
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Bengals Media Luncheon C Trent Suspended wide receiver Chris Henry has said the Bengals would be interested in his return to the team. Marvin Lewis said there is no interest from the Bengals. "I'm not interested," Lewis said. "It's not productive for our
football team. You have to be a productive part to be an NFL player.
There are responsibilities of being an NFL football player. It's not a
right."
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Bengals ink Urrutia The Bengals today signed rookie WR Mario Urrutia of Louisville to a four-year contract. Urrutia was a seventh-round Bengals selection in the 2008 draft. Urrutia is the fourth of 10 Bengals 2008 draft pick to complete contract negotiations. Previously signed were DT Jason Shirley of Fresno State (fifth round), TE Matt Sherry of Villanova (sixth round) and LB Angelo Craig of the University of Cincinnati (seventh round). Bengals players report this Sunday to training camp at Georgetown (Ky.) College. Practices begin on Monday.
Bengals Training Camp Depth Chart Lewis revealed his training camp depth chart
Tuesday with no jarring surprises that start with Stacy Andrews as the
right tackle in front of four-time Pro Bowler Willie Anderson. That is
expected to change if Anderson (knee) shows the same health during camp
that he showed last month at the mandatory minicamp.
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Time to look ahead Enquirer.com The Bengals’ annual pre-training camp luncheon this afternoon brimmed
with its annual optimism, with Marvin Lewis saying the goal this season
is the same, to win the AFC North division. “We’re as healthy as we’ve been in many years,” Lewis said of his team
on the dawn of camp, which will open Sunday with reporting day and kick
into high gear Monday with the first two practices.
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NBC prepares for Late Night switch USA Today NBC says Jay Leno will sign off The Tonight Show next May 29, and Conan O'Brien will assume the chair the following Monday, June 1. O'Brien will sign off Late Night in New York early next year and spend a few months preparing for his
new role and moving to a new studio in Burbank. And Jimmy Fallon will
move into O'Brien's old slot, probably in March or April.
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NFL Power Rankings are here Fox Sports 19: Cincinnati: Talk about an absolute wild-card of a team. In
what could be coach Marvin Lewis's final year, Cincy could be a variety
of teams: The AFC North champions they were in '05, the mild
disappointment they were in '06, or the absolute disaster of a team
they were in '07. In truth, Lewis needs his defense to perform or the
Bengals have no shot at anything in '08. Chad Johnson's a distraction,
but he's always ready to play come Sundays. The media blows that out of
proportion. If the defense stays healthy and rookie Keith Rivers mans
the LB spot like past rookie linebackers Patrick Willis and DeMeco
Ryans did for their respective teams in their first seasons —
Cincinnati could contend for a division title. And no, I'm not kidding.
Camp: Georgetown, Ky.
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Five UK Wildcats on All-SEC Preseason Team Louisville Courier Journal Five University of Kentucky football players were named to the Southeastern Conference coaches' preseason all-conference teams. Offensive lineman Garry Williams, a Seneca product; defensive end
Jeremy Jarmon; and cornerback Trevard Lindley were second-team picks.
Linebackers Braxton Kelley and Micah Johnson made the third team. The
media's all-conference team will be announced Friday.
Chad Johnson to report to camp Fox Sports Receiver Chad Johnson says he'll report on time for the Cincinnati Bengals' training camp next weekend, but his surgically repaired ankle probably will limit him in practice. Johnson also said Monday he wants to move on from the fallout of his
lobbying for a trade, which included threats to sit out the season if
the Bengals didn't deal him. The club refused, turning down a lucrative trade offer from Washington.
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Carson Palmer really, really hates Ohio State USA Today You can click here to
hear Palmer's inflection and judge for yourself just how seriously he
meant his mini-rant, but here's the gist what he said after being asked
if he was cautious when talking about Ohio State football:
"I don't watch what I say. I cannot stand the Buckeyes, and
having to live in Ohio and hear those people talk about their team, it
drives me absolutely nuts . . . It's amazing to hear what those guys
think about that university and what they think about that football
program and (Ohio State coach Jim) Tressel and all the crap I gotta put
up with being back there. I just can't wait for two years from now
when SC comes to the 'Shoe and I get to hopefully, hopefully we'll have
a home game that weekend and I can go up there and watch us pound on
them in their own turf and kind of put all the talk to rest. Because
I'm really getting sick of it and I just can't wait for this game to
get here so they can come out to the Coliseum and experience LA and get
an old-fashioned Pac-10 butt-whoopin' and go back to the Big Ten . . .
I can't wait."
Now my take... First of all, spare me on the OSU fans sounding off on Carson. He is a Bengal, not a Buckeye. Just because he plays in Cincinnati doesn't obligate him to like OSU or even stay quiet about his opinion. Buckeye fans are even more brutally honest when it comes to Michigan players, coaches, fans, etc. It's college football.
Carson Clarifies: “I’m a
Trojan all the way, and I was talking to a Trojan audience in California. I
guess I got a little fired up, as all good fans will do. But I really do respect
the Buckeyes, and I know their fans are passionate, too. I hope they all
understand I’m just looking forward to a big game for my school against a very
tough opponent, and that it’s all in the good fun of a rivalry. You don’t have a
real rivalry unless both sides are great teams.”
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A splitting headache Enquirer.com From manager Dusty Baker to outfielder Adam Dunn, many in the
clubhouse believe the Reds could have pulled out both two-run losses. Sunday's
unraveling was the worst, an up-and-down affair that ended with a Reds
defensive meltdown in the top of the 10th inning.
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Keep Dunn C Trent Adam Dunn is one of the most productive players in the game and
certainly on the Reds -- he leads the team's regulars with a .387 OBP,
he's slugging .550, he has 28 home runs, the second-most in baseball,
his 63 RBI are a testament not to his skills, but the OBP of those
ahead of him in the order, his home run rate of a homer per every 10.7
at-bats is the best in baseball, his 52 runs scored are the second-most
on the team. And here's the biggest one, the bomb I've hinted at. He's playing an above average left field.
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Prediction: Browns will miss the playoffs Dayton Daily News With home games against Dallas (Sept. 7) and Pittsburgh (Sept. 14),
the Browns will start 0-2. They'll beat Baltimore on the road (Sept. 21), then lose at Cincinnati (Sept. 28) and be 1-3. During their Oct. 5 bye, look for quarterback Derek Anderson to be
replaced by Brady Quinn for the Monday-Nighter at the New York Giants
(Oct. 13). Cleveland will struggle the remainder of the season to get
back to .500.
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Former Bearcat inks deal with Ravens Enquirer.com David Lee, agent for
Haruki Nakamura, said the former University of Cincinnati safety has
signed a three-year contract with Baltimore. The Ravens drafted Nakamua
in the sixth round.
*********************
Loved the Reds ceremonies on Saturday....BUT... Let me
start by saying that Barry Larkin is my favorite Reds player of all
time...has been since I was a kid. But did anyone else find it annoying
as hell that he made it a point to mention some Washington Nationals
executives by name (including Leatherpants) on a night of Reds
celebration?? In my mind, the only thing that he should've said about
Washington was something like "Thanks to the Nationals for allowing me
to make it back to celebrate with you." Just a thought. Otherwise, a
very nice ceremony.
An even more appropriate question is...why the hell is Barry not a
member of the Reds front office or bench staff. He absolutely needs to
be here, in any capacity.
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Reds weekend roster news - RHP Jared Burton today went on
the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to 7/11, with a strained right
latissimus muscle. RHP Todd Coffey (#56) has been recalled from Class
AAA Louisville.
- On Wednesday, IF/OF Ryan Freel will have surgery to repair the
torn distal hamstring tendon behind his right knee. Reds medical
director Dr. Timothy Kremchek will perform the surgery, after which the
club will announce a prognosis for recovery.
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Scouting the enemy SI.com Cleveland
Browns wide receiver Joe Jurevicius likely will miss the start of the
regular season because of his recent knee surgery. Browns general
manager Phil Savage told WTAM-AM Thursday that Jurevicius likely will
start the season on the physically unable to perform list. Jurevicius
would miss at least the first six weeks of the season. Jurevicius had
swelling and discomfort in his right knee related to a previous
operation and needed another procedure in June.
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Hoosiers' future AD for Complicance changes mind, leaves ESPN Less
than a month after he agreed to become Indiana University's associate
athletic director for compliance services, Chad Hawley has changed his
mind about the job. The Indianapolis Star reports Hawley, who last
served as the Big Ten's assistant commissioner for compliance, returned
to his role with the Big Ten. He also held compliance jobs with the
Mid-Continent Conference and Ivy League and at North Carolina State and
Appalachian State, his alma mater.
*********************
The Dark Knight shatters records USA Today Batman's
joust with the Joker has set another box office record. Stoked by fan
fever over the manic performance of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker,
The Dark Knight set a one-day box office record with $66.4
million on opening day, Warner Bros. head of distribution Dan Fellman
said Saturday. The movie's Friday haul surpassed the previous record of
$59.8 million set last year by Spider-Man 3. The Dark Knight might break the opening-weekend record of $151.1 million, also held by Spider-Man 3.
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I'm planning to see The Dark Knight soon...but a very important question: Would you be considered an elitist if you watched a movie in this section? Or just stupid?
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Redskins land Jason Taylor SI.com Jason Taylor wanted out of Miami, and Bill Parcells seemed only too happy to trade the "Dancing with the Stars" defensive end. So when the Washington Redskins lost a starting lineman to a season-ending injury Sunday, a significant swap quickly got done. The Redskins gave the Dolphins a second-round pick in 2009 and a
sixth-round choice in 2010 for Taylor, who is leaving the only NFL team
he's known.
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Giants deal Shockey to Saints Fox Sports The Giants have agreed to trade their disgruntled tight end to the
New Orleans Saints for a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick,
FOXSports.com has learned. The deal is pending league approval,
according to a league source. Shockey must also pass a physical. The compensation is the same the Saints offered New York back in April prior and during to the draft ... and it was turned down.
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A brawl at a soccer game...in Columbus Columbus Dispatch An official of the West Ham soccer club today condemned the actions of fans involved in
a brawl yesterday at the Columbus Crew match, but said the trip to
Columbus was a positive one for the British club. West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury said the club was satisfied that "this was an
isolated incident."
*********************
Reds ponder free agents future after Mets loss Columbus Dispatch The non-waiver trading deadline is 10 days away, and the Reds have 13 potential free agents, many
of whom will be playing elsewhere next season. It is the type of calculus that adds up to a lot of
sweaty palms, from the clubhouse to the front office. It is unlikely the Reds could overhaul the roster before Aug.1, considering they do not have a
CC Sabathia to trade. It is unknown if they would attempt an overhaul, even if they had the
opportunity. Because while it seems clear that the Reds' best hope is to gear up for future
seasons, there are folks in the organization who see value in finishing at or above .500 this
season.
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No fine for Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction The three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Federal Communications Commission "acted arbitrarily and capriciously" in issuing the fine for the fleeting image of nudity. A federal appeals court on Monday threw out a $550,000 indecency fine against CBS Corp. for the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show that ended with Janet Jackson's breast-baring "wardrobe malfunction."
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How does this make sense?? Reds.com Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn don't have the best batting averages, but
Reds manager Dusty Baker doesn't plan on doing anything different with
the two sluggers when it comes to filling out a lineup card. Griffey's .236 average and Dunn's .230 average are the two worst of any
active everyday starter. Only part-time catcher Paul Bako's (.213) is
lower. But Griffey, the No. 3 hitter, and Dunn, the No. 5 hitter, are
leading the way when it comes to on-base percentage, and for that
reason, Baker isn't planning any changes.
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UK's Patterson's rehab going well Enquirer.com We're still about three months from the first practice of the season,
but if there is a face to identify with the 2008-09 edition of the
University of Kentucky basketball team, it's Patrick Patterson. During his quarterly offseason sessions Thursday, coach Billy Gillispie
said the rising sophomore, who missed the last four games last season
after suffering a stress fracture in his left ankle, is making great
progress.
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Speaking of UK Louisville Courier Journal Billy Gillispie could be close to signing a formal contract with the University of Kentucky. The
basketball coach said at a news conference today that a pair of
meetings with athletic director Mitch Barnhart and university president
Lee Todd have been productive, and that a new contract will be on his
desk soon. Since he was hired last year, Gillispie has been
operating with a two-page memorandum of understanding rather than a
formal contract.
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Please, please let me pay 8 bucks for coffee!! Wall Street Journal Now that Starbucks Corp. has disclosed the 600 locations it wants to shutter, a phenomenon is taking hold: the Save Our Starbucks campaign. In towns as small as Bloomfield, N.M., and
metropolises as large as New York, customers and city officials are
starting to write letters, place phone calls, circulate petitions and
otherwise plead with the coffee company to change its mind. "Now that it's going away, we're devastated," said
Kate Walker, a facilities manager for software company SunGard
Financial Systems who recently learned of a store closing in New York
City.
