Mark Cuban & College Football

Once again, we reach the end of the college football season, and once again it is time to watch the ridiculous bombardment of meaningless bowl games which will ultimately lead up to a championship that may or may not tell us who the best team in the country is. Fortunately, the sports world's favorite billionaire Mark Cuban believes he can help out. As you already know, Cuban is exploring the possibility of giving a much needed revamping to college football. The plan, which would install a 16 team playoff, would be very tempting to schools mainly because of the average fan's interest, Cuban's deep pockets, and most importantly his willingness to spend his money. Bowl game execs could even benefit off of this if their games were used as the tournament. For example, the Champs Sports, Sun, Capital One, Chick-fil-A, Holiday, Insight, Gator, and Hawaii could be used as first round contests. The Outback, Cotton, Orange, and Sugar would be quarterfinals, and the Rose and Fiesta would be semifinals leading up to the championship, which would still rotate stadiums. This also solves another problem by eliminating all of the ridiculous bowl games that ruin the prestige and tradition of playing in the postseason. It should be an honor to play in a bowl game, not something for 6-6 teams to do. With that said, I believe their should some sort of second tier NIT-style tournament so that 32 to 40 teams can play in the postseason, which is about the number that should.

While many people say this idea would cheapen the thrill of the regular system, I have a plan for that. The tournament field should be chosen by a selection committee like in basketball. They will take account of factors such as strength of schedule, non-conference wins, and road wins, not fan base, tradition, and number of tickets sold. With this playing a role, teams would have to schedule higher quality teams out of conference to build attractive resumes. So, essentially, it's good bye Wofford, hello TCU on the schedules. This would also keep out teams like Connecticut, who won a conference weaker than the WAC, and Ohio State, who beat as many current top 25 teams as the St Xavier Scout Team.

Basically, the point is that it is time for college football to evolve. Steps were made in 1998 when the BCS was formed and in 2007 when the BCS Championship Game was put in. Now, it is time to go for a fully democratic system which will tell us who the best team is.

Teams like Boise St, Nevada, BYU, TCU, and Hawai'i deserve a chance to prove that they are the best. Maybe they get smacked around, and maybe they shock the country, but they shouldn't be denied the opportunity because they aren't as profitable as someone else. At the very least, I can guarantee that any of those teams can beat UConn. If college basketball had the same type of system, Butler would have played the #3 team from C-USA on ESPNU and then been done. Look where they ended up after the tournament. The bottom line is that every team deserves the chance to prove themselves in the regular season and postseason and not be handicapped by the size of their fan base or number of tickets sold. It's time for the NCAA to evolve, and if Mark Cuban has to be the one to start it, let him start it.

Feast Week Recap

Happy Thanksgiving from Mack is Berning. It is very clear that I have a lot to be thankful for right now: The Jazz are in first place, Kentucky just got ran off the court, and Intramural Basketball season is right around the corner. But most importantly, college basketball is finally hitting its stride. Early season tournaments are some of my favorite games of the season. There's no other time to see big time non conference games on sick neutral site courts, other than March, of course. So, from the opening tip-off with Bill Raftery letting me know Michigan St was going mantoman, to the trophy awarding after the final buzzer, this has pretty much been a perfect week. I'll go through what I have learned from the first stretch of college hoops.

#1 Duke is still the team to beat.

Things were looking a little dicey when the Blue Devils couldn't seem to put Marquette away, the same Golden Eagles team that struggled earlier with juggernauts like South Dakota and Wisconsin-Green Bay. They turned it around, though, by putting a beatdown on a very solid Kansas St squad in what was essentially a

home game for the Wildcats (Kansas City). If Kyrie Irving keeps playing like he is now, and Mason Plumlee continues to control the paint, I definitely see Duke riding Kyle "Andrei Kirilenko" Singler to a repeat as NCAA Champions.

#2 The Big East is still on top. Everything started at the Square, where Pitt was crowned champs of the 2K Sports Classic. It wasn't exactly what E. Gordon Gee would call a gauntlet that they ran through, but they beat solid teams in Rhode Island, Maryland, and Texas. What impressed me the most about the Panthers was their rebounding. No team crashes the boards harder than Pitt, particularly Nigerian freshman Talib Zanna. Georgetown looks solid also, having beaten Old Dominion on the road and North Carolina St in the final of the Charleston Classic. Interesting fact is that the Hoyas are ranked in the top 25 of 3 Point % but 244 in free throws. Next up is Villanova, who really impressed me in the NIT Season Tip-Off. The Wildcats are just a well-coached, fundamentally sound basketball team that takes care of the ball, knocks down their free throws, and boxes out the shooter. As you know, I really respect that brand of basketball. Finally, we have UConn, who made a big time statement winning it all in Maui. The Huskies edged out a very good Michigan St team, and absolutely annihilated Kentucky in the final.

Kemba Walker emerged as a true leader of this team, and they will go as far as he takes them. There were talks about Kemba possibly being the best player in college right now, and rightfully so with his 30 PPG. Personally, though, I'd have to pick Jimmer Fredette of the Mormons, but regardless, Kemba is a hell of an athlete, and Connecticut has the horses to hang with anyone, and could be one of the big surprises of the season.

Changing of the guard on the West Coast? One team that did not rise to the occasion this week would be the Zags, who got exposed defensively in losses to San Diego St and Kansas St. Unless they step up the pressure on D and have someone emerge as an offensive threat other than Steven Gray, it's gonna be a sub-par year in Spokane. It's going to have to happen quickly, too, as Illinois, Washington St, Notre Dame, Baylor, Xavier, Oklahoma St, and Wake Forest loom ahead on a brutal non-conference schedule.

While this is bad news for the Bulldogs, it is great for the team that blew them out of the gym in last years WCC Championship, oh yea, and advanced a round further than them in the NCAA Tourney. The Saint Mary's Gaels lost big man Omar Samhan, but have playmakers all over the perimeter with Clint Steindl, Matthew Dellavadova, and the superstar, Mickey McConnell. Saint Mary's can go shot for shot with anyone in the nation, and is claiming its spot among the top mid-major programs. The Gaels have chances to prove themselves against Texas Tech, San Diego St, Vanderbilt, and of course the Zags, before they try to make another run in the NCAA Tournament.

2010-11 Xavier Musketeers Preview Take II

With the season opener only 3 days away now, the anticipation for the upcoming Muskies season is greater than ever...or is it? After last season's heartbreaking exit, many naive fans saw Crawford returning along with everybody but Love, as well as the best recruiting class in Xavier history. Crawford has since wisely decided to go pro, and let's just say the top recruit is ineligible. Add to that their only proven big man is out the first month or more of the season, and the team's sparkplug's ACL is in shambles, and it has now become safe to say Xavier Nation is scurrying to pull the fire alarm. In a nightmarish series of events, the 2010-11 Xavier Musketeer Basketball team is essentially in shams. Oh and did I forget to mention a 63-61 loss to D2's finest the Bellermine Knight last weekend? Big ups to former Visi Vike Nick Holmes for puttin the clamp on Freaser burn, but come on gents, that's real shitty. This team will start the year with only 9 scholarship players active, 3 of which who have never played a minute of college basketball, and two others who go by the names Andrew Taylor and Jeff Robinson, respectively. If the preceding thought does not have Xavier Nation scared shitless, then hats off to you for your Holloway-esque sized balls...and your Justin Martin-esque sized brain. Yet despite all of this, I am here to provide Muskie faithful with a glimmer of hope. So without further (Freddy) ado, your 2010-11 Xavier Musketeers.


The Backcourt...
What's this? A bright spot? Believe it or not, there are some. First and foremost, at least some people on this team know how to win. Dante Jackson will look to surpass Jason Love as the winningest player to ever don a Muskie Uniform with 25+ wins this year, and Tu Holloway knows a thing or two about big games. These two players will be absolutely crucial for this team to have any success. With Redford catching the injury bug, and Justin Martin apparently just being a dumbass, it looks like Mark "Cheeks" Lyons will be the other guard Xavier will lean on. I personally can't stand his lack of composure around the cylinder or his broke ass j-work, but it looks as if I'll have to get used to Cheeks dropping 13 or so a game. The vital signs on Jay Canty seem to be decent, so hopefully he can do the #11 some respect and step up but that is to be continued at this point. And how could I talk about the back court without mentioning its bread and butter: one of the Bomber's and westside's finest, Johnny Mazza. Look for the rainmaker to be activated say around February 19, when the always tough Fordham Rams pay the Cintas Center a visit.


The Frontcourt...
Uhhh...ummm...yeah. With Jameezy McLeezy out 3-6 weeks, the PF and center positions are of obvious concern. But Burnside, small forward is also included in the front court. Yeah you're right, I just now realized that...Back to the action, it looks like Kenny Frease and Andrew Taylor will be the starters until further notice. If Frease hasn't had a Jason Love-esque transformation over the off season in his game, feel free to throw the towel in. I'm optimistic, probably more-so stupid, that this will be the case, but it's usually by year 3 Xavier big men really take off. (Unless your Brandon Cole and you get exponentially worse...but that's a different story) On any other Xavier team, I'd say Jeff Robinson and Griffin McKenzie aren't yet ready to contribute, but there doesn't seem to be much of a choice. You know what you're going to get with Taylor in there. Smart play, white boy D'in it up, possibly 2 layups a game, but that's all we're really looking for at this point. Jordan Latham seems to be more raw than....something that's really raw, but between him, Griff, and Robinson, somebody is going to have to grow up real quick. Heck I think Xavier greats such as Charles Bronson and Boubacar Coly would be looking at playing time on this squad. Needless to say I'm slightly concerned. With Jamel back hopefully in time to take a shit of the Slutler Bulldogs, expect a different story, but until then, get ready to break a few remotes and rupture a view blood vessels, Muskie fans.

The Good...
Butler, Temple, Florida, Wake Forest: 4 games that could very well define the season for the Muskies, all played at college basketball's third rowdiest arena, the 'Tas. Look for Xavier to steal at least two of these games. Note I did not feel the need to put Dayton on that list as a win in Cincy for the faggot flyers would be a sign of the Apocalypse. I would say jinx, but I've been pulling that stunt for 29 years now. On another good note, let's see here, oh yeah Xavier plays in the freaking Atlantic 10. The league has gotten much better as of late, but let's not forget who has won this league the 4 years running. We can only hope the trip to Spokane to take down little brother Gonzaga can prepare the Muskies for brutal trips to the likes of St. Bonaventure and St. Joe's. Let's also not forget Xavier historically tends to actually try in the A10 tourney and bring home some hardware when necessary. Bottom line, this program has been doubted too many times to count, and proven haters wrong con frecuencia. (MIB en Español? Probably not) These guys love playing underdog, and we can only hope last Saturday can be a major wake up call that you lose when you play shitty.

The Bad...
A10 or not, the schedule this year for Xavier is arguably harder than Squints around Wendy Peffercorn. No doubt this squad will be road tested with trips the afformentioned Spokane to face the Zags, a trip across town to the always rowdy 5th/3rd Arena (lolz, no homo), along with conference trips to Charlotte, Rhode Island (who last night proved they were a force to be reckoned with)Dayton, Richmond, and SLU. And how could I forget the dreaded trip north to Oxvegas to face the never tough Miami Redhawks. Odds of Patrick Berning being in attendance? I'll give it a zebro. Ok, ok, I'm done. For any other negatives, simply direct your attention to this entire article.

Am I excited for the 2010-11 Muskies? Obvi bro. Although I am likewise concerned, this isn't the first time. I see this squad grinding out a 23-12 record, winning the coveted A10 tourney, and yeah doing stuff like that. In the meantime, I'll shift my focus to what I do have control of, a Visitation Viking CYO title. With KFW at the helm, there's no doubt that when it comes to making bread he's got the keys the bakery. Alright that's about all I got. Stay golden ponyboy, and S'GOOOOO MUSKIES!!!

Basketball is Back

2 posts in one week? Bill Raftery must be warming up his vocal cords because basketball is back. Burnside gave you the heads up that the Muskies have returned, and now it's Fuerto's turn. After taking almost as long of a sabbatical as Burnside, the NBA has returned.

I'll start in the East where a certain franchise down in Southern Florida made quite a few headlines this summer. But since everyone's mother and their brother made a blog post on the Heat forecast this year, I thought I'd skip the details and move on to the defending conference champs. Boston is aging, but still has plenty of chemistry, star power, and most importantly Rajon Rondo, which is enough to compete, and I think they will fend off the Magic, who are continually creeping closer. Dwight Howard is a freak, but not enough to win the East. One interesting fact is that the Magic won 59 games last year, but were below .500 when in close games (5 points or less). They lack the intensity and leadership that Boston has thrived on. Moving on, I already wrote on the Bulls, but Boozer and Korver should help propel this team into the second round. The Hawks have been an up and coming team lately, but Fuerto sees them struggling this year. Joe Johnson's extension was a mistake, and will cause even more frustration in Atlanta as he and the rest of the team struggle with consistency. The Bucks could be a sleeper team as they will go as far as Brandon Jennings takes them. The Knicks are another darkhorse who are another superstar away from legitimate contention. By the way, I really don't think Amar'e is that great of a signing, mainly because it cost David Lee. Lee is not a franchise player, but he is a hard worker who brings energy and passion onto the court. Also, New York desperately needs a more physical presence down low after being one of the worst rebounding teams last year, and Stoudemire's 8.9 RPG won't change this much. Obviously, there's always a lot of pressure on the number one draft pick, and while John Wall probably won't push Washington into the playoffs, he will at least give them an exciting offense. The key will be Gilbert Arenas adjusting to his new role just like Larry Hughes did when Arenas was drafted out of Arizona. Also, it would be a good idea to tighten up on locker room security. It might be worth it. Up north, the Raptors will try to make a comeback in the post-Bosh era. They will be led by Fuerto's pick for breakout superstar in athletic wing DeMar DeRozan, and about 12 European point guards. Lastly, the Cavaliers will look to fulfill St Dan Gilbert's prophecy and win that NBA title, and there is a definite possibility. Jamario Moon isn't really that much worse than LeBron, and... OK, I can't do this any more, the Cavs are coming in last. Let's move out west.

Lakers...NBA champs. It's gonna happen again. But Fuerto, Kobe is aging and Phil Jackson is like 107. I think they're gonna fall off. Alright, decent point, but Kobe isn't going anywhere. Not for another 2 or 3 seasons at least, and there's this Pau Gasol guy. Actually what makes this team even more scary to me is the development of the second line. Shannon Brown, Sasha Vujacic, and Luke Walton are some of the best role players in the league and are very important to LA's title hopes. Meanwhile, on the other side of Los Angeles, the Clippers are harnessing a lot of young talent. Blake Griffin is back and is paired with young star Eric Gordon and big man Chris Kaman. Fuerto likes them as a potential sleeper team. Speaking of sleepers, I don't think there could be a more dangerous 6-8 seed as Golden State if they make the postseason. Stephen Curry is deadly, Monta Ellis is a threat, and David Lee gives them some help inside. They are capable of scoring 125 every time they step on the court, and if they get hot, the Lakers, Thunder, or Mavs could pack their bags early.

Obvi, Fuerto loves the Jazz and this year is no different. Deron Williams is still the best PG in the league and Paul Millsap has been waiting for this year his whole career. Al Jefferson was an underrated pickup who is more then capable of a double double average. He, Millsap, and Okur will occupy the middle nicely as Williams, Raja Bell and Gordon Hayward do their thing. Moving on to the Thunder, who are finally ready to compete for a title. Durant is an MVP favorite as Russel Westbrook will match up nicely with D-Will, Derek Fisher, and Chris Paul. Every time I watch this team, I can't help but wonder what would have happened if they hadn't wasted a pick on James Harden in 2009, and instead got say Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings or DeMar DeRozan. The Blazers are definitely very capable of matching up with anyone if they stay healthy. Brandon Roy is a top 10 player and even Greg Oden could be somewhat of a force. Odds are they'll get banged up and limp out of the first round of the playoffs. Here's a bold prediction: The Timberwolves will be in the playoffs... if/when Ricky Rubio ever comes. Until then, enjoy the lottery.

Sorry for the rant, but Fuerto is more pumped than Johnny Chase would be auditioning for the second lead role in a low budget Indie film. Keep it posted as Fuerto and Burnside are gonna bring the heat well into March. Maybe if we're lucky, KFW will come back like Jordan. Until then, enjoy the NBA, enjoy the Muskies, even enjoy the Bearcats and Flyers because the important thing is basketball is back!

The Return of a Legend

First and foremost, I would like to issue a formal apology on behalf of the lack of coverage during the biggest moment in recent Reds history (aka the last 10 years). But, with Burnside MIA in the last month and KFW....um....if anyone sees KFW, please let me know. So i guess its just Fuerto and another article on obscure news from the NBA and its scrub affiliates.

Now for the real story. As I'm sure very few of you have heard, the legend, Greg Ostertag, is returning to professional basketball. As Scott Schroeder, well renown D-League blogger for Fanhouse (is that above or below what we do on MIB?)reported, 00 is trying out for the Mavericks, and will likely open up the season in a Texas Legends jersey as a player/coach in what will surely go down in history as the greatest comeback since Kenny Powers to the Charros. Ostertag has been out of basketball for 4 years, but claims to be in good shape and have his quickness back. For a player who was out of breath his sixth time down the floor, and had worse quickness than Andre Smith with a fractured foot during his prime. I think it is a safe bet that he is in good shape now. The important part is not the statistics, not the measurements. It's the fact that such an unathletic, uncoordinated white man could make it in the NBA. It's the fact that he gives hope to the most oppressed group in the country - the upper class, straight, white, young male. But mostly, it's because it's hilarious to watch guys like this play basketball. And that's what is really important.

As for the decision to try to return, if it worked for Othella Harrington, it sure as hell will work for King Brostertag. Plus, the whole reason he is coming back is so he can transition into a future coaching job. Clearly, anyone with his high level of basketball IQ will do just fine on the bench. With Jerry Sloan's impending retirement coming up, a vacancy will open up in a certain city Ostertag has connections to. He may be the only man capable of following Jerry's footsteps. Anyways, bottomline is Ostertag is coming back, so snatch up your jerseys from the D-League website. Keep it real, and keep your eyes open for KFW and Burnside. They're out there somewhere.

Fuerto's NCAA Football Preview

We're about at the time where one of the most interesting summers in a while - complete with an newfound American love for the World Cup, the Reds taking first place, and Vince hooking up with another porn star on Entourage - is coming to an end. Schools are starting to open back up, fantasy football leagues are drafting, and 45 year old single guys are once again living vicariously through high school kids courtesy of Yappi. With that said, I guess it's time to let you know how the college football season is gonna shape up.

Teams To Beat (Top 10)


1 Alabama Crimson Tide - I don't think they're gonna win it all, but as defending champs, with the defending champs, with the defending Heisman winner, they get the 1 spot until someone knocks them off. They return the best pair of running backs in the country in Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, as well as a solid pass combo in Greg McElroy and Julio Jones. The defense is anchored by linebacker Dont'a Hightower, but could struggle against the pass - not good for a schedule that includes pass happy teams such as South Carolina, Arkansas, and Florida. Bottom line is that the Tide will be good - BCS good - but to ask them to run through another undefeated season may be too much.

2 Ohio State Buckeyes - The Buckeyes head into the season with high hopes after knocking off Oregon in January and could possibly be a season away from silencing all critics about the weakness of the Big 10 (With help from Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan St). The offense is loaded with playmakers in Terrelle Pryor, Brandon Saine, Boom Herron, Taurian Washington, and of course DeVier Posey, straight out of God's Chosen League. Defensively, they could struggle with getting pass rush as well as replacing some of the secondary, but corner Devon Torrence and linebacker Ross Homan will help out. Unfortunately, OSU may be stuck hoping Boise St loses a game to someone in the dreadful WAC, as they have three very losable games in Miami, Wisconsin, and Iowa, with the latter two on the road.

3 Boise State Broncos - Possibly the best mid major team ever? With Kellen Moore leading an impressive spread attack, a defense that gave up 17 points a game, and special teams as good as anyone in the country, The Broncos could be BCS crashers. An early win over Virginia Tech, and Boise will have smooth sailing the rest of the way. Boise St has lost one WAC game since 2005, and that was against statistically the best college quarterback to ever strap up a helmet, so I wouldn't expect anything from a conference that allowed Idaho to be bowl eligible last year.

4 Texas Longhorns - Year one of the Garrett Gilbert era begins with the Longhorns replacing a number of key starters such as Colt McCoy, Jordan Shipley, and Sergio Kindle. They will rely more on the rush attack with Tre' Newton and Fozzy Whittaker coming back. The defense, led by Sam Acho and Blake Gideon will be the strength of the team. If they can get past Oklahoma and Nebraska in back to back weeks, Texas could be playing for their second straight championship next January.

5 Florida Gators - The Gators are in a similar position as Texas. John Brantley will take the reigns at QB and has a few weapons in Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, and Deonte Thompson. Unlike Texas, the offense is more of the strength, but the defense has future stars, such as Janoris Jenkins and Jon Bostic. Florida, however, has a much more difficult schedule, and is probably less likely to get through the season unscathed as Texas.

6 Texas Christian Horned Frogs - TCU heads into 2010 looking to make a statement after losing to Boise St last January. They had the number 5 rushing offense last year, but should open up the passing game with QB Andy Dalton and WR Jeremy Kerley back. Their date to circle is November 6 as TCU battles Utah to possibly represent the MWC in the BCS.

7 Oklahoma Sooners - Oklahoma enters on the sour note after completing one of the worst seasons in recent memory. QB Landry Jones returns as probably the best quarterback in the Big 12. The offense will have to gel quickly though as Florida State, Cincinnati, and of course, Texas, loom on the first half of the schedule.

8 Virginia Tech Hokies - Tyrod Taylor leads his Hokies for his senior year. Taylor had over 2500 total yard and 16 touchdowns last year, and will lead one of the most impressive rushing attacks in the country. They will play in the marque matchup of the early season against Boise St, and plays Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Miami in consecutive weeks later.

9 Wisconsin Badgers - John Clay is about all you need to know for the Badgers this year. Possibly the best RB north of Alabama, JC will be key if Wisconsin wants to overtake Ohio St and Iowa in the Big 10 and make it to Pasadena.

10 Miami Hurricanes - JaCory Harris leads The U into 2010 with hopes of a Heisman and a National Title. With JC12 on the offense, and Ray Ray Armstrong anchoring the D, the Canes will need to knock off Ohio State early, and Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech in conference to make it to the end.

3 Super Sleepers

1 South Carolina Gamecocks - If there's ever a year for the Ole Ball Coach to take down his old Gators and win the SEC East, this is it. The skill positions are loaded with future first round WR Alshon Jeffery and Stephen Garcia, who threw for 2862 yard last year. Add to that freshman Marcus Lattimore (#1 RB) and WR Ace Sanders (sub 4.4) and you have a lot of weapons on O. The D is anchored by one of the best CB in the NCAA in Stephon Gilmore and LB Shaq Wilson. The Gamecocks may be a year away from national title hopes, but they certainly have a chance in the down SEC East.

2 Auburn Tigers - Pardon the southern bias, but Alabama's arch rival may have the best shot at taking them down. The O-line returns 4 of 5 starters, always a recipe for success. Florida transfer Cameron Newton will take over at QB and try to build on the Tiger's strong finish, beating Northwestern in an Outback Bowl thriller. If Newton steps up and the O-Line remains strong, there's no reason to think Auburn can't make the BCS this year.

3 Houston Cougars - Case Keenum will look to keep his stats rolling after leading the NCAA with 5671 yards and 44 TDs last year. The defense sucks, but that doesn't matter when you average 42 points per game. It also doesn't hurt that your schedule features offensive "juggernauts" such as Texas State, UTEP, Memphis, and Southern Miss. The Cougars are capable of putting up points on anyone, and with their soft schedule, can definitely put together an undefeated regular season.

The Hunt for Red October

To answer your question, no, the Mack is Berning trio has not been hammered for the past 3 plus weeks...or at least not every day. The only thing that has woken me from my writer's slumber is this team some refer to as the Cincinnati Reds...and of course that 104 mph fastball that I could feel from all the way here in North Mack. Anyways, alert the millions, the drought is over.

The following article is a replica of my debut in the St. Xavier Blueprint. I'll apologize in advance if it lacks the usual Burnside furniture fair style and flair, but you have to realize not every chump at St. X that will be reading this is as bro as you are. So without further ado...


Reds baseball in September? That’s a funny joke. Coming from a franchise that hasn’t even fielded a winning team in a decade, it’s about that time of the year these guys should be hosting tryouts for next year’s squad. But that was then and this is now. Fresh off an impressive 5-1 homestand, the Cincinnati Reds are still flying high in September. The Redlegs are currently perched atop the NL Central in what had been known as the tightest two-team pennant race in major league history through the first 4 months of the season. Speaking of the NL Central, with the sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers this past week, the Redlegs improved to a staggering 17-3-1 in series against division opponents. It just doesn’t get much better than that. Anyways, since being swept by the St. Louis Cardinals at home just three weeks ago, the Reds have gone on to post a 14-4 record, and more importantly, have built an 8 game lead over the Cards. This remarkable momentum swing, coupled with the excitement of “Chapmania” has this city thinking playoffs. In case you haven’t noticed, this team is for real. The offensive attack, led by MVP candidate and Triple Crown hopeful Joey Votto, leads the league in hitting and runs, while the defense boasts an equally as impressive mark as tops in the league with the fewest errors. Quality baseball is something Cincinnati fans have not seen as of late, and as the Redlegs head into final month of the season on their quest for the playoffs, it’s time for this city to get rowdy again.

Even with an 8-game lead, it’s easy to think these Reds will surely find a way to muff what seems to be a storybook season (see Bearcat basketball). For all you pessimists out there, yes, teams have found ways to blow these types of leads before in the final month of the season, but I really don’t see that happening with this squad. For one, of the 29 games remaining on the Reds schedule, a whopping 20 of these games are against sub .500 opponents including home series with cellar dwellers such as the AA Pirates and Arizona D-backs. Two more trips out west (and a mere total of 6 games) remain on the schedule, but after the recent success out in the land Horace Greeley once implored Americans to explore, there needn’t be much to fear. Speaking of playing on the road, the Reds are an impressive 37-28 away from Great American Ballpark, and lead the majors with 5 road series sweeps. I’d say that bodes well for a post-season hopeful team. A trip to St. Louis this weekend that only weeks ago might have seemed a key series for the Reds postseason hopes is now honestly just another series. Bottom line is that if the Reds play even just decently down the stretch, the post season is theirs as they control their own destiny.


While pitching has been a concern all year for this ballclub, I’m pleased to announce the Reds now have a Cuban Missile Crisis on their hands. In case you haven’t heard, Chapmania is here ladies and gentlemen. We have already gotten two glimpses of what the young Cuban phenom can do on the bump at the big league level, and it is mind blowing. The kid’s got a fastball that tops out at 105 mph and a slider that drops off the face of the earth. It’s not fair, really, but look for the Reds to continue to utilize this weapon of mass destruction down the stretch. In the final month, also look for the Reds to continue to mix and match their starting rotation to find the right 3-man rotation come playoff time. Even though this staff doesn’t have a bonified ace, guys like Bronson Arroyo and Johnny Cueto can certainly hold their own and will be vital parts to any sort of playoff success.


Under the guidance of veterans Scott Rolen and Brandon Phillps, along with the emergence of unsung heroes such as Miguel Castro, Ryan Hanigan, and, Xavier French ‘11’s boy Paul Janish, the Reds have taken the league by surprise with their aggressive, and quite frankly successful, style of play. Johnny “Chawny” Gomes has been at the forefront of this aggressive play more times than not, and it really makes this Redlegs squad an exciting team to watch. And of course how could I rattle off a list of players without mentioning Sir Joey Votto. Talk about a guy who keeps his mouth shut and talks with his game. He is a nightmare for any pitcher, and has provided one clutch hit after another all season long. Not to mention he picks it with the best of ‘em down at first base. He really didn’t become relevant until his All-Star snub just 2 months ago, and ever since he has been doing what he’s done all year: tearing it up. The offensive surge has shown little signs of slowing down, and with the recent call-ups of Juan Francisco, Chris Valaika, and Yonder Alonso, I only see this offense being more dangerous with more weapons

With the Reds currently ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals by a whopping 8 games, the post-season is beginning to look more and more attainable. It’s almost as if I’m dreaming considering the pain I have endured as a die-hard Reds fan over the past decade and a half. I’d be lying if I said I, along with many other faithful in Mr. Cappel’s reer’d home room last year, wasn’t calling this last back in the winter, but that’s largely irrelevant. Moral of the story is that this team has silenced its doubters time and time again throughout the year, and it’ll undoubtedly be exciting to see the GAB rocking come September as the hunt for October continues. Fasten your seatbelts Reds fans, here comes the homestretch.

Eighteen Weeks In

With the most meaningful series for the Redlegs since 1999 set to kick off tonight, allow me to set the scene. Typically by this point in the year, the Reds are hosting tryouts for the next year, and my mind has already discounted the Bengals and moved on to the upcoming Muskies season. These are uncharted waters for a young Reds fan like myself, and I sure am enjoying it Clark. Fresh off their first series sweep at Wrigley since August of 2005, the Reds stand atop the NL Central by 2 games at an impressive 64-48 record. What really jumped out at me about this past weekend though was just how quickly the tables can turn. Here's a stat-and-a-half for ya: the Cubs' lineup on Sunday makes a total of $144 million this year. The lineup the Reds ran out on the other hand? $4.2 million. Ironically enough, it was the Reds who were expected to go into Wrigley and win big...and they did exactly that while making the Cubs look like their little sisters. Now the road to October continues tonight against long division rivals STL Cards, and if you're not fired up...well then you're a shed.

First things first, this afternoon's headline: Reds go get Jim Edmonds for the playoff push. Is this significant? Probably not. Personally, I was a big fan of Chris Dickerson and what the future held for him. But it's time for me to stop thinking about the future. The Reds are good...NOW. Can't hurt adding another seasoned vet to the bench; I guess we'll see what happens. It'll be interesting to see the move the Reds make before today's game on the 25-man roster to make room for Jimmy, because quite frankly, this team seems to be jelling very well together as there are unsung heroes rising to the occasion just about every game. Janish, Hanigan, Caibro, Heisey...are you kidding me? The fact is that it is these players that are key parts to the Reds' success. For once, the Reds front office doesn't have to even worry when a player is out for a while cus these replacements are money in the bank. When OC got injured last week against the Pirates, I was actually pumped because I knew players like Paul Janish were going to fill the void and then some.


Ok ok, nothing you don't already know, this team is good. There is nothing fluky about a team that leads the NL in runs scored (4.89 a game), is third in defensive efficiency (converting 70.9 percent of balls in play into outs) and sixth in runs allowed (4.14) this deep in the season. Heck, anyone in the world who decides to make an espn.com pitstop right now is seeing this as the top story. Bottom line is that everybody is talking Redlegs for the first time in a looooong time. I'd say Dusty Baker's biggest concern at this point in the season is having a consistent favorite color. You just can't seem to go wrong with anyone on this squad.

In all honesty though, let's take a look at some concerns heading down the stretch. Mike Leake immediately comes to mind. He's near the innings pitched limit the Reds set on Leake for his rookie campaign, and has not pitched well at all recently as the Reds have given him lengthy time periods in between starts. Maybe he's wearing down, or maybe the NL hitters are starting to figure him out. Either way, if Leaker keeps it up, Homer Bailey is anxiously awaiting his turn to rejoin the big league club and looks very good to contribute down the stretch in the starting brotation. As for Aaron Harang, I wouldn't be surprised if Bob Catellini is arranging an assassination plot because quite frankly, no one wants him with the Reds, and no other team is going to want to pay that bum 13 mil to suck at life and be ugly. Concern number dos: the Reds still have 3 trips (16 games) to make to the West. In case you haven't noticed, the Reds suck big, fat you know what when it comes to playing baseball out West. When it comes to tackling this obstacle, I guess just cross your fingers?

Now, why I really like this team going forward. For one, nineteen of the Reds' last 22 games are against sub-.500 teams (Milwaukee, Houston, Pittsburgh, Arizona). I'd say that bodes well for a team trying to make a postseason run. Who would've guessed the Reds would give a crap who they were playing in September? Speaking of September, look for Jason Isringhausen and Aroldis Chapman (among others) to be called up by 9/1 to be eligible for the playoff roster. Seriously, this bullpen is gonna be nasty. Perhaps Bob could look into taking out CoCo along with Harang in the attack, but I'm not too worried about that bum. Hitters are more than likely going to shart themselves when the dig into the box only to be blown away by Aroldis' 103 mph heaters. If ya can't tell, I'm ready for a run. S'GO REDS, I'm out.

KFW on OchoUno in Stripes

Big weekend for the Reds. They pulled out 2 of 3 from fellow division leader Atlanta, coming from behind in both wins. A sold out weekend got to see some great baseball. I was down there on Friday and the place was electric. When was the last time we saw standing room only tickets being gobbled up? It brings me back to glory days at Riverfront stadium. Jocketty made no deals at the Deadline but take that as a bode of confidence from the front office in the current product in the lockerroom. We saw yet again this weekend these guys can hang with anybody and are here to stay for the next two months.


Amidst all of the excitement of the Reds being in the playoff hunt this late in the season for the first time is about 10 years, the overshadowing sports headliner for the the city of Cincinnati and the nation has been the Bengals signing of free agent Terrell Owens. From coast to coast, there has been everything from cheers, to boos, to laughter, to tears ("that's my quarterback sniff, sniff, my teammate"), to just mere anticipation for the circus to come to town. The circus aka the freakshow (on and off the field) of Terrell Owens teaming up with friend and fellow attention-whore Chad Ochocinco. The Cincinnati Bengals, now officially the outright NFL franchise of VH-1. Woo. Hoo. Both of those shows are garbage and if you're looking for a breakdown of T.O.s' and Ochocinco's reality dating shows, you've come to the wrong place!

On some real shit though; the main reason for this post. T.O. and what I think his signing means for the impact on this 2010 Cincinnati Bengals football team, the defending AFC North champions:

I think 100% this is a great signing for the Bengals. 1 year, $2 million, chump change nowadays, really. If you're needing a reason to scratch your head, scratch in the name of the Antonio Bryant signing. The man has really only had one good year in his NFL career. To me, that does not merit a 4 year deal worth $28 million. And now here at the end of July, the T.O. signing talk started up again with the Bengals in the forefront of the conversation. Why now? They are iffy on the status of Bryant's knee. WHAT?! Since when? I don't know about you but I was pissed when I heard that about Bryant, not that the Bengals were talking to T.O. again. I'm still baffled about it. All I know is now, ready or not for Bryant, the Bengals look the best they have at the WR position since their days when Carson picked apart NFL defenses like a surgeon with a scalpel. I hope I'm wrong about Bryant and he's a beast and you guys can then all tell me to shut up.


Reason's why I love the T.O. signing? Number one, the guy is arguably one of the top 3 receivers in the last 10 years. He's declining with age, but still if he plays 14-16 games, is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. We can't say that about Andre Caldwell or Jerome Simpson. Let me ask you who would you prefer? People say T.O. is a cancer and is the worst thing for an already clown-heavy Bengals locker room. The truth is Carson wholeheartedly condoned and has all throughout the spring and the free-agent period up until this point. Palmer speaks his mind when doesn't like something and the fact that he was all in for the T.O. sweepstakes, I'm a firm believer that he knows what he wants and what he's talking about. As for the "cancer" or showboat that he is, what's one more in the locker room? I cannot wait to see Ocho, Owens, and Pacman trying to one up eachother with TD celebrations....let's just hope there are plenty to be had for all. Chad's best competition thus far in his career was Kelly "the Squirrel" Warshington.
Right when I heard confirmation of the signing of T.O., I immediately thought: nobody on the Bengals should be smiling and benefit more from this more than Ced Benson. The man is coming off by far his best season of his career and was the workhorse for a Bengal's team that gained the reputation of a run-heavy offense. Palmer accepted the label and Benson answered the call. Palmer had a horrible season for his standards though and team's plans of stopping the Bengals on offense for this season are going to be to stuff the box and force Palmer to beat them. Benson was going to get his carries without Owens and will get his carries with him in there, but NFL defenses will be much less likely to pull the safety up to stop the run when they have to worry about OchoCinco, Bryant, and now T.O. Personally I love the thought of all three being out there and Benson putting huge numbers yet again. Don't forget about Gresham in the middle too.

Bengals fans, one thing is for certain, whether you're totally stoked about T.O. being in stripes or not, this will make for a much more exciting training camp down in Georgetown. Too bad HBO isn't doing a second season of Hardknocks with the Bengals. That would've priceless cable television. Warm up the popcorn maker for next Sunday night and get ready for the some football: it'll be Cincinnati and the entire nations first chance to see Terrell Owens at work in the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, OH. Might just have to put the game on mute so I won't have to listen to John Madden's jibberish. Besides, he can't bring the hype that Brad and Lap do.

Gotta love being a Cincy sports fan right now! Really pumped for the next couple months of Reds baseball and Bengals football. Before we know it, Muskie season will be upon us. Until next time, KFW.....gonna beeeeeeeee GONE.

Merry Strasmas...Among Other Things

It's time to do my thing, and with so much going on in the world of sports, heck why not just let fly like Raymond from 3? Although my frequent trips away from the cozy confines of Mack, Ohio have certainly hamstringed my ability to be on my usual A-Game in regards to brushing up on what's going on in the wide world of "sports, norts," as the legendary Kevin McCallister once said, "I'll give it a whirl." (note: the following entry will have nothing to do with Easy Mac) If what I have typed thus far has you fairly to partly flustered, normality is about to set in, so bear with me now.


First on the agenda, Major League Baseball. As the trade deadline approaches, it's time to separate the men from the boys. This year's deadline seems unusually quiet as big names like Cliff Lee and Dan Haren have already been dealt, and while Roy Oswalt and Adam Dunn still remain on the market, at least for the Red's sake, it appears they, as well as their competition heading down the stretch, will stick with what they've got to make a push into October...probably a run-on, but we press on. Along with the Redlegs, the San Diego (I think that's German for something if I'm not mistaken) Padres continue to amaze. I'm pretty sure everybody and their mothers saw this squad as the cellar dwellers of the league. After losing Hoffman and Peavy, it was quite difficult to find a recognizable name on the roster, but thanks in large part to the league's #1 pitching, and great success away from Petco Park, the Padres now look like the team to beat in the National League.


After an offensive deluge in Milwaukee to close out the series, the Reds are still rolling. The obvious concern moving forward is whether or not PED-free Edinson Volquez will get his shit together here soon. The bullpen is getting the job done, and it's hard to find faults in one of the league's top offenses (although you might not know it after they suffered a league leading 12th shutout last Sunday), so getting the starting rotation all ironed out is perhaps the key to the Reds' postseason hopes. Unfortunately I was out of town for the Strasmas festivities last Wednesday. For all our illiterate readers out there, I am of course refering to the phenomena that was Stephen Strasburg on the bump against the Reds. Bob Castellini really muffed it bad by making it one of the "Straight A Ticket" games in which top notch students like myself were treated to free tickets for the game. Who would have thought a Wednesday night game in mid July against the Nationals would have become what it did? The first weekday sellout at Great American since 2006; many of whom were coming to pay homage to the rookie sensation. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize this guy is the real deal and will be dominant in the league for years to come.

Speaking of pitching, Matt Garza's no hitter Monday night marked the 5th such occurrence this year, not to mention dos perfect games, in what has become regarded as the "year of the pitcher." After further review, I prefer steroids and long balls. It's humorous glancing back to the 90's and seeing some of the absurd numbers guys were putting up while juicing. My favorite such instance, of course, being Brady Anderson's 50 bombs in 1996, more than double his HR total from any other season. But heck, after seeing what Jose Batista is doing this year in the HR category, maybe Brady was more legit than we thought (sike).


To the NFL we go. I'm going to be brief about this whole T.O. business because KFW will be supplying the Mack is Berning faithful with in depth coverage shortly on the condition of the Bengals, and you need to look no further than here to see what I think about T.O. in the Nasti. Bottom line: it's gonna be wild. Can't ask for much more as a Cincinnati sports fan; Reds and Bengals both doin work. Lastly, let's talk a little Dez Bryant for a moment. In case you don't remember, I'm not exactly all aboard the Dez Bryant bangwagon. This bum doesn't even have the composure to submit himself to some rookie hazing after he told Roy Williams to (figuratively) stick it when asked to carry the seasoned vets pads. The Messiah came over 2000 years ago Dez, don't flatter yourself. Have fun sucking in the big D as a Cowboy for years to come. In the meantime, I hear Car-X is advertisitng a limited time offer on attitude adjustments, so maybe you can stop by. That's all I got. Burnside, gone.

Dynasty in the Making?

Okay, first of all, to any remaining Cleveland fans who just saw the title, I'm not talking about THAT team, so feel free to continue reading. Anyways, one of the reasons the NBA has achieved such increased popularity over the past couple of years is the rise of high market teams/historic powerhouses. The rise of the Celtics-Lakers rivalry led to two of the most watched NBA Finals in recent memory. Now, in the biggest free agency period of NBA history, the Chicago Bulls pieced together the makings of a championship caliber team. Since winning their last championship in 1998, Chicago has struggled to build an identity for the "Post MJ" era. They have been mediocre as of late, having posted only one winning record in the past 5 years, although they slipped into the playoffs back to back years with 41-41 records, largely due to how weak the Eastern Conference has been. However, the Bulls have a solid young core built around PG Derrick Rose and C Joakim Noah. Even better, the front office is obviously full of Mack Is Berning fans, judging by the fact that they signed three former Utah Jazz players. With this squad, look for Chi-Town to be an immediate contender for not only the East, but the whole NBA.

Every night, the action on both offence and defense begins with the point guard, and Chicago has one of the best in the league in Derrick Rose. D-Rose averaged 20 and 6 last year, but more importantly, elevated his game to 26 and 7 during the postseason. Although Boozer will probably be the best player on the team next year, Rose will be the most important. One sign of this is that the Bulls have yet to address the need of a backup for him. While big names such as Derek Fisher, Raymond Felton, and Jordan Farmar have been snatched up, Chicago has yet to make a move here. Top remaining free agents at the position include Rafer Alston, Earl Watson, and Travis Diener, and they still have the option of bringing back veteran Jannero Pargo or former draft bust Acie Law. My guess is that Law, who is still young, will be retained, and Diener will be signed. Either way, not much is needed as long as Rose continues to average nearly 40 minutes per game.

If you look at the the different NBA champions over the years, you will notice one thing that each of them have in common: an elite physical presence down low. You can say what you want about Kobe, but he doesn't have any rings without the help of Shaq or Pau. The Spurs dynasty for the better part of the decade was led by one of the greatest big men of all time in Tim Duncan, and Garnett and Wallace also have won rings recently. Needless to say, Boozer has the capability to not only match up with, but outperform any other PF in the league. He will be apart of one of the best frontcourts in the league alongside Joakim Noah, who led the team in rebounds and blocks last season. Like Rose, Noah's numbers also increased during the playoffs, and he has experience winning from college, which is always an underrated stat. While they are a bit undersized (6'9 and 6'11), Boozer and Noah will at least be able to hang with anyone else in the league.

Now for the whole reason you're reading this article: Kyle Korver. In the biggest mistake of Jerry Sloan's career, he let the greatest pure shooter in NBA history walk away after setting the single season 3 Point % record. The Bulls were quick to snatch him up, mainly because they needed that high-energy white guard to help take the step from good to elite. Now, I'm not going to say that Korver will be the best player in Bulls history, but by the time he retires, there will be a #26 right up there in between MJ's #23 and Scottie's #33. Killer Korver drained an unrealistic 54% of his shots from behind the arc last season, and made a huge appearance in Game 3 against LA with 23 points and a perfect 5 for 5 with his treys. He will be a great fit in a Chicago offense that will let him shoot more than Utah did, and he will be a great outlet to prevent teams from keying on Rose and Boozer exclusively. Bottomline: look for the lethal-shooting Ashton-Kutcher look-alike from Creighton to make an impact in Chicago, and hey, maybe even break his own NBA record. Anyways, I know what jersey I'm wearing for intramural basketball this year. Here's to another Bulls-Jazz Finals next year. I'll be rooting for it.

LeBron vs Cleveland... Fuerto's Take

The Catch. The Drive. The Fumble. The Move. For the past 50 years, heartbreak has had a presence in the city of Cleveland. Now, after seven years of hope and expectations, there is The Decision (Presented by the University of Phoenix). As you've seen this morning, this was a move that will forever live in infamy in Cleveland, Ohio. However, the good news for Cavs die hards is that Dan Gilbert - yes the man who repeatedly failed to find LBJ an adequate supporting cast for 7 years - is now making guarantees that he will win a title before LeBron does. Now I never planned to write an article ripping on the city and the franchise, you know because I have a heart and all, but the letter that Dan Gilbert wrote and his comments to press honestly make me ashamed to live in the same state as him. The man acts as if LeBron is property of his franchise, the city of Cleveland, and the state of Ohio, but that is simply not the case.

Despite everything he says about loyalty, LeBron had every right to leave. He played out his contract and decided that he wanted to move on after it expired. Dozens of other players will make this same decision during the next few weeks, but you won't see Mark Cuban, Micky Arison, or Peter Holt lowering themselves to this level. As much as we all hate Mike Brown, he would never even sink to this level. And by the way, with this whole loyalty thing, wasn't Gilbert the one who fired pretty much everyone on his staff a few months ago? And I'm not even talking about the fans, who frankly remind me of the jury on the season finale of Survivor All Stars. To quote the great Chad Ochocinco, "So when a free agent leaves he's a traitor but when a team cuts your ass its part of the business?" What LeBron did was not selfish, not disloyal, and not cowardly, although I do agree that the ESPN special was a bit excessive, and he would've been better off just texting J.A. Adande or even updating his new Twitter. I personally announced my decision to sign with Mack Is Berning via a loose leaf piece of paper during Mr. Wilkins' Period G Morality and Justice class, but what are you going to do? The market was there, the interest was there, and I would bet my Andre Rison Chiefs jersey that more people watched The Decision than will watch any Cavaliers game next year. Take that to the bank, Dan Gilbert.


Now, on to the actual decision. I can't blame him for wanting to play in Miami, and neither should anyone else. First, he has the opportunity to play with a former Finals MVP in Wade, one of the best young bigs in the league with Bosh, and a promising point guard in Chalmers. In addition, he will be playing under one of the greatest figures in NBA History with Pat Riley, who has 7 combined titles in his playing and coaching career. Much better than 7-3 oafs from Lithuania and point guards who bang your mom, don't you think? Throw this in with the fact that D-Wade and Bosh are two of his best friends, and that they already won an Olympic Gold together, and it seems really hard to pass up.

Also, and probably more importantly, I think that South Florida is a slightly more attractive place to live. If there are any Cleveland natives getting offended by this, answer this question 100% honestly: If your job offered to transfer you to Miami, you'd take it in a heartbeat, right? Now, my experience with the city is pretty much limited to watching Burn Notice a couple of times every week, but it was enough to sell me. Replace Lake Erie with South Beach, and that's pretty much what you get. So, instead of shoveling snow of your driveway, you can sip margaritas on your yacht. Sure, it might be more expensive to live in, but his contract will cover him, not to mention the benefits of lower taxes and a conservative governor. Plus, where else can you have neighbors such as The Rock, Pitbull, and Trick Daddy. Enough said. I am truly sorry to all Cleveland fans. It's not their fault that they have crappy sports team, but it's also not LeBron's fault that people demand that he handcuffs himself to one of these teams. Good luck begging Carmelo and Chris Paul to come up north next year, Danny Boy.

Thirteen Weeks In...

And more than halfway home. With the All-Star game less than a week away, the Redlegs are currently reppin' an impressive 48-36 record atop the NL Central. The 12 games over the .500 mark is a season high (and maybe a decade high?) and in all honesty, there's little indication they'll be slowing down any time soon. Words such as "reer'd" and "unreal" would perhaps be appropriate to describe the season thus far, but after further examination, there's a little bit more than luck involved.


Before I talk anymore about the squad though, allow me to first address the Joey Votto outrage. In all honesty, I think this is the best thing that could happen for both Votto and the Reds. We've all heard the numbers and categories Vottomatic is top 5 in and whatnot, and that's great. I'm not going to waste time saying why he should be in, because quite frankly it's bullshit. By the numbers, it's the biggest NL All-Star team snub since 1952...and that's why he'll ultimately get voted in by the fans on Thursday as a more than deserving candidate for the final spot. What people are overlooking though is the publicity this is bringing to the Reds, and more importantly, Votto. I'd bet there's a good chunk of the baseball world who doesn't, correction: didn't, even know who Joey Votto is/was, let alone that he's an MVP candidate. The casual observer more than likely doesn't even check the NL central standings because they're so sure a certain red bird will be perched atop the rest. If nothing else, this snub will at least temporarily shine the spotlight on the commendable work Votto and the Redlegs have accomplished for all the nation to see and talk show hosts to get fired up about. All in all, I'm loving the way the Reds Nation (yeah I said it) is rallying around this cause for justice, and I have little doubt it will be served along with a little extra motivation for Votto. Based on early indications, the man will be going Yahtzee twice daily. Boom, JV 19 for MVP!


Moving on: Joey's not the only player doing major bro-work for this ballclub. Heck, let's not forget the 3 Reds who did punch their ticket to Anaheim in Art Rhodes, Brandon Phillips, and fellow MVP candidate Scott Rolen. Two "washed up" veterans and a guy who sacrificed some RBI's to help his team pick up W's; it's beautiful, really. Pardon the Muskies reference, but I think Phillip's career as a Red has been quite reminiscent to that of a man by the name of Stanley Burrell. Like Stan the man, B-Phil came to the Nasti big number minded, and did exactly that on some less than stellar teams. Over time, his identity has changed into a defensive master, and quite frankly doing whatever on the offensive it takes to get his squad W's, even if it means a hit to the numbers...ok I'm done.

At any rate, this team is good. Offensively, they lead the NL in runs, batting average, home runs, hits, total bases, slugging percentage, OPS, and did I mention runs? As far as pitching, at least they lead the NL in games played...so they got that goin' for them, which is nice. Bottom line, this team is dirty and can only get dirtier. As we learned from last year's trade deadline, Big Bob Castellini isn't afraid to make some noise. Expect more of the same this year along with the much anticipated arrivals or Edinson Volquez and (gasp) Aroldis Chapman to pump a little cortisone shot into the Redlegs...let's just hope they don't muff the shot (see Gary Majewski).


Chawny Gomes is still doing his thing, and his continued raking in compliance with a healthy outfield and continued growth out of Drew Stubbs is vital if the Reds want to be contenders. Three home runs per game would be nice, but I'll take some solid defense and stolen bases. Preserving Mike Leake will be another key to watch in the 2nd half. If you've heard anything about the Verducci Effect, you'd know why the Reds have reason to be vigilant about their young righty. In addition, Johnny Cueto has historically had a tendency to deteriorate in productivity as the season wears on, so perhaps a 6-man rotation will be in the cards in order to protect the pair of young right handed starters. The bullpen has been questionable at best with the exception of Arthur "Nails" Rhodes. I anticipate a shakeup in the pen say around, I don't know, July 31st. As far as the best infield in the majors go, I don't see anything getting their way except for injuries or All-Star-itus. Talk about professionals, those guys get it done. Corky behind the dish scares me...A LOT. This guy should be helping the Bats bring home AAA titles, not the 1st place Reds! The handle bar mustache can stay, but please get us a catcher Bob. I knew Berry shouldn't have waved Ramon to third and that Ramon Hernandez's triple was too good to be true...

Around the Horn's Tim Cowlishaw picked the Reds as his NL representative in the World Series way back in April, and as the season wears on, it's only looking more realistic. This team has silenced doubters over and over again, and are probably the sole reason Aaron Boone has retained his job on Baseball Tonight. The injury bug has yet to make its pit stop in Cincinnati, but who says it has to? There's reason to be excited about this team, and all we can do is look on with our fingers crossed. That's all I got. Keep it real...

KFW's Take on La Copa Mundial y Otras Cosas

Blogowers, I apologize it has been awhile since you’ve last heard a peep out of me, Kevin Frey Wannabe. Just because I’ve been mute though does not mean that I haven’t been paying close attention to what has been happening recently in the wonderful world of sports. That actually is the farthest thing from the truth as I have a confession to make: I’ve watched more Sportscenter/ESPN shows this week than I have since probably 7th grade. I am currently typing in the condo my family rented out down here in Siesta Key (Sarasota), Florida (Former Spring Training Home of Your Cincinnati Reds). We’ve been here since Saturday of last week and for me that has meant more than sufficent beach time as well as posting time in front of the television watching sports and hearing people talk about sports.

First, we’ve got the Reds in first place at the latest point in the season in over ten years as well as ten games above .500, which is their season high thus far. How fun is it watching Baseball Tonight highlights after a Reds win? Bringing back memories of the summer of ’99. Speaking of that team and Baseball Tonight, you get to see Aaron Boone each night biasedly boast about the Reds.

Secondly, Wimbledon certainly has caught the eye of even the casual sports fan with the marathon match from last week. Kudos to those guys. Two average tennis players who were just very evenly-average. Then you have the clock ticking midnight last night on July 1 and one would think all hell has broken lose on the NBA free-agent market is about to occur….or has it? Exciting stuff to come in the next week or so in the league and look for big-time shake-ups taking place that will change the landscape of the game for the next decade.

All content leading up to this point was written on Thursday, June 30. The following was written on Saturday, July 2

And then finally, last but not least, the greatest tournament in all sports, the global championship of the” beautiful game”, the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. I must say, whether you are a soccer fan or not, an American soccer supporter or not, the group stage and first knockout round have been nothing short of exhilarating.The champions (Italy) and the runners-up (France) of the most recent World Cup in Germany in 2006 both didn’t even make it out of the group stages of play this tournament. Italy was just overrated in my opinion whereas the French did their best representation of their country in general and kicked and screamed and when they didn’t get their way, just quit. This display, an embarrassment and waste of world-class talent, was the complete opposite of the American squad, a team that absolutely played its heart out and represented its country with great pride and dignity, laying it all out their on the pitch….and oh boy, did they entertain.


I hope that the general American sports viewing public’s opinion and perspective on soccer during the Yanks valiant effort in South Africa. If you didn’t yell out a giant, patriotic roar when Landon Donovan followed up Dempsey’s blocked shot in extra time versus Algeria, you aren’t human. That was unreal and will go down as the most emphatic and improbable goal in United States soccer history. Just incredible. I, as I am sure many of you, was heart-broken after the US’s loss to the Black Stars of Ghana last Saturday. Ghana was good but I know we were the better team and it just sucks to be on the losing end of a game like that, of that proportion, especially when it goes to an overtime to decide the winner. You’ve got to hand it to Ghana though, that was one hell of a shot that they won on. Too bad that douchebag couldn’t make a simple PK yesterday.


As for the remainder of the Cup, you’ve got to like the way both Germany and the Netherlands are playing. Both “upsetting” South American powers Argentina and Brazil respectively. I am in a World Cup tourney bracket contest with some college buddies and I can proudly say I had the Dutch winning it all: partially because I am partial to the Men in Orange because I studied in the Netherlands a couple of summers ago and less on the world of potential they had leading up to South Africa. Does it make me more of a fan if I went to their last Euro Cup friendly versus Denmark? Being over there, especially right in the middle of the Euro Cup made it nearly impossible not to fall in love with the pride and devotion of the Dutch faithful and their football squad. And let me tell you, those people know how to party in the name of soccer. Did they ever! Woooo-Weeee. For what it’s worth, I heard the announcers say yesterday that 40% of the country took off work yesterday to watch them defeat Brazil. Standard.

And finally while I mention announcers, can we all just agree that the announcers ESPN has had throughout the World Cup have just the sickest vocabulary and accents? I mean, I’d watch Women’s Croquet if these guys were commentating. At the very least, can we agree that they put to shame voices of the likes of Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, John Madden, Dick Vitale, Chris Berman, insert extremely overrated American Sports announcer here. These guys are "cheeky" to say the least.

Happy Fourth Yankees. Enjoy, be safe, and don't do anything I wouldn't do pyros. -Kevin Frey Wannabe

2010 NBA Draft: All About The Upside

Okay, I'm going to go ahead and assume that everyone here has followed the past season of NCAA basketball fairly closely, and knows the ins and outs of who can play. Now I'm going to ask that you forget everything you know about these players' skills, and focus on pseudo-abilities such as wingspan, upside, and flexibility. Because it is the time of year where the most incompetent GMs and owners of all professional sports gather and select the future staples of their franchises. It's the 2010 NBA Draft, and like always, Fuerto's got you covered.

1 Wizards - John Wall PG Kentucky As much as I ripped on Wall and the Cats last March, he has all the abilities to become a star in the league. He's a clear cut number one, and unlike busts like Kwame Brown and Michael Olowakandi, he proved he can play elite college ball, and can make the transition to NBA basketball. The sketchy part is that as of posting time, Washington also has Gilbert Arenas and Kirk Hinrich on the roster. Kirk can stay, as he did with Derrick Rose, but for Wall to achieve maximum potential, Gilbert's gotta go.

2 76ers - Evan Turner SG Ohio State I honestly cannot believe that people were pushing for Philly to take Derrick Favors over Turner. With all the speculation on measurements and intangibles, it's easy to forget that while not a great athlete, Turner was the best NCAA player last year. He does have some flaws, mainly his inability to win big games (Siena, anyone?), but he will be a solid starter in Philadelphia for years to come.

3 Nets - Derrick Favors PF Georgia Tech The first true "upside" pick of the draft. Only 12 PPG for a mediocre Yellow Jackets squad, but that's good enough for our new Russian Super Owner. According to Jay Bilas, he needs work on finishing, rebounding, shooting, post moves, and free throws. So, why exactly is that a great pick? Oh yeah, upside and athleticism, that's how you guarantee another lottery pick next year, New Jersey.

4 Timberwolves - Wes Johnson SF Syracuse I think Wes could be a nice pickup, especially if Ricky Rubio ever decides to leave Spain. He plays defense and rebounds unlike any other perimeter player in the draft, and has solid fundamentals. He may never be the best player on the team, but could help out anyone in the league. Johnson's transition could be made smoother by having former Orange teammate Jonny Flynn with him.

5 Kings - DeMarcus Cousins C Kentucky After selecting ROY Tyreke Evans a year ago, expectations couldn't be higher in Sac-Town. With his impressive strength and rebounding, he is the best big man in the draft. (Sorry NJ, but you screwed the pooch with this one). However, this may not be the best fit, as Cousins has attitude problems, and Sacramento has no proven vets or coaches that we know have the maturity to calm him down. As Bilas said, he's as good as he wants to be.

6 Warriors - Epke Udoh PF Baylor It always sucks to have the 6th pick in a 5-strong draft, but G-State will have to settle with the Nigerian big man. Udoh doesn't have great talent, but he can provide a defensive spark with his elite shot blocking skills. Definitely not as good as Cousins, but a pretty solid second level prospect.

7 Pistons - Greg Monroe PF Georgetown It's always a solid idea to snag a big man from G-Town after seeing what Hakeem and Ewing did in this league. Monroe is a great passer, especially, and like Turner, is just a solid overall basketball player. By the way, as a Jazz fan, I am pissed. He would've been a perfect fit under Sloan.

8 Clippers - Al-Farouq Aminu PF Wake Forest His name means "The Chief will Arrive", and the other LA is hoping that a legitimate post threat has arrived. It's not really worth discussing what kind of prospect he is, because as a Clipper, he is unfortunately destined to suck - at least until he can high step out of town in a few years.

9 Jazz - Gordon Hayward SG Butler Courtesy of a 2004 trade made by Isaiah, Utah snags the best white guy in the draft, and it could not be a more perfect fit. Well coached, fundamentally sound, a great BASKETBALL PLAYER, Hayward is ready to make some noise in the NBA. I could not be more excited, as I just ran circles around my neighborhood and changed my profile picture. Heyward, Matthews, and Korver on the perimeter? I smell and NBA Championship!

10 Pacers - Paul George SF Fresno State What the hell, Larry? With Cole Aldrich on the board, you take a 20 year old from the WAC? My guess is that Bird was so rattled by his dream pick getting snatched up by Jerry Sloan that he didn't know what to do.

11 Thunder - Cole Aldrich C Kansas Just one pick too late, Aldrich will at the very least be a funny white guy to laugh at, and his jersey will earn you some decent bro points to own. At the very least, I'm saying a Jeff Foster type player.

12 Grizzlies - Xavier Henry SG Kansas In all honesty, Henry was the biggest disappointment for me in college this year. I was expecting huge things, and they never really happened. With that said, he's a couple years away from being a legitimate NBA threat, but he has shown flashes of dominance which could become the norm in the next few years.'

13 Raptors - Ed Davis PF North Carolina I'm more impressed with the USA chant by the crowd than this pick. I'm not too confident in any player on a Tar Heel squad that doesn't make the NCAA, so I'm not expecting much for Davis. Watch for Bosh to book it for the states, leaving Toronto as a candidate for the top pick next year.

14 Rockets - Patrick Patterson PF Kentucky With the last lottery pick, the Rockets make a great move. Patterson performed in college, and is NBA ready right now. More importantly, he provides a low post presence that Houston has missed with Yao Ming out.

15 Bucks - Larry Sanders PF VCU Milwaukee wins the award for drafting the first player not at the draft. Jay Bilas says he could be as good as Theo Ratliff, which unfortunately might be all that's left in the draft now. Another classic "athletic player", but he did win the CBI with the Rams last year, which could really have helped prepare him for the D-League playoffs.

16 Blazers- Luke Babbitt SF Nevada The second WAC player to go, I think Babbitt is going to be a better player than Paul George. He can shoot lights out, and will be probably be a solid role player for years to come.

17 Bulls - Kevin Seraphin SF French Guiana The first foreigner, I will admit that I know next to nothing about Seraphin. But based on what the "experts" are saying, he won't even come to America for at least 2 years. Judging by this pick, the Bulls are putting all of their marble with LeBron.

18 Clippers- Eric Bledsoe PG Kentucky A point guard who lacks point guard skills, Bledsoe is not ready for the NBA yet. Had he stayed one more year, Bledsoe would have been the best player on Kentucky, and almost certainly a lottery pick. Now he's just another late round pick with numerous question marks.

19 Celtics - Avery Bradley PG Texas See Xavier Henry. Bradley was a big time recruit who didn't impress for the Horns. He's got the talent, though, and is in a system that will get the best out of him. He'll be a good bench player for a few years, and then take over as a solid starter for much of his career.

20 Spurs - James Anderson SG Oklahoma State The Big 12 Player of the Year has been the best player on the board for some time now, and he falls into a great system with San Antonio. In addition, if I've ever learned anything about the NBA, trust the franchise that grabbed George Hill and DeJuan Blair late in drafts recently.

21 Hornets - Craig Brackins PF Iowa State When the Cyclones start getting taken, you know that the quality of the draft has diminished... except for a certain shooting guard that I was hoping would get paired with David West in New Orleans.

22 Blazers - Elliot Williams PG Memphis We've been used to seeing the first Tiger selected a bit earlier, but Williams get put in a Portland team that has a really good young nucleus. He's not as good as Jerryd Bayless, but he could emerge as the sixth man of the future.

23 Wizards- Trevor Booker PF Clemson Booker is the first senior taken, and Washington is banking on him to bring leadership and maturity down low. However, Booker may be too undersized at 6'7 to make an impact in the Wizards' system.

24 Nets- Damion James PF Texas Very similar to Booker, and probably even better, he runs the floor pretty well for a 4, and plays tough on defense. However, James doesn't appear to be the kind of guy who can make a bad team decent.

25 Grizzlies - Dominique Jones SG South Florida After watching Jones in the Big East, one thing is certain: the dude can score. He's aggressive and willing to attack the basket. However, his touches may be limited by ballhogs such as OJ Mayo and Ronnie Brewer. Another decent player in a not so decent fit.

26 Thunder - Quincy Pondexter SF Washington Pondexter played pretty well for the Huskies, but then again, he was playing in the Pac 10. Either way, he won't crack the starting lineup in OKC, but will be set as the backup to Durant.

27 Hawks- Jordan Crawford SG Xavier It's about time Crawford goes, as he had probably been the best player available since James Anderson got taken. I think that this is a sign that Joe Johnson isn't coming back, which means a lot of points for Crawford, but not necessarily as much winning as he got used to here in the Nati.

28 Grizzlies - Greivis Vasquez PG Maryland There's no doubting that Vasquez was one of the best college players a year ago, as he won the Bob Cousy Award over the likes of Wall and Williams. However, the pro game is a lot different, and he won't exactly have an all-star supporting cast around him.

29 Magic - Daniel Orton C Kentucky In the long and glorified history of the NBA, never before has a first round draft pick been wasted on a player who accomplished so little like Orton has. I know that Orlando is in a position to take risks, but it is inexcusable to make this move. Like Bledsoe, he did have a lot of talent in front of him, but it is ridiculous to think that he is worthy of a first round pick at this point.

30 Wizards - Lazar Hayward SF Marquette It's definitely a reach when you take the second best Hayward in the draft, but he did have a productive 4 year career at Marquette. Washington is hoping he will have the same impact 4 year Marquette star Wes Matthews had for Utah last year.