Bengals
Week 1 opening lines from LVH SuperBook in Las Vegas
Baltimore -7 over Cincinnati
National Football Post: Did the Bengals land the most talent in the draft?
Well done!
From bowling insiders:
Congrats to Jeff Andriot for being inducted to the Rad Dominating Dudes Hall of Fame. Jeff was the leadoff bowler for the RD2 Wire to Wire Championship season in 2004-05. He ended up retiring after their dominant run that season. He is a great man on and off the lanes.
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College basketball
UK basketball invited to the White House Friday
From UK: “The amazing thing is the first thing that was said when the horn sounded in New Orleans was, ‘We’re going to the White House!’
“It’s one of those moments for these players that they have probably thought about without us even knowing that it was important to them. So I’m excited about the opportunity for them to meet the President of the United States, the Leader of the Free World and someone who is trying to make a difference in their lives.”
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Congrats
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Sophomore Trevor Gott and junior Luke Maile (Covington Catholic) were selected to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List, given annually to the top amateur baseball player in country, it was announced on Tuesday afternoon.
The UK duo have been tabbed to the most prestigious award in college baseball, the USA Baseball Golden Spikes 60-man, midseason watch list. USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award since 1978. UK’s two members of the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List marks the first for the Wildcats since Sawyer Carroll and Collin Cowgill in 2008 and Ryan Strieby in 2006 to appear on the listing.
As a vocal leader for the Wildcats behind the plate and in the infield, Maile has led Kentucky to a historic season, including helping Kentucky soar to the first No. 1 ranking in program history. Maile has hit .329 (55-167) and drilled a team-high 11 home runs, a tie for second in the Southeastern Conference. His team-high 43 RBI and .587 slugging percentage have helped power the SEC’s most prolific offense. A native of Crestview Hills, Ky., and the 2008 Kentucky High School Mr. Baseball, Maile owns a .296 career average in 122 games, with 20 doubles, 23 homers, 85 RBI and 17 steals.
Former recipients of the Golden Spikes Award feature current Major League Baseball players such as No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, Stephen Strasburg, 2010 National League Rookie of the year and 2010 World Series Champion Buster Posey, No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 MLB Draft David Price, two time National League Cy Young Award Winner Tim Lincecum and two-time MLB All-Star Jered Weaver.
Fan voting will be incorporate in the selection of the 2012 Golden Spikes Award, with voting opening on Tuesday, May 29th. Fans will be able to vote for their favorite semifinalist on GoldenSpikesAward.com. Voting for the three finalists will close on Friday, June 1st at 5 p.m. ET.
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Down on the Farm
Janish breaks wrist
Matt Andres, voice of the Louisville Bats, tells me SS Paul Janish broke his left wrist Saturday night. He was hit by a pitch in the 7th inning. Janish was hitting .315 in 23 games for the Bats.
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MLB
Source: MLB to revamp rivalries
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Show preview
3:05, ESPN 1530
6:05, Inside Pitch, 700 WLW
Topics
*Reds: .500 in April. What is ahead in May? Which player do they need more from?
Who goes when Cairo is activated? Is setting up the best role for Chapman at the moment? Would you mind if the Reds-Indians did not play each year?
*Bengals
*Odd/Bizarre Sports Injuries: Rockies pitcher Jeremy Guthrie wound up on the DL last week when he fell off his bike and injured his shoulder. Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire punched a fire extinguisher last night and injured his hand.
Did you miss them?
John Thornton joined me at 6:30 last night to analyze what the Bengals did in the draft. Click HERE to listen.
Dave Lapham joined me at 7:05 last night to talk about the Bengals and the NFL Draft. Click HERE to listen.
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UC football
Interesting comments in Paul Daugherty's blog yesterday regarding UC football attendance:
From Doc: Jones is very disappointed that season ticket sales are down, at least for now, from what they were last year. He has referenced frequently the need for fans to “take ownership” of the program, i.e. go to games. He was sorely stressed at the attendance for the UConn game last year, when UC clinched a share of the BE title. I can see Jones staying here awhile. As college football coaches go, he’s as earnest as they come. And he’s wearing out his shoes making the rounds locally. If you havent had him speak to your group, it’s because you havent asked.
I can see him leaving if the stands don’t fill and he feels he has done everything he can to “grow” the program.
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Reds
Attendance
The Red completed April with an attendance increase of 2,878 per game compared to the first 12 home dates of 2011:
Through 12 home games
2011: 22,945
2012: 25,823
Increase: +2,878 per game (10th MLB)
Overall increase: 34,539
MLB attedance is up 1,686 per game this year
On this date: 1969
At Crosley Field, Don Wilson of the Houston Astros pitches his second career no-hitter. Wilson strikes out 15 in downing the Cincinnati Reds, 4 - 0, one day after Cincinnati pitcher Jim Maloney no-hit the Astros. (Baseball-Reference.com)
1974:
Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits three batters with pitches during the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds, with Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Dan Driessen being his victims. Ellis, who admits to trying intentionally to hit each Reds batter that faced him, throws two pitches behind Tony Perez's head before walking him and is taken out of the game by Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh while facing the next batter, Johnny Bench.
Chapman slows down to find fast track
Mark Sheldon, MLB.com
"The Cuban Missile," aka Reds lefty Aroldis Chapman, is reaching his targets, aka the catcher's mitt and strike zone, with lesser octane this season.
Often there would be concern when a young pitcher's fastball is a few digits down from previous radar readings. As far as Cincinnati is concerned, this is a good thing for Chapman.
Groeschen: Dead even, and new life for Reds
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Bengals
Hobson: Dalton likes new hands on deck
Reedy: Veteran Bengals like this year's draft
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College basketball
Indy Star: A-10 needs Butler
Do dollars make sense for Butler to join A-10?
Mark Lyons setting up visits
ZagsBlog.com
“I’m thinking [about] UK, Arizona and Kansas,” he told SNY.tv Monday by phone.
No visits are currently set up for the junior transfer.
“Not right now,” he said. “I’m in the process of that. I’m also taking finals right now so I’m also trying to finish that up.”
Pitino hires Xavier assistant
Xavier assistant leaves for Manhattan
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Event for a cause
Nick Apostol Benefit Dinner
ST. LEON – A benefit dinner for East Central assistant football coach Nick Apostol is set for Friday, June 1, at Agner Hall at the Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds.Apostol, 22, is a student at Northern Kentucky University, scheduled to graduate next year with a bachelor's degree in Middle Grade Education Social Studies and Science.
A former East Central High School football player, Nick also has served as the team's offensive line coach for the past four years.He is currently battling Stage 4 Non-Hodgins Lymphoma, for which he is undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Dinner will be from 6-8 p.m., with a silent auction and prize giveaways from 6-9 p.m. Music will be provided by The Scallywags band from 9-11 p.m. Poker and cornhole tournaments also will be held. Donations may be made to The Nick Apostol Benefit Fund at any area United Community Bank (UCB) branch.
Book signing
My guy, Wayne "Box" Miller, has a book signing:
Thursday night 7-8:30
Joseph Beth, Rookwood
