On this date: 1978


Pete Rose with new teammate Larry Bowa
(AP Photo/Bill Ingraham)

Pete Rose leaves the Reds after 16 seasons and signs a 4-year, $3.2M free agent deal with the Phillies. Rose becomes the highest paid player in team sports.
Here is what Sports Illustrated said of the deal at the time:
The dramatic deal in which Pete Rose moved from the Cincinnati Reds to the Philadelphia Phillies is still sending ripples through baseball, from the hot stove to the bank vault. The transaction has been widely discussed since it was announced last Dec. 3, but one aspect that hasn't attracted much analysis has to do with the crucial role that television played in making it all happen.
More on the Rose signing from Philly.com
How about this 1979 commercial?

And this one

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Bengals

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Reds

Baker: Hamilton 'has a few things to learn about baseball' before promotion
Yahoo
When asked about him at the winter meetings on Monday, manager Dusty Baker put up a stop sign, saying Hamilton's transition from the infield to center field, along with other factors, might delay his arrival in the majors.
Reds' young arms a priority
John Fay, Enquirer
Bailey is eligible for arbitration for the second time, Latos for the first. In order for the Reds to compete, they are going to have to control their payroll cost by signing up their young talent long-term.
Sheldon: Reds working to reach deal with Ludwick.
Cross Victorino off the list......3 years, $39M with Red Sox
Would ya?
Last night on Twitter, CBS Sports MLB guy C.Trent Rosecrans, wondered what it would take for a team to acquire Jacoby Ellsbury in a trade. The Red Sox have signed Victorino and Jonny Gomes this off-season. Ellsbury has been on my lead off candidate list this off-season. He would fill the CF/lead off void and fit a one year bridge to Billy Hamilton. He could use 2013 to boost his free agent stock for 2014. He's a Scott Boras guy. Boras used the Reds for a landing spot for Ryan Madson. Here are the issues: Ellsbury figures to get $10+M in arbitration this off-season. That's big money, but one year would make it easier to swallow, But, he'd be a one year rental at the cost of player(s) to go with the $10+M. Plus, can he stay healthy? Can't see Reds rolling those dice.
Victorino deals adds fuel to Ellsbury trade talks
Boston Herald
the Red Sox could think bigger by dangling Ellsbury, who may net a more significant return. It’s a plausible scenario. Victorino has the arm to play right field, but he’s a three-time Gold Glove center fielder. And a few viable outfield options remain on the free agent market, including Cody Ross.
Jacoby Ellsbury


Age 30, LH, '12 contract: $8.05M
Contract: Headed to arbitration again, FA after '13
2012:   74 games, .271/.313/.370/.682
Career: .297/.349/.442/.791
'11: .321, 32 HR, 105 RBI, 2nd MVP voting
Career: vs RHP .298/.350, vs LHP .296/.349
Gold Glove 2011. Led AL SB '08-'09 with 50, 70
Injuries: 18 games played '10, 74 games '12
Scott Boras client. Red Sox need starting pitching.
Career stats

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Stuff
Former Musketeer Jordan Crawford scored 22 points as the Wizard stunned the Heat last night.

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UC football
I believe:
...Butch Jones believes more in the vision of UC Bearcats football than Mark Dantonio and Brian Kelly ever did.
....Michigan State (Mark Dantonio) and Notre Dame (Brian Kelly) were better jobs than UC. Colorado is a mess. Which points to the upgrades UC football requires. Butch knows that, it's time the fans and school realize/appreciate that.
....it's time the school and fan base match the vision and passion for UC Bearcats football that the coach has.
....Butch will do what I said Friday night: sit, wait, coach, recruit and win....while waiting on UC move to ACC.
.....when all said and done there won't be another UC coach that has turned down the number of jobs Butch has to stay & represent the C.
.....my PBS plan won't happen, but Nippert renovation will. Soon.
What price for victory?
USA Today
Cost per win 2012
Butch Jones, Cincinnati, $196,628
Urban Meyer, Ohio State, $354,167
Jon Embree, Colorado, $725,000
Hoard: My take on the Big East and Butch Jones
GoBearcats.com
I think he is a great coach and a better person and I hope that he stays at Cincinnati.  I think he has devoted every ounce of energy that he has toward building a great future for Bearcat football.  If he leaves he'll be sorely missed, but the program will be much stronger than the one he inherited. If Whit Babcock has to hire a new coach, there will be no shortage of qualified candidates.
Looking back: June 24, 2009
GoBearcats.com
"There's always going to be the want and the desire to play on your home field," BK said. "However, I signed this contract because of what it looks like in five years. If Nippert looks like this in five years, I'll be very disappointed."


UC held a news conference Tuesday to discuss the upcoming Belk Bowl appearance vs Duke. It was the first time UC coach Butch Jones has talked with the media since his visits to Purdue and Colorado. UC President Santa Ono, Butch Jones and Will Webb, Executive Director Belk Bowl, spoke to the media. Prior to the news conference UC Sports Information issued this email:
***Please know that this media opportunity is NOT an announcement related to reports of Coach Jones being offered another job. There is a time and place for those discussions, but today is about celebrating the accomplishments of the 2012 UC football team, its BIG EAST Conference Championship and the upcoming matchup with Duke on Dec. 27, 2012. Also, any interviews with UC student-athletes need to be arranged through the sports communications office. Any media outlets who attempt to circumvent this process with have their credentials revoked.
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I'm still not sure why UC opted to still hold the news conference or why they thought the media would ignore the obvious question. It led to a short, awkward, tense and at times uncomfortable news conference. Jones was asked about his job status on the very first question.
Transcript from news conference:
On his status of coaching here:
“Well, I think we’re all professionals and I think Ryan Koslen professionally asked everyone that this be about the Belk Bowl. That’s why we’re here today and Will was very fortunate to fly in here today. We’re just excited and it’s all about our football team. I think all you have to do is look at my past and in the past years of what’s happened. And I’m still the head football coach here. I think that speaks volumes.”
On his intentions to coach in the Belk Bowl:
“I’ve said again that I have every intention, but again that’s not why we’re here today. If you guys don’t we can end it right now.”
UC athletic director Whit Babcock was not in attendance. When I asked about his whereabouts I was told by a UC official that he was in New York for regular Big East meetings. And that he felt comfortable enough with the situation to finish meetings in New York. Webb said he was impressed by the UC fan support and said he doesn't think UC will have any problem selling their 12,500 ticket allotment.
Colorado football
I was looking at the state of Colorado football today. What does it say about the state of the UC job if Jones is eying the mess that is Buffaloes football?
2012 national ranking/out of 124 teams
99th passing, 112th rushing, 120 points scored, 124th points allowed.
Allowed average 46.0 points per game.
Losses: 70-14 Oregon, 48-0 Stanford, 69-14 Fresno St, 51-17 Arizona St, 50-6 USC, 38-3 Washington.
Colorado football
Year-conf/overall record
2012: 1-8/1-11
2011: 2-73-10
2010: 2-6/5-7
2009: 2-6, 3-9
2008: 2-6/5-7
2007: 4-4/6-7
2006: 2-6/2-10
2005: 5-3/7-5
Last bowl game: 2007 (Loss to Alabama in Independence Bowl).

(Getty Images)
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What individual award would you most want to win?
I found this CBS Sports story on Carson Palmer and the Heisman Trophy.
He was asked about winning the award:
"It's an amazing award. It's by far the best award in sports. There's a select fraternity of guys, this long tradition. It changes your life forever. You are always known as the guy who won the Heisman. It's something I cherish more and more as I get older. I look forward to getting involved with the Heisman in the future and all the charities it is involved with. I hope to be one of those guys who goes back to the ceremony and stands on the stage when the winner is announced."
So, what individual award would you most want to win?
Masters and the green jacket, Heavyweight champ of the world, 100 meter dash as world's fastest human, Cy Young, MVP, Indy 500, Daytona 500?
What else?
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Congrats/Good luck
(MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.) - Thomas More College senior defensive back Zach Autenrieb (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) has been named one-of-four finalists for the 2012 Gagliardi Trophy given to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III by Jostens and the J-Club of St. John's University of Minnesota. More.....
Thomas More's Autenrieb and Volker Named All-South Region
(MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.) - Thomas More College senior defensive back Zach Autenrieb (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) and senior defensive end Jay Volker (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) have been named All-South Region by the internet website D3football.com.

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