Pete Rose
Lift The Ban: The grassroots campaign to reinstate Pete Rose
DVR alert
TLC reality series: Pete Rose, Hits and Mrs.
Starring Pete Rose and his fiancee, Kiana Kim.
Monday 10 p.m.
My observations from the first episode:
*The first two episode range from cute and funny to awkward and sad.
*Pete is 71, his fiance, Kiana Kim, is 31. She has two kids, ages 14 and 11.
*Rose and Kim have dated for four and a half years. They got engaged just over six months ago. No wedding date has been set, a point of debate.
*Rose spends part of each week in Las Vegas and the rest with his new family in Valencia, CA
*Rose proposed to Kiana over fajitas at a Mexican restaurant.
*Kim didn't know who Rose was when they first met.
*The daughter, Cassie, admits, "I had no clue who this guy was when I first met hm".
*Rose takes the family to the batting cages.
*Kiana is going to have breast reduction, after having breast enhancement several years ago. She jokes that people refer to her and Pete as "Melons and Felons". Rose says it's, "T--s and Hits".....and laughs.
*First episode deals with planning their engagement party. The families have not met. Rose meets Kiana's parents, and they hit it off over lunch. Her mother refers to Rose as Hit King and she jokes he's getting fat.
*Pete's family does not show up for the engagement party. Kiana's sister is a no-show. Clearly not everyone is on-board with the marriage.
*Pete offers a toast at the end of the night: "It's great having you as part of my life. I hope I live a long time. Let's have a lot of fun and raise our kids the right way. I love ya, babe". Kiana wipes tears from her eyes. Kiana's mom stands and says to Pete, "Welcome to our family."
Episode two:
*Rose wants Ashton to get outside and away from video games. Rose takes Ashton to his baseball camp. Ashton is not thrilled. He says it's hot and tiring to play baseball.
*Rose is grilling the kids at camp as they make errors and don't use two hands.
*Rose, as the protective dad, quizzes all the boys at Cassie's pool party.
*Ashton decides he wants to learn kick boxing. Rose says to Kiana, "He should like that, aren't Asians good at that?".
*Rose is seen wearing a Cincy Shirts Pete Rose t-shirt at the pool party.

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If Maualuga stays, he must tune out critics and just play
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
Besides making improvements with technique on the field and keeping his weight at 245, the biggest change in Maualuga’s game is going to have to be mental. There wasn’t a player this season who focused more on what fans and the media said more than Maualuga. Last year it was Jerome Simpson. There’s a common thread to how both performed on the field, which was not well.
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NFL
The NFL's brilliant weekend
Wall Street Journal
Games like Saturday's divisional playoff between Baltimore and Denver made an easy case for the nation's comical NFL compulsion. Ravens-Broncos was the kind of football game we will show to the aliens to explain why people grill when it's 12 degrees outside and sleep in tacky polyester blankets with helmets on them. Ravens-Broncos was not a perfect game. It was sloppy. There was some goofy officiating and dubious coaching—Denver's John Fox elected not to give Peyton Manning a crack with a half-minute left in regulation—and not every great player reached the best of his ability. But this game delivered. It was close. It held tense. Momentum swung. It felt like it was eight hours long, and it wasn't a wasted eight hours.
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My rapid fire reactions from this weekend
I watched the NFL games with the Bengals in mind. I was reminded of John Thornton's comment Thursday night: "The Bengals are close, but not as far along  as they should be."
Here are some of my thoughts along the way this weekend:
*The Bengals are not as good as any team that played this weekend.
*The Bengals have an upper echelon defense, but they have a long way to go offensively.
*The QB position is changing before our very eyes.
*The 276 points scored this weekend are the most scored in a single playoff round in NFL history. The Bengals can't match that production.
I watched:
*Teams with a quick pace and tempo to their offenses.
*Aggressive and creative play calling to get the ball to stars to let them make plays.
*John Fox played not to lose, it reminded me of Marvin.
*Plenty of poor coaching and poor time management to go around, not just Marvin.
*QB's make big throws at big times, trusting their WR's to make plays.
*QB's that made plays out of the pocket, on 3rd down and in the red zone.
*TE's that were impact players, and options in the red zone.
*RB's that were home run threats, that could catch the ball out of the backfield.
*RB's that were productive, despite not being 1st round selections.
*OL that provided time, protection and holes
*Offensive options and weapons beyond the #1 WR.
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AFC/NFC championship games
From RJ Bell of Pregame.com
Patriots favored by 9.5 hosting Ravens:
Prior 20 Conference Championship games,
Patriots only team favored by 9 pts or more
(other than this game, one other time: favored by 14.5 hosting Charges in 2008)
$100 on Ravens to advance to Super Bowl wins $330
49ers favored by 3.5 visiting Falcons
Prior 30 conference championship games, no bigger home underdog than Falcons in this game. $100 on Falcons to advance to Super Bowl wins $160

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NFL
How good were those NFL games?
*Best weekend in the history of organized football.
*Any wonder why football is this country's most popular sport in the latest Harris Poll? Late game drama, star players, big momentum turns, kickoff return and punt return for TD's, lots of points, fabulous story lines.
Baltimore 38 Denver 35
*I still can't believe Denver lost. They were the top seed, winners of 11 straight, playing at home as a 9.5 point favorite, leading by a TD with :41 left and the Ravens 70 yards away and lost?
*Did Joe Flacco make some throws or what? Trust WR. Throw it. Go get it. I love it.
*Ray Lewis had 17 tackles!
*How ironic Denver won an overtime playoff game last year with Tim Tebow.
*Trendon Holliday: 90-yard TD on a punt and a 104-yard TD on the opening kickoff of the second half. I saw a great twitter stat. He was 16-0 going into the game. He started 5-0 with Texans, got cut, then went 11-0 with Broncos.
*Team of destiny? Baltimore cashed in a miracle Saturday. They converted 4th and 29 to beat San Diego and they are playing for Ray Lewis.
*What was John Fox doing? Classic play not to lose, rather than win strategy. Up seven points, facing 3rd and 7 with less than 2-minutes remaining, took the ball out of Peyton's hands? Then they ran twice with two timeouts and :30 left in regulation?
*Updated quote from Manning on 3rd & 7 play/Associated Press: "That was an audible," Manning said. "Actually, I called that play, so don't put that on (offensive coordinator) Mike (McCoy). We just didn't do much with it."
*Champ Bailey could not have been too cold. He was toasted all day.
*Until Ed Reed went back to field a punt, I didn't even realize he was in the game.
*Manning's TD drive for the lead was simply masterful. He was like a surgeon.
*Manning made an awful throw, late, across his body and over the middle for the OT pick. Manning becomes the first QB in NFL history to hand his defense a seven point lead lead w/ 69 seconds left and be called the goat. Hilarious.

Its funny how you give your d a 7 pt lead, With little time left and the loss is Manning's fault.
People are killing Manning. But when you lead your team to a touch with a minute left, you're supposed to win that game.
San Francisco 45 Green Bay 31
*How about Colin Kaepernick? That guy is dynamic: big body, strong arm, good movement in pocket, got swagger in him. It's a short sample size, and he'll eventually have to adjust, but wow. Kaepernick ran for 181 yards, a record for an NFL QB in a regular/postseason game. He averaged 11.3 yards on 14 carries. He rushed for two TD's: a 20-yarder and a 56-yarder. What was stunning is how open and free he ran. Did the 49ers ever hit him on his runs? He completed 17 of 31 for 263 yards and two TD's.
*How about Jim Harbaugh's gamble? Starting QB Alex Smith sustained a concussion November 11. He was cleared to play two weeks later, but he never got his job back. Smith had completed 70% of his passes, for 13 TD/ 5 INT,  with a QB rating over 100, and had won a playoff game last year. Smith has 30 TD and 10 INT the last two season.
*I didn't think the 49ers defense, with all the injuries, could shutdown the Packers.
*Justin Smith is a stud.
Falcons 31 Seahawks 28
*Fox broadcastser Brian Billick: “this win legitimizes the Seattle Seahawks as the #1 seed and the team to beat”. The man has lost his mind."
*Billick said he thought it was probably four down territory, with Seattle facing 3rd and 5 with :31 left and trailing by six. Really?
*Maybe Billick was dizzy from waving his hand and shaking his head up in a tree house? Was it Billick or Bob Knight in the booth?
*How about Russell Wilson? 385 yards, 2 TD passing, 1 TD rushing and down 27-7 in 4th QT he led comeback to take lead 28-27.
*How about the Matt Ryan throws in final :30? John Fox had Manning take 2 knees final :30 Saturday.
*Can you imagine if Mike Smith and Matt Ryan had dropped to 0-4 in playoffs by blowing that?
*Tony Gonzalez had been 0-5 in playoffs in his 16 year HOF career. But we only count playoff records of coaches and QB.
*No offense, but what is the point of cheerleaders in winter clothing?
*A Chase Coffman sighting (TE Falcons).  Last I remember, he was being yelled at by Jonathan Hayes in Hard Knocks. Coffman caught one pass this year and did not appear in a game last year.
*2nd QT: Seattle got no points 4th and 1 Falcons 11 yd line when stopped on run....and no points on 3rd 11 at ATL 11 when time ran out in half.
*Love the phone commercial with guy and kid that waves his hand and shakes his head: “That’s amazing, I’ve never seen anything like it. Hold on, I’m watching his”
Patriots 41 Texans 28
*No Gronkowski and Woodhead and Pats still scored 41 points
*Love that up tempo offense
*Brady 17 playoff wins..most all-time....think about that for a 2 nd.
*RB Stevan Ridley (3rd round) and Shane Vereen (2nd round) combined for 219 total yards and four touchdowns.
*Vereen with 2 TD catches
*Shayne Graham a 55 yard FG?
*Tough break for La Salle/OSU Wr DeVier Posey...1st postseason TD. Torn Achilles tendon.
Bengals
Every time I watch Peyton Manning I marvel at his orchestration of his offense at the line of scrimmage. I was thinking of this feature on the Bengals offense with Boomer Esiason and Sam Wyche.


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Wow...check this out

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Reds: Votto in WBC
Joey Votto's name does not appear on the preliminary roster for Canada and the World Baseball Classic in March. According to the Toronto Star he is expected to be added: Since Votto spent almost two months on the disabled list last year with a knee injury, he is required to pass additional physical tests in order to receive the required insurance coverage to participate, explained Greg Hamilton, director of Baseball Canada’s national team.
Listen below to what Joey told me about his knee at Reds Fest on December 7. He said his knee was greatly improved and that he'd like to think he'd be 100% by opening day, with the goal to be at that point for spring training. He initially said yes to the WBC, thinking it was an easy tournament, in Arizona and he'd get out of spring training for a few days. But he told me after thinking about it he realized he should be 100% before agreeing to play.
Listen to Votto starting around 10:22 mark of podcast.

(Getty Images)

Bray hopes to provide lift to Nationals bullpen
MLB.com
This past season, Bray was sidelined often with back and groin problems. He says he is healthy and looks forward to helping the Nats return to the postseason.
"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity," Bray said. "The things I had battled during my career are injuries. There are a lot of freak injuries -- whether it's blowing out my elbow, tendinitis, groin issue last season that turned into a back problem. I don't know why they happened. They do. I did my best to battle through them. But I do know when I'm healthy, I'm pretty good [on the mound]. I can do my job and I can do the job that they are asking."

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UC football
Tuberville leaves Canty twisting in wind
Detroit Free Press
"He told me he would be able to call me back. He never called back. I called him a few nights ago, and he was like: 'We just finalized our staff. Give me a call tomorrow, and I'll let you know what's going on.' "
Waugh shattered Canty's world late Thursday night.
"I ended up calling him, and he was like, 'Tuberville had brought in his recruits and the athletic director said he didn't have to honor anyone's scholarship,' " Canty said. "And that was pretty much it."
UK football
Interesting comment from new UK football coach Mark Stoops on Saturday:
On the emphasis placed on recruiting in Ohio…
“I think it’s very important for us to get into Ohio, as you know, obviously Southern Ohio being very, very close. We consider that local. And, again, with my ties to Northeastern Ohio, and really all through Ohio, it’s going to be very important to us. There’s tremendous football being played in Ohio and so we want to treat that as home base. So, yes, we’re going to work Ohio hard along with Kentucky and really anything within a close proximity to UK.”
OSU football
Meyer's recruiting mission: Go for the best
Bill Rabinowitz, Columbus Dispatch
So as Ohio State heads into the final stretch before national signing day on Feb. 6, its mission is clear. Although Michigan is the Buckeyes’ main rival, Alabama is its standard.
“Right now, Michigan is not at the pinnacle of college football, and that’s all Urban Meyer cares about,” ESPN national recruiting director Tom Luginbill said. “He’s been there and knows what it takes to get there.”
Check out the recruiting pitch from Kerry Coombs.
His speech starts at 2:05

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College basketball
Bearcats bounce back at Rutgers
Mark Story: It's earlyt to panic, but Wildcats' 'bad losses' are troubling
Xavier: Muskies make it back to back wins



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Reds
Five guys ready to become big stars
ESPN
I view Latos as a guy maturing into a staff ace and a sleeper Cy Young candidate in 2013, although it will be tough keeping that ERA under 3.00 pitching half your games in Cincy.
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Who wants to umpire?

Here's your chance to be a part of the game. Is there someone you know that could become an excellent baseball umpire?  It might even be you!
The Blue Chip Baseball Umpire's Association, Cincinnati, Ohio is sponsoring a course for those interested in obtaining an Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Baseball Umpiring license for the upcoming 2013 season.
Classes will be held weekly from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Finneytown High School beginning Monday February 4, 2013 and will run through Monday March 25, 2013.  In addition to the weekly classroom sessions, as a part of your training, you will participate in floor clinics under the observation of veteran umpires.  These clinics will focus on proper plate and base mechanics and will involve videotape sessions for immediate feedback of your work.
Cost of this course is $110.00, which covers rule books, classroom and testing materials, as well as first year dues to the OHSAA and Blue Chip Baseball Umpire's Assn.
Upon successful completion of the course, new members will be immediately eligible to umpire OHSAA sanctioned baseball contests at the Junior Varsity level and below.
For more information, please contact Tony at: lingo12@zoomtown.com

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Three Rivers School Field of Dreams
"Fields of Dreams" is the campaign to raise private and corporate donations to fund first-class competitive athletic facilities at the new Three Rivers PreK-12 School.
These competitive athletic fields were not part of the State or local funding that is paying for the construction of the new school. '
The athletics master plan includes a turf stadium, track, soccer, baseball and softball fields…something to serve everyone in the community!
Run by a volunteer group of parents, residents and Three Rivers staff, "Fields of Dreams" welcomes your help during this exciting time in our community.
Donate Today! Click HERE