The NFL announces Alicia Keys will sing the Super Bowl national anthem.
***
Agree or disagree?
Cynicism has become our default option. Everybody's guilty until proven innocent.
It's the safest way to get through life, I guess.
Bob Kravitz @bkravitz, Indianapolis Star columnist
***
Show preview
6:05, Sports Talk
Topics
Reds: What would you say to Scott Rolen about his role/future with Reds?
Bengals: Zimmer and Gruden back. Not many seem to be happy with Jay's return.
Wardrobe change: The Browns are considering altering uniforms. I with the Bengals would.
Off The Beaten Path
***
Bengals
Bengals’ Club Seats, featuring prime locations and top-end amenities at Paul Brown Stadium, have been re-scaled, and 85 percent of seating sections will offer lowered prices for 2013. Among 30 Club Seat sections, 26 carry a lower per-game season ticket price -- some by as much as $50 per game. Four sections carry the same price as in 2012, and no prices are being raised in the Club.
“This is the ultimate way to experience a Bengals game, and we’re pleased to offer more varied pricing for fans,” said Jeff Berding, Bengals director of sales and public affairs. “These seats are at the desired mid-level of the stadium, they are larger & cushioned with extra legroom, and they provide direct access to the Club Lounge where you can get out of the weather in well-appointed indoor Club areas. We are also planning to refresh the interiors this off-season, so the space will continue to offer a premium environment.”
Club season seats for 2013 begin at $130 per game and range to $260, based on yard-line location. All Club seat holders have access to the same amenities in seat comfort and Club access. Prices for 2012 were $135-270. Reductions vary by section location, with the biggest savings available in sections that have dropped from $270 to $220 per game.
To obtain further information or to set up a Club area visit, fans interested in purchasing Club seats should call the Bengals Ticket Hotline at 513-621-TDTD (8383).
***
Historic Hinkle Fieldhouse
ESPN College Gameday is live from Hinkle on Saturday.
It's #13 Butler vs #8 Gonzaga:
***
Bengals
Andre Smith arrested after allegedly bringing gun to airport
WCPO.com
Bengals offensive lineman Andre Smith was arrested Thursday after he allegedly brought a gun to an airport in Atlanta.
Atlanta police say they found a .380 caliber handgun on Smith when he tried to board a plane at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport Thursday evening.
***
UC basketball
Student attendance at Men's BB is up 179% over last yr. Overall up 29%!
Santa J. Ono (@PrezOno), UC President, Twitter
Hoard: MRI proves good news for Wright
***
UC football
Changes to football schedule announced
CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati department of athletics and the BIG EAST Conference jointly announced changes in the Bearcats 2013 football schedule Friday.
UC, winners of four of the past five BIG EAST Conference titles, will face SMU and Temple in league games at home while facing Houston in a road conference game. The Bearcats were originally scheduled to play Boise State and UCF at home while traveling to San Diego State.
The league office announced the adjustment following the news that Boise State and San Diego State would remain as members of the Mountain West Conference. Houston, Memphis, SMU and UCF are all scheduled to join the BIG EAST entering the 2013 campaign.
Overall, UC will play Connecticut, Louisville, Purdue, Northwestern State, SMU and Temple at home while facing Houston, Illinois, Memphis, Miami (Ohio), Rutgers and USF on the road.
The BIG EAST will not split into an east-west divisional alignment and UCF is the lone conference team the Bearcats will not face in 2013. UC and SMU will meet for the first time and the Mustangs are one of four 2013 opponents who played in postseason bowl games in 2012 along with the Cardinals, Boilermakers and Scarlet Knights.
UC’s non-conference schedule will remain the same. The Bearcats open up the campaign with Purdue on Aug. 31, 2013 in Nippert. The following week, the Bearcats play their second-straight Big Ten Conference opponent, traveling to Champaign to meet Illinois. UC returns home on Sept. 14 to take on Northwestern State before closing out non-conference play on Sept. 21 against Miami (Ohio) in the 118th Battle for the Victory Bell in Oxford.
Fans interested in purchasing 2013 football season tickets can visit CATSTIX.com or call 1-877-CATS-TIX to make deposits. Please note this is for new season ticket accounts only. Existing season ticket renewals for 2012 customers will go out in February.
***
Off Beaten Path
I have never watched an episode of NBC's Parks and Recreation. Last night the episode featured Colts QB Andrew Luck and WR Reggie Wayne. Maybe we end the week with some fun with Athlete Cameos, athletes that made guest appearances on TV shows.
***
Bengals
With Arizona's hiring of Bruce Arians, all eight NFL head coaching openings have now been filled. 7 of the 8 jobs were filled by offensive coaches. Welcome back Mike Zimmer and Jay Gruden. Bengals assistant coach Hue Jackson is 1 of 3 finalists for the offensive coordinator position with the Carolina Panthers.
***
Reds
(Getty Images)
Canada holds final roster spot for Votto
National Post
Its roster stands at 27, leaving one spot open for Votto, who must pass a physical exam for insurance purposes because he missed a large chunk of last season following knee surgery.
Indians: Stubbs avoids arbitration with one-year deal for $2.85M
Reds and Ondrusek agree on deal
RHP Logan Ondrusek has agreed to terms on a 2-year contract through 2014, avoiding arbitration.
Checkout the iBaseball Channel
This channel includes interviews with various baseball figures. Johnny Bench tweeted last night that he just recorded segments along with former Reds teammates Mike LaCoss and Paul Moskau. Those interviews don't appear to be posted yet. There are several segments with Dusty Baker. Below is Baker on managing:
***
Florence Freedom
Freedom announce Manti Te'o Girlfriend Bobblehead Night:
"This will be the best kind of bobblehead a fan could get," Freedom General Manager Josh Anderson said. "Because now fans can make the bobblehead out to be whatever they want it to be." Yes Freedom fans, the boxes will be empty. But that's where fan imagination can run wild and individual unique stories about what the bobblehead should really look like can begin.
***
Golf
Jason Kokrak (Xavier 2007) is tied for the lead after Thursday's opening round of the PGA Tour Humana Challenge. He fired 9-under 63 that included two eagles and five birdies. PGA.com: "I just tried to put it in the right spots, put it in the fairways," Kokrak said. "Out there, that's key. They're tighter fairways and if you can be in the fairway, you'll have a good opportunity for birdie."
***
Very cool
Clear the deck!
***
HS hoops
LaRosa's Royal 8 Hardwood Classic
***
