TicketsIt's Friday, the Reds are back home, the weather hasn't caused a complaint in days, life expectancy is dropping, I need to get this thing moving. Let's eat...
--- The Big 33 game is this weekend, Saturday 7 p.m. in Hershey, Pa. NFL Network did a special on this game not too long ago, particularly the long list of great players to have participated in the Ohio-Pennsylvania All-Star game. There has never been a Super Bowl without Big 33 alumni.
Two UC signees will be taking part this year in RBs Jameel Poteat and Akise Teague.
Want a brief alumni list? How about this A-Z (almost) list: LaVar Arrington, Marc Bulger, Kerry Collins, Tony Dorsett, Lee Evans, Antonio Freeman, Archie Griffin, A.J. Hawk, Rocket Ismail, Joe Jurevicius, Jim Kelly, Ty Law, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Artie Owens (OK, some laters are a little slim), Orlando Pace, Ben Roethlisberger, Bob Sanders, John Thornton, Bob Vogel, Charles Woodson, Scott Zolak.
I'll report back Monday with results of how the Bearcats-to-be fared.
--- Appreciate the responses on Facebook and Twitter to yesterday's Breakfast (you can follow here: @pauldehnerjr). There were some calls for a series with Michigan State to start up. The Dantonio factor definitely exists, though, I get the feeling he's still thought of fondly here. Plus, with the Purdue series coming up and Ohio State already on the plate, it would be unlikely to see another Big Ten opponent added in the near future.
Kentucky was brought up, the same as I did in the blog. I would like to see it, but never said it was much of a reality. The likelihood of UK adding a second Big East opponents is slim. SEC teams rarely schedule tough opponents out of conference anyway and taking on Big East teams tend to be a lose-lose for them. Usually they will be favored, but wins can be difficult to come by. That's why the SEC has only played Big East opponents 18 times in the past seven years.
--- Bearcats Blog caught up with Orange44 and Rumble in the Garden for a quick round of discussion in four questions. The first caught my eye. They asked who were the five Big East coaches you would most like to hang out with?
I couldn't help but weigh in, I will exclude UC coaches from the list to avoid bias. Also, the list consists completely of basketball coaches because, well, most of the football coahces are so new its hard to grasp their personalities yet.
5. JTII -- I want to hear all about stepping into the shoes of a legend and all the old stories of college hoops growing up with his famous father.
4. Buzz Williams -- There's something about a down-home, country guy that draws me in. Plus, I'd assume he's my best chance at a trip to the Waffle House.
3. Steve Lavin -- He's a must-have on this list. The guy is entertaining as anybody in the league and could tell stories all night long.
2. Jim Boeheim -- Few pressers are as entertaining as Jimmy B. His dry humor would go down perfectly with a plate of Dinosaur BBQ.
1. Bob Huggins -- Was there ever any doubt?
--- Connor Barwin got locked in a bank afterhours in a high security building. Hilarity ensues.
--- Oliver Purnell's rebuilding hit a small speedbump with two seniors returning from injury opting to transfer. Now, I guess I won't pick DePaul to win the Big East.
--- The bowl schedule has been released with the Cotton Bowl enjoying a nice push to Jan. 6 in the middle of the BCS season. The National Championship again takes place on Jan. 9, far, far, far too late in the season. Everyone argues this point and with little resistance, so I won't go on a diatribe. But as soon as they start playing the Super Bowl March 2nd, give me a call, and I'll issue an apology.
Assuming the title participants played in a conference championship game on Dec. 3, that would place 38 days between games. If they come from a non-title game conference, that would be 45 days between games. You could almost fit the entire NBA playoffs in that time frame.
--- MLBearcats update: Kevin Youkilis with a nice catch in a win against Tampa, Tony Campana goes 1 for 4 with a run in a Cubs victory against the Brewers and Josh Harrison was 1 for 3 with a double and RBI in a victory against Houston.
BTW, the Pirates are two games over .500 on June 17. Does anybody need me to repeat that sentence?
--- Kenyon Martin was ranked No. 40 in the highest-earning American athletes. That "being the top overall pick" thing seems to have worked out for him.
The rest of the list is intriguing, in particular to see how much money some athletes make in endorsements. If it wasn't before, it should be abundantly clear why Jimmie Johnson always talks about the "Lowe's Chevrolet" before slipping the name of every other sponsor into his postgame interviews. Making $12 mil in endorsements last year will change your speech patterns.
--- Think Mick Cronin's lack of transfers over the past five years isn't a telling stat? Check out the list of transfers in college hoops this year alone. It's approaching 300.
--- Randomness...
--- Dave Chappelle has a new TV show in the works. Only, not for TV, which is even better news for us. And the career of Wayne Brady.
--- A quick low blow at Cleveland sports from the Onion.
--- Anytime a professional becomes involved in a scandal, this same result is inevitable. Resigning? Not necessarily. Being offered a job in porn? Yes. Quite a country we have here.
--- Suri Cruise has a treehouse worth $100,000. Growing up, I had a bike. I believe it cost $30.
--- In honor of the Toronto Blue Jays coming to town, I figured I would go with a Canadian motif for the Friday music choice. Neil Young is probably the best singer/songwriter to come from the land of tunies and loonies. Here's Rockin' in the Free World from 2009. Enjoy yourself this weekend.
--- The Big 33 game is this weekend, Saturday 7 p.m. in Hershey, Pa. NFL Network did a special on this game not too long ago, particularly the long list of great players to have participated in the Ohio-Pennsylvania All-Star game. There has never been a Super Bowl without Big 33 alumni.
Two UC signees will be taking part this year in RBs Jameel Poteat and Akise Teague.
Want a brief alumni list? How about this A-Z (almost) list: LaVar Arrington, Marc Bulger, Kerry Collins, Tony Dorsett, Lee Evans, Antonio Freeman, Archie Griffin, A.J. Hawk, Rocket Ismail, Joe Jurevicius, Jim Kelly, Ty Law, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Artie Owens (OK, some laters are a little slim), Orlando Pace, Ben Roethlisberger, Bob Sanders, John Thornton, Bob Vogel, Charles Woodson, Scott Zolak.
I'll report back Monday with results of how the Bearcats-to-be fared.
--- Appreciate the responses on Facebook and Twitter to yesterday's Breakfast (you can follow here: @pauldehnerjr). There were some calls for a series with Michigan State to start up. The Dantonio factor definitely exists, though, I get the feeling he's still thought of fondly here. Plus, with the Purdue series coming up and Ohio State already on the plate, it would be unlikely to see another Big Ten opponent added in the near future.
Kentucky was brought up, the same as I did in the blog. I would like to see it, but never said it was much of a reality. The likelihood of UK adding a second Big East opponents is slim. SEC teams rarely schedule tough opponents out of conference anyway and taking on Big East teams tend to be a lose-lose for them. Usually they will be favored, but wins can be difficult to come by. That's why the SEC has only played Big East opponents 18 times in the past seven years.
--- Bearcats Blog caught up with Orange44 and Rumble in the Garden for a quick round of discussion in four questions. The first caught my eye. They asked who were the five Big East coaches you would most like to hang out with?
I couldn't help but weigh in, I will exclude UC coaches from the list to avoid bias. Also, the list consists completely of basketball coaches because, well, most of the football coahces are so new its hard to grasp their personalities yet.
5. JTII -- I want to hear all about stepping into the shoes of a legend and all the old stories of college hoops growing up with his famous father.
4. Buzz Williams -- There's something about a down-home, country guy that draws me in. Plus, I'd assume he's my best chance at a trip to the Waffle House.
3. Steve Lavin -- He's a must-have on this list. The guy is entertaining as anybody in the league and could tell stories all night long.
2. Jim Boeheim -- Few pressers are as entertaining as Jimmy B. His dry humor would go down perfectly with a plate of Dinosaur BBQ.
1. Bob Huggins -- Was there ever any doubt?
--- Connor Barwin got locked in a bank afterhours in a high security building. Hilarity ensues.
--- Oliver Purnell's rebuilding hit a small speedbump with two seniors returning from injury opting to transfer. Now, I guess I won't pick DePaul to win the Big East.
--- The bowl schedule has been released with the Cotton Bowl enjoying a nice push to Jan. 6 in the middle of the BCS season. The National Championship again takes place on Jan. 9, far, far, far too late in the season. Everyone argues this point and with little resistance, so I won't go on a diatribe. But as soon as they start playing the Super Bowl March 2nd, give me a call, and I'll issue an apology.
Assuming the title participants played in a conference championship game on Dec. 3, that would place 38 days between games. If they come from a non-title game conference, that would be 45 days between games. You could almost fit the entire NBA playoffs in that time frame.
--- MLBearcats update: Kevin Youkilis with a nice catch in a win against Tampa, Tony Campana goes 1 for 4 with a run in a Cubs victory against the Brewers and Josh Harrison was 1 for 3 with a double and RBI in a victory against Houston.
BTW, the Pirates are two games over .500 on June 17. Does anybody need me to repeat that sentence?
--- Kenyon Martin was ranked No. 40 in the highest-earning American athletes. That "being the top overall pick" thing seems to have worked out for him.
The rest of the list is intriguing, in particular to see how much money some athletes make in endorsements. If it wasn't before, it should be abundantly clear why Jimmie Johnson always talks about the "Lowe's Chevrolet" before slipping the name of every other sponsor into his postgame interviews. Making $12 mil in endorsements last year will change your speech patterns.
--- Think Mick Cronin's lack of transfers over the past five years isn't a telling stat? Check out the list of transfers in college hoops this year alone. It's approaching 300.
--- Randomness...
--- Dave Chappelle has a new TV show in the works. Only, not for TV, which is even better news for us. And the career of Wayne Brady.
--- A quick low blow at Cleveland sports from the Onion.
--- Anytime a professional becomes involved in a scandal, this same result is inevitable. Resigning? Not necessarily. Being offered a job in porn? Yes. Quite a country we have here.
--- Suri Cruise has a treehouse worth $100,000. Growing up, I had a bike. I believe it cost $30.
--- In honor of the Toronto Blue Jays coming to town, I figured I would go with a Canadian motif for the Friday music choice. Neil Young is probably the best singer/songwriter to come from the land of tunies and loonies. Here's Rockin' in the Free World from 2009. Enjoy yourself this weekend.