TicketsThere are good days. There are great days. And there's Opening Day.
I hope every kid still in school skips out early and every adult in town calls it a half day after lunch.
The spirit of this town changes on Opening Day -- and it even does so when the Reds stink. In a year like this one, coming off the first division title in 15 years...yeah, this will be a fun one.
As some of you may or may not know, I hold down a position working in the scoreboard at Great American Ballpark playing clips and graphics on the videoboard during games. (When i say Make Some Noise, you people need to be making damn noise!) So, it's extra special to be a part of the organization on a day like this. Last year at this time was my first day with the Reds and I had never done this current job before. Let's just say the concept of screwing up on Day 1 in front of 42,000 people had me as scared as I've been in my life. All went well and once I stopped hyperventilating, I was able to enjoy the day.
It will be even better to enjoy the day without the shakes blurring my vision this year and I hope all the rest of you that will be there enjoy the show. If the screen goes to black for no reason at any point, please don't boo. It hurts my feelings.
As for some UC connections, there will be a Bearcat Caravan running through the Findlay Market parade and Butch Jones will be in attendance. I asked him this week if he would try to throw at the first pitch and he said that he's not down with that after a bad experience in Detroit. Little did he know how low Mark Mallory set the bar around these parts. Apparently, as he tends to do on Gameday, Jones let his adrenaline and passion show and sailed one about 10 feet over the catcher (golfing buddy Andy Van Slyke). Moral of the story, no first pitch today. He'll settle quietly into the stands.
Let's eat...
--- Darnell Wilks talked to Chad Brendel about where some of his inspiration will come from for the dunk contest. It airs tonight at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
No doubt we see Wilks' go-to windmill slam.
--- Of course, spring practice continued. Here were some sights and sounds from Day 2. Most notably, UC straps on pads for the first time today. Things should get much more interesting from this point forth.
--- The man on the inside, Tommy G had this interview with WR coach T.J. Weist. The receiver group is an intersting one and Weist has his hands full developing some talented prospects. Kenbrell Thompkins and D.J. Woods will be the polished vets, but prodding along the 3,4 and 5 will be a key to this team's success.
Weist chats about Kenbrell Thompkins meshing into the playmaking role this year. Really high expectations demanded of KT this year. With the youth surrounding him, the Bearcats can't afford to see Thompkins disappoint.
--- The UC defense has a nickname. And dog tags.
--- We've heard since the middle of last season how Jones expects TE Travis Kelce to be an impact player. At an athletic 6-6, 250, he's got the body for it. Bill Koch had the story.
--- No real randomness today, as I head to the ballpark. I'll only leave you with the moment everyone does and should remember from last season. I still get chills watching it.