TicketsHope everyone enjoyed the weekend. Trying to figure out who endured a worse one: NBC Sports execs who had to be on the ledge over the I'll Have Another scratch or everyone who paid for the latest black eye for the sport of boxing.
One of the great sports of the last century has truly devolved into a cesspool of greed, frustration and unfulfilled expectations.
Let's eat...
--- News on facilities upgrades came out Friday afternoon. The most noticeable of the lot for fans will be the new Fifth Third Arena court. Nothing crazy but adding to the aesthetic appeal. I like the two-tone court but am mainly thankful they didn't go for the Oregon hardwood explosion look.
For those now trying to fire neurons remembering what the old court looked like here is a photo.
--- Here is the full story from Jeff Geiser on the facilities.
Of course, when it comes to facilities all the average fan wants to hear about is Nippert Stadium and Fifth Third. Whit Babcock pointed out he's still focused on making upgrades to both. Here was his main quote which follows the lines of what he's been saying for months.
"We've got to continue to look at what we're going to do with Nippert Stadium," said Babcock. "Right now we're focusing on studying the west side of the stadium and our options there. We don't have anything set firmly on that, just working on what options we may have there for new premium seating. I don't want to put a time frame on it, but hopefully not in the incredibly distant future, we can really do some work to bring the west side of Nippert Stadium up to speed, as well as Fifth Third Arena."
The Sheakley Athletic Complex is beginning to look like the full model proposed from Day 1 as the stands and press box all go up around the football practice facility. As bang for your buck goes in college athletics, it's hard to hold anything against the impressive spread surrounding The Nipp and Fifth Third.
--- Big weekend for the real reason these student-athletes are playing sports. UC football graduated 11 current and former players. Among them was Armon Binns who worked to finish off his degree intermittently during his first NFL season with the Bengals.
He told me earlier this year the only reason he was able to graduate this summer was because the Bengals were the team that picked him up after being cut by Jacksonville. Funny how well life works sometimes. Congrats to Armon for sticking with it and finishing off what he started despite his professional obligations.
--- Here's complete list of 49 student-athletes who graduated this weekend. Standing O and slow clap headed their way:
--- The congratulations are flying around fast and furious this morning and track and field athlete Kathy Klump receives the latest.
She finished as the lone UC All-American at the NCAA Track and Field Championships this weekend. She ended up sixth in the nation in the 800 meters, finishing in a time of 2:03.56. She was two seconds behind the winner.
--- The 2008 gold medalist in the 4x400 and new mother Mary Wineberg is training for the Olympics again and hoping to land a sport. The Enquirer posted a note on her aspirations.
One of the great sports of the last century has truly devolved into a cesspool of greed, frustration and unfulfilled expectations.
Let's eat...
--- News on facilities upgrades came out Friday afternoon. The most noticeable of the lot for fans will be the new Fifth Third Arena court. Nothing crazy but adding to the aesthetic appeal. I like the two-tone court but am mainly thankful they didn't go for the Oregon hardwood explosion look.
For those now trying to fire neurons remembering what the old court looked like here is a photo.
--- Here is the full story from Jeff Geiser on the facilities.
Of course, when it comes to facilities all the average fan wants to hear about is Nippert Stadium and Fifth Third. Whit Babcock pointed out he's still focused on making upgrades to both. Here was his main quote which follows the lines of what he's been saying for months.
"We've got to continue to look at what we're going to do with Nippert Stadium," said Babcock. "Right now we're focusing on studying the west side of the stadium and our options there. We don't have anything set firmly on that, just working on what options we may have there for new premium seating. I don't want to put a time frame on it, but hopefully not in the incredibly distant future, we can really do some work to bring the west side of Nippert Stadium up to speed, as well as Fifth Third Arena."
The Sheakley Athletic Complex is beginning to look like the full model proposed from Day 1 as the stands and press box all go up around the football practice facility. As bang for your buck goes in college athletics, it's hard to hold anything against the impressive spread surrounding The Nipp and Fifth Third.
--- Big weekend for the real reason these student-athletes are playing sports. UC football graduated 11 current and former players. Among them was Armon Binns who worked to finish off his degree intermittently during his first NFL season with the Bengals.
He told me earlier this year the only reason he was able to graduate this summer was because the Bengals were the team that picked him up after being cut by Jacksonville. Funny how well life works sometimes. Congrats to Armon for sticking with it and finishing off what he started despite his professional obligations.
--- Here's complete list of 49 student-athletes who graduated this weekend. Standing O and slow clap headed their way:
2012 UC STUDENT-ATHLETE GRADUATES:
Baseball
Jamell Cervantez
Nic Spence
Women's Basketball
Chanel Chisholm
Bjonee Reaves
Football
Alex Apyan
Dominique Battle
Armon Binns
T.J. Franklin
Reuben Haley
Brendon Kay
Danny Milligan
Jared Rains
Wesley Richardson
J.K. Schaffer
George Winn
Men's Golf
Kurt Harris
Lacrosse
Lori Banky
Gwen Branscome
Jenn Doran
Cathy Hebert
Ali Mattingly
Rachel Mercier
MacKenzie Parsons
Kylie Ramsland
Katherine Russo
Laura Simanski
Gabby Sinmaz
Men's Soccer
Sam Klosterman
Women's Soccer
Sydney Barker
Erin Kaufman
Kelli Pawelko
Men's Swimming & Diving
Matt Hargrove
Haywood Miller
Women's Swimming & Diving
Anna Bersani
Stephanie Conklin
Liz Hansson
Josefin Wede
Tennis
Safiyya Ismail
Elise Woulfe
Women's Track & Field
Hauna Dawkins
Jenna Heaton
Aricka Rhodes
Cortney Staruch
Men's Track & Field
Mario Cannon
Matthew Collmar
Eric Finan
Kyle Lang
Richard Lupp
Michael Rutherford
--- The congratulations are flying around fast and furious this morning and track and field athlete Kathy Klump receives the latest.
She finished as the lone UC All-American at the NCAA Track and Field Championships this weekend. She ended up sixth in the nation in the 800 meters, finishing in a time of 2:03.56. She was two seconds behind the winner.
--- The 2008 gold medalist in the 4x400 and new mother Mary Wineberg is training for the Olympics again and hoping to land a sport. The Enquirer posted a note on her aspirations.
--- Sights and sounds from the women's football clinic held last Thursday.
--- Randomness...
--- This eighth grader hasposterized a sea of scarred 13-year-olds.
--- Joaquin Phoenix, no longer cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, apparently.
--- All these Dream Team Anniversary pieces are bringing out the 12-year-old Michael Jordan addict in me.
--- Stony Brook. If you aren't rooting for this team at the CWS you are probably a communist or too busy kicking puppies.
--- The Heavy doing their thing. Good luck with Monday everybody.
--- Randomness...
--- This eighth grader hasposterized a sea of scarred 13-year-olds.
--- Joaquin Phoenix, no longer cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, apparently.
--- All these Dream Team Anniversary pieces are bringing out the 12-year-old Michael Jordan addict in me.
--- Stony Brook. If you aren't rooting for this team at the CWS you are probably a communist or too busy kicking puppies.
--- The Heavy doing their thing. Good luck with Monday everybody.