By Andy Furman...I am often amazed with my brothers and sisters in the local sports media. How can you ride that roller coaster each day? How can you go up and down with every win or loss by the Cincinnati Reds? Hey, you're not foolin us, really you're not. And honestly, you can't be that jacked up in mid-May for the Reds can you? That's why I chose to occupy this space. I mean there's more to sports and life- than a baseball teams win or loss in the middle of May. Take this for instance. Former NFL lineman Ray Edwards is 4-0 in his professional boxing career. Edwards, who spent seven seasons in the NFL playing defensive tackle with the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons, now makes his living squaring off against huge men intent on punching him in the head as frequently as possible. But get this.

By Andy Furman...NBA playoffs, NHL playoffs, Jason Collins and, gulp twitter...where do I begin?The Jason Collins story - the first gay male athlete to, lets say come out of the closet is an interesting situation. He's been tabbed a hero. Certainly I commend him, and it was a move of courage. But hero? I think Ill reserve that for our fighting military men and women. What about you?

By Andy Furman...Why the surprise and why the panic that your 2013 Cincinnati Reds are struggling to reach the .500 mark? Have faith my friends. Wasnt it your manager, Dusty Baker who said, and I quote, "All we want to do is be around the .500 mark?" Yup, he said it and I heard it. And this is the same Dusty Baker who didnt have those hangy-down things to tell management in spring training where he wanted Aroldis Chapman starter or reliever. But again, this is also the same manager who, lets face it, ruined the careers of many a pitcher, see Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.

By Andy Furman...What a loss. Xavier and the University of Cincinnati have met 80 times in basketball with the Bearcats coming on top 49 times. Not now. The series, which was once dubbed the Crosstown Shootout is the annual mens college basketball game played between both schools. Remember, these schools are some three-miles apart making this arch rivalry one of the hottest in the country. For your history buffs, the game was first played in 1927, and has been played every year since 1946. And recently the game has been sponsored by Skyline Chili. This year the game was played at the U.S. Bank Arena, in conjuction with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and is now called The Skyline Chili Crosstown Classic.Cincinnati won, 60-45, yet Xavier has won 9 of the last 15.Enough of the history lesson.

BY ANDY FURMAN....I really didn't mean to put the kiss of death on Mick Cronin and his University of Cincinnati basketball Bearcats.But I think I did.After they fell to the University of Connecticut in Hartford the other night, in overtime no less, my statements proved true.This team is hovering around the .500 mark since the first of the year. It's no coincidence they started their play in the Big East the same the.The Bearcats racked up some 14, 15 wins against teams most people never heard of, let alone locate with a GPS.It's simply fools gold. Honestly, it's a cheap way to build a resume and a false sense of security for the players.More than that it's cheating the paying public.

By Andy Furman...Let me preface this before we proceed. I am a big-time college basketball fan and I wish no ill-will against the team that has the city's name on the front of their jerseys. I'm talking about the University of Cincinnati. But perhaps there's something the Bearcats rookie athletic director, Whit Babcock knows that we dont. Seems Whit is in love with his basketball coach, Mick Cronin. Why not? Mick took the Bearcats to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, and was instrumental in putting out the fires after the Xavier-UC brawl. Yeah, Mick said all the right things at the right time. He's seemed to garner the interest of the community, and although the crowds aren't all the way back at Fifth-Third Arena, they're coming. Slowly, but coming. And if you want to know why they're staying away well, I'm glad you asked.

By Andy Furman...Notes that we found under the Christmas tree...After a bleary-eyed Christmas day watching five count em five NBA games on TV, look what we learned.Remember James White? Hes that sky-diving basketballer who played at the University of Cincinnati and was dubbed, Flight White and Flight 75 because of his dunking and leaping ability.Hes a member of the New York Knicks these days, and guess what hes being nominated by the Players Association for the All-Star Slam-Dunk competition in Houston in conjunction with the NBA All-Star Game.According to the New York Post, White was approached by union officials last week about the dunk competition. The union, the Post wrote, has more influence in the skill competitions in the new format in which the conferences compete against each other.

By Andy Furman...Its the time of the season not for giving for leaving. At the University of Cincinnati they talk about coachs moves rather than major bowls in football. Thats a fact and its a shame. They call Miami of Ohio the Cradle of Coaches, but in reality its the University of Cincinnati. Think about it. Heres a short list from as far back as I can remember. The late Sid Gillman, the Father of the wide open offense, went from the Bearcats to the San Diego Chargers. Mike Tomlin, the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jets head coach Rex Ryan both cut their teeth at the University of Cincinnati.

By Andy Furman...Give me a coin quick. Heads I finish that leftover turkey sandwich. Tails, I high-tail it to the mall to push, shove and get mangled. I hope its heads. Never understood the Black Friday phenomena. I mean what could you possibly need that requires you to wake at the crack of dawn? A new freezer? A refrigerator? An I-pad? Please. But the phase has continued from Friday openings at midnight, to this year seemingly stores opening at 8 pm on Thanksgiving night. Who can possibly get off the couch at 8 pm on Thanksgiving night? The only possible reason? The Jets and Mark Sanchez were so far behind those Patriots Thursday night, a trip to the mall might have been a relief. But I digress.

By Andy Furman...Im just now getting over the shock of the Reds three-game sweep by the Giants so you can imagine how I feel after seeing our home Bengals wallop another giant the New York Giants.These werent any ordinary giants they were the defending Super Bowl champ New York Football Giants.It was more like a clinic. A 31-13 beat down that was never in doubt.Too bad most of the town didnt or couldnt see it. Thanks to a crowd some 15,000 short of a sellout hence the local TV blackout.So the Bengals halted a four-game losing streak, and now the questions are flying. Where was this offense the last month?Where was Andy Dalton, who threw a career-high four touchdowns each to a different receiver no less?The Bengals rolled up their 31 points in just three quarters. And A.J. Green was a major part of it.This on the heels of his proclamation on WFAN radio last week that the Giants had some holes in their defense.Whether he said it or not, it proved true.

By Andy Furman...Thoughts on a day the Bengals didnt lose because they didnt play. A rest. Just what we needed. A rest. Not just from football but from the local sports scene. The Bengals didnt play Sunday hence they couldnt lose. And thats a sad statement to make, but its true. Seems to me every season the dreams are perpetrated by the media who but in to the system. Finally I have something to say about this. Perhaps the media are just fans and are rooting for the hometown team. Or, worse yet, maybe the media just doesnt know the game of football and after seven games, like the Bengals, they look like fools. Who knows? And more than that, who really cares?

By Andy Furman...Stop please stop. Please stop e-mailing me (furman@ourtowen.com or AndyF@FSR247.com) to find out if Im alive and well. Yes, I appreciate the concern. But I was buried in a basement no windows and just bread and water for several days. Thats how long it took me to get over the shock and pain of that disaster we labeled the playoffs for our Cincinnati Reds. I mean, cmon up two-to-one having to win just one more in three.And all three at the (Not So) Great American Ball Park.How does that happen? How do you explain this team leaving some 39 runners on base in the series? Thats what pained me.

By Andy Furman... Dusty Baker is the National League Manager of the Year. No question about it. He wins the award over the Giants, Bruce Bochy and Davey Johnson, a former Reds manager now with the Washington Nationals. Think of this, and maybe you forgot, Baker brought this Reds ball club to the top of the National League Central after losing his closer Ryan Madson in spring training. Most managers win pennants and championships after acquiring players. Not only did Baker lose Madson, he lost his MVP Joey Votto for some 48 ballgames. Votto, if you've lived in a cave was batting in the .340 neighborhood. That?s a bite.

By Andy Furman..You know Ive been doing this sports thing for most of my adult life. In fact, as a kid in high school, I know I sound like my dad, I wrote a weekly sports roundup column for the Brooklyn Graphic, for gulp, ten bucks a week. And, all the stamps and envelopes I could get my hands on as well. Oh yeah, Id send those weekly clips cross-country. But after all the years in sports, youd think youve seen it all. You know the freaks. The face painters on game days. The nuts that sit atop billboards until their favorite team wins. The hecklers. The wigs. The banners. The noise makers. Even the coaches and managers with tempers. Who could forget Sweet Lou Piniella managing the Reds one hot summer night, and the fuse went off. He went off. Got into it with the umpires and tossed a base into right field. True passion. You gotta love it. But every day is a new day in the sports arena; and I had to share this one with you

By Andy Furman...I didnt want this I promise. I didnt want to be sucked in to the NFL preview game. Everywhere I turn its news for the forthcoming National Football League season. The picks. The games. The previews. Why is there so much football news? Doesnt the media go overboard in covering this game? I know. I know. We are told the public cant get enough football. Ya wanna know why? Because the media wont stop feeding it to us. Football news in the media is a 24/7, 365-day cycle. The news media covers in-season games, pre-season games, the draft, the practices and everything in-between. Why football gets more coverage, total, than baseball and basketball combined. And quite frankly, I dont get it.

By Andy Furman...I didnt want this I promise. I didnt want to be sucked in to the NFL preview game. Everywhere I turn its news for the forthcoming National Football League season. The picks. The games. The previews. Why is there so much football news? Doesnt the media go overboard in covering this game? I know. I know. We are told the public cant get enough football. Ya wanna know why? Because the media wont stop feeding it to us. Football news in the media is a 24/7, 365-day cycle. The news media covers in-season games, pre-season games, the draft, the practices and everything in-between. Why football gets more coverage, total, than baseball and basketball combined. And quite frankly, I dont get it.

By Andy Furman...No, Dez Wells wont be playing basketball at the University of Kentucky sorry. Yes, the man who was expelled from Xavier University last week after a sexual assault investigation but the Hamilton County prosecutor announced Wells would not be charged with any crimes he will not be Wildcat. He was on the Lexington, Ky, campus last week but since classes had already started it would have been highly unlikely he would be a candidate for immediate eligibility. As for Wells, Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters released a statement asking Xavier officials to revisit the ruling against Wells. The university said its decision was final.

By Andy Furman...Theyre always crying. And theyre always whining. No, not those kids sitting in front of you on your plane ride returning home from vacation, no its those billionaire owners in Major League Baseball. Theyre always weeping about money, and when they dont get their way, wow, theyll close the doors and tell their hired help major league players we dont want you. You cant play. Stay home youre locked out. Money is and will always be -- the key.......

By Andy Furman...Joe Philbin lied. The first-year coach of the Miami Dolphins said earlier this week that the decision to release six-time Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson wasnt based on any single incident and wasnt made to send a message. Sorry, Joe -- you lied. It wasnt about one specific thing; it just wasnt going to work. The Dolphins terminated Johnsons contract a week-ago Sunday night, about 24 hours after he was arrested in a domestic battery case involving his wife. Johnson was released from jail on $2,500 bond earlier Sunday after his wife accused him of head-butting her during an argument.

The University of Cincinnati football team will play host to a public kickoff event for the 2012 season at Dave & Buster's Tri-County location on Sunday, Aug. 26, from 7-8 p.m. The recently renovated Dave & Buster's at the Tri-County Mall (11775 Commons Drive, Springdale, Ohio, 45246/513-671-5501) has served as the preferred away-game watch party location for each of the past four seasons. The event is free and open to the public.

By Andy Furman...I was amused by this story. Actually made me laugh. But what made me cry was the way our local media treated it they didnt. They chose to ignore it.I wonder why? Seems University of Cincinnati basketball coach Mick Cronin was publicly reprimanded by the NCAA for using offensive language after the teams NCAA tournament loss to Ohio State in last years March Madness. Cronins comments, apparently, were directed towards an official, as he wasnt happy with his teams 81-66 loss to the team from the North The Ohio State University.So whats the punishment? Well, the NCAA said Cronin had originally appealed the reprimand, but get this; they upheld their decision after reviewing records. So it was like a double-whammy. And it got several lines in the local daily. That I dont get.

By Andy Furman...(Some idle thoughts while watching Marty Brennaman get his hair cut). Id have to say Marty Brennaman the Hall of Fame voice of the Cincinnati Reds not only looks better sans hair on his dome, but looks younger as well. I know, this getting the hair cut shtick has been going on since the dawn if time, but Marty and the Reds put a new twist to it. A tie-in with charity, and the Reds Community Fund came out smelling like a rose...some $50,000 more in their coffers.

By Andy Furman...Look I wasnt the first one to ever criticize athletes and their smarts and believe me I wont be the last.I know its not a fair assessment, and certainly Id never throw a net over a group of people like that but, did you hear the story about the Greek world indoor high-jump champion.Well, he failed a doping test on the eve of the Summer Olympics according to an IAAF official and his father and coach has said hes withdrawn from the games.Ouch imagine waiting four years to compete for a medal and represent your home land and then get the heave hoe? Wow.I cant wait 365 days for Christmas.

By Andy Furman...Some notes written while the rains are (finally) pouring. It may not be the biggest story in the world of sports but its certainly a big story. At least big enough to catch my eye. Remember Rex Ryan? Sure you do. He coached defense in the 90s at the University of Cincinnati,yes he did. Most recently, hes been patrolling the sidelines for the New York Jets as their head coach. Hes big. I mean, real big. In fact, published reports had Sexy Rexy tipping the scales at 348 prior to the 2009 AFC Championship Game. Thats big, believe me. Well, just the other day Rex announced hes down to 242 yup hes dropped some 106 pounds since then.Yeah, you can say he cheated with a lap-tuck but he did it. Its willpower and being able to push that plate away. The only bad thing, Rex told CNN, is that I need an entire new wardrobe. He did add that the only thing that still fits him is his socks. I say its wonderful.,

By Andy Furman...What happened at Penn State University is the worst scandal to ever occur in athletics in any university or college in our country. There I said it. I didnt want to but I had to. I remember when Southern Methodist Universitys football program received the death penalty several decades back for sports-related improprieties. Penn State got that beat.By a lot.At Penn State you have legal as well as moral issues involving athletics. In other words a complete mess. So what is there to do next?

By Andy Furman...I know its 100-plus outside or better yet I dont know since I havent been outdoors since the heat wave hit. I mean why would I? I have DirecTV and full freezer of cold adult beverages so Im ready to rock.And talk about, of all things, professional football. Nothing makes me feel better in 100-degree weather than pro football. The thought of these 300-plus pound brutes in 50-plus pounds of equipment sweating from all places during two-a-day drills. Ouch.

By Andy Furman...There are certain people in the world of sports I take a liking to. And Butch Jones, the University of Cincinnati football coach is one of them. Wait a minute, before you think Im a Bearcat homer let me explain. I like what Jones has done from afar. He has built a winning program in football both on and off the field. He has recruited quality athletes, sure one or two may fall of the tree down the road, but by and large good kids. Kids that have been active and involved within our community.

By Andy FurmanIm coming out of the closet.Yes and dont be scared, Im not.So here goes.I admit I was one of perhaps the very few who watched every single NBA playoff game. Yeah, and I paid dearly for it.Most of those games ended after midnight, and since I awake a little after 4 am each and every morning for my morning radio show on Fox Sports Radio, well, those games took a lot out of me.But it was well worth it.Sorry to say, I dont think many others watched at least not in this town.And I understand completely. We dont have a professional basketball team.

By Andy Furman...I admit it. I am a sucker for a great promotion. Sure, I love sports and I make a living out of it talking about them on Fox Sports Radio (1360-AM locally, and XM 169). But when it comes to dare-devil stunts; well, Ill take em anyday over LeBron, D-Wade or KD.And thats exactly why I was glued and I mean glued to my TV Friday night watching high-wire artist Nik Wallenda walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. Ive had a little bit of a relationship with the Wallenda family.

Maybe its the way of the world at least in Cincinnati. While other D-1 college basketball teams are vying for new talent and announcing their recruiting class on a daily basis the people at the University of Cincinnati, are, gulp, dismissing players. It's a shame - really.

By Andy Furman...Basketball is perhaps the furthest thing in the minds of Cincinnati sports fans but it shouldnt be. Northern Kentucky University will put themselves on an even playing field with both the University of Cincinnati and Xavier when they join the D-1 ranks next season. Nancy Winstell, who has won over 600 games for the Lady Norse, has since resigned. And the perhaps the best-kept secret the Skyline Chili will play on in 2012-13 for the 80th edition. And why not?

By Andy Furman ... Some notes some quotes some thoughts some ideas. Far be it from me to spend someone elses money although Id love to yet its time we discuss the role of the Cuban Missile on your Cincinnati Reds. This hard-throwing lefty was signed for some $30 million, and it hurts me as much to say it as write it. He was a carnival act when he was brought up last season. Throwing the baseball at some 105.3 miles-per-hour. Wow that 105.3 is FM numbers.But this year hes be relegated to the bullpen, and not in the lights-out closer role. He sets-up in the 7th and 8th innings.And for my money this flamethrower has to be the closer on this ballclub. At this point in time, wandering around the .500 mark this team needs him.

By Andy Furman...I dont get it.But I dont get a lot of things.This NFL draft the buzz surrounding it. Id much rather attend a pre-season NFL game than sit through a red carpet affair with no names kids that may never see the light of day in the National Football League.Yet, there are parties and credit the league they do it up big. Gala event at New York Citys Radio City Music Hall.Go figure.And the players I mean theyre dressing to the nines. Wonder where they get that kind of cash.That may be a story for another day.This is the second year the draft festivities went prime time starting Thursday and rolling into Saturday.

By Andy FurmanToo early to talk Reds or at least make a prediction where theyll finish.As for the Bengals theyve started voluntary practice didnt the season just end.But its not too soon to talk racing the Kentucky Derby is less than two weeks away. Certainly you dont expect me to tout here nope, I wont.But I will make a prediction and I backed it in the local daily press the other day.If the people at Turfway Park dont get out and promote that facility soon, itll be razed for a business park.Yes, I care.

By Andy Furman...The headline in the morning Cincinnati Enquirer was staring me right in the face yet either I didnt want to believe it; or couldnt believe it. Reds Boss did his part, it stated, Fans, Youre up. The column was right under the fold on page 1, and the writer was the award-winning Paul Daugherty. Look, I know writers dont write the headlines, but if Im Doc Im not too happy the way the paper positioned me. In short a houseman. It took me some time to digest this one.

By Andy Furman...Its taken me this long to figure out what Joey Votto would do with his new contract. Oh, you havent heard Votto signed a contract extension for $225 million yeah, million, that isnt a typo. It extends his deal with the Cincinnati Reds for 12 additional seasons and Im not here to discuss the pros or cons of that deal yet. But $225 mil what to do?Buy an island? A small country? Feed the poor?

By Andy Furman...I waited to return to this space.Waited while holding my breath with every basketball bounces and now that I can exhale we can continue. College basketball returned to the mountain this season and the mountain contained Seven Hills that is Cincinnati has the center of the basketball universe. And in a good way. Too much was made of the December 10th brawl between Xavier and the University of Cincinnati. At the time, Cincinnati was 5-3, they got spanked by the Muskies who were riding a ranking of 8th in the nation. After the fight which was publicized it seemed almost daily Cincinnati turned their program around, although they had their big man Yancy Gates on the sidelines for six games. Others were suspended on both sides as well. Call it addition by subtraction, if you will.

By Andy Furman...This Ryan Braun decision has my head spinning and Im ready for some drugs myself.Baseball appointed an independent arbitrator -- appointed jointly by baseball and the players unionand ruled that Braun should be cleared of his testing positive last season during a random drug test.This was a first. Brauns 50-game suspension which would have cost him some $7,000 , was overturned for his positive test in October for elevated testosterone.Yeah, he was the National Leagues Most Valuable Player last season hitting .312 with 33 homers and 111 RBIs. Yeah, he led the Milwaukee Brewers to the NL Championship.Was that a factor? Should it have been?

By Andy Furman....INDIANAPOLIS ---The big story here all week is Peyton Manning. And quite honestly, I dont understand it. I know, I know the fans here love their Colts and perhaps there wouldnt be a Super Bowl here at beautiful Lucas Oil Stadium without No. 18. Yup, No. 18. How did I know? Thats all you see walking through wall-to-wall downtown. But enough already please. Peyton is a long shot to return as quarterback for the Colts. They won two games without him last season.The head coach was dismissed in the process. Add the offensive coordinator, General Manager and his son. Wow! I bet you never thought a quarterback had that much power. Peyton had the juice whether he still does remains to be seen

By Andy Furman...INDIANAPOLIS Super Bowl edition. Weve seen it on TV either live on the NFL Network or on the TV news. Media Day at the Super Bowl. Well, I just lived through it. Let me take you on the tour. Some 3,000 media types, from all over world are trampling on Lucas Oil Field here, to see, chat and converse with members of the New England Patriots and New York Giants. Yes, there is a game, Sunday, February 5th called the Super Bowl. But what I learned early in this process is that the game isnt the thing. It is merely the icing on the cake after a weeklong party and festivities. Back to Media Day.

Social media isn't so social after all. Don't believe me just ask Tony Grossi. Oh, you haven't heard the story? Long-time Cleveland Browns beat writer from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, Grossi inadvertently posted an unflattering message about Browns owner Randy Lerner on Twitter.

By Andy Furman...Belated Happy New Year to all you smoke ringers. And what a way to start the New Year. Barry Larkin gets into the Hall of Fame. Just saying it gives you a tingle; and I think its just a little more special that he is one of our own. Coming from Cincinnati makes the news that much bigger. Why? we are the home of professional baseball. I am certain if Jack Morris was elected this year, and perhaps the Detroit Tigers pitcher should have gotten the nod, the city of Detroit would not be going as bonkers as we are. Take a look and see what Ive seen.

By Andy Furman...Call me a Johnny Come Lately. Sorry, I enjoy coming to the party fashionably late. Thats why I waited for the smoke to clear after the Skyline Chili Cross-town shootout and believe me, after this year the sponsor needs to change that name. Shootout wont get it. Sure the last 9.4 seconds were ugly. For who? You? Me? ESPN seemed to love it they played it every hour on the half for three days. And they even decided to broadcast the University of Cincinnati-Wright State basketball game, from Nutter Center, Dayton, Tuesday night.

By Andy Furman...Here is another fine mess youve gotten me into, Ollie. And that may very well apply to the football team at the University of Cincinnati.The Bearcats host the UConn Huskies Saturday at noon and a win gives them yet another Big East championship. The first for coach Butch Jones.But there is another story swirling around Clifton this week. An all-too-familiar story. A bigger school. Perhaps a more prestigious school. One with more money and better facilities is putting the worm on the hook to lure Jones away. Not fair you say. In college athletics all is fair, cheating is fair as long as you dont get caught. But what blows ones mind, what really has Butch done in his two short seasons here to merit interest from, gulp North Carolina, UCLA and Illinois?

By Andy Furman...Im tired of talking about Teabow. Im disgusted about the thought of Penn State. And the last time I went gaga over the University of Cincinnati football Bearcats and the Bengals, well, they both lost. Whats left? Hot stove time with the Reds. In particular Brandon Phillips. So I guess its time to play every athletes favorite game, Break the Bank. Oh no, not the the ballclub they play for. And thats exactly what Phillips through his agent is trying to do with public support, of course. Im not buying it nor would I pay for it. Lets get things straight first and foremost. Phillips is an outstanding second baseman he hit .300 won the Silver Slugger and copped a Gold Glove award, again. He has tweeted his way into the hearts of Reds fans all over Reds Country, and perhaps that more than any award makes him a valuable asset to the club. Maybe.

By Andy Furman...Cover up?Scandal?Shame?Perhaps all three. I cant imagine what life might be like on the campus of Penn State University these days.Talk of your cheating in sports, DUI charges or even academic fraud the sexual acts performed in and around the campus of Penn State University from 2002 dwarfs all other allegations.How does this happen?Why does this happen?And where does this fine university go from here?For a good man, and were talking of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. For a good man, this situation, under his watch, is perhaps even worse than the way Woody Hayes was dismissed. Hayes was a legend in Ohio as Buckeye football coach.

By Andy Furman...Ah the drama save it for the stage, I say.Not so with the Cincinnati Bengals. Seems some just couldnt leave well enough alone I mean, please keep your mouth shut.Carson Palmer moves to the west coast to play quarterback for the Oakland Raiders the Bengals fleece the Raiders with two first-round draft picks and that should be it.But it wasnt.Some I investigative reporter from Yahoo.com called Bengals coach Marvin Lewis yesterday, and the dirt covered every bit of Palmers body.Why oh why?Marvin was quoted as saying Palmer quit. Wow.Well, if that was the case, why on earth did you travel to California after last season to try and sell him on returning for this season?It gets even wackier.

By Andy Furman...Believe me, I dont remember the Indians selling Manhattan Island to the Dutch for $24 and trinkets. Im old, but not that old. But Mike Browns decision to trade quarterback Carson Palmer to the Oakland Raiders this week for a second first-round pick if the Raiders win a playoff game in 2011 was just plain masterful. OK, the Raiders were desperate. Their quarterback, Jason Campbell broke his collarbone in last Sundays ballgame against the Cleveland Browns. So if you want to thank the Browns instead of praising Mike, Ill understand. Oh yeah, the Bengals get a first-round pick in 2012 and a second-pick in 2013. This doesnt come together if Bengals rookie qb Andy Dalton doesnt lead this team to four wins in the clubs first six games. Its all about leverage, and yes Mike Brown not only had it he used it to perfection.

By Andy FurmanThe Bengals have won three of their first five and although we should be thrilled I fear most of the members of the community a)couldnt tell you their record or b)couldnt name five players, c)dont even care or d)all of the above.Thats the state of this team and thats a shame. But perhaps thats what happens when losing devours a franchise and divas devour a team.Not this season.A tough young quarterback from Texas Christian University, Andy Dalton has seemed to roll right into the offense of first-year offensive coordinator Jay Gruden.So far its been a wonderful match.

By Andy Furman...It was bound to happen.Baseball took center stage.Yup, it happened Wednesday night. Perhaps because there was no NFL but Ill argue that the baseball drama was second-to-none.The Red Sox blew their post-season hopes to the Baltimore Orioles at the very last moment and, three minutes later the improbable Tampa Bay Rays clinched wild-card post-season for the very first-time with a surprising come-from-behind win over the New York Yankees.That was drama. That was sport to the fullest.That the Rays were something like nine and a half games out of post-season contention some three weeks ago and now will be playing in October is nothing short of amazing.And, while were at it, that the Boston Red Sox collapsed the way they did, well, that too was pretty amazing.Baseball couldnt have planned it better.

By Andy FurmanIf its sports and it happens in Cincinnati, well, you know two things:Itll be national news, andItll probably be bad.Oh yeah, most likely itll involve the Cincinnati Bengals.This one will make your head spin.Jerome Simpson was excused from practice Thursday afternoon as an investigation into the delivery of a 2.5 pound package of marijuana is ongoing.Ouch.Why?Why would a pro athlete get involved in such a sheared?Why?I cant explain it perhaps the best answer because he can.And they do.

By Andy Furman...So the big controversy today isnt the losing Reds or even the winning Bengals, albeit one game.Its all about Reds Opening Day, 2012 which happens to fall on Friday, April 6th. This just happens to be Good Friday.And I say get over it.The Findlay Market Parade, they tell us might be in jeopardy after a 90-year run. Why? Apparently Friday is a busy day for the market folk. Good for them.The real people who should be crying today are those who will be pouring Budweiser. Catholics dont or should refrain from the hops on Good Friday. I think.But the real embarrassment, as always, doesnt come from the original message. Its the way backwater Cincinnati media folk handle the message.Real or not.

By Andy Furman?....As I get ready to plop in my easy chair for the opening of the NFL season on NBC a strange thought crossed my mind.Are we suffering a football overload?I mean, all we heard for the past four months was football. Be it lockout, signings, draft talk and now the season opener which was never in doubt, really.How much football can one digest?Why is it so popular?The opening game between the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints even bumped the Presidents speech on the local NBC affiliate in Wisconsin.The President?Have we all gone nuts?Would baseball bump the President? I think not.But why football?Its not the true American pastime, is it?Baseball, played under the sun, during the summer when school is out will always be the pastime.

Andy Furman?...I dont listen to Reds baseball much these days for several reasons.The team is a junior varsity outfit and out of the pennant race so I have better things to do with my time.And, I feel Im not alone, either.In fact, I stopped by the ballpark Thursday afternoon to see my young buddy Jared Kamrass toss out the first pitch prior to the Phillies game.Kamrass is an interesting young man. I got to know him as a radio intern several years back, and he has served as my radio co-host and college football reporter from time-to-time.At 20, he's mature beyond his years.Yet, as an Ohio State University freshman last fall he developed cancer and thank goodness -- has been cleared after months of chemotherapy. Im happy to report hell be back in Columbus for school starting on the

By Andy Furman...Yahoo Sports was reporting today that the Reds-Marlins game, Wednesday in South Florida drew a whopping crowd of 347.No, ladies and gents Im not making this up.I checked the official game box score and that read, 22,505 but that was including season ticket holders, who obviously were staying away.Baseball in Florida any part is death after March. That is, after the major league clubs complete spring training.Hey, most clubs are even packing up and leaving the Sunshine State for Arizona. Probably for the money not the weather.But those pesky Florida Marlins are getting a new downtown stadium next season and the question that must be asked is why?Some sports just cant be promoted to some locales.

By Andy Furman...Radio is supposed to be ear candy right?I guess someone forgot to tell the Bengals.Apparently, Smoke Rings has learned the post-game portion of Bengals on Radio will not permit fans to call, er, vent after Bengals football games.And thats a shame.I mean, as poorly as the Bengals have played over the last decade, one of the few bright spots was the creativity of callers and/or drunks after ballgames on Sunday afternoons.It was, perhaps more entertaining than the talent on the field.

By Andy Furman...You gotta wonder who is happier that Mike Thomas has packed his bags and left town the University of Illinois who inherits him as their new athletic director.Or the University of Cincinnati who loses him.Take your pick and if I was a betting man, Id say the people in Clifton are rejoicing this week. Thomas has been the head honcho of the athletic department for the Bearcats since October, 2005. And to his credit took over quite a mess.He cleaned up the Bob Huggins stench, helped make the transition to the Big East Conference yet it was former UC athletic director Bob Goin who opened the door for the schools admission in the first place.

By Andy Furman...Maybe help is on the way.And it cant come soon enough.Today, were focused on the University of Cincinnati and their 2011 football programand why not?After the Reds dropped two of three to the Astros -- the worst team in major league baseball we need to move on.And its still too early to raise the white flag for the Bengals.As for the Bearcats now theres some concern.Coming off back-to-back Big East championships, Brian Kelly decided to literally bolt to the University of Notre Dame.Butch Jones was hired, and all of a sudden we heard a thud in the form of 4-8 ouch.Dont blame Butch there wasnt much left in the locker room

By Andy Furman...I threw up in my mouth again.Sorry.I know, youre not supposed to do that when watching Cincinnati Reds baseball but I did it twice.The first time after Tuesdays loss to the New York Mets. A game the Reds gave away with three recorded errors but realistically five.In fact, the Mets scored eight times but six of those runs were unearned. Thats unheard of, really, in the big leagues.That was my first in-your-mouth experience. And I didnt think it could get any worse.It did.

By Andy Furman. Apparently I'm not getting it at all.Since when did a paid advertisement in a newspaper create a news story?Have I lost you already? OK, let me back up.

By Andy Furman...We waited 11 years.Im guessing the folks who run Kentucky Speedway could have waited another 11, what with the happenings over the weekend.Oh, you hadnt heard?The NASCAR Cup races finally made it to that little track in Sparta, Ky. This after Jerry Carroll, the innovator, had to sell the joint and this after he sued NASCAR for not giving him the NASCAR thriller in the first place.So the race came and it was like pouring 107,000 people into a phone booth.In short, it didnt work.

Notes you wont find anyplace else or you might not want to. OK, so the Reds send their pitcher Edinson Volquez to Louisville for seasoning, rehab, extra work you name it.This cat couldnt get a batter out in the first inning if he threw the baseball out of cannon. And he had the chutzpah check that out to call out his teammates for lack of support after his most disappointing outing to date, Sunday in Cleveland.Oh yeah, almost forgot, the day Volquez goes to Louisville, ironically the Texas Rangers call up Josh Hamilton and he hits a homer. Hey, Im not one to live in the past, but remember Hamilton was traded for, gulp, Volquez.

By Andy Furman...The only people that left Great American Ball Park unhappy Thursday afternoon were members of the media.Thats because they expected Mike Leake the alleged T-shirt thief to speak.He did his talking on the pitchers mound, as he extended his won-loss record to 3-0 as the Reds (finally) beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 7-4.Leake went seven innings in leading the Reds to only their second win in eight games. He allowed three runs and struck out six in his longest outing of the season.But he wouldnt talk about the alleged theft. He said hes been told by his lawyer not to talk about the case.Hes about the only one keeping quiet.

By Andy Furman...Please dont remind me of my bracket I cant wait for Mr. Rumpke to cart it away. And what makes me even more depressed about the bracket Richmond, Va. of all places has become the center of the College Basketball Universe. Imagine that. Little Richmond. What with Virginia Commonwealth University and the A-10 champs, the University of Richmond involved in this weekends Sweet 16, well lets see.There are as many teams in the city of Richmond, Va., as there are competing in the tournament representing the Big East.Yes UConn and Marquette remain for the ever so tough Big East Conference.Remember, the Big East started with 11 teams on selection Sunday.

By Andy Furman... Finally we'll go mad in this town come March. Well, at least in Clifton. Mick Cronin has done a masterful job in leading his UC Bearcats to 11 wins in the monster Big East Conference; and 24 of 31 wins on his schedule. It's been a long-hard road for the diminutive coach who played at LaSalle and waited for his lifetime job with the Bearcats. In fact, things were somewhat shaky until about three weeks ago when they defeated St. John's at Fifth-Third Arena. Then it was a Marquette win on the road, and back-to-back wins against Georgetown - there in D.C. and here last Saturday on Senior Day. Certainly the work is far from done. It's off to Madison Square Garden this week for the oh so tough Big East Tournament, and perhaps a Thursday match against Villanova. Regardless of the outcome, the Bearcats will be on the board sometime Sunday evening when the NCAA field is selected.

By Andy Furman... I heard it ? but I didn?t believe it. Actually, I didn?t want to believe it. It was late, and giving the benefit of the doubt I was dozing off ? but I knew I heard it. It was too obnoxious to miss. Yes, while watching Sports Rock, the Sunday night sports-variety show on TV 5 hosted by Ken Broo and George Vogel I heard it. The media guest was Mo Egger. A sports talker ? or trash talker ? take your pick ? for ESPN 1530 Radio locally. Remember, this was a day after the University of Cincinnati dropped a two-point heartbreaker to St. John?s at Fifth-Third Arena. And it was also in the middle of the Yancy Gates controversy. Gates is the 6-9, 240-pound junior who has had his difficulties on the court with consistency ? and off the court with motivational problems. Gates played only about 13 minutes in the St. John?s loss, and when Broo asked Egger about Gates, well it woke me up from a light sleep. Without hesitation Egger blustered out: ?He?s a bum.?

By Andy Furman... Some super notes for s Super Bowl Week.on ice The nerve. The absolute nerve of him. Seems Paul Daugherty, the man who runs a monopoly on sports columns in the daily Cincinnati Enquirer told us to put Bob Huggins in our rear view mirror. This was told to us via Docs column in the Friday paper a day before Huggins the former University of Cincinnati hoops coach was to meet his former team at Fifth-Third Arena on the campus of the University of Cincinnati.

By Andy Furman... Goodbye Carson. Its not like we want to see you go but the ultimatum you gave your boss Mike Brown just wont fly. It never does. Your teammate Chad Ochocinco tried it two years ago and look where it got him. If youre lost by now, lets catch up. Carson Palmer is the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals. The 4-12 Cincinnati Bengals. And, just the other day Carson through sources stated hed like a trade after eight seasons in Bengaldum. And, if no trade, he would consider retirement.

By Andy Furman... Notes written while watching the snow block my driveway. So the Reds sign Edgar Renteria to a one-year deal. Sounds sexy. Why not? He won the World Series MVP with the San Francisco Giants. End of story. Renteria is 35 years old, and a shortstop a most pressing position on a baseball club. And couple Renteria alongside third baseman Scott Rolen, well youre looking at 70 years of baseball experience.

By Andy Furman... Happy New Year? Are you kidding me? Whats new? I mean if youre a Cincinnati Bengals fan what has changed over the past 20 seasons? Actually it was eight years rolled into some 27 minutes news conference the other afternoon. Its bad enough the fans yes thats us -- the paying consumer, were told nothing. I mean nothing about retaining assistant coaches and nothing about the length of the current head coachs contract. Yes after eight seasons six losing ones -- Marvin Lewis will return as Bengals football coach in 2011 and beyond. Scary? Unreal?

By Andy Furman... Undefeated and not ranked? How can that be? The University of Cincinnati mens basketball team is 11-0 and not ranked. Is it their strength of schedule? Perhaps their opponents. They did defeat a Broadway name foe Oklahoma, Saturday night. On the road. Their latest victim? Miami of Ohio. The Bearcats dumped them but good something like 64-48 and Charlie Coles, the Redhawks coach was the first to say they should be a ranked team. So what gives?

By Andy Furman... Free time does wonders try it some time. While recuperating from my hip surgery I had the opportunity to read, relax, watch some daytime television and listen to the radio. Ah, those know-it-alls on sports talk radio. In fact, the so-called Big One station in town found it necessary to wheel in and they probably did Bob Trumpy, the self-proclaimed Godfather of Sports Talk radio the other evening. I was amused. I was somewhat interested, yet never really entertained. And the Godfather didnt let us down. In the first 10 minutes he went right after Batman and Robin Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens for the lack of success on the 2010 Cincinnati Bengals. In fact, I heard him call the duo, morons.

By Andy Furman... The loss doesnt bother me much for if youre a Bengals fan youve grown numb to them. If youre counting, what was it, 49-31 over the Buffalo Bills? The so-called professional football club falls to a dismal 2-8. They havent won since September. But I can live with that. In fact, we should be celebrating this week. This being the 18th year in the last 20 of a non-winning season in town. Hey, growing up as a kid in Brooklyn, New York I thought the Knicks were bad. But the Bengals top the list. Certainly the worst franchise in sports today. No competition there. The late Wilt Chamberlain would say, We play 82-games-a-year to eliminate the Knicks.

By Andy Furman... I hear the term all the time and quite honestly its driving me nuts. Distraction. Yes, its actually becoming a distraction. I heard it way back when the Bengals were opening pre-season training camp. You did too didnt you? It was all about Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens not showing for voluntary workouts. And then Chad missing time for his stint with Dancing with the Stars. TO and Chad formed a Batman and Robin bond as well as a TV series. Again distraction. To whom? Me? You? The media?

By Andy Furman... Oy vey. What a difference a year makes maybe. Last year the Bengals were riding high at 6-2 and the University of Cincinnati football Bearcats were humming along undefeated. Now, the Bearcats are 3-5 and the Bengals are a sorry 2-6. What happened? I wish I knew. At least the weather is super, agreed? This Bengals situation is a real bummer -- and a question, quite honestly that hasnt been answered in close to 20 seasons. I feel for Marvin Lewis. Hes a good man. He cares for the community. Yet every time he takes that major step towards playoffs he seems to slip. His squads have made the post-season twice in his eight years here. They havent won either playoff test. But hes kept us on edge.

By Andy Furman... Ready to fix those 2-5 Cincinnati Bengals? Ok then, follow me. Sure the penalties are piling up. And why pass on third and long when Cedric Benson can probably bust it. And please TO and Ocho, hang on to the ball and Carson, deliver it to them. Thats when they run the proper routes. And if we can only keep these guys out of sick bay. But theres more. Theres a real way to turn this sinking ship around. Ready? Marvin Lewis is in his eighth year as head coach of your Bengals. And no one can deny that he has changed the mindset and attitude of this franchise. The culture as the sophisticated media likes to call it. Well Uncle Marvin is in the final year of his three-year deal, and hes waiting to re-up. So are we. So are his players.

By Andy Furman... Hey Bearcat football fans not to worry. Sure, your favorite team just got dumped at Nippert by, gulp, South Florida of all people the other evening. And it was a Big East game no less. But if you take a closer look, those Big East coaches who left for so-called greener pastures arent doing much better. Lets take a quick peek at the last UC deserter Brian Kelly. Kelly dumped on UC for Notre Dame, and the last time we looked he was 4-4 with a painful loss to Navy.

By Andy Furman... Two words. Just two words. Thats all you need to know if youre a sports fan in Cincinnati. Disappointed and disgusted. First lets swallow the disappointment with the baseball team. Being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies is disappointing for sure, but when you take in the entire quality of work, this Reds team accomplished wonders this season. That they won 91 ballgames and captured the National League Central Division may be considered a minor miracle for some.

By Andy Furman.... Its over. Yeah the 15-year drought is over your Cincinnati Reds clinched the National league Central Division the other evening and youd have thought it was V-J Day all over again. Oh, youre too young to remember V-J Day? Well, the last time the Reds made it to the post season was in 1995, and it was 20 years ago when they went wire-to-wire to become World Champions. Now that was a long time ago. So after the win the celebration began and it carried over to Fountain Square into the wee hours of the morning. And apparently it carried over to the Reds-Astros game on Wednesday night.

By Andy Furman.... Now before you go one step further, please let me remind you, I believe in Butch Jones. And I am a fan of Butch Jones. Remember those words as you proceed with caution. For those living in a cave, Butch Jones is the first-year football coach at the University of Cincinnati. A position one would run from not too many years ago. Not today not after Brian Kelly. But the ghost of Brian Kelly may be overtaking the first-year coach in Clifton.

By Andy Furman... While most were crying in their beer after the University of Cincinnati dropped their season football opener at Fresno State (28-14) last week, I went in a different direction. As soon as I saw senior Bearcat receiver Vidal Hazelton go down, I knew it was over. Not the game his college career. Hazeltons story is an interesting one. Coming out of high school he was the rated the No. 1 receiver in the country. He enrolled at USC and was their second-leading receiver two years ago. He left the program, sat out the required one season in transferring from one Division I school to another. His UC debut against Fresno State was his first NCAA competition in nearly two years. Against the Bulldogs he caught six passes for 63 yards and then disaster struck. He had torn the ACL in his left knee and would miss the remainder of this, his senior season. Who said life was fair?

By Andy Furman... Notes at summers end that really disturb me So after the Reds defeated the Milwaukee Brewers Monday on a 10th-inning walk off no less what seemed to be on the minds of most media people? Easy the lack of a crowd. Sure the 5-4 extra innings win pushed the Reds to a National League Central Division 6-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. And the anticipation of the Cuba Missile aka Aroldis Chapman was due in town the next day. But media people wondered why only 14,589 were in attendance Monday night at the Great American Ball Park. This bothers me to no end.

By: Andy Furman.... So Pete and the Cincinnati Reds finally get the best of both worlds on the same night. September 11th is the 25th anniversary of THE HIT 4,192 when Pete connected at then Riverfront Stadium off then Eric Show of the San Diego Padres. Yes, its been 25 short years. And it seems the only party to actually remember the event was the kind folks at Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Inc. Seems Tony Rodio, the sharp GM of the joint contacted Pete from the get-go and set this date up for a roast months ago. The roast will include several of the Big Red Machine members, and the cost a mere $200 per person. Then the Reds got in the act. They wanted to honor Pete at Great American Ball Park on the same night and then, well, you can say all hell broke loose.

By Andy Furman...OK Brandon Phillips, we all know you hate the St. Louis Cardinals. But why did you have to tell the entire planet? Phillips, the good-natured all-star second baseman for the Cincinnati Reds opened mouth to insert foot Tuesday when he went off against the NL Central Division rival Cardinals. I hate them, he said. Theyre cry babies. Theyre a bunch of bitches. All they do is cry like little bitches. Ouch. Why, Brandon, why?

By Andy Furman..... Notes scribbled in sweat and cigar ash because its just too hot to do anything else..... So the big story the other day was Lou Piniella retiring from baseball after this season. For the ones who havent left their man cave, well Sweet Lou is in his fourth season managing the hapless Cubs of Chicago. Lou won the World Championship managing the Reds here in 1990. Hes a baseball lifer; played like a warrior for the Yankees; and managed the same way. But Hall of Fame; for Lou? Im not so sure.

By Andy Furman George Steinbrenner passes and the world stops at least in New York City. But lets face it; The Boss who took over the New York Yankees in 1973 made them a true world-wide brand. I often wonder what would have happened if he was able to purchase his childhood dream the Cleveland Indians. Yet, fans in New York adored him because he made the Yankees a winner. He was despised around the country simply out of jealousy.

By Andy Furman Disgusting really. Downright pathetic. No, Im not talking about Joey Vottos omission from the All-Star Game but well get to that later. Im talking about the LeBron Derby. Im talking about grown executives flying to Akron, Ohio to ask make that beg LeBron to take their cash. Oh, if you hadnt heard, King James, aka LeBron is a free agent. He became one July 1st.By Andy Furman Disgusting really. Downright pathetic. No, Im not talking about Joey Vottos omission from the All-Star Game but well get to that later. Im talking about the LeBron Derby. Im talking about grown executives flying to Akron, Ohio to ask make that beg LeBron to take their cash. Oh, if you hadnt heard, King James, aka LeBron is a free agent. He became one July 1st.

BY ANDY FURMAN Notes written during an outdoor steam bath. The Darryl (Doc) Rodgers story is a tragic one. If you hadnt heard, the former Cincinnati Reds front-office executive has contracted Stage 4 lung cancer. He even went so far to tell his radio listeners of his fate after the Reds ballgame Sunday afternoon. It was teary, gut wrenching and probably not the best subject-matter for listeners ears on a Fathers Day. So be it.

By Andy Furman... Notes compiled while trying to find a dry piece of paper. Dhani Jones. Chad Ochocinco. Pick your weapons. Take your sides. Both have missed the Cincinnati Bengals voluntary workouts. Both have been gone under the same guise. And one has been bashed by not only the media but his own teammate. Take a guess? Easy Chad. Dhani Jones, the quarterback of the defense. The starting middle linebacker has been out of town taping his show for the Travel Network. Hes toured the world, been commended for it and quite honestly has been given a free pass. The pass issued, of course, by the fans and media. And even his teammates.

By Andy Furman.... So alls well that ends well we guess. Seems umpire Jim Joyce, who blew a call that cost Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game, says hes impressed with all the support hes gotten since his blunder. And what about Galarraga perhaps the most famous non no-hitter in baseball history. In fact, General Motors presented him with a new red Corvette the following day. Last week, Joyce got the call wrong on what would have been the final out of Galarragas perfect game. Replays later showed he missed the call, and Joyce admitted he blew it.

Stop already, please. Please stop asking, Are the Reds for real? How do I know? What I do know, is I enjoy what I see and perhaps they can make a run for it. Maybe a Wild Card spot but it is only June. Right?

By Andy Furman... Hold everything. Sometimes and not very often a story gets lodged in your mind and you just cant let it go. Such was the story the other day with Mardy Gilyard. Yes, that Mardy Gilyard, the former University of Cincinnati footballer and now a pro with the NFLs St. Louis Rams. Gilyard was a victim. Gilyard was held up at gunpoint near Jefferson Avenue, right around the corner from the UC campus. First question why would anyone ride around Clifton at night? To take your life in your hands in Clifton at night is as dumb as a one-legged contestant on Dancing with the Stars. To be blunt Clifton at night stinks.

By Andy Furman So why is baseball in trouble? Why is it in a Crisis Mode? Simple even a fifth-grader can give you the answers. If not, I will. First there are no real superstars in baseball. And, if they are, we havent heard of em. When the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers last week to win the Eastern Conference semi-finals in the NBA playoffs, the win for Boston was overshadowed by LeBron James. King James was bigger than the game itself. He was the story. Not the Celtics.

By: Andy Furman..... The weekend of the Civil Rights Game has come and gone. Thank goodness. Perhaps John Erardi of the Cincinnati Enquirer said it best the other day Baseball has an image problem. No kidding. And the Civil Rights weekend didnt do much tio fix it but give the Reds and Major League Baseball an A for effort. The game of baseball originally helped break down segregation when Jackie Robinson broke in with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He was the first Black baseball player to sign a major league contract and play in the show.

By Andy Furman Lets go back to Mothers Day for a few minutes. Mothers Day at the Great American Ball Park. A wonderful afternoon in the sun with mom, watching the Reds topple the dreaded Chicago Cubs thanks to a late-inning Joey Votto home run. Im not real big on attendance numbers. Certainly when the numbers are released by Major League Baseball and the totals are down across the board, well then thats an issue. Thats a cause for discussion. Yes, weve talked about the Reds attendance this season down a peg from a year-ago. And of course there are various reasons. And honestly I could care less since I dont get a cut of the gate.

By Andy Furman... The legacy of Dusty Baker. The third-year Cincinnati Reds baseball manager his legacy, quite simply is in the hands of one Brandon Phillips. In fact, Dustys future rests with Phillips short and sweet. How the manager can control and motivate the second baseman to hustle and play hard all the time is the key to Dustys return in 2011. Not wins or losses. And since this team is probably no better than a .500 team at best, Dustys relationship with Phillips looms large.

By Andy Furman... The more I read about players both locally and nationally the more I have my doubts. Lets start on the local level with our pro teams specifically the Reds. For years we were told, and read, and pounded by the house-men-based media that Brandon Phillips should be the so-called face of the franchise. Why? His Smile?

By Andy Furman... I waited and its finally over. Yes, the NFL draft is finally over. And two things really irk me first, the mock drafts prior to the proceedings and second, the grading of the draft selections. Useless and stupid. And a complete waste of time. But dont tell that to the American public. For the first time in the 75 years of the NFL draft, this years was a prime-time event, complete with red carpet. And the TV ratings went through the roof. But back to mock drafts. Mock drafts are for geeks. And those that grade the draft belong on the Geek Squad. I mean get a life. How can one possibly judge a player before he even plays a down in the NFL? Do they judge the NBA draft? Do they grade baseballs amateur draft? Time to wake-up and get along with your lifes work as the late Paul Brown would say upon cutting one of his Cincinnati Bengals when he coached them.

By Andy Furman... Today we thank Mike Brown. Yes, that Mike Brown. Today we realize that yes, Mike Brown, President and General Manager of the Cincinnati Bengals gets it. On the heels of the six-game suspension of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Brown shines. Roethlisberger didnt break the law. His suspension comes from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He broke the leagues code of conduct. You remember that little escapade in the Georgia bar with a college co-ed. If you hadnt noticed, the NFL isnt about morals. It isnt about good guys. Coaches arent given contract extensions for good behavior. Its all about winning.

By Andy Furman... The Reds did something that many baseball teams could never do get swept by the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Yes, its true my friends. After winning their first two on the road trip against the Marlins in Florida, they dropped their next five and three-in-a-row to the Bucos. Wow bet you didnt think that could ever happen. Bet the Bucs never thought it could happen either. The name of the opponent may change, but the script is the same. In fact, the Reds starting pitchers havent earned a win yet. The team is 5-8 with the Dodgers coming to town for three, starting Tuesday night. Bad starting pitching, too many pitches thrown and missed opportunities.

By Andy Furman... Touching the Bases after the first week of Reds Baseball. Ill take it. Even-up three- and-three after a 3-1 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs Sunday at Great American Ball Park. Consider this. An oh and two start facing predicted National League Central champ St. Louis the first three ballgames. And facing perhaps the top-two right-handers in the National League Chris Carpenter and the Wainright. Kid. Im impressed.

Has baseball taken a back seat in Cincinnati? To basketball? How can it be? Opening Day and the lead and only columnist for the newspaper of record The Cincinnati EnquirerPaul Daugherty was penning a column from Indianapolis. The site of the NCAA championship basketball game. And guess what? There isnt even a team from our town in the event. How can it be? Opening Day and the main columnist missed it. The Cincinnati Enquirer missed it. Is it a sign of the times? Sure, the Butler story is a script out of the movie Hoosiers. But Opening Day, baseball in Cincinnati is a religion. A way of life. How can this be? Has baseball lost interest in? In the media no less?

By Andy Furman... The bad taste still remains for Xavier basketball fans after that gut-wrenching 101-96 double-overtime loss to Kansas State in the NCAA Regionals. A win, a re-match with Butler and perhaps a Final Four appearance for the X-men. It didnt happen. Perhaps it wasnt meant to be. But all along those University of Cincinnati fans and players -- were on the sidelines watching the action. The Bearcats ended the season in fitting fashion.

By Andy Furman... If I heard it once, I heard it 100 times the past few days. After Xavier defeated Minnesota in their first-round NCAA game, the talk was simply Xavier coach Chris Mack outcoached Minnesotas Tubby Smith. Today, they talk of Northern Iowas Ben Jacobson outcoaching Bill Self from Kansas. To those who suggest that I gag. I laughed at first, but then I realized its the same goofballs that hit the internet, start websites to fire coaches and quite simply have no clue. Its stupid. Tubby Smith is a Hall of Fame coach. Hes won a national title at Kentucky. To suggest he outcoached anyone or was outcoached is way off base. Why you ask? Its all about players.

By Andy Furman... A-Rod,Derek Jeter,Shaq,Kobe cant forget LeBron. And now throw in Tiger. What do they all have in common? Great athletes. And what else? Star power. These guys are stars. Call them rock stars if you will. And that Paul Daugherty might complain on his Cincinnati.com blog about Tigers con game to return to the Masters, lets face it golf needs him.

By Andy Furman.... Were not here today to mourn a University of Cincinnati heartbreaking basketball loss and it was a heartbreaker. A 54-51 buzzer-beater against West Virginia Thursday night. Todays a day to think of UC sophomore Dion Dixon. With six-plus seconds to go in a tie ballgame at Madison Square Garden, well, the best way to say it he coughed it up. He booted the ball on a dribble. Turned it over to the Mountaineers and bang, DaSean Butler banked one in at the buzzer a threefor the win. But back to Dixon.

By Andy Furman..... Re-Tread. Used tire? Antonio Bryant answers to that. Hes the newest Cincinnati Bengal. A wide-receiver who had his last chance in Tampa Bay with the Bucs. Last year he was reduced to 39 catches, 600 yards and only four touchdowns. OKhe was coming off a torn cartilage operation in his left knee. Again used tire.

By Andy Furman.... They were hanging in the rafters the other evening at the Fifth-Third Center, in Shoemaker Center on Ed Jucker Court. Wow, was that a mouthful. No, not the fans they werent hanging the banners. March Sadness. Go Mick Go. And if they could, they probably would have hung the fourth-year Cincinnati basketball coach along with them.

By Andy Furman.....There's good news for the Mick Cronin haters. This could be Cronins last year on the bench as basketball coach for the University of Cincinnati.

By Andy Furman.... Tiger Woods has found himself in the rough and it looks like he wont be getting out anytime soon. His 13 minute cry for help Friday didnt answer many if any questions as his prepared statement tried to apologize to the golf world for his misdeeds. First, let us remember he didnt break the law. He broke our trust by cheating on his wife.

By Andy Furman It was Valentines Day alright more like the Valentines Day Massacre. And you wanna know why? No football. It was the first non-football Sunday since, say around early August. And people couldnt handle it. So you know what they did? They all piled in their cars and headed to the movies. No kidding. The cinema was packed. How do I know? I circled the new joint in Florence for almost 45-minutes just to get a parking spot. When I finally did, I missed the first 15-minutes of Avatar, didnt have the glasses to view the flick and so I left early.

Mick Cronin, the University of Cincinnati basketball coach said hes happy with the effort his team displays. The few fans that seem to show-up at Fifth Third Arena disagree. Those that remained after Sundays 71-54 loss to Big East rival Syracuse, were either booing, or wearing orange for the Cuse. Yes, its getting that bad for the 14-9 Bearcats, who dropped to 5-6 in league play. And it doesnt seem things will be getting better anytime soon. Road games at West Virginia and Georgetown. Villanova at home all may mean no post-season NCAA berth for the fourth-year coach. Wowfour years. How long does it take to build a winning basketball program?

By Andy Furman Today its a little bit about me. I return to local radio, Monday February 8th on Real Talk 1160 (WQRT-AM), daily from 5-7. If its anything like riding a bike, I shouldnt have a problem picking myself up and taking off where I left off. People keep asking me, what will you do controversial, or middle of the road? My answer is simply this Ill be myself, as always. I never tried to bait callers, and certainly I never had prank phone calls. In fact, I refuse to let my call screener tell me the subject matter of the caller. Whats the purpose? Sports talk on radio is simply a free-flowing exchange of ideas and opinions. And when passion gets in the way of fact, wow its like a powder keg.

By Andy Furman.... What irony. The New York Jets defeat the Chargers Sunday in San Diego and now play the Colts in Indy for the AFC Championship. Now, if only the Colts didnt hold back those players against the Jets earlier this season, well, perhaps the Jets like the Bengals would be watching the action on TV. Marvin Lewis gets Coach of the Year honors from the Associated Press. Good for him. And lucky the votes were tallied before Rex Ryan and his Jets went into playoff orbit. Call me a skeptic, but if this Cuban defector, Aroldis Chapman was that good hed have a contract with the Yankees, Dodgers, and Mets? OK give the Reds credit. They didnt sign any free agents Josh Anderson was their biggie, a .230 hitter.

By Andy Furman..... The only real surprise in the Bengals 24-14 playoff loss to the New York Jets Saturday night at Paul Brown Stadium was they were favorites to win. Just a week earlier, those same Jets spanked the Bengals 37-zip, so why would the locals be favorites? Home game? Perhaps. It just didnt make any sense. And now for further review. The Bengals were 4-5 in their last nine ballgames. The AFC North Division champs did beat Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice -- but face it, this was a down year for the Steelers. As for the Ravens, they advanced with their win over New England Sunday, and another battle with the Bengals this year may have been a disaster for the locals.

By Andy Furman.... Biggest loser between Jets-Bengals in their Sunday night showdown? Easy. Seems the Jets banned alcohol sales during the ballgame, as they did for their 2007 season finale. That prompted Majorska Vodka Company to call for sports fans to boycott Johnson and Johnson products for 24 hours. Wood Johnson, the Jets owner, is an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune. Majorska Vokdka, which is based in New Jersey, said the Jets one-game ban on alcohol could cost the company more than $100,000 in revenue.

By Andy Furman.... It appears the Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs apparently do have something in common they were the only two NFL clubs that did not have representation on the All-Pro squad. A snub? Perhaps. More like a slap in the face, but like Marvin Harrison, the ex-Colts receiver recently stated on NBCs Football Night in America The Bengals are frauds. His claim what playoff teams have they defeated? Green Bay for one. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are on hold. Maybe hes on to something.

By Andy Furman... Losing to the San Diego Chargers wasnt the only bad news for the Bengals Sunday. Sure the last-second 27-24 heartbreaker must have made the plane ride home longer than usual, but the fact that the Baltimore Ravens won, well, the Bengals will have to hold the champagne for their Division clinching till at least this Sunday. They play the Kansas City Chiefs in the regular season finale at Paul Brown Stadium. And, wait just a minute it isnt a gimmie.

By Andy Furman.... Picking up the egg shells on a Tuesday morning. Pathetic. Just plain pathetic. A coach packs his bags for his dream job and his house gets pelted with eggs. Pathetic. Just as soon as University of Cincinnati football coach Brian Kelly left for his dream job at the University of Notre Dame, some hoodlums decided it would be fun to pelt his Terrace Park home with eggs.

By Andy Furman.... Every once in a while a guy rides into this town on a white horse, gets everyone in a lather and then puff rides into the sunset. Weve seen it after Lou Piniella led the Reds to a wire-to-wire World Championship as manager of the Cincinnati reds in 1990. Pete Gillen led Xavier University basketball from the dreaded Midwestern Conference and paved the way for an on-campus arena. Skip Prosser, rest his soul, took Xavier to heights we thought we could never see. Thad Matter kept the ball rolling even though he was here for a cup of coffee.

By Andy Furman.... Tough? The Big East in basketball. Try this. Every single team in this league has a winning record. Only the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) can boast that today. And, what about Mick Cronin and his UC Bearcats? After spanking Texas Southern Tuesday night theyre in Houston if youre wondering they move to 5-1 and were ranked 22nd in the nation this week. Quite a way from the early Cronin days when those loudmouths said he couldnt coach. Funny how a few wins can change a mindset.

By Andy Furman Cincinnatis gotta be the only city in America that prays to keep coaches when they win. Now losing is another story we want them gone just like any other burg. Take Dave Shula for example it was ugly during his reign as Bengals coach. In fact, he once told me it got so bad his wife couldnt go out in public, and his kids got it pretty good in school. But Brian Kelly is another story. Hes loved. Hes charismatic. Hes a charmer. But the most important thing about Brian Kelly he wins.

By Andy Furman.... Bring em all in. First Larry Johnson now Joey Galloway. The Bengals picked Larry Johnson, the beleaguered Kansas City Chiefs running back off the scrap heap and signed him to a deal Tuesday. Now, theres talk of bringing in former Ohio State receiver Joey Galloway. Whos next? Charles Manson? OK Im only kidding. And why would I want to upset the Bengals Bandwagon? Winning supersedes everything. Yes, everything. Background checks. Rap sheets. Bad attitudes. Winning is a cure all. Hey, maybe they should bottle it and use it for an anecdote for H1N1. With the Bengals winning Coach Marvin Lewis will haul anyone in here. Hey, he needs reinforcements for the troops. His bellcow running back Cedric Benson has a thigh injury and to get to the playoffs theyll need a horse. No one ever said Larry Johnson couldnt run. He was runner-up to the Heisman Trophy at Penn State to his new teammate Carson Palmer.

By Andy Furman.... Why all of a sudden does the University of Cincinnati announce it plans on borrowing $9.7 million to start construction on athletic practice fields on its main campus? Any guesses? The spin which was placed in the morning paper To keep Our Football Coach. Theyre almost correct. The announcement was made today because its more than trying to keep their football coach Brian Kelly its trying to keep a program which was born again under Kelly. And more than that, I believe without any evidence -- that not only is Notre Dame looking heavily at Kelly. I believe Notre Dame has already made their decision.

By Andy Furman..... Forget Chili Town Cincinnati is now Football Town USA. After the Bengals 18-12 slugfest win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday the curse has been lifted. The Bengals lead the AFC North all alone in first place. By defeating the Steelers twice this season a first since 1988 the Bengals now appear to be in the drivers seat en route to a playoff berth.

The good news items coming from the University of Cincinnatis 47-45 win over visiting Connecticut Saturday night at sold-out Nippert Stadium were several. The obvious keeping their record perfect at 9-0 and a clean slate at 6-0 in the Big East Conference. The sell-out make that the largest crowd ever to witness a game at Nippert -- some 35,100 screaming fans aided by a vocal student section had to please UC administrators. And, the set-up for this Fridays match-up with conference foe West Virginia at Nippert only keeps the momentum rolling.

By Andy Furman..... So sports couldnt even keep Veterans Day pure. Everyone gets into the act. First the Bengals thanks to Krogers help distributes tickets to Veterans to help preserve their sell-out Sunday against Baltimore. Many local restaurants are giving away free meals to vets today and now Xavier University for fear of empty seats for their home opener against Youngstown State Friday, has even gotten into the act. Hey, this isnt a shot against our vets I love em. They preserve our way of life. God bless them all. But the politically correct people in athletics and advertising are taking advantage of the day the true meaning of the day.

By Andy Furman.... So when was the last time the Cincinnati Bengals started a season winning six of their first eight? Easy if youre pushing Baby Boomer status-- some 21 years ago that would be 1988, a, gulp, Super Bowl season. A generation lost for sure. But not now. The Bengals won their sixth and second over the visiting Baltimore Ravens Sunday, 17-7 at Paul Brown Stadium. And, honestly, it wasnt that close. Are the Bengals that good? Cedric Benson -- for the second time this season ran for over 100 yards against a tough Ravens defense. But forget the stats, and the score. Theres something bigger brewing here in our town.

By Andy Furman..... Some bye-week musings. It took three years, but the main-stream media finally got it right. Three years ago I was dismissed from my sports talk show on WLW a position I held for some 18 years. The main-stream media took an on-air blow-up with former Bengal receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and myself then under suspension and surmised my termination was the result of same.

Hey, did you hear it? ESPN analyst Bob Griese apologized at the end of the Ohio State-Minnesota football game for a remark he made about the Nascar driver Juan Pablo Montoya. Earlier in the telecast, during a promotion for coverage of Nascars Chase for the Championship, a graphic listed the top five drivers in the point race. Grieses fellow analyst Chris Spielman asked where Montoya, who is Colombian, was. Griese replied that he was out having a taco. As the telecast was wrapping up, Griese apologized for the remark and said that Montoya was one of the best drivers in NASCAR. In a statement released later, ESPN called the remark inappropriate.

By Andy Furman Wouldnt you know it a USC kid just had to do the Bengals in? And a defensive player no less. The Bengals have enjoyed their USC connection in recent years. Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback Carson Palmer. This year linebacker Rey Maualuga was an added Trojan and he joins fellow linebacker Keith Rivers and defensive end Frostee Rucker. But Sunday it was Brian Cushing who not only ruined the Bengals bid for their fifth win but stopped the late-game heroics and heart pumping. Yes Cushing is a USC grad.

By Andy Furman...... The University of Cincinnati will meet St. Johns in the Worlds Most Famous Arena Madison Square Garden Wednesday, January 13th in a 7 p.m., Big East tip-off, CinciPulse.com learned today. It will be a homecoming of sorts for UC super freshman, Lance Stephenson who played his high school basketball at Brooklyns Lincoln High School. The Bearcats will be the first-half of doubleheader. Fordham will square-off against Dayton in the second game, with a tip-off approximately 9:20 p.m.

By Andy Furman...... It must be a typo. The University of Cincinnatis undefeated football team (5-0) is ranked ahead of The Ohio State University in this weeks Associated Press poll. The Bearcats are ranked 8th and the Buckeyes, at 4-1, are ninth. Maybe its a dream. It must be, since I fell asleep watching the Bengals finally defeat the Browns, 23-20 Sunday afternoon.

By Andy Furman..... While most of you were basking in the sun, or beer after the Bengals finally beat the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday if you missed it the score was 23-20 in a thriller at Paul Brown Stadium, the real sports minds in the community viewed the bigger picture. At just about the same time the Bengals were to kick-off to the Steelers downtown, the Reds dropped a 3-2 decision to the Astros in Houston. And with the loss, the Reds marked a ninth-consecutive losing season seven straight in the new not-so-friendly confines of Great American Ball Park. Hey, Im not here to sub for Debbie Downer. The Bengals win was a tremendous come-from-behind inspirational effort.

By Andy Furman....I dont usually ask for much really I dont. Sure, I may rant and rave about our sports teams pro or college -- dont you? But I rarely if ever ask for much. Not that I expect anything in return. Except for now. I am personally asking a plea to all forms of media in this town to allow Bengals and their fans alike to savor their Sunday 31-24 win over the Green Bay Packers in historic Lambeau Field. This may in fact be a harder task than one would imagine since this week will be dubbed Steeler Week. Yes, the defending Super Bowls champs, those dreaded Pittsburgh Steelers will perform in Paul Brown Stadium, Sunday.

By Andy Furman.....One of these days years Carson Palmer will wake up and realize the mess he inherited the day he traded his Heisman Trophy for a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was college football at USC. He had at all the looks, the arm and the wins. Whats left for No. 9? Sure, hes got a fat contract from Uncle Mike Brown some $16 million and the looks are there. Hes got a wife and a set of twins, but what he lacks are the wins.

By Andy Furman.... If Aaron Rodgers isnt the best NFL quarterback entering this season, then I dont know who is. Rogers is a great story. Entering his fifth-season with the Green Bay Packers, and passing for over 4,000 yards last season, his road to the NFL wasnt easy. He attended Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, Calif., starting for two years and garnering 4,421 passing yards. He set single-game records of six touchdowns and 440 all-purpose yards. Rodgers also set a single season record with 2,466 total yards. Yet for all his accolades he garnered little interest from Division I programs only one offer, that of a walk-on, from the University of Illinois. He declined the Illinois invitation in order to attend Butte College.

By Andy Furman........ Doug Ramsey, the Elder High School football coach, placed a phone call to Dean Gregory a day before his football team was scheduled to play Colerain High School on an ESPN national stage. Id like for you to be on our sideline for the game, Ramsey told Gregory, the Ribs King and owner of the Montgomery Inn Boathouse. There was a reason for Ramseys request. This was more than a football game it was a battle of restaurateurs.

Nevada and Western Michigan. The nation shows its eyes on you at least this Saturday. The University of Nevada invades Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. for their football opener and Western Michigan visits the big house to tangle Michigan. And both those games will go a long, long way in determining the future for coaches at the home institutions. This season marks the fifth for Irish coach Charlie Weis, and hes already been getting some heat. Apparently theres a billboard not far from his office which reads: Best Wishes to Charlie Weis in his fifth season of internship. Ouch.

By Andy Furman Chad Johnson excuse us Chad Ochocinco got the scoop. But it was Mike Brown who won. Andre Smith, the heralded number one draft selection from the University of Alabama came to terms sometime pofficially last Sunday afternoon with the Cincinnati Bengals. Ochocinco had the scoop some 24 hours earlier. All you had to do was catch it on Twitter. But Mike Brown held all the cards, and Smith and his so-called agent Alvin Keels obviously cracked after almost a month on the sidelines. Lets face it; the big fella has gots to eat. And is he big. Marvin Lewis, Bengals coach, said all the right things after the signingWere happy to have in the fold, happy hes here, glad to have him in camp. But will he be in game shape when the Bengals host the Indianapolis Colts Thursday night at Paul Brown Stadium? Again, Marvin dodged that like a bullet well see as the week progresses, he told us...

By Andy Furman Perhaps theyre down on the sports totem-pole locally; the Florence Freedom members of the Frontier League got some national kudos recently in Baseball America. Florence, Ky. Placed 87th nationally as a top minor league city. The list contained some 237 minor league cities and ballparks. The Freedom, by the way, closes out their 2009 home season Thursday, September 3rd.

Carson Palmer will be on the sidelines when the Bengals meet the St. Louis Rams, Thursday night at Paul Brown Stadium. And, can you blame him? Nope its not a choice he has a sprained left ankle suffered during the first quarter of the Bengals Aug. 14th pre-season curtain-raiser in New Orleans, against the Saints.

Brett Favre turns 40 in October and Im already celebrating. Hell be quarterbacking the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs, while others his age will be whining on their couch. Favre completed his on-again-off-again retirement the other day and parlayed that into a $12-million plus deal to work for the Vikings. And, its a perfect match. After 17 years in Green Bay and one in New York with the Jets, Favre seems to be the perfect addition to take Minnesota to the Promised Land.

Hal McCoys run as a Cincinnati Reds beat reporter may not be over. CinciPulse.com has learned McCoy has been talking with the Cincinnati Enquirer. The Dayton Daily News, his employer for the last 37 years informed McCoy two weeks ago they would no longer travel and cover the Reds. At that time McCoy said he would retire.

The confused state of the Cincinnati sports complex never was as evident as in the past few days. For example, after the lowly Washington Nationals came to town and swept the Reds three-of-four, the chant was for the return of Adam Dunn. Remember, Dunn played for the Reds from 2001 through last season, and now is a member of the Nats truly the worst team in major league baseball. By the way, in Sundays 5-4 win over the locals, Dunn was on-base four times Then, there was the Michael Vick scenario. The debate wasnt whether the NFL should extend his punishment after his stay in jail not at all.

Rick Pitino, basketball coach at the University of Louisville had consensual sex with Karen Cunagin Sypher at a Louisville restaurant. Thats what he told police. Seems he was at a Louisville restaurant in 2003 and was drinking, and He also told police that he later gave Sypher $3,000 to have an abortion, this, too, according to Louisville Metro Police reports, which were obtained by the Courier-Journal. Sounds like a made-for-TV series to me. Wheres Bob Huggins when you need him? It was Huggins who got the heave-ho from the University of Cincinnati, as basketball coach some four years ago for a DUI charge. Huggins broke the law. Pitino broke a trust. Months ago, when this Pitino rumor started making the rounds, the word Pitinos camp used was he made contact with Sypher. Suddenly, its now consensual sex.

Hes not dead so stop shedding those tears. Hal McCoy, the veteran Hall of Fame baseball writer for the Dayton Daily News announced the other day, that this his 37th season covering the Reds - would be his last. Apparently, management at the paper will not cover the Reds -- home or away next season. They just cant afford the more than quarter of a million dollars a year to send me coast to coast, McCoy wrote on his blog.

Hes everywhere. Last Thursday, University of Cincinnati football coach Brian Kelly found his audience in Glendale at The Lyceum. Oh you never heard of the Glendale Lyceum? Oh you never heard of the Glendale Lyceum? Its a private member-driven social club located in the historic district of Glendale. Dont blink or youll miss it. Founded in the 1882, the object of incorporation of the founding members was to promote higher education, social and friendly relations among members and to provide literary, musical and social entertainment for members and the Village of Glendale and its vicinity. Kelly delivered.

David Ortiz was the most valuable player for the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 American League Championship series. Many Ramirez was the M.V.P. of the World Series. Last week both names were connected to having tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003. Now the question must be asked whos next? Derek Jeter? Albert Pujols? Alex Rodriguez was among players tested positive in a February SI.com report. He subsequently admitted to using a performance-enhancing drug from 2001 to 2003. And there were the admitted users, like Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti. Most recently, Bronson Arroyo, the Reds pitcher who went public last week in the Boston Herald. At this point in time, either fans could care less about players doping or theyre numb to it. Whats really created from this mess not who did it but whos next?

One is a fan who never should have been an owner. The other is an owner but probably should be a fan. Thats the story of pro sports in our town.

WHAT DOES ANDY FURMAN HAVE TO SAY ABOUT PETE ROSE? READ ALL ABOUT IT ON "SMOKE RINGS"