I'm taking a vacation from the blog for about 10 days....'cuz I'm headed to Hawaii!!  In the meantime, enjoy the intro to Hawaii 5.0.  Stay classy...

        

WOW...just WOW...if you didn't get chills watching Aroldis Chapman last night, you need to check your pulse.  A night where the Reds took care of business AGAIN, the Cuban Phenom lived up to all expectations.  It wasn't even fair...the Brewers hitters did not stand a chance.  If so pumped to watch him the rest of the season...and into the playoffs!

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Arroyo: "We've got the Usain Bolt of baseball"
Tom Groeschen, Enquirer
Aroldis Chapman and his $30.25 million left arm blazed into Cincinnatiin full 103-mph glory Tuesday night, in a major league debut that hadGreat American Ball Park going fully gaga. Cameras flashed throughoutthe stadium as Chapman entered the game in the eighth inning, andChapman unleashed several lasers that topped 100 mph. The Cubanleft-hander topped out at 102 mph on the ballpark video board in hismajor league debut, and 103 mph as listed online by the MLB.com gametracker. Regardless, Chapman exceeded his own hype by essentiallyblowing away three Milwaukee batters in one inning of work, as the Redswon 8-4. Chapman struck out one and induced two routine groundouts.

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Chapman electrifying in dominant debut
Mark Schmetzer, Reds.com
The fans who couldn't find space on the walkway overlooking the Cincinnati bullpen lined the railing of the steps adjacent to it. Many had their cell phones out, snapping photos of the next Reds reliever. They acted as if they'd never seen a pitcher capable of reaching 105 mph on the radar gun. And if they hadn't seen Aroldis Chapman pitch before Tuesday night, this was their first time. 

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Reds learning to take the extra base
P-Doc, Enquirer
The telling weekend series against the Cubs ended fittingly. With the game tied in the 8th, Chris Heisey barreled from first base to third, on a one-out single to right field by Ramon Hernandez. Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome has a good arm, but his head wasn’t believing Heisey would take an extra base with less than two outs.  Fukudome hesitated. His throw sailed into the Cubs dugout. Heisey was allowed to score the eventual winning run. This is why the 2010 Reds are in first place. 

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Cards blanked again
St Louis Post Dispatch
Something the Cardinals had never done in the first 14 seasons with Tony La Russa as manager has now happened twice this season to a team that seems alarmingly capable of letting it happen again, too.

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Another MVP for Albert? Not so fast
St Louis Post Dispatch
I?l lvote for Votto on both counts. The Reds are a tremendous story this season. Votto?s pivotal role in this breakout should make him the landslide MVP. Pujols is having an epic season and could well win the Triple Crown. But he is the leader of a team that died inexplicably down the stretch. This isn?t a vote for best player, it?s the vote for most valuable--- so the guy that helps his team actually win something should always almost get the nod. Long term, I see Votto doing monstrous things in that ballpark now that he has moved past his off-field emotional struggles.

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Lessons learned about the Bengals
Ludwig at Large

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Standoff at kickoff
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
Special teams coach Darrin Simmons says it is too close to call. After all the practices at steamy Paul Brown Stadium and sweltering Georgetown College, all the individual sessions, all the simulated game situations, it comes down to four air-conditioned quarters in Indy and even then Simmons say it’s “a gut call.” Even then, Simmons won’t rule out getting a third guy off the waiver wire Saturday. That won’t be as easy as it was when the Bengals picked off Shayne Graham in ’03 because they were first in line to claim waivers and now they’re 21st, but it is an option because there will be some free-agent veterans looming.

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Lewis puts Bryant issue behind him
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
Said Lewis on Tuesday: “It was a good time for the football team to put this (behind us) because it was going to be a bone of contention and speculation and all the things it stirred up. I thought the timing would be right to put it behind us and focus on this week and then the Patriots (in the opener Sept. 12) which is the most important thing.” Since Bryant’s release, questions have been raised about whether or not he has a future in the league. While some are wondering how Bryant could have passed a physical, no one had access to his medical records from Tampa Bay.

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Bengals medical team under fire.... For the second straight day the Bengals medical staff has come under fire for treatment of a player. With fans and league observers wondering how the club could have passed Antonio Bryant on a physical despite a history of knee troubles, the case of how the Bengals are handling the case of linebacker Rashad Jeanty might raise more flags.

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UC Football to unveil new-look defense
Bill Koch, Enquirer
Everything that happens Saturday during the Bearcats’ season-opener at Fresno State will be eye-opening for first-year University of Cincinnati coach Butch Jones as he sees his new team in a game situation for the first time. But Jones seems especially eager to see how his defense performs. “I’m excited to see what they can do,” Jones said Tuesday.

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Cyclones return blue-liner O'Hanley.....The 2010 Kelly Cup Champion Cincinnati Cyclones, proud affiliate of the NHL’s Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators, announced today that they have agreed to terms with defenseman Brian O’Hanley for the 2010-11 season. The third-year defenseman will begin his second full season with the Cyclones.  Last year, he appeared in 70 regular-season games netting 7 goals and 21 assists.  In January, 2010, O’Hanley ranked third among all ECHL players with a +11 plus/minus rating.  During the Kelly Cup Playoffs, he played in all 24 contests, finishing second among Cyclones defensemen with eight points (3 goals, 5 assists).

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NSFW language.....

        

        

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Bell tower plays Lady Gaga....

        

Bengals cut Bryant
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
Without ever donning the No. 19 he received after giving up No. 81 to Terrell Owens, wide receiver Antonio Bryant was released by the Bengals on Sunday in ending their most disappointing chapter ever in free agency.  Also released was hometown long snapper Mike Windt, the rookie free agent out of Elder High School and the University of Cincinnati. Safety Gibril Wilson was put on season-ending injured reserve with a torn ACL and MCL, but the Bengals still have to make a move with two more players to get to 75 players on the roster by Tuesday.

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More on Bryant cut
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
A series of ill-advised decisions didn't give Antonio Bryant the time he needed to come back from a lingering knee injury.  The veteran receiver was released by the Bengals Sunday, confirming speculation that the team would part ways with him and ending a short yet costly five-month tenure. It ended up being one of the most expensive decisions in the team's 43 seasons of existence. Without playing a down, Bryant made $6.95 million via a $3.6 million roster bonus, $3.1 million roster bonus which was paid on March 21 and $250,000 for taking part in the team's offseason workout program.

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Bryant saga strange from the start
James Walker, ESPN
How do you explain signing a major free agent  and then cutting him before he plays a game? In one word: strange. The Cincinnati Bengals have been known to do odd things with personnel over the years. But signing receiver Antonio Bryant to a four-year, $28 million contract in March and releasing him five months later before the regular season is near the top of the list. There were red flags with this signing from the beginning.

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Bengals loss shows bright signs..... Coming into the fourth preseason game of the season, the Bengals first-team offense had just two touchdowns in 10 drives.  Against the Bills on Saturday, they doubled that in three drives. In their best performance to date, Carson Palmer and company looked composed and efficient as they showed a couple more wrinkles at Ralph Wilson Stadium. It was not enough though, as the Bills defeated the Bengals 35-20.



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Reds rally to win, lead division by 5 games
Mark Sheldon, Reds.com
Reds manager Dusty Baker inserted Drew Stubbs into the leadoff spot on Sunday and then threw down the gauntlet. "I gave him a challenge to score four runs," Baker said. Stubbs scored three runs, each no more or less important than the other in the Reds' 7-5 victory over the Cubs before 30,809 fans on a steamy afternoon at Great American Ball Park. The victory, coupled with the Cardinals' 4-2 loss at Washington, helped the first-place Reds increase their lead in the National League Central to five games.

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Volquez to the bullpen.... The right-hander was moved to the bullpen Saturday, giving him a chance to try to fix problems in his delivery. He retired only two batters in his last start, an 11-2 loss in San Francisco on Monday.

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Votto Sports Illustrated Cover Giveaway TONIGHT
The first 15,000 fans at the Monday, Aug. 30 Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers game (7:10pm) will receive an 8x10 commemorative print of the cover of the current Sports Illustrated magazine featuring All-Star first baseman Joey Votto.  Twenty lucky fans will receive a print signed by Joey.  Gates to Great American Ball Park open at 5:40pm on Monday.



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Opportunity knocks for Rams' Gilyard....Said Gilyard on Saturday from St. Louis about the sudden opportunity: "It's a shame that Donnie got hurt because he's the leader of the wide receiver group. But we've all got to step up and help out our quarterbacks. We've got a good group here and I think the competition that fuels us during practice will carry over to the games and help take the pressure off Steven Jackson."

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Ohio State's Pryor bucks hype
ESPN
Terrelle Pryor doesn't read a lot. Sure, he keeps up with his classwork. But all of those preseason magazines on the rack at the bookstore? He ignores them because of all of the good things they're saying about him and his Ohio State teammates. "Actually, I hate magazines," the junior quarterback said. "I don't even want to see that, because I don't want my mind to be distracted." It's hard to avoid all of the praise that's being lavished on the Buckeyes.

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LeBron's high school coach takes issue with Xavier....

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Former Red, now analyst thinks Cincy is for real
John Fay, Enquirer
Boone broadcasts a game a week for ESPN and spends about five days a month in the studio. He’s paid close attention to his former team. “I think they’re for real,” Boone said. “I think the depth of their rotation has really shown this year. Whereas they don’t have lights-out, top-of-the-rotation type of guys, they’ve been very consistent, very solid. “That’s allowed them to stay out of bad losing streaks.”

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Keep Quan in Cincy
Ludwig at Large
My message to the Cincinnati Bengals: Don’t do it. Don’t even think about releasing Quan Cosby. Quan Cosby (photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Bengals) Cosby is too important to the club’s present and future, so please don’t kick him to the curb on “Cutdown Day.” Rosters get whacked to 53 on Sept. 4.

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Atkins ' turning heads
Joe Reedy, Enquirer
Geno Atkins off-the-field demeanor is a polar opposite from his on-field attitude.  While the Bengals fourth-round pick is pretty laid back in the locker room, when he lines up at defensive tackle he is more like a Tasmanian Devil, which is appropriate since one of his nicknames is Taz. In updating terms, defensive line coach Jay Hayes sees him more like a mini Sonic the Hedgehog.

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Chad's second wind
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
The only guy not talking about the new Chad Ochocinco is the man himself. With the arrival of the only other NFL receiver that has more celebrity, Terrell Owens, they are supposed to be Batman and Robin, rounding up villainous secondaries like the Riddlers in the Steelers’ ever-changing scheme and the Jokers in Baltimore’s dizzying deck of cards.  But it has been more Penn and Teller with The Ocho preferring, for the most part, to silently text in the locker next door while Owens entertains the media.



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My Official Take on Carson Palmer
John Thornton, AllProBlogger.com
Just so new comers to this site don’t get confused, I’m a fan of QBCarson Palmer.  If you ask 10 people where he ranks as far as NFL QBsgo, you would probably get 10 different answers.   People say he hasn’tbeen the same since his knee injury in the 2006 playoffs, but I say itssomething different.

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Previewing the 2010 Bengals
James Walker, ESPN.com

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Goodell eyes 2010 for NFL season expansion
ESPN
NFL owners are eager to increase the regular season from 16 to 18 games.  The players aren't so sure. During a five-hour meeting at a posh hotel in downtown Atlanta, the push to add two more games to the regular season picked up steam Wednesday -- at least among those who sign the checks.

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NFL players worried about expanding season.... NFL owners would like an 18-game regular season as part of a new collective bargaining agreement, but in an informal survey of Bengals players there are mixed reactions.  The biggest sticking point involves the offseason. The players feel it is already short; add two regular-season games and the pounding they would add to bodies, and it gets even shorter.

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Bearcats preseason camp going according to plan
Bill Koch, Enquirer
At the start of training camp on Aug. 9, University of Cincinnati coach Butch Jones' biggest concern about his team was a lack of depth, especially on the offensive and defensive lines and at linebacker.  As camp ended Wednesday afternoon at the Higher Ground Conference and Retreat Center, Jones said he has seen nothing to ease that concern.

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Xavier guard "Tu" good to be true
Sporting News
Don’t expect Xavier’s Terrell Holloway to be the best point guard in the Atlantic 10 this season. Because Terrell Holloway no longer plays for the Musketeers.

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Architect of '90 champs returns to GABP
John Erardi, Enquirer
It was supposed to be a reunion this weekend, but this time Bob Quinn couldn't lead the way. The man who brought Lou Piniella to town 20 years ago to manage the Reds to the World Championship will be going it solo. Piniella was supposed to be in town this weekend as well, managing the Cubs, whom the Reds play this weekend at Great American Ball Park. But Piniella abruptly resigned earlier this week to be with his ailing mother, so he will be home in Florida. From 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Reds Hall of Fame, Quinn, who was the Reds general manager during the "wire-to-wire" season of 1990 for which he won Major League Executive of the Year, will give a talk as part of the "Baseball Perspectives" speaker series.

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Change coming for Ohio St-Michigan?
Chicago Tribune
Ratherthan keeping the game on the final Saturday of the regular season, BigTen honchos appear poised to place the teams in opposite divisions. Thatwould allow the schools to meet in the Big Ten title game but likelywould move their rivalry game to October to avoid the threat for alate-season rematch.

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Economy cutting into college athletics
ESPN
A newly released NCAA report shows that just 14 of the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools made money from campus athletics in the 2009 fiscal year, down from 25 the year before.

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Clarett trying to get back into football....

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