PREDICTION COLUMN: And hold your laughter until the end
(Prediction Column) By Hal McCoy Baseball season officially began last week when the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres played a two-game series in Korea. They split the series so it can be safely predicted that both the Dodgers and Padres will at least lose one game and win one game. The rest of […]
OBSERVATIONS: Ohtani Mess Has Questions To Answer
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, counting the hours until Opening Day. . .er, make that counting the minutes. —OH, OH OHTANI: Shohei Ohtani seemed honest and sincere during his ‘no questions asked’ press conference when he said he has never bet on baseball, sports or the future cost of sushi in […]
Ask Hal: No Franchise Needs A New Park (Not Boston, Not Chicago)
By Hal McCoy Q: With the continuing construction of new stadiums, which franchise is in dire need of a new stadium? — DAVE, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek. A: Not what you might think. Some believe Boston and Chicago need new parks so those franchises can add the upscale suites and other amenities. Not me. I love Fenway Park […]
Injuries Slowing Down Excitement About Reds’ Season
By Hal McCoy The Cincinnati Reds Opening Day roster that was on paper a few weeks ago turned out to be tissue paper. What fans will see on Opening Day Thursday in Great American Ball Park against the Washington Nationals isn’t exactly what manager David Bell and President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall envisioned. The […]
OBSERVATIONS: Who Wears Short Shorts In UD Arena?
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS, for the second day, from press row, second row, seat 12 at the NCAA First Four in UD Arena, where former Syracuse coach turned TV analyst Jim Boeheim is seated within a layup: —STORIES, STORIES, STORIES: During the embryonic days of network television, there was a police drama show called […]
OBSERVATIONS: Why Dayton Is ‘The Capital of College Basketball’
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from courtside at the NCAA’s pressure-packed First Four Invitational at UD Arena. —It was if the Dayton Flyers were on the UD Arena floor and DaRon Holmes II was at the foul line, the game tottering on his finger-tips. A nearly full UD Arena crowd was on its feet, screaming […]
OBSERVATIONS: ‘Pal Joey’ Comes Out Swinging For B-Jays
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, wishing for permanent warm weather because the portable heater is on strike, but not yet seeking free agency. —JOY FOR JOEY: C’mon, did Aaron Sorkin write this and can we expect to see it soon on Netflix? Joey Votto appeared in his first spring training game […]
ASK HAL: Some ‘Advice’ For Reds Manager David Bell
By Hal McCoy Q: Can you recall a prominent example of a top tier player receiving special privileges? — DAVE, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek. A: In 1998, Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone enraged the baseball industry by signing free agent pitcher Kevin Brown to a seven-year $105 million deal, the firsrt $100 milllion contract. In addition, […]
OBSERVATIONS: Why is Montras Starting On Opening Day?
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, getting the silent treatment from Nadine because my alma mater, No. 8-seeded Kent State, upset her alma mater, No. 1 seeded Toledo, 65-59, in the MAC tournament. Hey, sweetheart, it wasn’t my fault that Tooley-Do could not throw the ball into Lake Superior from the deck […]