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 […]
McCoy: It Is One And Done For UD Flyers In A-10 Tournament
By Hal McCoy Brooklyn, N.Y.— It was an awful night for Knights in White Satin Thursday in the Atlantic 10 tournament. All four top seeds, all wearing white uniforms, felt the deep string of defeat and elimination. The third-seeded University of Dayton joined No. 1` seed Richmond, No. 2 Loyola Chicago and No. 4 Massachusetts […]
OBSERVATIONS: Atlantic 10 Coaches Give Holmes The Hose
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, overdosing so much on college basketball that I wonder if it’s Notre Forest against Wake Dame or George Bonaventure against St. Mason. Or is it Sam International against Florida Houston? —A ‘CO’ WHAT?: Give me a break. Give me two breaks. What were they thinking? Clearly, […]
OBSERVATIONS: Some Votto Facts, Figures And Folderol
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, nodding in my agreement with somebody who wrote: “I used to be able to do a cartwheel, but now I tip over putting on my underwear.” —JOEY THE JAY: It was good to see Pal Joey get a chance with his hometown Toronto Blue Jays. And […]