Good Morning...Another real cold one...it's Tuesday January 5, 2010
I had my regular doctor's checkup on Monday. I gained four pounds since June. I'll bet I gained all of it in the last few weeks.
TOO EASY
The Pitt Panthers got too many shots close to the basket on Monday night in a 74-71 win over UC. "We didn't play well enough to win on defense" said head coach Mick Cronin. He was right. The Panthers can score from outside, but they created a lot of easy shots in the second half.
BY THE NUMBERS
UC started the game with an 11-4 run. Pittsburgh's coach called a time out, and within a couple of minutes it was 11-11. Gilbert Brown of Pitt scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half. Yancy Gates had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Bearcats. UC is 10-4, and that's their first loss in the Big East. Pitt is 13-2 and 3-0 in the league.
AT THE HOOP
...13-0 Quincy beat NKU men 73-66
...Hanover men beat Mt St Joe 64-61
...NKU women upset #12 Quincy 72-55.
NATIONALLY
The College of Charleston upset North Carolina 82-79 in overtime. Former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins is now the coach at Charleston.
BENGALS JETTISONED
I made a few stops on Monday morning and I found a lot of anger and embarrassment over the Bengals loss Sunday night to the Jets. The disappointment was immense, people kept using the word "humiliating." The Bengals and Bearcats represent Cincinnati. They didn't make us feel good about ourselves. Especially the Bengals. People tend to give UC a pass because they're college kids and were obviously overmatched. But the Bengals were "pitiful" to quote one gentleman at the gas station. "They make me sick" said another.
SO SORRY
Chad Ocho Cinco tweeted an apology to fans on Monday morning. He said "we will bounce back. Cincy be great."
$10 NEWS TIP OF THE WEEK
My son alerted me at mid afternoon that Chad had twittered about the MRI exam on his knee. Breaking News..."MRI went well"
JET GROUNDED
Linebacker David Harris of the Jets has a sprained ankle and his status for Saturday's playoff game in Cincinnati is questionable. He's the team's leading tackler.
BENGAL CHANGES
Defensive lineman Pat Sims who broke a forearm Sunday night was put on the injury list. The Bengals brought back cornerback Keiwan Ratliff, who was the Bengals second round pick in 2004. He has since played for the Colts and Steelers. Pittsburgh cut him in November.
SHORT YARDAGE
...Jim Zorn got fired in Washington, Mike Shanahan is expected to take over
...The Giants fired their defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan. Someone had to take the fall after the Giants lost eight of their last 11 games.
...The NFL is working on a new labor agreement with the players. They're talking about a rookie wage scale in which money would be redirected from rookies into veterans contracts instead. The union plan would have a scale or cap for how much rookies would be paid.
A FIESTA OF TRICKERATION
Boise State did it again last night. A trick play led to their 17-10 victory over TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. Tied at 10-10, Boise went to punt on their own 33-yard line. But punter Kyle Brotzman lobbed a pretty pass to Kyle Efaw for 30 yards and a first down. The Broncos went down and scored. They also used trick plays the last time they were in a BCS game, three years ago in a win over Oklahoma.
COLLEGIATE BITS AND PIECES
...The Cincinnati-Florida Sugar Bowl's national TV ratings were up nearly nine percent over a year ago
...Rich Brooks has retired at Kentucky after 7 seasons. He took a program tarnished by scandal and hindered by probation and led it to four consecutive bowl games. They were the first UK team to win three straight bowls.
IT DIDN'T HURT
I got my swine flu shot on Monday. I didn't even flinch
NO MORE WALTER
Did you notice that Walter Cronkite's voice has disappeared on the"CBS Evening News." Walter's voiceover has been introducing Kathie Couric for the last few years. His voice was replaced by actor Morgan Freeman, who has played God in at least two films
UNDER-RATED
I just finished watching "Charlie Wilson's War". Fun flick with Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Not well reviewed which shows that reviewers don't always represent the general public.
ON THIS DATE
1993...Reggie Jackson is the only player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
1964...Keith Lincoln of the Chargers rushes for 206 yards and catches seven passes for 123 yards as San Diego routed the Boston Patriots to win the AFL title. 46 years later, the Chargers and Patriots are back in the playoffs.
TONIGHT
8:15...The Orange Bowl, Georgia Tech vs Iowa on FOX
7:00...Minnesota at Purdue college basketball on ESPN
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DIET TIPS
jpopovich@wcpo.com
Stay cool...better yet...stay warm
See you on tv
Popo
