Glenn Braggs days until pitchers and catchers report.Braggs was the first pro athlete I ever interviewed. It was my senior year of high school and we had a research paper that required not only library research, but also an on-site visit and interview.
I, of course, wanted to write about baseball. Since I lived in Japan at the time, my paper was on the differences between Japanese and American baseball. The research was easy, I'd already read all Robert Whiting's books, and an on-site visit, well, that was easy too -- I'd go to a game. Sounded like a great idea to me.
It also sounded like a good idea to my friend and teammate John Almazon, so he came along.
We went to a Yokohama BayStars game and got there as soon as gates opened, so we could get in during batting practice. The two of us stood in right field and yelled for Braggs when he was fielding.
Braggs looked up at us and said, "Hey guys."
We told him what was up, he said the team was leaving on a road trip after the game, but he'd get ready and meet us in the parking lot before he boarded the bus.
Sure enough, several hours later, he remembered and was out there for us and we talked to him for 10 minutes or so. He couldn't have been nicer and John and I were so excited that when we shook his hand, we'd touched a World Series ring.
John and I both got A's on our papers. I used that interview at least two other times, once for a freshman English paper and another for a senior history class, Japan and the Samurai. I got A's on both of those too.
I met Braggs at RedsFest and told him the story. He didn't remember me or doing it, but was very nice about it. I didn't expect him to remember, but he's as nice of a guy as I remembered.
I'll put something up on the main site later for that.
* The Reds are among the teams interested in Kris Benson.
* Or would it make sense if Benson went to the Nationals? A look at the Nationals' astonishing history of serving as the last stop otu of the big leagues.
* Expect the Nationals to be at this showcase for older players.
* John Heyman looks at baseball's off-season losers, all of whom didn't spend enough. It includes two NL Central teams and one in Ohio, none of which are the Reds.
* Today is National Signing Day for college football -- it's like Christmas for people who spend way too much time thinking about 17-year old boys. I'm still amazed by the cottage industry for recruiting coverage. The only people who have figured out how to make money on the internet is the porn industry and recruiting coverage.
So, when you hear rankings today, what will they mean?
According to this study by Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News, not all that much.
Solomon went back to look at the recruiting classes from 2005-09, and five of this year's AP Top 10 were not in the Top 20 of recruiting rankings in that time. UC was never ranked in the Top 45 classes in any of those years -- and neither were TCU or Boise State.
Only 39 percent of the All-Americans were ranked in the Top 10 of their positions by Rivals.
Anyway, some really good stuff. Be sure to read it.
* Our own Paul Dehner Jr. looks at UC's past recruiting rankings.
* And really, the hat shuffle is so cliche. Although, I did like the take Andre Smith took with it, putting on the houndstooth hat. But, again, that was several years ago.
* If you're desperate for some signing day action, check out the Miami RedHawks' "reality show"
It's a good idea, but am unsure how much people will check it out. If they did it at Ohio State or Tennessee or Texas or Florida, it may break the internets.
* I give some respect to Rey Maualuga for pleading guilty and taking his punishment. I hope he lives up to his word that this will be his last drunk driving arrest. He had a couple of alcohol-related incidents in college, so it's not exactly the first time.
And while I'm no lawyer, watching the video of his arrest and his admissions to the police officer of what he'd been drinking, I'm not sure what kind of defense he'd have if he pleaded anything but guilty.
* The OCNN Super Bowl Media Day highlights are slightly entertaining, but I like my friend Bradley getting into the frame and looking bored to be there when they talk to Jon Stinchcomb.
* If these pictures are real, they're amazing -- of Brett Favre's ankle and hamstring after the Saints game.
* An interesting angle on Tim Tebow and his upcoming commercial. Do you need to be saved by a quarterback? Or H-back?
* Poz on NFL Films. There are days when I don't know if I like the NFL or just NFL Films.
* This Cincinnati Mohawks jersey is incredible.
* I'd been thinking about a Dalton tattoo for a while... but now that someone else has my idea, I guess I can't do it.
* I love Zach Galifianakis, but I don't know how he'd translate to SNL.
* My friend Matt found this link to some Wilco bootlegs. This may take up much of my day.
I think recruiting and signing day are a big deal for one huge reason. It's the only thing for the fans to talk about between the bowl game and spring game. In Columbus, Gainesville, Tuscaloosa, and Austin that's a long boring stretch. Sure there is basketball but football news will always trump basketball success at those schools. When Florida was winning back to back Championships in basketball, what Tim Tebow had for lunch was still a bigger story on campus.
Anna Benson to the Reds. Awesome.
Thanks for the Wilco link, Trent. I must admit I haven't been much of a fan since Jay was fired. Before that, I was rabid (from Being There until the documentary). But I'm excited to hear the post-Jay show, as well as the Jeff & Jay solo show here in Chicago.
Seeing them a day or two before Thanksgiving 1999, with the Old 97s opening, is still in my top five favorite shows ever.