CNATI: Cincinnati OH Sports Journalism

We all know C. Trent is a Georgia grad and Bulldog fan, and David Hale is who he reads to get all the latest on his beloved Dawgs.  Hale, oddly enough, is a Yankee (and a graduate of Syracuse University, but we don't hold that against him). 

He also claims to be a Cubs fan, so y'all be nice to our visitor today, mmmkay?

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I was at a wedding last weekend with CNati's Paul Dehner and, after perhaps too many whiskey drinks, I inquired as to why C. Trent hadn't asked me to submit a guest TOL. Sure, I have zero ties to Cincinnati, aside from seeing Springsteen there two years ago and attending a Cubs-Reds game when Joey Votto hit three out against my long-suffering favorite team. But that's no excuse. My feelings were hurt.

But after more whiskey and several potentially belligerent text messages, the situation was quickly rectified, and luckily I was able to get in touch with the hitman I had hired before anything too drastic happened. So we're good to go.

And just so there is a little Cincy flavor, I'll start with three quick references to The Queen City...

* First, I'm from Philly and a longtime Eagles fan. This game ranks in my top-10 most unpleasant sports memories. I watched it at a Beef O Brady's in Albany, Ga. with Mr. Dehner. The only upside was that we both cursed so much that most of the small children who were there with their families following Sunday church services left crying.

* Of course, as much as I cursed Donovan McNabb that day -- and many days before and after -- even I think this is too much punishment for the poor guy.

* I lived in Lexington for a while, and while I wasn't a frequent traveler up I-75 to Cincy, every trip always resulted in giggles as I passed the sign for my second favorite state park.

You have to keep going north to reach my favorite state park. (Make sure you take notice of the roadside sign photo.)

* Actual newsy Cincy material: Chad Ochocinco is taking the Dancing judges critiques pretty hard. I say he should be thrilled they didn't bring in Darrelle Revis as a guest judge.

* Here's a random link to Eddie Taubensee's Wikipedia page. For some reason, when I think of nondescript Reds over the years, Eddie always springs to mind.

* Your YouTube video of the day: Ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte threw against the Braves in spring training yesterday, but nothing will top his appearance in 2008 with the Staten Island Cyclones in which he and a switch hitter held a rather extended battle for which side of the plate and mound each would work from. Absolutely classic.

* I don't always agree with Paul Finebaum, but that doesn't preclude me from thinking he's a good journalist. That puts me in the minority, and as he writes with relation to the Urban Meyer outburst against Orlando Sentinel writer Jeremy Fowler last week, it's a sad state of affairs. Sports journalism, in many respects, is a shell of its former self. And while I don't always agree with Mr. Finebaum, I wholeheartedly concur with every word he wrote in this piece.

* The JFK Library will be displaying a letter from J.D. Salinger to Ernest Hemingway from 1946. Oddly, it opens with the line, "You'll never guess the line I used on this chick last night...". And that line turned out to be the signature moment in "For Whom the Bell Tolls." True story.

* Den of Geek has a rundown of 75 remakes or sequels of classic cinema fare currently in development. Because, obviously, the world was not complete without a "Cliffhanger" remake.

* In addition to football, I fill a few inches of space on my blog with talk of "Lost," so I was particularly intrigued by this story from USA Today running down some of the more prominent biblical references in the show.

* Every time you assume reality TV has hit an all-time low (or high, depending on your viewpoint), the genre takes things a step further. Bristol Palin's baby daddy is getting his own show that is being described as "Jersey Shore on ice." At this rate, we are no more than two years away from nuns fighting tigers in a steel cage while Danny Bonaduce, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Joe the Plumber grade them on technique, style and artistic merit. And yes, I'd watch that.

* I am shocked by this. Absolutely shocked. No, not that Ricky Martin is gay. That anyone still cares.

* Folks still waiting for the network debut of Season 4 of the best show on television will have to wait one week longer than we'd been told.

* Blossom is going to be making a guest appearance on "The Big Bang Theory."  And just for fun, let's step into the way back machine to appreciate the greatness of her former co-star, too. Seriously, is there anything that can top the artistic genius of dancing in front of graffiti? It really is timeless.

* And speaking of bad CBS sitcoms, what's wrong with America when we vilify Tiger Woods for cheating on his wife, but offer a standing ovation to a guy who beats his wife?

* And finally, here's some information you'll no doubt tell someone later today... the origin of the word "horny." You can thank me later.

Many thanks to the CNati crew for letting me post, and safe travels back from Arizona, Mr. Rosecrans!