Update

It's been a while that I have posted on my sports blog. I think the Bengals can beat the 49ers tomorrow. I also think the Dayton Flyers will start a new winning streak at home tonight. It's hard to believe that a week ago, it was nice enough to get the golf clubs out of the closet in the garage and play twice last week. Has it been 20 years since the original Browns left Cleveland? Has it been 15 years since one of the greatest defense's of all time won a Super Bowl. Has it been 10 years since The Bengals won their first division title in 15 years.

25 years ago last night and tonight

On October 16, 1990. My Dad and I went to Game 1 of the World Series. The Cincinnati Reds were hosting the defending champion Oakland Athletics. Jose Rijo opposed Dave Stewart in Game 1. It was a great night and game. Eric Davis hit a two run home run in the 1st inning en route to 3 RBI on the night and Rijo pitched 7 innings of shut out baseball. The Reds won 7-0. I had so much fun being at the game with my Dad. I have the game on VHS, but have not watched it in quite some time. People would always ask me who would make every out in that game. If I was asked about that today, I would not know. On October 17, 1990, the Reds hosted Game 2. It went to extra innings and the Reds were faced with a pitching dilema. Tom Browning, who started Game 3, left the ball park and him and his wife celebrated the birth of Tucker Thomas Browning. In the 10th inning, Joe Oliver delivered the game winning hit off Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley. On a family trip to Florida in 2007, I met Mr Oliver at the ESPN boardwalk and told him that he was one of my favorite Reds Catcher's I ever watched. I've been to a NBA Finals, NFL Playoff, NLDS, One game playoff, Final Four, Sweet 16, Elite Eight and a Major League All Star game.

The HASK Golf Scramble was a great success and its almost football season

I have played A lot of golf this summer. I have participated in a Monday night league and have really enjoyed it. Last Sunday, the 4th annual Holy Angels Soup Kitchen Golf Scramble raised $20,000. Another one of my favorites is coming up, NFL Season. Being the life of the party I am, I love watching games at the bars with friends and having some bevys and food that is not good for you. If I had my own place, I would have people over every Sunday to watch football.

10 years ago at this time... Spurs outlast Pistons in 7

It's been 10 years since Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli won their 2nd title together and Duncan his 3rd ring. They outlasted a Detroit Piston's team which had a awesome starting five; Chauncey Billups, Teyshaun Prince, Ben Wallace, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace. This starting five was together for six years and was the reason the Pistons made six straight Conference Finals, bringing back the days of the Bad Boys of the late 80's into 1991. The series went back and fourth with the home teams winning the first four games. Robert Horry had things to say about who would win Game 5, as his 3 with 5 seconds left in overtime gave the Spurs a 1 point win and a 3-2 series lead. The Pistons would force a Game 7, but Duncan was too much in the 4th quarter as the Spurs won the title.

15 years ago tonight

The Lakers and Blazers were playing for the Western Conference Championship. These were the 2 best teams in the NBA that year. The Blazers had rallied from a 3-1 deficit to force a Game 7 in Los Angeles and looked like they were on there way to the Finals to host Indiana. The Lakers rallied behind Robert Horry, Brian Shaw, Rick Fox and Shaq. They overcame a 15 point 4th quarter deficit capped off by a alley oop from Kobe to Shaq. The Lakers would go on to win the championship beating the Pacers in six games and ending Larry Bird's coaching career.

Hard to believe its been 5 years since this...

On this day in 2010, Armando Galaraga pitched the game of his life against the Cleveland Indians. He was one out away from a perfect game. a ground ball was hit to short 1st base, Miguel Cabrera fielded it and Galaraga stepped on the bag and beat the runner. Umpire Jim Joyce called the runner safe. It was a call that haunted Joyce to this day and changed baseball to this day. Galaraga handled the situation with class. The next day, he (Galaraga), brought out the line up card for the Tigers gave it to Jim Joyce and gave him a hug. Those two would also share in a ESPY award later as they presented a award at ESPN's summer awards show. The both have a book called, No one is perfect. Five years ago tonight I was at a Dayton Dragons game and it was raining like crazy. It was so nasty, my friends and I left early.

Has it really been 20 years since Reggie Miller's 8 points in 8 seconds

Has been really been 20 years since Reggie Miller scored 8 points in 8 seconds in Game 1 in the Eastern Conference Semis against the Knicks? I remember sitting at my sister's house in Oxford watching that game and could not believe that at all.

Loving this weather and found a new love on the GC

I am loving this nice weather, considering what we were dealing with during the winter, I will take it. I recently started walking while playing golf and it is very relaxing. I enjoy getting exercise that way.

Hard to believe that its been 15 years since Ken Griffey Jr was traded

This post is way over due. It's hard to believe that Ken Griffey Jr was traded to the Reds and believe it or not, I was at the game he hit his first home run as a Red. It was a fun atmosphere at Cinergy Field.

Congrats to Duke and Jordan Speith

It's been a few days since I have been on here. I want to congratulate Duke on their 5th National Championship. A outstanding Coaching Job by Coach K. Wisconsin made it to the title game for a reason, they were better than Kentucky. I also want to congratulate Jordan Spieth on his victory at Augusta. Well done. To lead from start to finish and to be that focused and composed was amazing to watch.

Hard to believe its been 10 and 20 years since these moments

It's hard for me to believe that its been 10 years since there were 3 overtime game in the Regional Finals: Illionis coming back to beat Arizona in Chicago in overtime. Louisville holding off West Virginia in Overtime and Michigan State getting by Kentucky in Double Overtime. It is also hard for me to believe that its been 20 years since His Airness came back. "I'm Back". MJ scored 55 points against the Knicks at MSG just 3 games later.

Going to be a awesome Final Four

Wow, Michigan State, Duke, Kentucky and Wisconsin. What a Final Four that is going to be. Plus its going to be in Indianapolis. Should be 2 great games.

My favorite time of the year: March Madness

This is my favorite team of the year being a sports fan. The thing I love the most about the Conference Tournaments is you have one team playing for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament and you have a team playing with house money and nothing to lose. Watching Michigan and Penn State play well in the Big Ten tournament was a joy to watch. Both teams had nothing to lose and as I was watching sportscenter this morning, I saw a kid from Penn State in tears as his career came to an end. Michigan, I am proud of how hard they competed during the course of the year, with all the injuries and everything going on with their program. March Madness is the time where legends are born, where basketball players make plays that become memories for a long time. Over the last twenty five years, we have seen some great moments during March Madness. Small Schools clinch their first ever Conference Championship and make it to their first NCAA Tournament. Duke’s 4 National Championships, The Fab Five of Michigan, The last Final Four Most Outstanding Player not to get drafted by the NBA, Donald Williams; North Carolina 1993, Dean Smith breaking Adolph Rupp’s record for most career wins, Mike Bibby becoming the first Freshmen point guard to lead his team to a National Championship; 1997. The legend that is George Mason University was born in 2006, when they beat three of the decades National Champions in their run to Indianapolis, including Michigan State and North Carolina at Dayton in 2006. 2006 was also the first year since 1980 ( I googled it) that featured a Final Four with out a #1 seed. The Big Ten Conference had Final Four teams in a four year stretch from 1999-2002, The Big East Conference won National Championships in 1999, 2003 and 2004, The ACC and Big Ten Conference would oppose one another in the title game in 1992, 1993, 2002, 2005, 2009, with the ACC coming out on top in all five games. The Southeastern Conference had two teams in the Final Four in 1996 and 2006 when Erik Dampier and Dante Jones led Mississippi State on a magical ride to the Final Four in 1996, beating the #1 seed UCONN in the regional semis and beating # 2 Seed Cincinnati in the elite eight, oh I forgot to mention that the Bulldogs shocked #1 ranked Kentucky in the SEC Championship game that season as well and Glen Davis and Tryus Thomas lead LSU to the Final Four beating # 1 seed Duke and ending the college career of perhaps the greatest college basketball player to never win a National Championship, JJ Redick and then beating #2 seed Texas. Xavier University would win four games in a four day span to win the Atlantic 10 tournament and reach the NCAA tournament in 2004 and 2006 as the legend of Stanley Burrell was born in 2006. Georgia winning three games in a 48 hour span to make the NCAA Tournament in 2008, giving Xavier all they can handle in the first round. Oh, who could forget Gerry McNamara leading Syracuse on a magical ride to the 2006 Big East Tournament Championship. The Duke Blue Devils and Florida Gator’s become the first teams since the John Wooden led UCLA Bruins in the 1970’s to win back to back championships. Michigan State would give a state and an economy something to cheer for in 2009 as they went on a magical ride to the National Championship Game, bowing out to North Carolina. Kemba Walker single handedly leading UCONN to the Big East Tournament Championship and National Championship in 2011 March Madness would feature some memorable games during the last 10 years: Illinois vs Arizona; 2005, Duke vs Xavier 2004; Gonzaga vs Arizona; 2003, Kentucky vs Tulsa; 2002 ( Teyshaun Prince, 41 points), Ohio State vs Tennessee (2007), Buckeyes overcome second half deficit, Michigan State vs Kentucky, 2005, Duke vs Maryland 2001, Duke overcomes 22 point 1st half deficit ( no lead was safe against the 2001 Blue Devils), Xavier vs West Virginia 2008 ( the legend of BJ Raymond was born), Kansas vs Davidson 2008 ( the legend of Stephen Curry was born), Kansas vs Memphis, 2008 National title game, Duke vs Butler 2010 National Title game, Xavier vs Kansas State 2010, Kansas Vs Arizona, 2003, Bucknell vs Kansas 2005, Vermont vs Syracuse 2005, West Virginia vs Wake Forest 2005; Mountaineers end College Career of Chris Paul, Ohio State vs Xavier 2007, Ohio State vs Siena 2009, Ohio Vs Georgetown; 2010 Murray State vs Vandy, 2010, Maryland vs UNC Wilmington (Drew Nicholas saves the defending champs), Michigan State vs Maryland 2010; Korie Lucious 3 propels Sparty to second straight Final Four, Ohio State vs Iowa State (Aaron Craft), Indiana vs Temple, Michigan vs Kansas ( Trey Burke), Florida Gulf Coast making tournament history being the first #15 seed to make it to the second weekend. Michigan making the title game in 2013, Dayton making the elite eight in 2014. UCONN winning the title as a #7 seed in 2014 This Tournament will mark the 10 year anniversary of Roy Williams last year at Kansas, leading the Jayhawks to the Title game, beating Arizona in a thriller in the West Regional. Not to mention the 20 year anniversary of Michigan and the Fab Five making it to their second straight title game, losing a thriller to North Carolina, which was the last time Ray Jackson, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose and Jimmy King would play in a game together. Missouri’s run to the Elite Eight as a 11 seed in 2002, West Virginia’s run to the Elite Eight in 2005, Northern Iowa’s surprising run to the sweet 16 in 2010, Temple’s exciting run to the Elite Eight in 2001 as a 11 seed. Marquette’s ride to the sweet 16 at a 11 seed beating Xavier and Syracuse along with way, Kentucky ending thirteen years of tournament frustration beating Ohio State and North Carolina in thrillers to advance to the Final Four. VCU beginning their magical run in Dayton to the Final Four, beating the likes of Purdue and Kansas along with the way and Butler making its second straight title game appearance this time as an eight seed. Louisville advancing to the Final four, beating Michigan State and Florida, before bowing out to Kentucky in 2012, Ohio State advancing to the Final Four beating Syracuse in the thriller in the East Regional before bowing out to Kansas in the National Semi. I can go on and on. March Madness has also seen its share of heroes as well: Scottie Reynold’s ( 2009 Villanova), Sean May, Raymond Felton ( 2005 North Carolina), Romain Soto, Dedrick Finn, Lionel Chalmers, Justin Doleman ( 2004 Xavier), Kallin Lucas, Raymar Morgan, Korie Lucious ( Michigan State 2009, 2010), Carmelo Anthony, Gerry McNamara, Josh Pace ( Syracuse 2003), Will Bynum, BJ Elder ( Georgia Tech, 2004), Gordon Heyward, Matt Howard ( Butler, 2010), Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith (Duke 2010), Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Lee Humphries ( Florida 2006-2007), Richard Jefferson, Loren Woods, Michael Wright ( Arizona 2001), Kyle Hornsby, Dane Fife, Jared Jeffries, (Indiana, 2002), Tyler Hanbourgh, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Danny Green ( 2009 North Carolina), Ohio State 2007 ( Greg Oden, Ron Lewis, Mike Conley, Dequan Cook), 2012 was the first time that 2 #15 seeds beat a # 2 seed: Leigh beating Duke and Norfolk State beating Missouri. #16 seed Holy Cross had #1 seed Kansas on the ropes in 2002, before the Jayhawks prevailed by 11. Holy Cross put a scare into Kentucky’s 2001 tournament as a #15 seed before the Cat’s prevailed by 5. Kentucky and Indiana would go head to head for 34 minutes before Kentucky prevails by 12 in the Sweet 16 in 2012. Kentucky would win their first National Championship since 1998 with a star studded starting five: Terrence Jones, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrest, Doron Lamb and Marquis Teague, all went to the NBA. 2013 featured the first 15 seed to make the sweet 16 FGCU. 2014 had an 8 seed and 7 seed play for the National Championship. UCONN got by Atlantic 10 Champion St Joe's in there tournament opener. Dayton making it to the Elite Eight for the first time in 30 years. Led by Devin Oliver, Jordan Siebert, Deshawn Pierre. March Madness would also feature some of the best all around teams to win the National Championship: Kentucky 1996, four of the five starters were drafted by the NBA, (Point guard Anthony Epps was not), Duke 2001, One of three best starting five’s to win the Championship, All five were drafted by the NBA, North Carolina, 2005, Sean May, Raymond Felton, Rashad McCant’s, Jawad Williams, Marvin Williams, North Carolina, 2009, Tyler Hansbourgh, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, Ed Davis, all five on both teams were NBA draft picks and two outstanding teams to win National Championships. The Final Four has featured some memorable Cinderella story’s as well. 2006: LSU and George Mason, 2010, Butler, who was a half court heave from winning the National Championship, 1997 Arizona, a team many thought would not make it to the Final Four, let alone beat three #1 seeds. 2000 featured 2 #8 seeded teams, Wisconsin and North Carolina, both bowing out to ensuing National Champions. 2009, Villanova, thanks to Scottie Reynold’s runner in the lane in the Elite Eight, 2005, Louisville and Michigan State #4 and 5 seed’s, 2002 Indiana, a team that gave the Hoosier State something to be proud of once again. 2008 saw all four #1 seeds make it to the Final Four. Duke University, the last team to play in three National Championship Games in a four year span; 1991-94. University of Kentucky making it to five straight Elite Eight’s from 1995-99 and the last program to appear in three straight National Championship Game’s. March Madness would also feature some memorable sound bites, Jim Boehiem from 2006 and Roy Williams in 2003. This year marks the and the 20 year anniversary of UCLA's last Title. The 10 year Anniversary of Roy William's first title and the 15 year Anniversary of the Big Ten Conference's Last Basketball Championship. March Madness is a time when college basketball legends are born. It’s a time when basketball memories are etched into basketball lore and the record books. Its what makes sports fun and exciting to watch.

I forgot to mention these two memorable moments

Wednesday February 19 was the 10 year anniversary of one of the best finishes to the Dayton Xavier rivalry. Dayton was down 2 with 40 seconds left and Marques Bennett took a pass at the high post and drove down the lane for the hoop and the and 1. that basket helped Dayton defeat Xavier 58-54. Tuesday February 11 was the 15 year anniversary of one of my life's greatest moments. It was parents night at Lehman. Mom and Dad were in Kauai at the time. Sara and Bryan played the role of my parents. We got a significant lead on the Raiders and with 2:00 left in the 4th, I drilled a 3 pointer from the right corner. The gym erupted and it was pure joy for me. Hard to believe I forgot to mention these two moments earlier in the week.

So ready for Spring

I am so ready for Spring. March Madness, Golf. I am so over this frigid weather.

RIP Stuart Scott

I would like to take a moment to share my thoughts and condolences to a true sports broadcasting legend. Stuart Scott was a joy to watch. He made watching ESPN a lot of fun, while he was on the air. "Boo-ya", as cool as the other side of the pillow". My childhood dream was to be a sports commentator, even though I am not living my dream, I enjoy watching these fine individuals do there thing. Stuart Scott will be missed. RIP