Unabated Sports

If you can't wait until the show starts, check out some of our most recent interviews whcih are now online. You can catch up with our discussions with the likes of Carson Palmer, Shayne Graham, and Heather Mitts. Also, the Executive Director of the Reds Hall of Fame Museum, Greg Rhodes, and Greg Wyshinski, author of Glow Pucks and 10-Cent Beer : The 101 Worst Ideas in Sports History.

But there's lots to talk about on this week's show. The Reds management team has been told to stick around for a while. We'll tell you who is the most untouchable player when it comes to trades and who needs to be shown the door NOW.

The 2006 ESPY nominations were announced this week. We'll tell you who will be nominated for the CINSPY awards we just made up.

The Cincinnati Post's Josh Katzowitz joins us to play Pardon the Horn at 6:45.

And we'll talk to a guy who says he has the key to putting a whammy on opposing players. Mark already has knowledge of Sports Voodoo. You can, too, by listening to our show and hearing what Michael Regan has to say about that around 7:25.

Tom Browning, Mr. Perfect, will join us at 8:00.

So tune in Thursday night between 6-9 on Cincinnati's ESPN Radio 1450 The Ticket. Call us at 513-868-9664 or email us at unabatedsports@gmail.com to be a part of the show.

We're not gonna make a big deal out of this like we did the NFL Draft but there are a few guys of interest who are looking forward to hearing their name called this week. Will Eric Hicks be one of them? He's been working hard this off-season trying to improve on his solid senior season. James White, who missed out on much of the year with an injury, seems to be more on scouts' minds than his all-Big East teammate. And UK Wildcat Rajon Rondo, who was on our show last week, has even been considered a lottery ticket according to some mock drafts.

NBA Draft.net:
Rajon Rondo: #23 to New Jersey
James White: #39 to Milwaukee
Eric Hicks: #60 to Detroit

About.com:
Rajon Rondo: #19 to Sacramento
James White: #28 to Dallas
Eric Hicks: Last Ten Out

Inside Hoops:
Rajon Rondo: #22 to New Jersey
James White: "Upper Second Round"
Eric Hicks: Undrafted

College Hoops:
Rajon Rondo: #13 to Philadelphia
James White: #39 to Milwaukee
Eric Hicks: "Next In Line"

Hoops Hype:
Rajon Rondo: #17 to Indiana
James White: No Second Round
Eric Hicks: No Second Round

CBS Sportsline:
Rajon Rondo: #24 to Memphis
James White: No Second Round
Eric Hicks: No Second Round

Well, it looks like Rondo is a consensus first rounder, with the occassional mock listing him as a lottery pick. James White seems assured to hear his name called before the night is over. Eric Hicks, however, can take no consolation in these mocks since a good number of them leaving him out. Hopefully, he'll get a chance to catch on with someone and show he's pro-caliber.

A couple of weeks ago, Mark and I had a chance to make it down to Champion Window Field and see the Florence Freedom play. With the team back for a six-game homestand, now's your chance to do the same. We've had the chance to check out the experience first-hand and were thoroughly impressed. Every time you turned around there was some give-away or something involving folks in the crowd.

We were there on a McMonday, which is exactly what you'll have on this Monday's game. That means McDonald's characters and special offers and clowns on the concourse. I got a chance to meet Grimace, so that was my personal highlight of the night. And those clowns have skills. They make balloon animals, swords, and who knows what else. First pitch against River City is 7:05.

Take It To The Bank Tuesday is next where a portion of every walk-up ticket will be donated to one of three pre-selected charities. The baseeball on the field begins at 7:05. Winning Wednesday follows when all fans will have the opportunity to win valuable items from local retailers. That's a 7:00 start.

Thirsty Thursday is their answer to college night. Or people who live like they're still in college. Drinks are only a dollar. So this is where you young'ns go before hitting the clubs or the ice cream parlors or whatever those whippersnappers do for fun nowadays.

The end of the work-week's a different crowd as the Freedom have a "Salute to Mom" Friday that includes a Family Happy Hour. Food and drink specials 5:30-6:30 with live music. You can even watch Batting Practice from 5:30-6:00. The first 500 moms even get a T-Shirt & Gift Bag, so you definitely want to get there before the 7:05 start.

The homestand wraps up with Super Saturday. The first 500 kids get a Puzzle & Poster Set. Oh, and if that weren't enough: post-game fireworks. Game begins at 7:05 and you don't leave until the last explosion is set off. Sounds like good entertainment value.

And did I mention the ticket prices? No seat costs more than $10. Toss in the plentiful free parking and my wallet is very appreciative. Yes, I'm cheap. Sue me. Actually, don't. I'm poor, too.

The only day we miss out on this time is Family Sunday featuring Newport Aquarium games, activities, entertainment and special offers. And Kids-Run-The-Bases after the game. Maybe they'd let me, too.

Go to their website for more info from a more coherent source.

And don't forget to check out our Florence Freedom Flickr pics. Man, I'm glad I typed that instead of said that.

We're gonna be all over the map tonight between 6-9 on Cincinnati's ESPN Radio 1450 The Ticket. Baseball, football, soccer, basketball, we'll be covering it all. Maybe even some hockey. Stay tuned to this space for a guest list that will be updated throughout the day.

The U.S. World Cup team goes down today and will not move on to the field of 16. What does this mean to the future of the sport in America. Can this nation ever compete with these tiny little countries who have yet to experience the wonders of TiVo? We'll talk to Thies Hermann from the Cincinnati Kings to see if there's any room in the United States for another kind of futbol. We'll talk about some of their upcoming youth camps and the rest of their season, including this weekend's match against Wilmington Hammerheads on the campus of Xavier University.

There's a new game in town for football video game enthusiasts. You've gone for the Heisman, been an NFL Superstar, and now you can don the headset and take over a franchise. Jerrold Smith, Senior Product Manager for NFL Head Coach, will join us at 6:25 to talk about this latest franchise from the company that brings you Madden NFL and NCAA Football. That won't be the only mention of the gridiron, I'm sure. Frostee Rucker saw to that.

Kentucky Wildcat fans, heads up! We just got confirmation that Rajon Rando will join us at 7:00. Next week is the NBA Draft. Where does he expect to go? What are his thoughts on the Tubby Smith criticisms? And no UK in this preseason 25?

So tune in tonight between 6-9 on Cincinnati's ESPN Radio 1450 The Ticket. Call us at 513-868-9664 or email us at unabatedsports@gmail.com to be a part of the show.

You can decide the next bunch of characters to go into the Mascot Hall of Fame. Of course, you would already know that if you listened to our show last week when we had on David Raymond, the HOF's founder and original Phanatic. The Phillie Phanatic, Phoenix Gorilla and Famous Chicken were the members of the inaugural class inducted last year. To be eligible, a mascot must have been in existence for at least 10 years; have a major impact on its sport, industry and community; and have a performance that is consistently memorable and groundbreaking. Go here to vote on the 2006 class. This year's induction ceremony will take place on August 15 at Love Park in Philadelphia.

Just hours after joking it up on Mike & Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio, Ben Roethlisberger got into an automobile accident. Apparently, he went face first into a windshield. And we all know how the former Miami University star feels about wearing a helmet when he's on his hog. He may be a Steeler but we at Unabated Sports wish him well.

We talked about this a few weeks ago but 2006 will sport a Saturday night line-up of games on ABC. Ohio State fans should be happy cause their team makes two primetime appearances. Just check out his schedule as it is stacked with quality games.

Sept. 2 8 p.m.
Notre Dame at Georgia Tech
Sept. 9 8 p.m.
Ohio State at Texas
Sept. 16 8 p.m.
Nebraska at USC
Sept. 23 8 p.m.
Notre Dame at Michigan State;
USC at Arizona
Sept. 30 8 p.m.
Ohio State at Iowa
or Michigan at Minnesota*
Oct. 7 8 p.m.
Oregon at California;
ACC, Big 12 or Big East**
Oct. 14 8 p.m.
Michigan at Penn State;
Arizona State at USC
Nov. 4 8 p.m.
UCLA at California;
ACC, Big 12 or Big East**
Nov. 11 8 p.m.
ACC, Big 12 or Big East**
Nov. 18 8 p.m.
California at USC;
ACC, Big 12 or Big East**
Nov. 25 8 p.m.
Notre Dame at USC
Dec. 2 8 p.m.
Big 12 Championship Game

* One game will be on ABC and other other in primetime on ESPN

** TBD games will be selected on a 12-day basis

Dates with multiple games will be split national telecasts

It doesn't seem like all that long ago folks were giving up on the Cincinnati Reds and dismissed the season's fast start to a fluke of nature. But a hell of a road trip has put Jerry Nerron's crew back in contention. Is it the starting pitching that's been the biggest reason for the wins or that timely hitting? Or is it the fact that Ken Griffey, Jr, has been bringing out the starting lineup card before the games? We'll talk to Dr. Richard Lustberg from Pyschology of Sports, a site that gets into the minds of today's athletes. He'll talk to us about the importance that superstition plays in sports. It's also a fair bet that we'll talk to him about Chris Henry. And what is Chris Henry thinking? The Bengals hands are tied... for now. Is this "foolishness" going to cost Henry his professional career or will he dodge this bullet, too?

The good doctor isn't the only guest we have on tap. One of the biggest stars in the NHL, Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets, will be on around 6:25. The first overall pick of the 2002 draft will talk about his career with the CBJ and talk about the state of the league in the midst of the Stanley Cup Finals.

And you'll have another chance to win "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition." That was the Big Red Machine in one of the greatest Series of all time. This box set has all seven games on DVD for the first time ever, plus rare bonus interviews. Get 'em at Shop-A-E-T-V or call in to win.

Be a part of the show! Call in at 513-868-9664 and email us at unabatedsports@gmail.com and we'll read it on the air.

THIS JUST IN: The University of Cincinnati's Atheltic Director, Mike Thomas, will join us at 7:00 tonight.

According to Sirius NFL Radio, Chris Henry has been arrested for driving under the influence. Again. This page on the Clermont County Clerk's site seems to confirm that. It's already been a busy 2006 for Henry's lawyer and this just seems to put his already shaky roster spot in a more perilous position. Len Pasquirelli says Henry is subject to a fine, suspension, or even both. And Henry's driving a car from 1984? Unless it's majorly pimped up, that's kinda lame, Chris. My mom doesn't even drive a car from the 1980s.

I don't know which way to feel about the possibilty of Albert Pujols being out for about a month. Sure, it means the NL Central race is open again which is great news for the second place Reds, who are three games behind. But I was rooting for the Cardinals slugger to pass Barry Bonds for the single season homerun record. So, which is stronger. My love for the Cincinnati team, or dislike of a cheater? Hmmm...

The Reds finished May with a 12-16 record, and it's going to be a while before they can return home to recover from that rough month. Here's when they'll be back in town.

8 Chicago 7:10
9 Chicago 7:10
10 Chicago 6:10
11 Chicago 1:15
12 Milwaukee 7:10
13 Milwaukee 7:10
14 Milwaukee 12:35
16 Chicago White Sox 7:10
17 Chicago White Sox 6:10
18 Chicago White Sox 1:15
27 Kansas City 7:10
28 Kansas City 7:10
29 Kansas City 7:10
30 Cleveland 7:10

Hopefully, this month will be better than the last one.

We've brought you some big names every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. and tonight will be no different. Former U.C. coach Bob Huggins is scheduled to talk to us tonight at 8:00. Yes, THE Bob Huggins.

The Reds win last night, but what a crappy May. Only 12 wins against 16 losses. Is it time to panic? Toy with the line-up?

Bob Huggins tonight at 8:00!

Character in sports seems to have stepped into the forefront. From a Bengal break-in to a Major League franchise run by Christian doctrines, the full spectrum has been in the headlines this week. Should these behind the scenes beliefs and actions affect how the fans look at these teams?

Bob Huggins tonight at 8:00!

We'll also have Clint Brown, GM of the Florence Freedom, joining us to talk about baseball in northern Kentucky.

Bob Huggins tonight at 8:00!

There will be time for you to call in at 513-868-9664 and email us at unabatedsports@gmail.com and we'll read it on the air.

Bob Huggins tonight at 8:00!

And fans of the Big Red Machine will definitely want to listen as we give away a box DVD set of the 1975 World Series from A & E Home Video.

And did I mention Bob Huggins at 8:00?