Knucklehead of the Week
There’s nothing like a good tailgate party before kickoff, but students at Rutgers University have fewer options thanks to Patrick Hobbs, the school’s athletic director. Prior to last week’s game, Hobbs took the stage in the student tailgate zone. A student handed Hobbs a beer and he took a drink. Oh my goodness. He should know you can’t do something like that in public. Hobbs could get lampshade drunk with boosters in a stadium suite, but drinking in public? The PC Police were not kind and Hobbs was forced to apologize. For what, I’m not sure. Rutgers shut down the party zone and now the students will have to consume milk and cookies. Well, probably not.
The Buckeyes were off Saturday, which means there are a bunch of pristine yards in Ohio today. Now it’s time to prepare for a 10-week run that will be capped with the Big Ten championship game on Dec. 3. The honey-do lists are about to get moldy.
There's good news on the Reds front today. The regular season ends in one week (yeah!) and the local nine has been mathematically eliminated from the 100-loss column. But Cincinnati still could finish with the National League's worst record if the Braves get hot, or lukewarm.
The bad news: Cincinnati is about to be invaded by uncouth invaders from the northwest. The Reds finish the season next weekend at home … against the Cubs. GABP will be blanketed in blue, as Reds fans opt for high school football, casinos, grocery shopping, anything to avoid the embarrassment of what is going to ensue on the banks of the Ohio. About the only red in the park will be on Bob Castellini’s face.
If you're like me, you enjoy Thanksgiving week college basketball tournaments. We've got a huge one coming next year. The PK80, or Phil Knight Invitational, will be played in Portland in November 2017. Sixteen teams will be there, including brand names such as Ohio State, Michigan State, Butler, Duke, North Carolina and UConn. Sounds like all the big boys want a piece of this one. Who will have the guts to wear Under Armour?
Congrats to Hal McCoy on his induction into the Dayton Region Walk of Fame. Hal soon will be adding onto his Englewood home in order to store his many awards. Or Nadine will just put them in the man cave. Going to Opening Days in Cincinnati with Hal always will be among my fondest memories in journalism. The after-parties at Geez to watch the NCAA championship games weren't bad, either.
Speaking of old guys and baseball, Vin Scully will call his last game today from Dodger Stadium. Many of us grew up listening to his soothing voice on national broadcasts. MLB Network will simulcast today's game, allowing fans one last shot to listen to Scully paint another baseball portrait.
Trending up: Corey Coleman, Sam Bradford, Jacoby Brissett. It's remarkable to think that Browns rookie wide receiver Coleman not needing surgery after breaking his hand is great news. He could be back in a month. That qualifies as a positive for a fan base that probably expected the injury to end the career of the young Baylor flash.
Trending down: Greg Schiano, Adrian Peterson, Brad Pitt. Schiano hit a cyclist with his car Thursday morning on his way to work. The man suffered a head injury. No word on whether the Ohio State defensive coordinator was distracted, blinded by the sun or simply counting his lucky stars that he's no longer coaching in Tampa Bay.
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