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I currently reside in the great city of Cincinnati, Ohio. My passion and love of sports is the reason behind this site and all that it entails. I have called high school football, semi pro football, ECHL Hockey, and D1 college basketball as a play by play, color commentary, and sideline reporter for local TV stations and over the internet. I am trying to get a career in the industry as a play by play and a sports talk show host so I can share by love and knowledge of sports with everyone! Hope you enjoy the site and dont be afraid to follow your dreams! You can also follow me on Facebook at Rob Roberts
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Zito vs Fielder "A View From The Cheap Seats"
Article By: Dave Borst
So there's been a lot of hoopla over Barry Zito of the San Francisco Giants plunking the Milwaukee Brewers' Prince Fielder during Fielder's first spring training at-bat. All of this apparently stems from a game last year when Fielder hit a walk-off home run in the twelfth inning against the Giants. When Fielder came to the plate after rounding third, his teammates met him at home plate, and as Fielder jumped on the plate, his teammates, in a choreographed move all fell down as though they were bowling pins.
So there's been a lot of hoopla over Barry Zito of the San Francisco Giants plunking the Milwaukee Brewers' Prince Fielder during Fielder's first spring training at-bat. All of this apparently stems from a game last year when Fielder hit a walk-off home run in the twelfth inning against the Giants. When Fielder came to the plate after rounding third, his teammates met him at home plate, and as Fielder jumped on the plate, his teammates, in a choreographed move all fell down as though they were bowling pins.
This apparently upset the Giants, and evidently, they have not forgotten the incident over the winter.
Now, let's be clear. A Barry Zito fastball is barely hard enough to break a window-pane, much less actually hurt a guy of Fielder's stature. However, the message was clear: you broke one of the unwritten rules, and this is our form of justice.
Thankfully, no one was hurt. There was no bench-clearing brawl, no stare-downs. Fielder even picked up the ball and flipped it back to Zito, a reaction I found comical. But it also makes me think Fielder knew it was coming. Baseball players talk. I can remember from my own playing days as a college pitcher, playing for a Cincinnati Reds Hall-of-Famer, that players talk in the dugout, the locker-room, and the local bar. And they especially talk when they feel they've been "shown-up" by another team. And the grumbling usually centers around the next pitcher who faces that opponent. If your teammates feel that you don't have their back, don't expect them to have yours.
I remember almost starting a bench-clearing brawl with what was then Rio Grande University (now Shawnee State University). We were playing them at our place, and I didn't care for the way their pitcher was strutting around our field, celebrating every out he got as though it were game seven of the World Series. He also happened to be one of their best hitters, and was having a pretty good day at the plate. Finally, I got my chance. I was called in from the bullpen, and who do you think was the first guy I faced? You guessed it, their pitcher.
My catcher called for a fast ball inside. I went one better. I uncorcked one up under his chin that sent him spinning out of the batter's box. When he recovered, he took about three steps toward me. I, in turn, came three steps off the mound toward him, waiting for the throw-back from my catcher. Everyone on both teams started coming out of the dugouts. The ump got between us, and nothing came of it. (I got him out on a weak ground ball). But the message was sent: this is MY field, not yours. Don't act like it's anything different.
While I think the Zito/Fielder affair has gotten way too much attention, I'm glad it happened when and how it did. Let's get it taken care of in spring training instead of in August when there might be fines and suspensions jeopardizing one or the other's chances at the playoffs.
Remember, it's just baseball, gang. And I am looking forward to this season's view from the cheap seats.
Column by Dave Borst. Dave writes opinion articles for robsviewofsports.com with his "View From The Cheap Seats".
Column by Dave Borst. Dave writes opinion articles for robsviewofsports.com with his "View From The Cheap Seats".
Cyclones Start Road Trip With A 5-3 Win
Cincinnati got their 6 game road trip off to a good start in Charlotte as the Cyclones posted a 5-3 victory over the Checkers. Barret Eghoetz led the way for Cincinnati with 2 goals and an assist, including a short handed goal that got the Cyclones on the board first. Maxime Lacroix and Ian McKenzie also lit the lamp for Cincinnati as the Cyclones snapped a 2 game losing streak. Jeremy Smith, an emergency starter for Robert Mayer, picked up his 19th win on the season as he kicked aside 31 shots. Charlotte outshot Cincinnati 34-15 for the game. The Cyclones now sit at 37-19-3 on the season and maintain their 6 point lead on Kalamazoo for first place in the North Division.
Red Wings Travel To Colorado Tonight As The NHL Season Resumes
Mike Babcock (Gold Medal) and Brian Rafalski (Silver Medal) will be just a little over 24 hours removed from one of the greatest hockey games in recent memory when the Detroit Red Wings take on the Avalanche in Colorado tonight. The Wings are looking to make a playoff run as they currently sit in 9th place just 1 point behind Calgary for the final playoff spot. This is new territory for Detroit who has been in the Stanley Cup Finals the past 2 seasons. The Wings have been hit hard by the injury bug and Jimmy Howard is the main reason the Wings still have a shot at the post season. Howard has won 21 games with a 2.28 GAA and a .927 save percentage this season. With just 21 games remaining, Detroit must start to put together winning streaks if they dont want to miss out on the playoffs for the first time since 1990.
robsviewofsports.com Mens College Basketball Top 10 Week Of 3/1/2010
1) Syracuse
2) Kansas
3) Kentucky
4) Kansas St
5) Duke
6) Ohio St
7) Villanova
8) New Mexico
9) Butler
10) Michigan State
2) Kansas
3) Kentucky
4) Kansas St
5) Duke
6) Ohio St
7) Villanova
8) New Mexico
9) Butler
10) Michigan State
USA Today Mens College Hockey Top 15 For Week Of 3/1/2010
| 1 University of Denver, 508 (32) | 24-6-4 | ||
| 2 Miami University, 476 (2) | 24-5-7 | ||
| 3 University of Wisconsin, 443 | 21-8-4 | ||
| 4 St. Cloud State University, 397 | 20-10-4 | ||
| 5 Boston, Collge, 345 | 20-10-2 | ||
| 6 Yale University, 323 | 19-7-3 | ||
| 7 University of North Dakota, 318 | 18-11-5 | ||
| 8 Bemidji State University, 279 | 22-8-2 | ||
| 9 Cornell University, 231 | 17-8-4 | ||
| 10 University of New Hampshire, 217 | 16-10-6 | ||
| 11 Michigan State University, 146 | 19-11-6 | ||
| 12 Univrsity of Minnesota-Duluth, 138 | 19-14-1 | ||
| 13 University of Alaska, 100 | 16-9-9 | ||
| 14 Ferris State University, 54 | 19-11-6 | ||
| 15 Colorado College, 30 | 17-14-3 |
What Should UC Do With Mick?
What will UC do with Mick Cronin after this season? That is the biggest question on the minds of Bearcat basketball fans these days. UC now sits at 16-11 after their very unimpressive victory over Depaul last night. And even though the Bearcats won last night it felt more like a loss. UC was 0-9 from 3 point land and just 14 of 32 from the charity stripe as it was just another lackluster performance by the Cats under Cronin. Cincinnati is now just 7-8 since the start of the New Year and have taken a huge step back from where this team was at in November in the Maui Classic when they upset Vanderbilt and Maryland. What happened to that team in Maui? What happened to Yancy Gates, Deonta Vaughn, and Lance Stephenson? These are questions that the UC administration will have to answer.
Cronin has 4 years left on his contract but will the administration give Cronin one more year? What can Cronin do with one more year that he hasnt done in the first seasons as coach? Under Cronin, the Bearcats play has declined at the end of every season. Once again, the Bearcats will miss the NCAA Tournament. How many times can one coach miss the "Big Dance" before he losses his job? In a what have you done for me society, it seems to be the opposite with Cronin. Its more of a what might you do for us one day if given enough chances. Cronin has had four seasons and what improvements have been made? The answer to that is none. UC is still the same team now they were when Cronin took over and that wont change. The UC administration just needs to admit they made a mistake in hiring Mick and move on before its too late. The Bearcats need to avoid falling further behind the upper echelon of the Big East and the longer they keep Cronin as head coach the further UC will fall behind the rest of the league, then it will take that much longer for UC to get back.
Cronin has 4 years left on his contract but will the administration give Cronin one more year? What can Cronin do with one more year that he hasnt done in the first seasons as coach? Under Cronin, the Bearcats play has declined at the end of every season. Once again, the Bearcats will miss the NCAA Tournament. How many times can one coach miss the "Big Dance" before he losses his job? In a what have you done for me society, it seems to be the opposite with Cronin. Its more of a what might you do for us one day if given enough chances. Cronin has had four seasons and what improvements have been made? The answer to that is none. UC is still the same team now they were when Cronin took over and that wont change. The UC administration just needs to admit they made a mistake in hiring Mick and move on before its too late. The Bearcats need to avoid falling further behind the upper echelon of the Big East and the longer they keep Cronin as head coach the further UC will fall behind the rest of the league, then it will take that much longer for UC to get back.
Reds Sign Gomes
The Cincinnati Reds announced today they have agreed to a 1 yr contract with a club option for 2011 with free agent outfielder Jonny Gomes. Gomes hit .267 with 20 homeruns and 51 RBIs in 281 at bats last season for the Reds. Gomes proved to be valuable last season by playing left and right field and also, if needed, could of played first base.
So now it looks the Reds are done signing players. Will the platoon in LF work with Chris Dickerson and Gomes? Should they have gone harder after Damon or Jermaine Dye (who is still available)? I believe the Gomes signing is good if they use him like they did last season. But I would of liked to have seen the Reds make a play at Damon or Dye. With the lineup the Reds have, adding Dye could be the difference in making and missing the playoffs. Not only the power he brings, but the veteran leadership he would bring to that locker room as well. But time will tell and regardless if they add Dye or not, you have to love the way this season is lining up for the Reds. This lineup is on of the best Cincinnati has had in several years and should have Reds fans excited about the upcoming season.
So now it looks the Reds are done signing players. Will the platoon in LF work with Chris Dickerson and Gomes? Should they have gone harder after Damon or Jermaine Dye (who is still available)? I believe the Gomes signing is good if they use him like they did last season. But I would of liked to have seen the Reds make a play at Damon or Dye. With the lineup the Reds have, adding Dye could be the difference in making and missing the playoffs. Not only the power he brings, but the veteran leadership he would bring to that locker room as well. But time will tell and regardless if they add Dye or not, you have to love the way this season is lining up for the Reds. This lineup is on of the best Cincinnati has had in several years and should have Reds fans excited about the upcoming season.
USA Today Mens College Hockey Top 15 For Week 2/22/2010
| 1 University of Denver, 504 (28) | 22-6-4 | ||
| 2 Miami University, 480 (6) | 23-5-6 | ||
| 3 University of Wisconsin, 429 | 19-8-4 | ||
| 4 Yale University, 392 | 18-6-3 | ||
| 5 St. Cloud State University, 387 | 20-10-4 | ||
| 6 Bemidji State University, 311 | 21-7-2 | ||
| 7 Boston College, 288 | 18-10-2 | ||
| 8 University of North Dakota, 279 | 16-11-5 | ||
| 9 Cornell University, 200 | 16-8-3 | ||
| 10 University of New Hampshire, 185 | 15-10-5 | ||
| 11 University of Minnesota-Duluth, 170 | 18-13-1 | ||
| 12 Colorado College, 126 | 17-12-3 | ||
| 13 Michigan State University, 122 | 18-11-5 | ||
| 14 Ferris State University, 73 | 19-11-4 | ||
| 15 Union College, 68 | 18-8-6 |
robsviewofsports.com Mens College BBall Top 10 Week Of 2/22/2010
1) Kansas
2) Kentucky
3) Syracuse
4) West Virgina
5) Duke
6) Villanova
7) Kansas St
8) Ohio St
9) Butler
10) New Mexico
2) Kentucky
3) Syracuse
4) West Virgina
5) Duke
6) Villanova
7) Kansas St
8) Ohio St
9) Butler
10) New Mexico
