CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

It was a slow week in Cincinnati sports. Bengals starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph was issued a one game suspension by the commissioner's office to be enforced in the upcoming game. Joseph had been arrested back in January with a small amount of a contolled substance. Rookie Leon Hall will have to be ready to go.


The off-week didn't really heal many of the Bengal's injuries. Rudy Johnson is still not quite ready; Willie Anderson will miss his first start this century; linebackers Ahmad Brooks, Caleb Miller and Rashad Jeanty will not be able to go; Tab Perry is still out.


The UC Bearcats are preparing for Louisville on Saturday and getting a lot of local and national publicity. Ryan Manalac, UC linebacker was named Big East defensive player of the week and punter Kevin Huber the special teams player of the week. Mike Mikens, cornerback, was named a mid-season all-american by Sports Illustrated. UC tickets, which you couldn't give away last year, are selling on e-Bay for $350.00. Stadium expansion is a hot local topic.


The Reds are talking to everyone that ever coached a baseball team. It looks like Pete MacKanin is being overlooked in favor of a nationally recognizable 'name'. Dusty Baker is the latest ---yikes! If he comes, maybe Berry Bonds comes with him.


The highlight of Friday's prep football games saw Fenwick clobber Purcell-Marian 24-6. In other games, Wilmington was put down by Kings 42-6; Mariemont topped Taylor 42-20; Hamilton pounded Lakota West 28-7 and Colerain beat Lakota East 27-10.

On Saturday night, the UC football team had the longest winning streak in the country for about two hours thanks to the Kentucky Wildcats. The Bearcats were able to hold the Louisville Cardinals to their lowest offensive output of the season but turned the ball over four times stopping their own offense and resulting in a 28-24 loss. Statistics don't win ball games but they do tell a story!

During the UC game, local news sources announced that the Reds had offered Dusty Baker a three-year contract. Mothers don't let your sons chew on toothpicks.

On Sunday afternoon in Kansas City, the Bengals got back to work against the Chiefs and Marvin Lewis officially completed the turn-around of the Cincinnati Bengals...360 degrees around. They are again the bungling Bungles of old. They have a ways to go to reach mediocre. Lost 27-20!