CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

On Wednesday the Reds kicked off their spring training schedule with a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. It couldn't have gone better...they won 7-0...hitters hit...pitchers pitched...fielders fielded...runners ran...they can't stop us now! This team will go all the way...somewhere.

On Thursday, Bob Huggins returned to town to a "hero's welcome" at the place where he amassed many victories. ESPN caught him crying before the game ever started. When it was over, he was crying again. The Bearcats muscled their way to a 65-61 victory over his Mountaineers. Yancy Gates was a man among boys under the basket. The freshman scored 22 points and had 11 rebounds. The Cats had a 10 point lead with just over two minutes to go and needed a free throw with seven seconds left to seal the deal. Cincinnati is now 18-10 on the season and 8-7 in the Big East.

Also on Thursday night, Xavier was in Philadelphia to meet A-10 rival St. Joseph's. Derrick Brown and B.J. Raymond each had 18 points in the Musketeer's 68-54 win. XU is now 23-5 on the season and 11-3 in the conference. The Muskies are off now until next Thursday's showdown with UD for the A-10 title.

The NFL is now into the free agency period. If you expect the Bengals to be very active, you believe in the tooth fairy. Stacy Andrews, the right tackle who the Bengals blew a bunch of money on last year as the designated franchise player, has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. One word to Carson, "Duck!"

On Sunday afternoon, the Bearcats were in Syracuse, NY for a game against the Orange and they came up Red...Red in the face. They were again without Mike Williams and his replacement, Alvin Mitchell, got himself kicked out of the game in the first 3 minutes. It was ugly and ended 87-63.
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