CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

The Reds announced their opening day line-up. Here it is: Frank Robinson will be Grand Marshall of the parade; The Goshorn Brothers will perform a concert in the Fan Zone; the UC football team will hold a big American flag on the field before the game; Mia Carruthers from the School for the Creative and Performing Arts and star of MTV's "Taking the Stage" will sing the National Anthem; Nick Lachey will throw out the first pitch; UC football coach Brian Kelly will deliver the game ball to pitcher Aaron Harang; Cincinnati firefighter John Winfrey will sing "God Bless America" during the game; the UC Marching Band will play "Take Me out to the Ballpark" during the seventh inning stretch; there will be a moment of silence for longtime Reds scorekeeper Glenn Sample . . . who cares who plays the game?

Xavier met top seeded Pittsburgh in the sweet sixteen round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday night. It was a tough back and forth game with neither team ever clearly having the advantage. Xavier led 37 to 29 at the half but Pitt was on top at the end, 60-55. Time after time the Musketeers missed lay-ups, short shots and tip-ins . . . they made only 7 of 29 shots in the second half. It was amazing. Even after all this, to took a clutch 3-pointer by the Panthers point guard Levance Fields with under a minute to go to do them in.

The Bengals have been awarded four extra picks (all in the last three rounds) in the upcoming draft to compensate them for players lost to free agency. . . have you heard the deafening silence coming out of Chad 'Ocho Cinco' Johnson this off season?