NEWS OF THE WEEK - SPORTS

Big week in sports.  Last Saturday we saw the NCAA Mens Tournament semi-finals.  Both close games, UF held off Auburn in the first and Houston came from way behind to clip favored Duke in the final seconds.  This set up the finals on Monday night and it was a classic if you could stay up that late to watch it.  UH led most of the game but UF jumped in front in the final minutes and Houston flubbed their chance to win at the buzzer.  University of Florida Gators are the champions.

The Reds split the final two games in Milwaukee and headed for San Francisco with a 3-7 record.  They threw their two live arms, young guns Greene and Lodolo, at the Giants the first two games a won 2-0 and 1-0.  A complete turn-around from the week before at home.  The Giants had been on a four-game winning streak and led the NL West. On Wednesday afternoon, Nick Martinez gave the Reds a great start but they managed to blow a 6-run lead and lose in 10 innings 8-6.  

The Reds opened a weekend series with the Pirates last night.  They only managed 4 hits but scored 5 runs for a 5-3 win.  After playing the Pittsburgh crew today and tomorrow, they face the Mariners and the Oriotles of the American League next week.  Both teams are last in their division.

FC Cincinnati topped NE Revolution one-nil (1-0) at TQL last Saturday and play D.C. United tonight in the nation's capitol.

The Bengals were silent.  Crickets!

The Joe Nuxhall Classic baseball tournament was held in my backyard this week - at Prasco Park.  The University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, Miami University and the University of Dayton played a round-robin at the best privately owned park in the country.  The Wright State Raiders won the  championship game over XU; beating up on all their big brothers from the soutern Ohio.

Thursday saw the beginning of the Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, GA.  The best of the best meet on the garden spot of all sports seeking to wear a green jacket on Sunday evening.  The weather was near perfect.  Englishman Justin Rose took the lead on Thursday and held on through Friday's play.  Lots of great players are within shouting distance.  It's going to be a lot of fun.