Freel Dirty Shirt

I saw the Reds are doing some promotions this year called "Freel Dirty Shirt" where they give out replica Freel jerseys with dirt stains on them.

But I really just wanted to pass on this good Freel article.

Freel Can't Back Off Dangerous, All-out Style
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Mar 28, 2:32 PM (ET)

By JOE KAY

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) -Ryan Freel gripped the padded arms of his folding chair and gently lowered himself into a sitting position, giving his achy back an easy descent. Scrapes the consistency of overripe strawberries adorned both forearms.

A day after his foolishly fantastic catch, his body was feeling it.

Only Freel would throw himself headlong into an outfield wall - OK, so the wall was padded - to make a catch in a meaningless spring training game, leaving him in need of ice, X-rays and something for that headache.

The outfielder's emergency-room-or-bust style has made him a fan favorite in Cincinnati. He had a career breakthrough this spring, when manager Jerry Narron decided that Freel would take over in center field for Ken Griffey Jr.

That's where he'll start the season opener on Monday - unless he runs into something else between now and then.

Don't rule it out.

"What's gotten me here is playing the game hard and doing everything I can to win a ballgame," he said Wednesday before going for precautionary X-rays on his ribs that were negative. "To tone it down for the longevity - that's something I can't do. I can't hold back. I just can't do that. If I'm going to get hurt, I'm going to get hurt."

On this day, the checklist of hurts is typically long. Sore ribs. Sore right shoulder blade. Sore back.

"Nothing I couldn't play with," said Freel, who got the day off anyway.

All the aches and scrapes came from one play that left everyone shaking their heads in wonder. Freel made a diving catch on the warning track during a 6-2 loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday night, flinging himself headfirst into the base of the padded wall. He held onto the ball, but had to leave the game at the end of the inning because of back spasms.

"It shows how crazy he is," Reds pitcher Kyle Lohse said. "He's a gamer. He doesn't take a play off no matter what."

His manager wishes he would.

Narron has talked to Freel about easing up during spring training so he's completely healthy - if there is such a thing - for the season opener against the Cubs. He might as well talk to the outfield wall.

"I told him to try to play this game at about 80 percent, so maybe he was," Narron mused. "Maybe he really would have gotten hurt if he was playing 100 percent. Great play. He would have been all right if he didn't hit the wall."

He would have been all right if he hadn't made the dive in the first place. He knew he shouldn't do it, but his instincts took over.

"In the back of my mind, I think, 'Take it easy, try to get out of here in one piece,"' Freel said, sitting stiffly in his folding chair. "But then I seen an opportunity, and I really don't think about it when I'm running for the ball. It all just flies out the window. I don't know what I'm thinking about. I end up just trying to catch the ball."

His refusal to slow down has probably slowed his career. Freel has played all three outfield positions, second base, third base and shortstop. He has led the team in steals each of the last three seasons. During his career, he also has broken both thumbs, torn knee cartilage and missed time because of injuries to his shoulder, foot and hamstrings.

Appropriately, the Reds will honor Freel with a pair of "Ryan Freel Dirty Shirt" days this season, giving away jerseys that appear to have dirt stains down the front. The 31-year-old outfielder usually has dirt, grass or part of the warning track somewhere on his uniform.

"I was always dirty," Freel said, thinking back to his boyhood days. "My mom and dad just dropped me off at the field to play all day. I was a mess."

The Reds are hoping he can stay healthy enough to be their full-time center fielder. They moved Griffey to right field this spring, recognizing that Freel covers more ground. Griffey isn't happy about the switch, pointing out that it wasn't his idea.

"It feels a little awkward," Freel said. "Junior is not the type of guy to hold a grudge or be a jerk. This is my fifth year playing with him, and he's never been like that. But down deep, it does feel a little awkward to replace a player of that caliber. I'm still in awe. How many people get to replace a Hall of Fame player?"

Freel will get the chance, provided he doesn't get hurt.

"That's the way the game's supposed to be played," he said. "I've been a utility guy, scratched my way up through the minors. It seems like my career is now just getting started. I'm going to take full advantage of it."

Dead Computer

Well, for the next week or so I probably won't be on here much. My computer died at home. The electricity in my apt whacked out earlier in the week - and only my apartment, no one elses in the building. Needless to say something with it fried my computer. The apt says they're not responsible for anything in the apartment - just the building itself and said that's why I should have renter's insurance. Renter's insurance says they don't cover electrical mishaps - WTF!? So, basically, I have to go buy a new computer ... cause I just have tons of cash lying around with Vegas coming up, and Nascar, and J's birthday (no she's not getting a ring), and whatever else I've been spending money on lately - mostly beer. I've been drinking alot of Bell's Beer lately. It's about $10 for a sixer after tax and the Michigan 10 cent deposit per bottle. It's tasty stuff ... high class beer. But don't think I'm high class. I'll still drink Bud with the rest of them. Hell, maybe even Busch for the race again.

Anyway, I'm pissed about the computer, but eh, what can you do?

BW3's (wild wings and witch...with a capital B)

Ryan and I went to BW3's after golf last week. It happened to be 50 cent leg night, even though Ryan still calls them wings (you got me?). The lady who took our order told us it would be about 10-15 mins so they could drop some more legs. That's fine. I'm not happy about it, considering it's leg night and you would think they would continuously make legs. But I accept the wait time. Ten to fifteen minutes later, the lady brings Ryan's legs. He's munching away happily for a few mins and I'm thinking where in the hell is my food. The lady comes back around and says she's sorry but they had to drop some more legs. Then I get angry. I don't know exactly what I said but something to the effect that it was f-ing bs. She said don't complain to her she's new. I said fine, bring me your manager. So I complain to the manager and end up getting my food for free, plus a coupon. The lady that took our order somehow decided to turn this around on me. This is going to be her last day, she doesn't have to take this...blah blah blah. The thing is if she wasn't so damned stupid, we wouldn't be in this predicament. When we left she said have a good night real sarcastically. I should have laid into her right then and there. But I found some self control and kept walking. I hope it was her last night and that it wasn't her decision for it being so. I'm a bitter old man.

Parking Garage Lady...Cuntinued

The other day I had nothing but quarters to pay for parking in the morning. I hand my favorite lady $3.50 in quarters. She then proceeds to ask me if we're good. "I don't owe you anything and you don't owe me anything, right?" WTF? I'm not going to start doing your job lady. Count the damn money yourself. And why in the hell would I give you anything but exactly $3.50 if I'm paying with quarters? I should have messed with her and told her she owes me $3.50 in change.

Betting Out of Control

I swear that the betting is getting out of control. First, it was betting on Fantasy NASCAR. Then it moved on to betting on Qualfying and when the next caution will be. What will be next? I have a top 5 list for what would be the Best "next bet" categories:

1) Turn your eyes away know if you get grossed out easily. I have an over/under on how many times Jesse will go to the bathroom in a day. Every time I hit that guy up he is going to the bathroom. The over/under is 2. I put $5 down on the over last week and won. Easy money!

2) Shortest pit stop for an entire race.

3) Over/Under on when TJ will propose. This could actually be turned into a betting pool where people select dates and whoever is closest wins.

4) Will TJ, Jesse and Ryan end up in jail for Vegas? We really can't bet on this one since we are the ones involved. It would be a little unfair on our part.

5) Where will the ACN office move? I already have $5 on one of the downtown locations. Jesse has $5 on Blue Ash location. Tracie has $5 on other downtown location.


Where will the betting go next?

Itchy Butthole

I'll tell you what (Jesse mentioned it last week).....that damn toilet paper in the old ACN bathroom is like sandpaper. After you are done wiping, you feel like you just wiped your butt on the bark of a tree trunk which is definitely an incredible feeling. Can't we get some Charmins or something up in this place.

First Round of Golf

Jesse, Jeremy and I went out to Lunken last week and played our first round of golf. We all shot pretty well. Scores: Jesse (51), Jeremy (50), Me (49). Jesse was tearing it up with his drives. I don't know what happened but I was putting really well. I only had 2 three putts and the rest were 2 and 1 putts. All and all it was good first round of golf. It should be downhill from there but I can't complain much because the weather is starting to warm up.

Self Shenanigans

It's just a thought but is Self Shenanigans possible. Could it be possible to call shenanigans on yourself? I mean....why not! One example is that you are involved in a shenanigans scenario. Everything about what happened involves the declaration of shenanigans called upon you but noone really noticed it but you. You think to yourself, "Should I call it or not......noone else really noticed." I would compare this to getting too much change back after buying something at a store. "They gave me an extra couple bucks back. Should I keep or not?" If I keep it, I could go to hell. If I don't, well you get the point.

Just throwing it out there. Self Shenanigans or not?

59

I made it out after work for the first time to golf this year. I shot 59. Doesn't seem good. But, I actually hit some really good shots considering I hadn't swung a club yet this year. My putting was horrendous. The greens were really long and I couldn't get a putt to the whole. My chipping was shit too. And eventually I got caught behind two kids taking forever and I got bored sitting there waiting and kinda lost interest.

No pars. I think I had 3 or 4 bogies, and the rest were triples and doubles.

Anyway, it was good to get out. How'd y'all play recently? I bet you beat a 59.

WTF?

Schaub signed a six-year, $48 million contract with the Texans, a move that officially consummates the trade. As part of the deal, Schaub -- who played golf with Houston coach Gary Kubiak on Monday in a get-acquainted session, the Houston Chronicle reported -- will receive $7 million in guarantees. Schaub has not won a regular-season start and barely completed 50 percent of his pass attempts in three seasons with the Falcons.

Mario and Luigi...Reunited

I think I spent a small fortune trying to win a damn Mario doll out of one of those crane machines at Gameworks. Over the course of two days, I would say I spent around thirty bucks. The thing is you don't really know how much each try is unless you take a minute to do the math. And god knows I'm not going to do that. I stopped doing math after college. Anyway, each try is around 50 credits or something like that. But who cares? I've got a million credits, right? That's where they get you. Turns out, it's like three bucks a try. Well the last time we went, I asked the girl at the card counter if I could give her twenty bucks and she gives me a Mario because I know I'm going to end up spending it trying to win him. She told me it didn't work like that. I tried several times before giving up and heading to the bar. I'm sitting there by myself, drinking a pitcher of beer right out of the pitcher drowning my sorrows when I see Chambers coming my way with a shit eating grin on his face. He's got a friggin Mario in his hand. Apparently, he won the thing on the first try. Chambers won me both Mario and Luigi. I brought them into work and set them on my desk. Now I need to get Donkey Kong and Wario. "I'm a Wario. I'm a gonna win." Just not at the crane game.

Parking Garage Lady...aka my Nemesis

The parking garage lady ruined my day last week...again. It was a Friday, so I was feeling pretty good. One day left in the week, I can do this. I pull into the parking garage and we go about our regular business of completing the transaction. She usually tries to spark up some conversation, probably because she can see in my eyes that I don't want to have to talk to her. She says, "It's Friday. Have a good weekend." I'm thinking, "Ok I hate the parking garage lady, but that was nice of her." Not more than a split second later she says, "You're getting older every day." What the hell kind of a thing is that to say to someone? Have I abused my body that much where you can actually see a difference from day to day? Damn, that sucks if that's the case. Next week I'll be walking up the hill with a cane while mumbling about young whippersnappers and trying to remember what I ate yesterday. Thanks parking garage lady. You're a real doll.

MIA from the TJR

Sorry guys, I haven't taken much time lately to keep up with this thing. It's about time I stop working so hard, put the Basis aside for a few minutes, and get back on the blog train. Ok, so I'm actually at home and it's 10 o'clock but what can I say.

Griff dawg starting in right field

Griffey will play right field

BY JOHN FAY | JFAY@ENQUIRER.COM

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LAKELAND, Fla. – If Ken Griffey Jr. can play in a game by week’s end, he'll play in right field, Reds manager Jerry Narron said.

The Reds came into spring training considering Griffey one of the options in center field, but because he hasn’t played yet that option is no longer there.

“We would have liked to give Junior a chance to play center field,” Narron said. “But he’s been hurt, we’re getting to the point where we need to get our lineup out there. We’ve got to get the club ready. That’s the whole thing.”

Narron thinks the Reds’ best lineup defensively is with Ryan Freel in center field.

“It’s a decision I made,” he said. “I didn’t take it lightly. I’ve talked to people around baseball.”

As to when Griffey plays, it’s unclear.

“He’s been taking batting practice,” Narron said. “He’s still sore. Hopefully, we get him out there some time this week.”

Griffey has not played in any of the Reds 17 spring training games. He’s still dealing with the aftereffects of the broken left hand he suffered in the December.

Narron was asked if there’s a date certain by which Griffey has to play in order to avoid starting the year on the disabled list.

“Probably,” Narron said. “But we’ll see where he is the next few days. The one thing he has had going for him is he’s been able to see live pitching in simulated games.”

Narron said he talked to Griffey about the possibility of moving to right field early in spring training.


The call as to when he’ll play has been Griffey’s since the beginning of camp, and now he knows when he plays it will be in right field.

“Whenever he says he’s ready to go, we’re going to do whatever we can to get him in the lineup,” Narron said.

After today’s off day, the Reds are down to 11 days of games before Opening Day.

A Bengal finally on the right side of the law ...

Dolphins' Porter Accused of Punching Bengals' Jones at Casino
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Mar 19, 3:49 PM (ET)

By KEN RITTER

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter was accused of punching Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Levi Jones after police said the players exchanged trash talk at a casino blackjack table.

Porter was issued a summons on a misdemeanor battery charge after the Sunday altercation that began inside the Palms hotel-casino, Las Vegas police Officer Martin Wright said.

"They went outside. In the valet area, one struck the other, causing a small laceration above the eye," Wright said Monday, calling the injury minor.

Porter could face up to a year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine, Wright said, but no court date was immediately available.

Porter, 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, left the Pittsburgh Steelers after eight years and signed a five-year, $32 million deal with the Dolphins earlier this month. Jones, 6-5 and 307 pounds, missed much of last season with a knee injury.

"It seems they go against each other on the field, and here they take it into the public," Wright said.

Wright cited an initial report from a Las Vegas police lieutenant who said the two players had a history of on-field trash talking with each other. The Steelers and Bengals both are in the AFC North, and play each other twice each season.

Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said Porter, a three-time Pro Bowl pick, told him about the incident Monday morning.

"We will monitor the situation and refrain from making any further comment until we gather more information," Cameron said in a statement issued by the Dolphins.

Wright said a written police investigation and report won't be complete until at least the end of the week.

The Bengals didn't have much to say about the latest incident involving one of their players. Over a nine-month period, nine Bengals have been arrested.

"We have determined that he did not sustain any serious injuries," team spokesman Jack Brennan said of Jones. "Other than that, it's just not something that warrants any comment."

Bad Influence

Jesse and I watched NASCAR at his place yesterday. That went really good. Then we decided to go up to Animations for a couple of games of pool. Well, 2 games turned into 4 which turned into 8. Next thing you know I drove home and Stacy was not too happy. I'm definitely in the dog house. She wouldn't even give me a good bye kiss........that's BIG time trouble.

Midget Gang

'Midget' gang allegedly burgled houses

AMPANG, Malaysia, March 16 (UPI) -- A gang of pint-sized burglars used their small physical stature to carry out house break-ins, police in Malaysia say.

The eight suspects ranged in age from 14 to 23, the Malaysian Star reported. But most were the same size as a small 13-year-old.

The group allegedly used those under 5 feet tall to get through windows.

Investigators say the eight were arrested after members of a residents' association reported seeing strangers loitering suspiciously in a field. Once they were taken to the police station, they allegedly "blurted out" confessions.

Four cell phones, a digital camera and 250 ringgits ($72) were seized.

Investigators said they believe the suspects were opportunists, looking for houses where gates had been left unlocked. They allegedly carried out burglaries while the occupants were asleep.

Follow the bitch!

I got to play some more Michigan poker Friday night. Some dudes Julia works with were getting together for a game, and I'd met 3 of them once, but they asked if I'd play. So I show up at where I think it is, but can't find the address on the house and it's raining. But I see a guy walking to the door with a 6 pack and there are a couple cars in the driveway so I figure I was at the right place. So I go up to the door, knock, and some guy I've never met answers and I tell him I've got beer and am looking for a game of cards. Turns out I was at the right place.

There were 12 of us there, so we had two tables going and rotated people between tables about every hour. It was dealer calls all night, which was a nice change from hold 'em. I get tired of that after awhile. I kept calling follow the queens, aka follow the bitch. But there was some acey ducey, 7 card stud, wilds, split pots, and all sorts of other games I've never heard of.

$20 buy in and after the first couple hours, someone was buying in a second time, but from my stack, so a couple hours in and I'm play on profit. I ended up leaving after five hours up $50 which wasn't a bad night of poker and drinking Buds.


Hopefully I didn't beat them too bad ... otherwise they might not invite me back. We had $10 limits on the games where you could bet the pot so things didn't get out of control. Don't know if you've ever played acey ducey, but there are situations where if you lose, you can pay up to double the pot, so it can get out of control in a hurry without the $10 limit. They've played games befoer where they pot's gotten up to $300 or more with that game.

Anyway, it's Saturday night ... check that Sunday morning and I'm in the office working for the time zone change, which flips over in one minute. Gotta start some SAP systems.

NASCAR Junkies - How did it happen?

This was a conversation that Jesse and I had today. We are betting $5 on who has the top qualifier on their Fantasy NASCAR team. This is what followed:

[03/08/2007 09:29] ACN - BigCountryJEJ: i cant believe we're going to bet on qualifying[03/08/2007 09:29] ACN - BigCountryJEJ: we like nascar junkies now
[03/08/2007 09:29] RchambersDupont: I know....how did it happen
[03/08/2007 09:29] ACN - BigCountryJEJ: im not sure. is this a good thing
[03/08/2007 09:29] RchambersDupont: I'm not really sure
[03/08/2007 09:29] RchambersDupont: it came out of nowhere
[03/08/2007 09:30] RchambersDupont: one day I was watching NFL and the next I was drinking a beer, smoking a cigarette, and watching Junior on TV

This is a real website ...

Farmers Only

Aliens

Sounds like you guys had a hell of a time Friday. You sounded like Aliens talking ... some where between a mumble and a hillbilly / alien voice. Pretty damn crazy. Can't beat dollar beers!

I hate Miller ... but this looks awesome

Big Daddy!

I see the Broncos picked up my boy Big Daddy Wilinson. They also traded away Plummer and Tatum Bell. And also signed Travis Henry. Whoa, what a bunch of moves. Hopefully it's better in the end. Are the Bengals or Browns making any moves?

SAP or not?

A little piece about the computer glitch that happened during the stock market crash the other day is below. It appears the system that the stock market runs on experienced delays. Could they be running SAP? It's a possibility.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- As the Dow Jones industrial average suffered its biggest one-day point loss in 5-1/2 years Tuesday afternoon, traders were blind to the severity of the fall due to technical problems.
Dow Jones (Charts) said that for about an hour it experienced difficulty with its system for reporting the industrial average's activity.
"Around 2:00 pm today the market's extraordinarily heavy trading volume caused a delay in the Dow Jones data systems and as a result, the calculation of the Dow Jones Industrial Average temporarily lagged behind the market decline and as we identified the problem we decided to switch over to a back-up system and the result was a rapid catch-up in the published value of the Dow Jones Industrial Average," explained a Dow Jones spokeswoman.

Full article can be found here: http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/27/markets/dow_drop/index.htm?postversion=2007022719