STEVE MCNAIR

RIP Steve McNair and please NFL Players look after his sons...

MJ...

Last week i was set to talk about the NBA draft and the NBA usually owns the spotlight but after Michael Joseph Jackson died, even the NBA was inconsequential.

I pause to honor...

The King of Pop

RIP MJ

OCHO CINCO & DENZEL

Yes Denzel Washington of Malcolm X, Training Day, The Taking of Pelham 123 has befriended Ocho Cinco and that's why he's good for Cincinnati. Can you imagine if Denzel Washington comes to Cincinnati for a Bengals game what would happen? Women would be in attendance like never before. Men will be forced to stay home while they look for a glance, photo opp or hug from one of Hollywood's leading men.

Say what you want about Ocho but he mixes like gin and juice amongst the celebrities and he shares it with you and Cincinnati. Now if he shares his talent which I think he will this season, the offense and defense might have something special this year and that's long overdue.

BRIAN & MICK
Both the Mens football and basketball coaches got contract extensions this past week and deservedly so. I know many think Brian Kelly deserves it fresh off the Orange Bowl and others have their doubts about Mick. I typically ask those who doubt, what would have expected for someone who walked into a bare cupboard, behind in recruiting and your program was in turmoil. Getting the program stable was one thing; done. Next start to recruit players who could compete; done. Now get a surplus of players so you can compete in the Big East game in and game out, especially down the stretch. With a strong addition to his coaching staff in the form of George Jackson, formerly of Seton Hall, Bowling Green and yes Withrow, the staff just upgraded itself with a ton of experience and success. It should be a good year to be a Bearcat.

FATHERS DAY SPORTS

The luncheon today was almost as good as it gets and the reason it wasn't perfect was because Muhammad Ali wasn't able to speak. It just doesn't seem fair sometime but that's one of the reason he was honored by Major League Baseball, its never stopped him. And just like my father who was stricken with acute rheumatoid arthritis, he never let it stop him either. At 41 was Dad was never able to work or walk again. He was for the most part confined to a bed getting up to take a long walk to the bathroom which was only seconds for the rest of us; But he never complained; not once and said if this was the hand he was dealt...

On this Father's Day my column is dedicated to Wayne L. Miller, Sr. aka Pops a Cincinnati sports fan. He loved the Bengals the day they came saying we have our own team now as I stayed with the Browns. (I have since joined the Bengal nation when Marvin came). He loved the Reds, UC, didn't matter as long as it was Cincinnati. He loved football, basketball and we talked about it all. When he first died I remember picking up the phone after a great play to call him and forgot. It was that much of a habit. Now after a great play I think about what he would be saying.

This Fathers Day will be tough for a former colleague of mine Mo Egger who just lost his dad, reminding me of my first year without mine. Mo the memories are the best thing to cling to and share aloud because it will get you through the tough times. For those who still have Dads or sons, going to or watching a sporting event is the best thing you can do together. A game, hit, shot or play brings you closer than you can imagine. I've got lots of them to still share.

Happy Fathers Day Wayne L. Miller, Sr We had some great sports memories...

KOBE & FISH

Done! The Lakers minus Shaq, but with Kobe, have finally won the NBA title and got the you can't win without the Diesel monkey off their back. The Lakers experience was too much for the young Orlando Magic and their questionable coach Stan "Moving" Van Gundy. His lack or respect for Anthony Johnson, one of the players who played well through the playoffs among other things showed why Pat Riley interceded and took over the Miami Heat when they won the championship. You could spend lots of time talking about that but what was really overlooked in some circles was the value of Derek Fisher as a Laker.

Fish is a guy that can challenge Kobe 24/7 having won as many rings as Kobe and ironically won them with him as a contributor not a spectator. Fish is also the guy who stayed in the gym with Kobe after everyone left pushing him to get better, even to the point of fighting. Simply put his desire to win is on par with the "Nike Muppet" and one of the reason they hoisted the trophy. The other is Phil, the Zen Master who surpassed Red Auerbach to win his 10th championship, a mark I think will stay forever. Today's owner are too impatient to let a coach stay around that long.

So back to the drawing board for the Magic and back to LA for the Lakers and the parade that awaits the champions...They earned it.

CLEVELAND O'NEAL
Word is that the Cavaliers in talks with the Phoenix Suns to acquired Shaquille O'Neal per LeBron James. Now LeBron hasn't come out and said that but you know he gave Danny Ferry an ultimatum; get me some help or get me gone! If they thought wearing the Yankees hat he wears is insulting, how would he look wearing a Nets uniform??? Yeah the team Jay-Z is part owner of and moving back to New York City. It won't be anybody but them unless the Knicks outbid their in state rival...

C'mon football season!

STEEL TITLE TOWN FOR NOW

Not that the Pens won the Stanley Cup and the Steelers have the Super Bowl trophy Pittsburgh can call itself Title Town without argument. I don't think you'll ever hear Pittsburgh Pirates World Series champions over the next 10 years minimum. But hey lets focus on one hell of a hockey game last night. The Pens goal tender Theo Fleury did his best imitation of the steel curtain turning away 23 of 24 shots that seemed like 234 shots on goal. When Sid Crosby got hurt, I wonder how many Pens fans thought all was lost? Most won't admit it now but I thought "lets see how this young team handles the adversity". Well don't look now but they have enough talent and an off-season to legitimately think about back to back Cups.

GAME 5
Will probably be the last game of this series and like Pittsburgh in hockey, the Lakers will celebrate on the visitors court. Orlando had a great run this year and will be know for making Nike keep lots of their Muppet commercials on ice after they upset but beat Cleveland. Dwight Howard is only going to get better offensively and yes even defensively. They'll need some help down low scoring and rebounding to complete their low post package and lookout NBA, they'll have perimeter scorers and low post consistency to boot. Now the bigger question for Cavs fans: What is your team going to do to get better?

FAT LADY TO THE ARENA PLEASE

It ain't over til' the fat lady sings they used to say; Well she better hop a plane to Orlando because after squandering another lead Orlando finds themselves down 3-1 and we know what that means. If you're an Orlando fan you play dumb right about now and I respect that. Before anyone starts over analyzing its really as simple as this: Jameer Nelson's brain fart in letting Derek Fisher shoot an uncontested three knowing a two wouldn't do nothing but eat up the clock was typical of this team. You might say you can't blame Stan "Moving Van" Gundy but you can. Your regular rotation guys, Rafer Alston and Anthony Johnson were mentally sharper from having played in the playoffs all season. We forget Jameer Nelson is not in playoff shape physically or mentally and that my friends is how this series will be remembered. Why in the name of playoff rhythm was he out there and Anthony Johnson, who bullied the Cavs by jacking up Mo Williams, and contributed throughout the playoffs, sits on the bench?

USAIN BOLT IS BACK
Nice to see him back on the track and his 10:00 100 meters gets me excited about the sport of track and field again. I wish a major network would invest in track and field by showing aspects of preparation, putting Mic's on runners to hear their breathing and burst into the wind, etc. Imagine cameras on the hurdles when they stretch over the next hurdle or inside the baton, I don't I just like track and field and the speed of the sprints. You have to admit the little camera that follows the runners is a great innovation. I'd like to see more.