The Weekend

First off, how's this for a cheesy graphic? There will be no tennis, baseball or volleyball mentioned in this post by the way. Deal with it.

Anyway, quite a weekend we've got going here.

I'll start with the Columbus Bluejackets, who blew a 3-2 lead at the start of the third period last night and lost 4-3 to Vancouver. The winning goal coincidentally was assisted by former Ohio State University hockey player Ryan Kesler. It was a bullshit goal that floated over goalie Steve Mason's head after being deflected and trickled into the net. Then again, the 'Jackets whole season has been bullshit. Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch has labeled new head coach Claude Noel "quirky".

That may be the last time I ever mention the Columbus Bluejackets.

Sticking with pro teams in Ohio, the Cavs of course are not playing this weekend due to the All-Star break. They won their last 13 heading into the break including a pretty good one against the Knicks a week ago with yours truly in attendance. The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly in heated talks with the Phoenix Suns and are attempting to trade for Amare Stoudemire. Recently the discussion has been whether to go after Stoudemire or the Washington Wizards' Antawn Jamison.

Personally I think Jamison might have been the better fit. You've already got Shaq and Z manning the middle. I'm not sure why you would need another big man, which is what Stoudemire is even though he's clearly more athletic than either of the centers currently playing for the Cavs. Certainly Stoudemire is a talented player though. I'm no expert. Obviously.

Speaking of pro teams in Ohio that aren't playing this weekend, it's the Cincinnati Bengals! Yipee! The Bengals reportedly worked out ex-Dallas Cowboy Adam "Pacman" Jones this past week. Cornerback would not seem to be a position of need for the Bengals. Starters Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph are two of the best in the biz. It is one of those positions where you can never have enough good players. The Bengals may be simply trying to strike gold the way they did with another cast-off, Cedric Benson. Jones is in a different league than Benson though when it comes to douchebaggery. He has been arrested about 83 times and was involved in a shooting incident in Las Vegas that left a man paralyzed. None of that garbage would necessarily preclude me from signing the guy. This would though. He's not a great cornerback.

The Bengals not only worked out, but SIGNED former Jacksonville Jaguar Wide Receiver Matt Jones. This guy's yet another miscreant who was cut by the Jags after getting busted with blow. It's a one year deal for the minimum so it's a fairly low-risk move by the Bagels. The team is woefully thin at the WR position and will need to do a lot more than sign former Arkansas QB's to fill the hole.

Coincidentally, the Bengals also worked out former Ohio State QB Todd Boeckman this week. He was invited to the Bings' mini-camp last year but was not offered a contract.

More Cincinnati sports, the UC Bearcats are currently in a tussle with the UCONN Huskies. Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun has returned to the bench but the 'Cats are currently up 34-25 with 15 mins. left in a sloppy, dull, ponderous basketball game. I have no faith that the Bearcats will hold on. They are the definition of a bubble team. Also, I just caught them playing Miley Cyrus' 'Party in the U.S.A.' during a timeout. C'mon University of Connecticut public address operators, you're better than that.

The Buckeyes' basketball team on the other hand is far from the bubble and with a solid push through the end of the regular season could find themselves with a three seed in the NCAA tournament. Every game is critical at this point as the Buckeyes attempt to win the Big Ten Conference outright. Tomorrow they're at Illinois for a tough road battle.

Further along in the action, just watched the Bearcats piss away a 49-35 lead with four mins. left in the game.

And because you care, Princeton High School sits atop the Greater Miami Conference standings and is currently ranked #3 team in Cincinnati.

Bearcats get their heads out of their collective asses and win 60-48, ruining Coach Calhoun's return to the UCONN bench.

Now, Olympics...