Here is a piece on one of the best coaches in NBA history.
Here is my latest on the Westbrook fiasco and why his future with the Thunder is in doubt.
Monday, May 23
Tickel Your Fancy
Here is a piece on one of the best coaches in NBA history.
Here is my latest on the Westbrook fiasco and why his future with the Thunder is in doubt.
Thursday, May 12
20 seconds from glory
Cincy alumnus races for final U.S. roster spot
Hunter Tickel | Sports Editor
One of the most accomplished athletes to ever set foot on the University of Cincinnati campus — swimmer Josh Schneider — may take the biggest step of his career Thursday.
The UC alumnus will compete in a swim-off with Olympic gold-medalist Cullen Jones for the final roster spot on the U.S. team for the 2011 FINA World Championships. The 50-meter freestyle will begin at 6:20 p.m. in downtown Charlotte.
The pair have been set to square off since August 2010 when they recorded identical times of 21.97 seconds at the 2010 Conco Philips National Championships.
Schneider dubbs this race as the biggest meet of the year and possibly his life.
"The emotion is pretty high because if I lose I don't get to go, but if I win, I get to represent my country," Schneider says.
Schneider's shot for a spot on the national team wasn't guaranteed after the National Championships seven months ago.
His time in the 50-meter competition was disqualified after his current coach at SwimMAC — Charlotte David Marsh — entered him into the 100-meter competition in addition to the 50-meter.
Schneider didn't show up to the 100-meter because it took place prior to the 50-meter freestyle. Regulations in swimming state that all times athletes record if they miss their first race do not count toward qualification.
A rule that Schneider says is for age-group swimmers, not those competing on the national stage.
"I had to get it appealed," Schneider says. "We got a lawyer involved calling in to sign off on the agreement that if the time was going to be counted, we would have to go into a swim-off,"
Schneider says it was a honest mistake and a coaching error.
Jones is the only person that stands between Schneider and a spot on the 2011 U.S. national team, and, coincidently, the two are training partners for SwimMAC — something that Schneider says raises the level of competition during practice.
At practice, the two don't talk about the race and understand that if either of them is to make it to the 2012 Olympics in London, they will have to knock the other off in the process.
"When we found out my time counted, we knew we were going to have to swim against each other," Schneider says. "That's just the way it is. Only two people can go and we both know that."
Schneider is a two-time medalist at the FINA World Championships. He won the bronze in 2010 in Dubai for the 50-meter short course, making him the current American record holder with a 20.88 time. Despite this accomplishment, Schneider is still crafting his game and remaining humble.
"I'm learning so much still, so I still have much to improve on if I'm going to be a contender for a medal at the Olympics," Schneider says. "I'm just defining everything. I'm never set in stone with my technique. If someone has a suggestion for how to get faster I always listen."
Schneider posted a repertoire of feats during his time at UC. He was a five-time all-American, seven-time Big East champion, named the conference Swimmer of the Year twice, broke 22 program-records and finished undefeated in the 50-meter his senior season.
"My time at UC gave me a foundation to further my career as a professional swimmer," he says.
Schneider says the most rewarding part of being a national champion is the recognition he provided for a UC program that hadn't had a national winner since 1946.
"I talked to a few recruits before I left and I've heard that a few of them came there because I swam there," Schneider says. "They were looking for a chance to be a breakout swimmer."
Prior to Schneider's graduation in March 2010, he said that he wanted to land endorsements of which he currently has three. He has also continued his preparation for the 2012 Olympics.
"When you get to the World Championships, especially this year, it's the dress rehearsal," Schneider says. "It gives you a honest perspective of where you are in the world rankings."
Hunter Tickel | Sports Editor
One of the most accomplished athletes to ever set foot on the University of Cincinnati campus — swimmer Josh Schneider — may take the biggest step of his career Thursday.
The UC alumnus will compete in a swim-off with Olympic gold-medalist Cullen Jones for the final roster spot on the U.S. team for the 2011 FINA World Championships. The 50-meter freestyle will begin at 6:20 p.m. in downtown Charlotte.
The pair have been set to square off since August 2010 when they recorded identical times of 21.97 seconds at the 2010 Conco Philips National Championships.
Schneider dubbs this race as the biggest meet of the year and possibly his life.
"The emotion is pretty high because if I lose I don't get to go, but if I win, I get to represent my country," Schneider says.
Schneider's shot for a spot on the national team wasn't guaranteed after the National Championships seven months ago.
His time in the 50-meter competition was disqualified after his current coach at SwimMAC — Charlotte David Marsh — entered him into the 100-meter competition in addition to the 50-meter.
Schneider didn't show up to the 100-meter because it took place prior to the 50-meter freestyle. Regulations in swimming state that all times athletes record if they miss their first race do not count toward qualification.
A rule that Schneider says is for age-group swimmers, not those competing on the national stage.
"I had to get it appealed," Schneider says. "We got a lawyer involved calling in to sign off on the agreement that if the time was going to be counted, we would have to go into a swim-off,"
Schneider says it was a honest mistake and a coaching error.
Jones is the only person that stands between Schneider and a spot on the 2011 U.S. national team, and, coincidently, the two are training partners for SwimMAC — something that Schneider says raises the level of competition during practice.
At practice, the two don't talk about the race and understand that if either of them is to make it to the 2012 Olympics in London, they will have to knock the other off in the process.
"When we found out my time counted, we knew we were going to have to swim against each other," Schneider says. "That's just the way it is. Only two people can go and we both know that."
Schneider is a two-time medalist at the FINA World Championships. He won the bronze in 2010 in Dubai for the 50-meter short course, making him the current American record holder with a 20.88 time. Despite this accomplishment, Schneider is still crafting his game and remaining humble.
"I'm learning so much still, so I still have much to improve on if I'm going to be a contender for a medal at the Olympics," Schneider says. "I'm just defining everything. I'm never set in stone with my technique. If someone has a suggestion for how to get faster I always listen."
Schneider posted a repertoire of feats during his time at UC. He was a five-time all-American, seven-time Big East champion, named the conference Swimmer of the Year twice, broke 22 program-records and finished undefeated in the 50-meter his senior season.
"My time at UC gave me a foundation to further my career as a professional swimmer," he says.
Schneider says the most rewarding part of being a national champion is the recognition he provided for a UC program that hadn't had a national winner since 1946.
"I talked to a few recruits before I left and I've heard that a few of them came there because I swam there," Schneider says. "They were looking for a chance to be a breakout swimmer."
Prior to Schneider's graduation in March 2010, he said that he wanted to land endorsements of which he currently has three. He has also continued his preparation for the 2012 Olympics.
"When you get to the World Championships, especially this year, it's the dress rehearsal," Schneider says. "It gives you a honest perspective of where you are in the world rankings."
Friday, May 6
Kelce preserves tradition
Former Bearcat makes leap to pros
By Hunter Tickel | Sports Editor
It's the final day of the 2011 NFL draft. Exactly 190 players have been picked six rounds in, and yet, not a single Cincinnati Bearcat has been selected.
But that changes when an incoming call containing the first three digits 215 appears on Jason Kelce's phone in his home in Cleveland.
"I was sitting there and saw [on my phone] that the Eagles were coming up with a few picks," Kelce says. "I said, ‘Well, if I'm going to get picked, it's probably going to be right here.' I stared at my phone. I saw the Philadelphia area code pop up."
After speaking with head coach Andy Reid, Kelce joins the Eagles franchise Saturday.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 282-pound NFL draftee's frame was a shell of its current self when Kelce first set foot on the Cincinnati campus.
He weighed in at 215 pounds when he was recruited by current Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio in 2006. After redshirting his first season as a walk-on, Kelce was primed to play linebacker, but that changed with the hiring of current Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly.
"The coaching changes really helped me get where I am at today," Kelce says. "Kelly brought on strength coach Paul Longo. He was really the one that saw that I had the build and mentality of an offensive lineman. I made the switch and, from then on, he was building my body."
Kelce earned a scholarship in 2007 and began his journey to becoming a larger presence on the offensive line in the Big East. Initially, the Cleveland Heights, Ohio, native was not overwhelmed with the prospect of joining a BCS program without a roster spot.
"I was very confident," Kelce says. "I entered the UC program as a walk on, but in my head, I was better than everybody else was. I'm a little bit big-headed — I guess I try to be humble as much as I can."
In his first year of playing time he appeared in nine games as the offense averaged a program-best 36.3 points per game.
Kelce finished his college stint with 38 starts and was a two-time second team all-Big East selection. He led a unit that earned UC its first 1,000-yard rusher in nearly 10 years.
All of these feats helped pave the way for the highlight of his career.
"You work your whole life for one common goal: to make it to the NFL," Kelce said. "Once you are there, it all starts all over again. You are basically a freshman again. At least now I know the opportunity is there for me to make it."
Kelce already begins his transition from the collegiate level to the pros with skepticism among NFL experts. Kelce has been told that he lacks the physique to have an impact on the next level.
"I find it very hard to believe that I am undersized," Kelce says. "I have heard this from a lot of scouts. There are plenty of centers in the league that are my size or smaller that start in pro bowls."
He's right; five-time all-League center Jeff Saturday stands at 6 foot, 2 inches and 295 pounds — a similar frame to Kelce.
As the lone Bearcat selected this year, Kelce kept the school's five-year run of players drafted intact. Kelce is confident that the current players will carry on the school's success despite a 4-8 record last season.
"This program has completely transformed since I have been on campus," Kelce says. "I think it's a testament to show where the program is at now and that the UC program is here to stay."
Kelce will join former UC stars Brent Celek and Trent Cole in Philly. Celek has already reached out to the rookie, sending him his phone number through Twitter. The trio of former Queen City inhabitants will look to represent the city on the East Coast.
"It sucks that I am leaving Cincinnati, it really does," Kelce says. "I love this city and university. [But with] everything I have heard about Philadelphia — I can't help but be excited."
By Hunter Tickel | Sports Editor
It's the final day of the 2011 NFL draft. Exactly 190 players have been picked six rounds in, and yet, not a single Cincinnati Bearcat has been selected.
But that changes when an incoming call containing the first three digits 215 appears on Jason Kelce's phone in his home in Cleveland.
"I was sitting there and saw [on my phone] that the Eagles were coming up with a few picks," Kelce says. "I said, ‘Well, if I'm going to get picked, it's probably going to be right here.' I stared at my phone. I saw the Philadelphia area code pop up."
After speaking with head coach Andy Reid, Kelce joins the Eagles franchise Saturday.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 282-pound NFL draftee's frame was a shell of its current self when Kelce first set foot on the Cincinnati campus.
He weighed in at 215 pounds when he was recruited by current Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio in 2006. After redshirting his first season as a walk-on, Kelce was primed to play linebacker, but that changed with the hiring of current Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly.
"The coaching changes really helped me get where I am at today," Kelce says. "Kelly brought on strength coach Paul Longo. He was really the one that saw that I had the build and mentality of an offensive lineman. I made the switch and, from then on, he was building my body."
Kelce earned a scholarship in 2007 and began his journey to becoming a larger presence on the offensive line in the Big East. Initially, the Cleveland Heights, Ohio, native was not overwhelmed with the prospect of joining a BCS program without a roster spot.
"I was very confident," Kelce says. "I entered the UC program as a walk on, but in my head, I was better than everybody else was. I'm a little bit big-headed — I guess I try to be humble as much as I can."
In his first year of playing time he appeared in nine games as the offense averaged a program-best 36.3 points per game.
Kelce finished his college stint with 38 starts and was a two-time second team all-Big East selection. He led a unit that earned UC its first 1,000-yard rusher in nearly 10 years.
All of these feats helped pave the way for the highlight of his career.
"You work your whole life for one common goal: to make it to the NFL," Kelce said. "Once you are there, it all starts all over again. You are basically a freshman again. At least now I know the opportunity is there for me to make it."
Kelce already begins his transition from the collegiate level to the pros with skepticism among NFL experts. Kelce has been told that he lacks the physique to have an impact on the next level.
"I find it very hard to believe that I am undersized," Kelce says. "I have heard this from a lot of scouts. There are plenty of centers in the league that are my size or smaller that start in pro bowls."
He's right; five-time all-League center Jeff Saturday stands at 6 foot, 2 inches and 295 pounds — a similar frame to Kelce.
As the lone Bearcat selected this year, Kelce kept the school's five-year run of players drafted intact. Kelce is confident that the current players will carry on the school's success despite a 4-8 record last season.
"This program has completely transformed since I have been on campus," Kelce says. "I think it's a testament to show where the program is at now and that the UC program is here to stay."
Kelce will join former UC stars Brent Celek and Trent Cole in Philly. Celek has already reached out to the rookie, sending him his phone number through Twitter. The trio of former Queen City inhabitants will look to represent the city on the East Coast.
"It sucks that I am leaving Cincinnati, it really does," Kelce says. "I love this city and university. [But with] everything I have heard about Philadelphia — I can't help but be excited."
Monday, May 2
NFL draft bores once more
Tickel your Fancy
By Hunter Tickel | Sports Editor
The final Saturday in April has passed and, with it, the most over-publicized yearly sporting event.
The 76th NFL Draft was full of pregame hoopla and hype, but only delivered a typical tedious three days of picks.
Waiting 10 minutes between each first round selection is one of the most monotonous things I have ever done — especially in the midst of one of the most entertaining NHL and NBA playoffs in recent memory.
Four NHL first-round series went the distance to a game seven, and, in the NBA arena, No. 8 seed Memphis knocked off No. 1 San Antonio Friday.
How can calling off name after name compare to that?
The draft has become nearly as lacking in newsworthiness as National Signing Day, the first Wednesday of February when high school athletes commit to colleges.
What's next? Middle school signing day for pre-teens?
Unless you were a desperate fan of a hopeless franchise looking for the quarterback of the future — which this year's class didn't have — or you were hoping to see how well your college team was represented, you had no reason to watch.
I figured few University of Cincinnati players would be drafted, so I took the high road. Instead of wasting hours watching this overrated media event, I checked the draft boards Saturday to read up on everything I needed to know in less than 10 minutes.
If you are a Bearcats fan, former center Jason Kelce dropped to the sixth round as an undersized offensive lineman. The Philadelphia Eagles scooped him up with the 191st overall pick.
The Cincinnati Bengals nabbed former Georgia wideout A.J. Green with the No. 4 pick. Green has a lot of talent and potential, and, with Chad Ochocinco's future in limbo, Green is his likely replacement.
In the second round, Cincinnati answered the question on everyone's mind: Who will throw to Green? Former TCU star Andy Dalton was selected and will likely earn a starting role next year by default if Caron Palmer follows through with his retirement.
The top overall pick was Heisman Trophy-winner Cam Newton. He heads to Carolina needing to fine-tune his game, but will likely be thrust into a starting role.
Former Notre Dame star quarterback Jimmy Clausen, Carolina's second-round pick last year, was placed in a similar plight as he posted a 58.4 rating in 10 starts as a first-year starter in the league.
The Panthers have selected three quarterbacks in the past two drafts, including UC alumnus Tony Pike.
This year's draft provided fans with the first relevant football news since Super Bowl XLV, and, with the 2011 season still in jeopardy, it could be the only aspect of professional football happening this year.
When this season's draft began Thursday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took the podium and awkwardly smiled at the crowd as boos poured down on him from the discontent crowd.
The fans showered him with chants of, "Let them play," and "We want football."
My message to those in attendance: Shut up or don't participate in the draft. If you really want to see games, why are you partaking in an event run by the owners of the NFL while there is a work stoppage? You're just giving them more power.
The current NFL players casually asked players in this year's draft class to skip out on the festivities, but it would be unreasonable to expect these college stars to shy away from their celebrated passage to the pro ranks.
This year's draft had a little more intrigue with so little happening in the offseason, but now it's time for prodigious postseason hockey and basketball.
By Hunter Tickel | Sports Editor
The final Saturday in April has passed and, with it, the most over-publicized yearly sporting event.
The 76th NFL Draft was full of pregame hoopla and hype, but only delivered a typical tedious three days of picks.
Waiting 10 minutes between each first round selection is one of the most monotonous things I have ever done — especially in the midst of one of the most entertaining NHL and NBA playoffs in recent memory.
Four NHL first-round series went the distance to a game seven, and, in the NBA arena, No. 8 seed Memphis knocked off No. 1 San Antonio Friday.
How can calling off name after name compare to that?
The draft has become nearly as lacking in newsworthiness as National Signing Day, the first Wednesday of February when high school athletes commit to colleges.
What's next? Middle school signing day for pre-teens?
Unless you were a desperate fan of a hopeless franchise looking for the quarterback of the future — which this year's class didn't have — or you were hoping to see how well your college team was represented, you had no reason to watch.
I figured few University of Cincinnati players would be drafted, so I took the high road. Instead of wasting hours watching this overrated media event, I checked the draft boards Saturday to read up on everything I needed to know in less than 10 minutes.
If you are a Bearcats fan, former center Jason Kelce dropped to the sixth round as an undersized offensive lineman. The Philadelphia Eagles scooped him up with the 191st overall pick.
The Cincinnati Bengals nabbed former Georgia wideout A.J. Green with the No. 4 pick. Green has a lot of talent and potential, and, with Chad Ochocinco's future in limbo, Green is his likely replacement.
In the second round, Cincinnati answered the question on everyone's mind: Who will throw to Green? Former TCU star Andy Dalton was selected and will likely earn a starting role next year by default if Caron Palmer follows through with his retirement.
The top overall pick was Heisman Trophy-winner Cam Newton. He heads to Carolina needing to fine-tune his game, but will likely be thrust into a starting role.
Former Notre Dame star quarterback Jimmy Clausen, Carolina's second-round pick last year, was placed in a similar plight as he posted a 58.4 rating in 10 starts as a first-year starter in the league.
The Panthers have selected three quarterbacks in the past two drafts, including UC alumnus Tony Pike.
This year's draft provided fans with the first relevant football news since Super Bowl XLV, and, with the 2011 season still in jeopardy, it could be the only aspect of professional football happening this year.
When this season's draft began Thursday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took the podium and awkwardly smiled at the crowd as boos poured down on him from the discontent crowd.
The fans showered him with chants of, "Let them play," and "We want football."
My message to those in attendance: Shut up or don't participate in the draft. If you really want to see games, why are you partaking in an event run by the owners of the NFL while there is a work stoppage? You're just giving them more power.
The current NFL players casually asked players in this year's draft class to skip out on the festivities, but it would be unreasonable to expect these college stars to shy away from their celebrated passage to the pro ranks.
This year's draft had a little more intrigue with so little happening in the offseason, but now it's time for prodigious postseason hockey and basketball.
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