By Mike Ball
The Cincinnati Enquirer

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Joe Nuxhall: The Ol' Left-hander missed out on the Ford C. Frick award and won't be joining Marty in Baseball's Hall of Fame this year. But he's feeling well and ready to go. Come Thursday, we'll get to hear the legend trying to figure who No. 62 is for the Pirates!

The Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue: Still controversial after all these years, it got a Belpre, Ohio, sixth grader suspended from school for taking the issue to school. (Props to ESPN the Magazine's subtle jab - they had star swimmer Michael Phelps on the cover with the heading "The hottest thing in a swimsuit.)

The Pete Rose movie: ESPN is taking on the Hit King, just as it did Bear Bryant. But here's a question: How can you have a movie about a story that doesn't have an ending?

Mark Cuban: The Mavericks owner is creating his own reality show and putting up $1 million of his own money. Trouble is, what would a 40-something billionaire know about reality?

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Jamal Lewis: The Ravens running back should be assumed innocent of drug charges until proven guilty. Still, the NFL continues to give Playmakers a bad name.

Recruiting experts: Funny how great these recruits are before they ever get to college. Wasn't Robert Whaley going to play only one year at UC before going to the NBA?

The Yankees: Maybe we're reaching, but A-Rod and Jeter apparently really don't get along. And Bernie Williams is out six weeks after an appendectomy. A sign from above?

Jeff Kent: The Astros' resident knucklehead wondered why today's players were being scrutinized about steroids and players from the past aren't? "Babe Ruth didn't do steroids?" Kent asked. "How do you know . . . ?" Well, they weren't invented until the '50s.