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Marge

Mrs. Schott wanted the Reds to win, and she wanted families to be able to afford to come see them. Seems like a naÔve notion now, doesn't it?

The Bengals

How far have they come in the new era, with Marvin Lewis revamping seemingly the entire organization? Well, we have a quarterback controversy, the first week of March. (The first free agent signings were nice, but they better get a corner. Can you say Terrell Owens?)

St. Xavier High

Sometimes we seem to take the Bombers' swimming program for granted. We shouldn't. It won its sixth consecutive state title and 26th overall. (And nice efforts also, from Ursuline, Indian Hill and all the individuals who make this a swimming hotbed.)

ESPN

The network televised three spring training games last week. Don't laugh. Let the baseball geeks have their fun.

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The NFL

Clinton Portis gets a $50 million contract. Champ Bailey gets a $63 million deal. Peyton Manning gets a $34.5 million bonus. The Redskins dole out $50 million in bonuses the first five days. This is the league that has its finances straight with a salary cap, right?

Ohio State

The Buckeyes are reeling from having only six home games in gazillion-seat Ohio Stadium next season, as opposed to eight last year. The answer? A $10-a-seat increase, to $57. They were already the most expensive in the Big Ten.

Colorado

The scandal-ridden school has created strict rules for recruiting high school athletes. It includes - get this - supervision by coaches, a curfew, and a rule against going to strip joints. How, pray tell, can they compete with Oklahoma?

The NHL

With a labor war pending, which many feel could wipe out a season or more, the cash-strapped Washington Capitals have dismantled their team. The Caps dealt their leading scorer, Sergei Gonchar, after having dumped Jaromir Jagr, Peter Bondra, Robert Lang and Steve Konowalchuk. Who do they think they are, the Reds?