Jocks Staff Picks

Best Sports Value: Rod Huber Photo Courtesy MSJ

Best Sports Value:
Have you ever dreamed of attending a football game and bringing your own beer? The College of Mount St. Joseph football program welcomes pre-game and halftime tailgating right outside the stadium. Rod Huber took over the struggling MSJ program in 2000, and his team went 0-10 during his second year only to complete a perfect 10-0 season just three years later. During the last four seasons the Lions have compiled a 37-3 regular season record and have gone to the playoffs every year. The Mount built a multi-million dollar athletic facility, which has contributed to a legitimate college-football atmosphere at a ridiculously affordable price. Those of us whose anxiety is heightened by the presence of 40,000 fast-moving sports fans can appreciate the neighborhood atmosphere at MSJ home games, which regularly attract 2,500 or so. Bringing your own cooler also helps. www.msj.edu

Best Lefthander in Our Memories:
Several generations of Reds fans grew up with Joe Nuxhall, from the 1950s and ’60s folks who knew him as a solid left-handed pitcher to the ’70s, ’80s,’90s and current fans who listened to him call baseball games on the radio. In one way or another, he was involved with the Reds for more than 60 years — and no one had a bad word to say about Joe. He finally rounded third for the final time in November, and his death is mourned by all Cincinnatians who love baseball.

Best Writer-to-Radio Personality:
Paul Daugherty brings the smart analysis of his Enquirer sports columns to the shout-fest that is talk radio and actually succeeds by being ... well, smart. What a concept. His shows on WLW are the best for sports fans who want to talk mostly about sports and not boobs, TV shows, music or whatever other non-sports distraction many hosts try to force down your throat.

Best Affirmation of ‘Big Buffoon’ Sports Fan Stereotype:
We’ve seen enough beer commercials to know that sports and bodacious babes go together like peanut butter and jelly. But do we really need “saucy babe” photos on Web sites allegedly dedicated to sports? You know there’s actual porn all over the Internet, right? The Web home for 1530 Homer (1530homer.com) has so much non-sports junk it’s hard to tell it’s even a sports station’s site. The “Homer’s Honey’s (sic)” section offers a “Babe of the Day” to distract you when you’re trying to find out who won the big game. Having said that, Ms. Wednesday this week is smokin’!

Best Little Man:
At 5-foot-7 and 153 pounds, Xavier’s Drew Lavender is smaller than nearly all of CityBeat’s male editorial staff. Yet that hasn’t stopped him from becoming one of the better point guards in the nation — a lightening-quick whirlwind who often makes opponents look like statues.

Best Hope for the Reds Future: Brandon Phillips Photo Courtesy Cincinnati Reds

Best High School Basketball Player:
Yancy Gates of Withrow High School is the prize recruit of Mick Cronin’s first real recruiting class for UC. At 6-foot-9 and 240 lbs., he’s looked like a man since he was about 14 and is currently capable of jamming on the head of even the most polished college player. The next step of UC basketball’s reconstruction will rely heavily on its best local recruit ever. It should be fun to watch this dominant high school player take the next step this fall.

Best Place to Catch a River Shuttle to a Reds game:
The Beer Stellar floating bar offers a scenic view of the Ohio River and more beers on tap than you’ll find in every Newport on the Levee bar combined. Its outdoor deck is perfect for warming up before a ballgame, and the river shuttle will float you straight to the Reds game for $3. Happy Hour starts at 2 p.m. and goes until 7, which gives you plenty of time before a 7:05 first pitch. 301 Riverboat Row, Newport, 859-431-6969.

Best Way to Trick Kids into Learning Math:
A Newport couple is promoting their Quick Count football game as a way to teach kids math skills while they play a football game by flipping cards, and it seems to be catching on. The game has sold well locally since being introduced last year, and Jeff and Michelle Spelman say the majority of buyers are women. You play a game by going through the deck four times, once per quarter, and adding run and pass yardage totals until you reach exactly 100 yards for a touchdown. www.quickcountfootball.com

Best Reason to Get and Stay in Shape:
The Flying Pig Marathon is the crown jewel of the Queen City’s many road races. 5K, 10K and even a wheelchair course are offered at this year’s 10th annual run on May 4. www.flyingpigmarathon.com

Best Girl-on-Girl Action for the Whole Family:
Those badass chicks on wheels are the Cincinnati Rollergirls, bringing back the raging ’70s sport of roller derby for local crowds. Check them out as they do battle at the Cincinnati Gardens from April to July. www.cincinnatirollergirls.com

Best Tattooed Love Boy: Josh Hamilton Photo Courtesy Cincinnati Reds

Best Tattooed Love Boy:
It seemed like something out of a movie. A young baseball player with unlimited potential gets selected first in the draft, but drug abuse derails his career and almost kills him. The Reds took a chance on Josh Hamilton, acquiring him the Rule 5 draft, and he quickly became a fan favorite. His tattoos and rugged good looks made some female fans drool, dudes appreciated his hustle and output and everyone from Grandmas to hockey fans loved the redemptive qualities of his “junkie turns life around” storyline. Reds fans didn’t get to root for Hamilton much — a litany of injuries kept him from making a serious run at Rookie of the Year (though he did hit .292 with 19 homers). But then the Reds traded him. The Texas Rangers are already blown away by Hamilton, who says last year he was just getting into baseball shape; this year, he’s ready.

Best Bowling Family:
The Hoinke family is synonymous with Bowling in the Queen City. For more than 60 years they’ve owned Western Bowl and operated the world’s largest non-professional, private bowling tournament. The barons of bowling have big balls and aren’t afraid to use ’em. 6383 Glenway Ave., Western Hills, 513-574-2222.

Best Way To Tire Out Your Toddler:
The Cincinnati Action Center’s gymnastic classes for 1- to 3-year-olds can wear out even the clinically hyperactive, to say nothing of those children just generally full of youthful exuberance. Whew! It wears us big folks out, too. 3434 Duck Creek Road, Madisonville, 513-527-4343.

Best Race to the Top of a Building:
Climb the Carew is a vertical race up the 45 stories of the Carew Tower, Cincinnati’s tallest building. This year’s winner, David Bea, completed the climb in less than 5 minutes. The event raises funds for the American Lung Association of Ohio.

Best Reason to Get Refired-Up About Nancy Zimpher:
Bob Huggins’ returns to Big East basketball with West Virginia, a team he willed to a fairly high seed March Madness tourney slot. Twisting the knife, Bearcats fans will now have to root against Huggs every year.

Best Reason to Get Over Your Anger at Nancy Zimpher:
The Bearcats defeated Huggins and the Mountaineers this year, giving promising head coach Mick Cronin a win over two of his former mentors (the ’Cats beat Rick Pitino and Louisville this year as well).