THE BROO VIEW with Ken Broo

To borrow from Rod Serling, I have a couple of things 'submitted for your approval'. First the latest Broo View Podcast is posted. I have an interview with NBC Sports and si.com's Peter King. It's on the front page of my web site: www.kenbroo.com.

When you get to my web site, check out the 'Podcasts & More' section for the archived Broo View Podcasts.

Also, the latest Bengals Report Podcast is on my front page. Bengals Report executive editor, Mark Hardin and I review the Bengals latest loss (sigh), this time to the Steelers. You'll hear comments from Marvin Lewis, TJ Houshmandzadeh and others.

Chad Ocho Cinco said tonight on channel 5 he believes the Bengals are only one win away from an 8-8 season. Get that first win, Chad figures, and there's no reason why the Bengals can't go 7-1 in their final eight game. Of course, that first win would have to come this weekend, when the Bengals jet to Houston to play the Texans. Remember, the Texans are 2-4 and should really be 3-3 They've got one of the best defensive ends in the game (Mario Williams) a terrific wide receiver (Andre Johnson) and the top tight end in the AFC (Owen Daniels). What if they lose this weekend and finish 8-0? I guess that math works for old Ocho.

I was working in the Tampa-St. Petersburg television market in the 80's when they had competing baseball groups, one trying to bring a franchise to Tamps, the other to St. Petersburg.
The Tampa group bought 40 percent of the Twins, hoping to lure that franchise to Tampa. It never happened and the group eventually sold its share. The St. Petersburg group took a different track. Throwing caution (and conventional wisdom) to the wind, the St. Pete group built a stadium without the guarantee of a franchise. After making a play for the White Sox (who used St. Pete to get a new stadium in Chicago), major league baseball finally gave an expansion team to Florida's "Bay Area". Until this season, it was baseball's Siberia. The original owner was clueless. The attendance at games was sparse.

I never doubted a major league baseball franchise would work in that area. I knew Florida was a hot bed for baseball fans and tourists who travel by the millions to that state every year. But did I see this year coming for the Rays? No way. And neither did anyone else. If they tell you otherwise, they're lying. But what a terrific story, for a great, great place. Sorry Phils, go Rays.