THE BROO VIEW with Ken Broo

Random thoughts on an icy night before the night before Christmas...how many bowl games are too many? I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to tonight's Poinsettia Bowl...UC will beat Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. That's not a 'homer' pick. UC's defense will control this game...The Bengals elected 'not' to raise ticket prices in 2009. And we should be happy about this? After this season, they should've lowered ticket prices for next season...How do the Yankees do it? The economy is in the dumper and they've just been hit with a $26-million luxury tax for their payroll in 2008. And today, they go out and sign Mark Texeira for $181 million. That's on top of what they're paying CC Sabathia ($160 million) and AJ Burnett ($80 million). And Alex Rodriguez continues to haul in $26 million per year. Forget the federal government, the auto companies should ask Hank Steinbrenner for a bailout...How's that Reds offense looking now? Last summer, when I screamed for the Reds to re-up with Adam Dunn, I was hooted down in a number of corners. Dunn was a consistent 40 HR 100 rbi man, but his defense was bad and his attitude seemed too laid back. A lot of Reds fans wanted him out of here. OK, he's gone now. So what 'bat' is replacing him? So far, none. If the season started today, your Cincinnati Reds would start this outfield: Jay Bruce in center, Chris Dickerson in left and Norris Hopper in rightfield. I can hear the Cardinals and Cubs shuddering.

That latest Broo View Podcast has been posted. It's on my web site: http://www.kenbroo.com/. My indepth interview this week is with profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio. On the fly? You can download it here.

Our latest Bengals Report Podcast should be up and ready for download Christmas Eve
night.

Speaking of Christmas....

Burl Ives was one of the best folk singers in the world. But he's best remembered for that song, and probably that video clip.

You'll have to scroll down, but at least somebody likes the Reds in 2009, at least at mlb.com.

Here's something to ponder as you take the next few days off: If you had enought money to buy just one ticket to one sporting event at any point in history (past or present) what would it be. I'd like to hear your answers.

As they used to say in that classic cop show back in the day....be careful out there.