THE BROO VIEW with Ken Broo

Random thoughts on a random Friday...

I guess Joey Votto is OK again. Last night's effort in Toronto was all the reason you need to believe he's OK again....

If the Reds want to be taken as serious contenders, they'll need to take two of three from the Indians this weekend. Cleveland is a bad ballclub. I'm not sure how much better the Reds are. But they're certainly better than the Indians...

And, of course, now that the Reds have reacquired catcher Corky Miller, all things are possible, aren't they?.....

Is Jay Bruce this year's Adam Dunn? Check the stats: HR total good, RBI total not bad, batting average in the toilet. Defensively, Bruce is much better than Dunn. But at the plate, he appears to be channeling the former Reds....

Spending time in New Jersey this week and took in the Mets vs Cardinals on Wednesday night. The Mets' new park, Citi Field, is beautiful, much along the lines of the new stadium in DC. It s archtecture would remind those of you who remember Ebbets Field (not me, not old enough) of the old Brooklyn Dodgers stadium. There are monuments and tributes everywhere to the old Dodgers. After finishing Lee Lowenfish's exellent work on Branch Rickey, Citi Field is the kind of park the old Dodger GM and part owner envisioned. Had the city of New York built this kind of stadium in 1955 (without, of course, the amenities that only the year 2009 can deliver) there might not have been an LA Dodgers...

Also, the Mets can hit the ball, decimating the Cardinals pitching for eleven runs the night I attended....

Dined at New York's legendary steak house, Gallagher's on Thursday night and then went directly across 52nd street to the August Wilson Theatre for the 8p curtain of Jersey Boys. The musical was its usual phenominal self. Second time I've seen it, the first at the Aronoff in May, 2008. The steak wasn't all that great. The Precinct has nothing to worry about. Did a couple of diners here, too. The uniquely NJ treat of a Taylor ham and egg sandwich on a roll was delightful at the Nutley Diner. Hot apple pie ala mode at one of my old haunts, the Arlington Diner was as remembered.....

The Bengals report to training camp on July 30 with a first workout on the 31st. They break camp in Georgetown, KY on August 18. By my Ohio University math, that's 19-days. Question to Mike Brown: what's the point? Mike likes to count nickels. It is really worth the time, trouble and expense to pack up your franchise and haul it an hour south just to spend less than three weeks there? Save your money. You're only allowed 80 players on your camp roster. That's 40 hotel rooms. You'd be helping the greater Cincinnati area economy in the process....

Xavier's Derrick Brown went 40th in last night's NBA draft. He better get a passport. I see Europe in his future. Maybe not this year or next, but someday. Brown, who looked like a lottery pick in November, needs to refine his inside game. I'm just sayin.....

Just read where Southwest Airlines will open up shop at LaGuardia Airport in NYC beginning Sunday. So when do we Cincinnatian get the honor of having that discout airline at CVG. OK, thank you Delta one more time. $15 to check a bag now when you fly with 'the monopoly'. That's on top of some of the highest priced tickets in travel....

The "King Of Pop" dead at 50. Elvis died at what, 43? The media and the lawyers had a field day when Elvis went. Why am I thinking the same thing is about to happen again?....

Farrah Fawcett gets bumped to page 2. If you're a male and under 50, she had a lot more affect on you than the "King Of Pop".....

On my radio show this Sunday on 700 WLW, my guests include NFL player agent, Jack Bechta. We'll debate the merits of an 18 game regular season. Also, former Reds GM Wayne Krivsky joins me. I've got some other things up my proverbial sleeve too. I'm on from 9am-Noon ET...

Sunday night at 11:35p on WLWT, it's Sports Rock! Mo Egger from WLW & 1530 Homer joins me.

Have a great weekend!