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Full Court Press Showtimes:
NCAA Tournament Shows - TBA
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12-19 Podcast -->
The Don Imus edition
The debut of the Full Court Press Midweek Podcast! Huzzah! Nick and Mark debut the podcast by talking about awful Christmas gifts for college basketball fans. They also talk about the UC-Memphis game and score one of the biggest interviews in Cincinnati Radio Podcast History as radio legend Don Imus stops by the studio for an EXCLUSIVE interview. Live, in-studio, Don Imus on the Full Court Press. Click the little speaker thingy and listen NOW!
David West Interview
Former Xavier star David West talks to the Full Court Press. West talks about his favorite memories at Xavier, who from Xavier the NBA already is talking about, what the key to his success has been, what he loves about NBA life, what he would change, and about whether or not Xavier is a mid-major. We also talk about some other stuff. Really, it's probably the greatest interview we've put on this page. If you don't listen, it's because you hate sports.
Do it BJ!, Do it!
Byron Larkin's call of BJ Raymond's big 3 against West Virginia  Click Here Now
 Click Here Test
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More info on Nick and Mark
Nick Brunker has worked in radio broadcasting for 6 years, covering both college, professional, and high school athletics. He served as the Sports Director at WMSR Radio in
Oxford, Ohio – covering Miami University Football, Hockey, Basketball, and Baseball.
His broadcast experience also includes a two-year stint with the Dayton Dragons – the Cincinnati Reds Class “A” Affiliate – where he called play-by-play action on 1410 ESPN Radio. Brunker was also the play-by-play voice for the Toledo Storm Hockey Club (ECHL), the “AA” affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings during the 2006-07 season. Most recently, he called play-by-play for the Cincinnati Jungle Kats in Arena Football 2.
In addtion to the Full Court Press, Nick hosts the High School Football Tailgate Show on ESPN 1360 and updates a high school sports blog everyday. He also comments on all levels of sports at his personal blog page, CinciSportsBlog.com. When he is not on-the-air, Nick is a producer for various programs on ClearChannel's AM Radio Stations: 700 WLW, 1530 HOMER - The Sports Animal, and 55KRC - THE Talk Station.
Nick is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a graduate of
Miami
University in
Oxford, Ohio.
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Mark Chalifoux is a man of many goals, and one of those goals is to have a longer bio than Nick Brunker. Chalifoux is a graduate of St. Margaret of
York elementary school,
Moeller
High School, and
Ohio
University. One of Mark’s favorite hobbies is writing bios in the third person. This makes it seem like the effusive praise (Mark has been voted as one of the top five broadcasters in radio history by a panel of close friends and family) is coming from an unbiased, authoritative source.
Mark got his start as a color analyst for the Cincinnati Cyclones. He moved from there to work on the
Ohio
University hockey broadcast team for two years before working for SportsTalkCleveland. Mark has an illustrious career in sports talk, having hosted at 970 WATH in
Athens and 1450 WMOH in
Cincinnati. At 1530 Homer, Mark also produces the Gregg&Mo show.
As brilliant (and brief) as his radio career has been, he’s also an extremely talented writer. Mark has written for ESPN.com, SI.com, The Baltimore Sun, the Athens News, and the Chalifoux Family Christmas letter. He is also an extremely talented, creative, and hilarious humor writer (currently, for CraveOnline). This bio is now longer than Nick’s. Victory belongs, yet again, to Mark.
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Full Court Press Links
Crosstown Shootout Blog
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Weekend
Sunday 03-30-2008 7:09pm ET
2008 Battle of the Babes FINALS!!!In the spirit of March Madness and AskMen.com's Top 99 Hottest Women of 2008, we've constructed our own special tournament.... The 2008 Battle of the Babes. This week, we've narrowed the field of the 8 of the hottest women on the planet down to 1....based on votes for who YOU thought was the best, you have picked Jessica Biel as your favorite from our list. We have also given you the chance to pick a wild card babe for the "Listener Choice" winner. The votes came in by email and YOU have chosen Elisha Cuthbert as the Listener Choice winner! Yesterday, Biel and Cuthbert were on the ballot, and YOU named Elisha Cuthbert as the top "babe" of the field. Now she'll take on the All-Time Hottie, a "babe" who has stood the test of time and is still just as hot now as she was back in the day... Pamela Anderson! Friday...you voted...and you named ELISHA CUTHBERT as your 2008 Battle of the Babes Champion! ************** Opening Day Lineups
REDSPatterson, CF Keppinger, SS Griffey, RF Phillips, 2B Dunn, LF Encarnacion, 3B Hatteberg, 1B Valentin, C Harang, RHP DIAMONDBACKSYoung, CF Hudson, 2B Byrnes, LF Jackson, 1B Snyder, C Reynolds, 3B Drew, SS Upton, RF Webb, RHP ************** Battered and Bruined
Enquirer.comStanley Burrell, Drew Lavender and Josh Duncan didn't want to walk off the U.S. Airways Center court like this. Xavier's seniors couldn't hold back their collective anguish when their coach, Sean Miller, finally sent in reserves to take the seniors out for the final time in their college career. Burrell, the emotional heartbeat of Xavier's team for the past four seasons, squatted at center court and had to be helped up by teammates, all of whom he hugged as he walked toward the bench. ************** Xavier prepares for UCLA
Enquirer.comSeventeen times, UCLA men's basketball teams have won this game to reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. But as Bruins sophomore guard Russell Westbrook said Friday, "At UCLA, we don't hang Final Four banners. We hang national championship banners." At Xavier, they would be quite happy to hang a Final Four banner if the third-seeded Musketeers upset the No. 1 Bruins today in the West Regional final. ************** Xavier items hot off the shelves
Enquirer.comJust hours after Xavier University's Musketeers reached the Elite Eight for the first time in five years - defeating a certain former University of Cincinnati coach in the process - the campus Friday was back to relative quiet. Except for in the bookstore. In there, it was a scramble for almost anything with an "X" on it. And if you haven't been in a university bookstore in awhile, there's a lot to drop student, parent and alumni money on these days - pajama bottoms, license plate frames, $4.95 face decals, $58 men's pink gingham button-down shirts in XXL. ************** How they match up
Enquirer.com
Xavier is not Western Kentucky. So when the Musketeers match up today against UCLA in the West Regional final, don't expect a full-court press from XU. It worked for Western Kentucky on Thursday, but Xavier will rely on its more conservative defensive approach that has worked all season for the Musketeers. For Xavier, that means relying on senior guard Stanley Burrell to anchor the perimeter by guarding UCLA point guard Darren Collison, trying to force the Bruins to turn to a different player to lead the offense. Most UCLA offensive possessions include an effort to throw the ball to freshman center Kevin Love. If he catches it close to the basket, he'll dominate the Musketeers' frontcourt. If Xavier can double-team him away from the low block consistently, the Musketeers will be in contention in the final minutes. ************** I want Xavier and all but..... **************
Enquirer.comThe Reds made their final cuts today, re-assigning RHP Jim Brower, IF/OF Jolbert Cabrera and IF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr. to the minor league camp. That puts the Reds at 28 healthy players. RHP Matt Belisle will start the year on rehab. LHP Mike Stanton is going to be designated, so you've got 26. It looks like C David Ross (back) will begin the year on the DL. "We wanted to test to see where he's at," GM Wayne Krivsky said. "He missed 75 percent of the game." **************
Bye bye Stanton
Enquirer.comMike Stanton's Reds' career probably has ended after one season, which is 82 fewer than Al Lang Field got in its final day of service here Friday. The Reds made their final road trip of the spring a memorable one, as Reds manager Dusty Baker inadvertently let it slip before the game that Reds were cutting Stanton, meaning they are eating $3.5 million ($3 million contract this year, $500,000 for an option next year), as the bullpen continues to get leaner and meaner. ************** Belisle has work to do
Enquirer.comMatt Belisle, last year's No. 3 starter who had been competing for a spot this spring before a sore arm derailed that bid, will not be coming north with the Reds for Opening Day. The Reds haven't made any announcement on where Belisle will be pitching to regain arm endurance to the point that he's capable of throwing six or seven innings, but it won't be in Cincinnati. Not yet, anyway. ************** UC football starter suspended for opener
Enquirer.comTerrill Byrd, the University of Cincinnati's All-America defensive tackle, has been suspended for the Bearcats' Aug. 28 season opener against Eastern Kentucky. Byrd, a junior from Colerain High School, was cited for smoking marijuana on March 5 at his residence on Bearcat Way. He paid a $65 fine and $90 in costs March 15. ************** Miami trio delayed pro careers
Enquirer.comThree Miami University hockey players had chances to leave for the professional ranks after last season. For different reasons, Ryan Jones, Nate Davis and Jeff Zatkoff all stayed. "They told the rest of the team and entire program that they're committed to coming back," coach Enrico Blasi said. "They wanted to do something special." They - and the rest of Miami's team - are on the verge of doing just that. The RedHawks continue their winningest season in program history with a trip to the NCAA Division I Championship. ************** Louisville needs close to "perfect game"
Louisville Courier JournalDuring an interview with CBS yesterday, University of Louisville forward Terrence Williams was handed a Final Four hat. It touched his head for the briefest of moments. "I put it on, but then I was like, 'We don't deserve this yet,' " he said. If Williams and his teammates are wearing those caps sometime after 11 tonight, no one will accuse them of not earning the right. U of L (27-8) will face probably the toughest challenge of any team in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight when it takes on North Carolina (35-2) at 9:05 in Charlotte Bobcats Arena. **************
MS can't stop Bombers player
Dayton Daily NewsPanic set in quickly. Both legs and the left side of his face where completely numb when he woke up. Mike Campaner couldn't get out of bed; he could barely move. The Colgate University senior was terrified. "I had no idea what was wrong with me," he said. But while the uncertainty was frightening, the realization of his condition was devastating. After a battery of tests — including a series of MRIs and a spinal tap — Campaner, then 23, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. After almost 20 years on the ice, the Raiders defenseman closed out his collegiate hockey career from the stands. ************** NKU Women capture NCAA crown
NKY.comNorthern Kentucky University turned South Dakota’s fairy tale into their own. The Norse rallied from a nine-point deficit with seven minutes left, and won their second national title with a 63-58 win over South Dakota Saturday at the Health and Sports Center in Kearney, Neb. “I think I’m still dreaming,” NKU junior forward Cassie Brannen said. Friday
Friday 03-28-2008 6:58am ET
2008 Battle of the Babes FINALS!!!In the spirit of March Madness and AskMen.com's Top 99 Hottest Women of 2008, we've constructed our own special tournament.... The 2008 Battle of the Babes. This week, we've narrowed the field of the 8 of the hottest women on the planet down to 1....based on votes for who YOU thought was the best, you have picked Jessica Biel as your favorite from our list. We have also given you the chance to pick a wild card babe for the "Listener Choice" winner. The votes came in by email and YOU have chosen Elisha Cuthbert as the Listener Choice winner! Yesterday, Biel and Cuthbert were on the ballot, and YOU named Elisha Cuthbert as the top "babe" of the field. Now she'll take on the All-Time Hottie, a "babe" who has stood the test of time and is still just as hot now as she was back in the day... Pamela Anderson! Who wins the 2008 Battle of the Babes? You decide!  Click Here for the updated bracket then VOTE below!! Listener Choice Winner: Elisha Cuthbert vs. All-Time Hottie: Pam Anderson 
*****start poll*****
Poll: Cuthbert vs. Anderson...who wins it all?? *****end poll***** ********************  From Sweet to Elite
Enquirer.comXavier senior Stanley Burrell was counting the seconds to himself. He had only five of them to inbound the ball. Third-seeded Xavier clung to a one-point lead against No. 7 seed West Virginia. Thirty-one seconds remained in overtime, but only two seconds showed on the shot clock. A bad pass or a missed shot would put Xavier's record-breaking season in danger of ending with a loss in the NCAA Tournament's West Regional semifinals Thursday night. "Three ... four ..." The play was intended to be a lob pass to senior Josh Duncan, but West Virginia double-teamed him in the lane. Suddenly, on the far side of the court, junior B.J. Raymond flared open near the 3-point line. Burrell hurled the ball over to him. "It seemed like it took a long time to get to me," Raymond said. "I was telling myself, 'Don't speed up,' because I knew it was a big shot." The ball bounced once and Raymond, without a Mountaineers defender within several feet of him, bent to catch it. He cocked his right arm and flipped his wrist, lofting the ball through the air. It fell through the net, sending the Musketeers into the regional final with a 79-75 overtime victory. ******************** Louisville pulls away
Enquirer.com
Louisville's suffocating defense has coach Rick Pitino a step away from a sixth trip to the Final Four. Earl Clark scored 17 points and had 12 rebounds, and Pitino's mix of defenses made life miserable for Tennessee in a 79-60 victory Thursday night to put the third-seeded Cardinals in the East Regional final. Pitino, who has won two NCAA titles and taken three schools to the Final Four, has Louisville playing its best basketball of the season when it counts most. After Louisville's two blowout wins last weekend, Pitino's signature zone and pressure limited the high-scoring Volunteers to 34 percent shooting. The veteran coach improved to 8-0 in regional semifinals and secured a date with top seed North Carolina on Saturday night. ******************** Almost a bitter replay
Enquirer.com
The play that almost cost Xavier a win Thursday in the NCAA Tournament regional finals reminded Jason Love of a play that did cost Xavier a win in November. When Love fouled West Virginia's Joe Alexander on a jump shot with 14 seconds left in Thursday's game, he had a flashback to a similar foul he inexplicably committed in a loss at Miami in the second game of the season. In that game, Love fouled Michael Bramos on a 3-point attempt in the final seconds when Xavier held a one-point lead. Bramos made all three free throws and Xavier lost 59-57. ******************** Huggins: We just didn't finish
Enquirer.comSlow start, fabulous middle, bad finish. Put it all together and the West Virginia Mountaineers were left with the bitter taste of a 79-75 overtime defeat to Xavier in Thursday night's West Regional semifinal at U.S. Airways Center. The seventh-seeded Mountaineers (26-11) came out ice cold, going more than five minutes before making their first field goal. They fell behind 8-0 and saw the deficit grow to 28-10 with nine minutes left in the first half. ******************** Middle inning arms key
Enquirer.comBill Bray had been having a glittering spring - until Wednesday night. That was when he had a setback in Dunedin against the Toronto Blue Jays, giving up a walk, back-to-back doubles that were absolutely crushed and an infield single. "The only drawback with Bray may be that he's come up hurt at times," Reds manager Dusty Baker said Thursday. "We just want to make sure Bill Bray is available to us. It's a big issue. We play a lot of games." ******************** New NFL rule could affect playoffs
Enquirer.comAside from discussion among NFL owners about potential problems with their labor contract and possible need for more revenue sharing, ownership will address a number of proposals and plans next week at their annual meeting. The annual meeting officially opens Monday in Palm Beach, Fla. Atlanta Falcons vice president Rick McKay, co-chairman of the NFL's competitive committee, talked Wednesday afternoon on a conference call about the state of the game and proposals for rules changes that will be presented to ownership.
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Double Digit Victory....yet still close
The Sporting NewsUCLA can make a double-digit victory look difficult. With Kevin Love scoring a career-high 29 points, the Bruins nearly frittered away a 21-point halftime lead and hung on to defeat Western Kentucky 88-78 in the NCAA West Regional on Thursday night. Top-seeded UCLA (34-3) will play No. 3 seed Xavier on Saturday for a trip to its third consecutive Final Four. ******************** Three days til opener, 11 cuts still to make
Dayton Daily NewsWith spring training almost finished, the Cincinnati Reds still have decisions to make. Thirty-six players remain in big-league camp, a number that must be reduced to 25 before the regular-season opener Monday, March 31, at Great American Ball Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks. ******************** Priority number 1: Protect Carson Palmer
Dayton Daily News - Chick LudwigYou name the area, any area, and the Cincinnati Bengals need help. Not just at one position, but everywhere… everywhere except quarterback, where Carson Palmer and Ryan Fitzpatrick are 1-2 with Jeff Rowe (I call him “Jethro”) and Jordan Palmer battling it out for No. 3. Folks, I’m here to tell ya that I’m absolutely, positively convinced the Bengals should-must-will draft an offensive tackle with the No. 9 overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft on April 26. ******************** Cards roll to Elite 8
Lousiville Courier Journal
On a night full of pressure defense and the pressure of the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16, the University of Louisville seized the moment. Tennessee seized up. The third-seeded Cardinals coughed up nearly all of an early 16-point lead last night against the No. 2-seeded Volunteers. But when the greatest challenge arrived in the second half, they stayed calm and ran away with a 79-60 victory in an East Regional semifinal before 19,092 fans in Charlotte Bobcats Arena. "I think it shows our maturity," said guard Andre McGee, who scored nine of his 13 points in the first half. "Being able to weather a storm shows a lot about our character as a basketball team." ******************** Giant makeover...Bonds images gone from AT&T Park
ESPNThe San Francisco Giants have now removed prominent tributes in the stadium to Barry Bonds, who has steroid allegations and perjury charges hanging over his head.The left-field wall no longer bears an image of Bonds chasing Hank Aaron for the home run crown, nor elsewhere is the number of Bonds' home runs in relation to Aaron posted. ******************** NKU Women headed to DII Final
Enquirer.comThe Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team got one measly vote in the final national poll before the start of the NCAA Division II Tournament. It's safe to say the Norse will get a few more votes after this weekend. NKU advanced to the national championship game with a 57-54 win over Alaska Anchorage on Thursday.
Thursday
Thursday 03-27-2008 8:41am ET
2008 Battle of the Babes SEMIFINALS!!!In the spirit of March Madness and AskMen.com's Top 99 Hottest Women of 2008, we've constructed our own special tournament.... The 2008 Battle of the Babes. This week, we've narrowed the field of the 8 of the hottest women on the planet down to 1....based on votes for who YOU thought was the best, you have picked Jessica Biel as your favorite from our list. We have also given you the chance to pick a wild card babe for the "Listener Choice" winner. The votes came in by email and YOU have chosen Elisha Cuthbert as the Listener Choice winner! So....today (Thursday)...you get a chance to vote for either Jessica Biel or Elisha Cuthbert. The winner (which I'll announce Thursday at noon) will face the "All-Time Hottie" on Friday's show. Let the voting begin! Click Here to view the updated bracket....then VOTE below!
#5 Jessica Biel vs. Listener Choice Winner Elisha Cuthbert 
*****start poll*****
Poll: Biel vs. Cuthbert...who wins? *****end poll***** *************** UC recruit breaks Ginn Jr.'s record
Akron Beacon Journal
You're doing something right when your name is mentioned in the same breath as former All-Ohio sprinter Ted Ginn Jr. Buchtel senior Terrence Somerville, a University of Cincinnati recruit, ended the indoor track season on a high note recently by breaking Ginn's state record in the 60-meter hurdles. Somerville won the championship at the Stile Athletics Field House at the University of Akron with a time of 7.82 seconds *************** The mouse that roars
Enquirer.com
Xavier University is proving that size doesn’t matter when it comes to building a nationally respected basketball program. Of the teams playing in this year’s Sweet 16 only Davidson (1,678 full-time undergraduates) has a smaller enrollment than the Musketeers (3,360). The figures are based on numbers from 2006-07. Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, the only schools to win a national title with comparable enrollments to Xavier’s are Villanova (6,344), Georgetown (6,358) and Duke (6,244). *************** Homer walks his way to AAA
Enquirer.com
Homer Bailey didn't know it at the time, but the reason he started Monday night's game in Sarasota against Toronto was because he was getting one last chance to have his ticket punched for Cincinnati. Instead, with his six-walk performance, he punched his ticket for Triple-A Louisville - where he was optioned Wednesday by the Reds. His inability to throw enough strikes is what cost him the chance to come north. He hadn't had a good spring, but he was progressing. As he showed against the Blue Jays, when he throws strikes, he gets guys out. *************** Barwin now a defensive end
Enquirer.comConnor Barwin, a tight end during his first three years at the University of Cincinnati, will line up at defensive end Tuesday when the Bearcats begin spring practice. Barwin, a senior from Hazel Park, Mich., caught 31 passes for 399 yards and two touchdowns last season, averaging 12.9 yards per catch. He caught seven passes for 86 yards in UC's PapaJohn's.com Bowl victory over Southern Miss, and six passes for 109 yards in the Bearcats' regular-season win over Miami. *************** Congrats to the NKU women
Enquirer.comNorthern Kentucky University coach Nancy Winstel was worried about her team being rusty in the first round of the NCAA Women's Elite Eight. The Norse didn't have much trouble easing Winstel's worries. NKU shot 52 percent from the floor and led by as many as 22 in the second half while rolling past Wingate University 78-65 Wednesday. *************** Cronin, UC get verbal commitment
Enquirer.comOn the day after the University of Cincinnati basketball team ended its season with a loss to Bradley in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational, coach Mick Cronin secured an oral commitment Thursday from guard Varez Ward of Montgomery, Ala. Ward, who was at UC's practice Monday, said he chose the Bearcats over UTEP, the only other school he visited. "It's a good program in the Big East," Ward said. "They're rebuilding and I just want to be a part of that. They play real hard and I like that style of play." *************** Most underrated NBA star
ESPNAlong with countless assists, Chris Paul has given teammate David West a rather unique nickname. "I call David West the 17-foot assassin," Paul said. The Cavaliers now know why. *************** Sweetening the pot
Enquirer.com
The Sweet 16 is here, and Xavier is playing in it. Now what? The goal Xavier fell just short of achieving last season became something of a locker room obsession this winter: Get to the Sweet 16. It was stated in print inside the locker room and built into the keypad number code to open the locker room door. Now, the Final Four is a realistic conversation, and so is this team's place in the Xavier record books. *************** How do they matchup
Enquirer.comThis is generally a statistically even matchup. Shooting percentages and scoring outputs are similar. Xavier (29-6) scores 75.5 points per game. West Virginia (26-10) scores 74.8 points per game. Xavier gives up 62.7 points per game. West Virginia gives up 63.1 points per game. Both teams grab 35 rebounds per game, and both teams shoot better than 35 percent from 3-point range. The key difference - the one that could be decisive - occurs at the free-throw line. Xavier makes 76 percent of its free throws and shoots an average of 23 per game. West Virginia makes just 69 percent of its free-throw attempts, shooting 20 per game. *************** RedHawks headed east for NCAA regional
MURedHawks.comThe No. 1-seeded RedHawks are headed to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year, and fifth time in school history. Miami owns an all-time record of 1-4 playing in NCAA Tournament games. The Red and White are the top-seed in the Northeast bracket, with its games being played in Worcester, Mass. Miami is the No. 2 seed, overall, behind only Michigan. Miami finished the regular season as the only CCHA team to win all of its non-conference games this year. The RedHawks earned a perfect 7-0 record in games against other conferences, with wins against Vermont (Hockey East), Canisius (Atlantic Hockey), Rensselaer (ECAC), and St. Cloud State (WCHA). *************** Cards, Volunteers will be hard pressed tonight
Louisville Courier JournalThere will be no safe haven within the 4,700 square feet of the Charlotte Bobcats Arena basketball court after about 10 p.m. tonight. At every inch, players from the University of Louisville or Tennessee could encounter a trap or a slap, which could lead to a turnover or a dunk. Or both. "There are going to be a lot of highlights," U of L forward Earl Clark said. "It's going to be horse-race basketball -- running, running, running. I love it." What has Clark and many others excited about tonight's NCAA Tournament East Regional semifinal is that both teams use full-court pressure defense, an increasingly rare weapon in college basketball. That should mean a fast-paced, high-scoring thriller -- at least for the team that deals with the pressure better.
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