OxfordPress.com

Your chance to meet ‘The Chickster’

By Chick Ludwig | Friday, September 5, 2008, 07:56 AM

Let’s make it happen TODAY — Friday, Sept. 5.

I’ll be Lance McAlister’s guest on the “Bengals Breakdown” show from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Buffalo Wings and Rings Tri-County. If you can’t make it in person, tune in to WCKY-AM (!530 Homer, The Sports Animal).

Former Bengals Pro Bowl safety David Fulcher joins Lance from 3-4:30 p.m., then “The Chickster” is in the house. Lance will interview Haruki Nakamura, the Ravens’ rookie safety from the University of Cincinnati, at 5:30 p.m.

Address: 11305 Princeton Pike, Springdale, Ohio 45246

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment More: Bengals

Fantasy football: Good or bad?

By Chick Ludwig | Friday, September 5, 2008, 07:45 AM

LOST PRODUCTIVITY IS

OFFSET BY MORALE BOOST

A story by Ty West in the Birmingham Business Journal claims fantasy football costs employers approximately $9.2 billion in productivity during the 17-week NFL season.

Despite the staggering loss in revenue from the 13.6 million Americans expected to play the virtual game this season, the report quotes human resource managers saying fantasy football boosts morale and worker relationships. See the story at:

http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2008/08/25/focus2.html?b=1219636800%5E1688714

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment More: Bengals

Bengals-Ravens: 3 keys to success

By Chick Ludwig | Friday, September 5, 2008, 07:17 AM

PASS PROTECTION — The Bengals yielded double-digit sacks in the preseason after giving up 17 all of 2007. The visual of QB Carson Palmer with a broken nose, cut lip and bloody face won’t soon be forgotten. If the line, tight ends and backs don’t tighten up the protection, Palmer will end up in a hospital.

ESTABLISH THE RUN — Palmer’s best friend is a solid running game. The Bengals need to control the line of scrimmage and give Chris Perry and Kenny Watson room to run. It’ll set up play-action, allowing Palmer to take some shots down the field.

RUN DEFENSE — The one-two punch of Willis McGahee and Ray Rice presents a formidable challenge. DTs Domata Peko and John Thornton, and DEs Antwan Odom and Robert Geathers, must be gap sound, allowing the LBs to run with freedom to the ball. The defense had better gang tackle. McGahee and Rice are slippery and explosive.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment More: Bengals

Hey, Willie: You’re so ‘Raven’

By Chick Ludwig | Thursday, September 4, 2008, 09:25 PM

WILLIE VS. BENGALS?

SAY IT AIN’T SO

It’s almost like it was meant to be — like Willie Anderson was listening to T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

On “Cutdown Day” — Saturday, Aug. 30 — after Anderson was released by the Bengals, Houshmandzadeh said: “He’s going to go to another team and be very successful. I just hope he doesn’t come back and play against us.”

As fate would have it, the “other team” is the Baltimore Ravens, the Bengals’ opening day opponent on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Big Willie will be wearing the Ravens’ purple and white after agreeing to a three-year, $11 million contract that includes a $1.67 million signing bonus on Thursday. It marks the fourth big contract Anderson has signed in his 13-year NFL career.

I’d bet my last dollar that Big Willie will play on Sunday. The Ravens aren’t stuffing his pockets full o’ cash so he can be a sideline statue.

Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment More: Bengals

Thursday (Sept. 4) Injury Report

By Chick Ludwig | Thursday, September 4, 2008, 04:39 PM

OUT

SS Chinedum Ndukwe (Knee)

DT Pat Sims (Toe)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

DE Jonathan Fanene (Illness)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

WR Andre Caldwell (Toe)

LB Brandon Johnson (Hamstring)

DT John Thornton (Knee)

HB Kenny Watson (Hamstring)

Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment More: Bengals

NFL approves ‘Chad Ocho Cinco’

By Chick Ludwig | Thursday, September 4, 2008, 03:44 PM

CHAD WILL WEAR

‘OCHO CINCO’

The NFL’s judge and jury — in this case, Commissioner Roger Goodell and his trusty lieutenants — have ruled:

Chad Johnson is now Chad Ocho Cinco.

Here’s the Bengals’ news release:

“PLAYER NAME CHANGE”

Effective today (Thursday, Sept. 4), the Bengals begin the process of listing the former Chad Johnson as Chad Ocho Cinco for all club business, per the legal change of his surname effected in Florida.

The list of appropriate changes will include Ocho Cinco wearing his new surname on the back of his jersey for Sunday’s season opener.

Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment More: Bengals

Learnin’ to love Chad again

By Chick Ludwig | Thursday, September 4, 2008, 11:46 AM

RAY-RAY TELLS CHAD:

‘PUT MIND ON GOD’

We know they’re as “thick as thieves;” as close as a razor blade on a face full of shaving creaM; as tight as Ludwig drums.

So it comes as no surprise that Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis has made a significant impact on the life of the Bengals wide receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson, who legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco.

Chad turned to Ray-Ray, who told him to turn to “God.”

Had Chad asked my advice, I could’ve saved him some cash on his phone bill.

All he had to do was go down a few lockers to tight end Reggie Kelly, who is the club’s resident “Prince in Gym Shoes.”

LUDWIG AT LARGE wants to know: Will you accept Chad back? Will we learn to — ahem — love “85” again?

Here’s a Q & A with Ray-Ray regarding Chad:

Continue reading "Learnin’ to love Chad again"...

Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment More: Bengals