Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor

Since 2004

Category: Sports

  • [WATCH] $1.25 billion makeover proposed for Paycor Stadium

    [WATCH] $1.25 billion makeover proposed for Paycor Stadium

    Loveland, Ohio – At the Tuesday, September 17th meeting, Hamilton County officials unveiled the renovation plan for Paycor Stadium.

    Watch as the Staff reports to the Hamilton County Commissioners the proposed Paycor Stadium “Comprehensive Renovation” plan.

    The meeting begins at the 5:58 minute mark…

  • Miami Trustees to ask voters to approve Parks and Recreation Levy

    Miami Trustees to ask voters to approve Parks and Recreation Levy

    A message from the Miami Township Board of Trustees:

    Since the creation of the Township’s park system in the early 1990s, the community has enjoyed various amenities offered by each of our four parks. Residents have communicated, and worked closely with staff to make sure our parks not only meet the needs and expectations of our residents, but that they are also serviced and maintained at the highest level. Our Service and Recreation Departments do an excellent job keeping our parks in superb condition and booked with enjoyable activities and events throughout the year.

    As our parks entered the third decade of service to the community, there was a need to perform a formal assessment of the grounds, equipment and structures contained within them, and then project for future needs and redevelopment opportunities. This data will then be used to formulate a Master Plan and assist in future development and improvements to Miami Township’s outstanding park system.

    Sports and popular activities have continued to evolve and change over the past 30 years. Things once considered popular are no longer. For example, the demand for tennis courts has been offset by requests for conversion to pickleball, and the once hot metal playground structures are now covered with cooling shades and made of materials that are safer and more user friendly.

    In 2004, a 1.5 mill parks levy was approved by Township voters. No other park levy has been requested despite the fact there has been significant growth in the Township since that time. At the July 16, 2024 Board of Trustees meeting, the Trustees passed legislation to allow for a 1.0 mill continuing levy to be placed on the ballot for park and recreational purposes. If passed, this levy would generate funds to maintain and improve our Township park system, while continuing to operate programs the community desires. Passage of the levy would cost residents $35.00 per year for each $100,000.00 of market value for their property. For example, a $300,000 market value would cost $105 annually, or $8.75 per month.

    The original 1.5 mill parks levy approved by voters in 2004 is at the point where it is no longer generating enough revenue to cover expenses. On average, $1.5 million has been spent annually for the past ten years for Parks and Recreation personnel, special events, preventative maintenance and necessary improvements. It is estimated at the end of 2024 that the Parks and Recreation Fund will have a balance of only $122,825. In light of this, the Township has been using funds from its General Fund to supplement park operations and maintenance in order to extend the existing levy. Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) were also used to extend the life of levy funds.

    Property values and park usage in the Township have increased significantly in the past 20 years. Current collections for this levy are based on property valuations from 2004 and have not kept up with growth.

    The Parks and Recreation Levy will appear on the November 5th ballot for our residents to consider.

  • Three Important Takeaways from the Bengals Close Loss to the Chiefs

    Three Important Takeaways from the Bengals Close Loss to the Chiefs

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – Though the Bengals fell 26-25 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday it was a heartbreaking loss. As seems to happen so often against Kansas City, that loss came after yet another questionable call that benefited Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. This time it was a pass interference penalty on the Bengals’ rookie defensive back Daijahn Anthony that gave Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker an opportunity to nail a 51-yard game winner as the clock expired. But as heartbreaking a defeat as the game represented, there were at least three positive takeaways to come out of it.

    One – Joe Burrow Is Back to Form

    After the loss to the New England Patriots there were rumblings from others, mostly outside of Bengals fandom, that Joe Burrow might not be as effective after his wrist injury last year. The Bengals’ quarterback put those questions to bed this past week. He went 23-36 for 258 yards with two touchdowns, outplaying Mahomes in the process. He looked more confident in the pocket and was able to push the ball downfield, something he did not attempt to do much against the Patriots.

    With Burrow not playing snice November of last year, it was reasonable to expect some rust in his return to game action in 2024. While that rust showed itself week one, it’s equally apparent that Burrow is getting into the flow of the game and is ready to carry this team in the most difficult of situations, just as he did at Arrowhead on Sunday.

    Two – The Bengals Pass Defense Answered the Call

    The Bengals’ secondary, led by Cam-Taylor Britt and Dax Hill limited Patrick Mahomes to just 151 yards on Sunday. It was the fewest yards the Chiefs’ quarterback has thrown for since October of 2019 where he threw for just 76 yards before being injured just before halftime. They intercepted Mahomes twice, including one of the prettiest interceptions you might ever see from Taylor-Britt:

    Cincinnati clamped down on the Chiefs’ passing game despite the fact that they got almost no pressure on Mahomes outside of Trey Hendrickson. Cincinnati’s defensive end continues to be a terror on opposing quarterbacks and he was the highest-graded Bengal in week one:

    Unfortunately, the others on the Bengals’ defensive line have not played up to anything close to Hendricks’ level this year. The hope is that when the team gets former top pick Myles Murphy back from injury and that he can continue the progress that he showed towards the end of last year.

    Mike Gesicki Has Revitalized The Bengals’ Tight End Situation

    Gesicki’s touchdown against the Patriots should have counted. But the Bengals’ tight end didn’t dwell on the past when he took the field against Kansas City. He hauled in seven catches for 91 yards. Although he didn’t score, his 37-yard reception early on really opened things up for Burrow and the offense. His 91 yards was the fourth-best performance in his career. The Bengals struggled to get much of anything out of the tight end position last year, but the progression of Gesicki and rookie Erick All (who had four receptions of his own on Sunday) bring a lot of promise to the position this season.

    ———————-

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

    Also, don’t forget to follow us at The Loveland Sports Desk at the below links:

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

    New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – What should have been a glorious football weekend turned into a parade of misery for Chris and Mark as the Bengals, Bearcats, and Wolverines all lost. The Bengals stumbled to a loss against a decidedly inferior Patriots team, the Bearcats blew a 21-point lead, and the Wolverines got blown out at home. Join the guys as they put aside their misery and bring you the stats and analysis (no matter how much pain it causes them).

     

    Have a listen and don’t forget to leave your comments and feedback!

    _______________________

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

    Also, don’t forget to follow us at The Loveland Sports Desk at the below links:

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • The Bengals Fall in Shocking Week One Loss to the New England Patriots

    The Bengals Fall in Shocking Week One Loss to the New England Patriots

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – The hallmark of great teams is that they identify their problems and do all they can to at least fix them, or perhaps even turn them into strengths. But for the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots made it painfully clear that they have many of the same problems that plagued them in 2023. The Patriots came into Paycor Stadium and exposed Cincinnati’s flaws on their way to a 16-10 victory.

    The Bengals had the seventh-worse run defense in 2023. They allowed 2,145 yards at a clip of 4.7 yards per carry. It was a major flaw that only got worse after the departure of DJ Reader to the Lions. Though the team signed Sheldon Rankins, but his primary specialty is rushing the passer. The hope was that drafting Kris Jenkins out of Michigan might help in that department, but he was inactive against the Patriots due to injury. Essentially the Bengals banked on their existing players finding a way to be more effective in stopping the run.

    And that bet failed to pay any dividends on Sunday.

    Rhamondre Stevenson and the Patriots punished Cincinnati to the tune of 170 yards on 39 carries for a 4.4 yards per carry average. Those yards hurt the worst in the first half and then again to seal the game in the fourth quarter. Time and again Stevenson, and even journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett broke tackles and frustrated the Bengals defense on their way to tough yards and big first downs.

    The Patriots had the seventh-worst rushing attack last year and only averaged 3.9 yards per carry and a paltry nine touchdowns. And yet, the Bengals looked overmatched in every phase of the running game on defense. They were blown off of the ball bullied on numerous occasions.

    It bodes ill for future games against the likes of the Baltimore Ravens. They rushed for 185 yards on 32 carries in their loss against the Chiefs this week. Lamar Jackson accounted for 122 of those yards and is a much more dynamic athlete than Brissett, who had 32 yards of his own (for a 4.6 average) against the Bengals this week.

    The first game of the year clearly demonstrated that the Bengals’ weakness against the run hasn’t been addressed. It’s fair to say it’s unclear exactly what the plan might be to improve in that area apart from simply hoping that the defense finds ways to play better or perhaps develop a scheme to limit the damage on that front.

    It is a tale as old as time. The Bengals show up the first week of the season utterly unprepared and Zac Taylor makes excuses as to why it continues to happen. The Bengals are 1-10 in weeks one-two since Taylor has become the head coach for Cincinnati. This is yet another concerning aspect of this team that continues into 2024 without any signs of being addressed.

    Whether it was Charlie Jones’ fumble on a punt return or Tanner Hudson’s inexplicable fumble holding the ball out for anyone to take, there were plenty of instances on Sunday that made it clear this team was firing on less than all cylinders. While the players have to make plays on the field, the overall composure and tempo of a team is tied directly to the preparation and readiness instilled by the game plan put in place by the head coach going into a game. Those aspects were sorely lacking in Sunday’s game.

    Perhaps the most questionable of all of Zac Taylor’s decisions came with just 2:56 to play in the fourth quarter. It was fourth and 5 when Taylor chose not to trust in his franchise quarterback but punt the ball away to the Patriots and trust in his defense to get a stop. That defense promptly allowed the Patriots to run all over them to put the game out of reach, rather than give Joe Burrow or Ja’Marr Chase a chance to make a special play and come back to win the game.

     

    For once in what seemed like a long while, injuries weren’t the major holdup that prevented the Bengals from having a successful offseason. Burrow, Chase, Higgins, and many others were physically healthy and able to have a complete camp and preseason together to focus on 2024. But while the physical health might have been there, there were plenty of other issues that robbed this team of the necessary reps during the summer. Whether it was Higgins’ dissatisfaction with his lack of a big contract or Chase’s desire for his own mega-deal, there was never a feeling that the Bengals’ most explosive and important players were on the same page so that they would be ready to start the season off strong. And that is what we saw on Sunday, a disjointed team that looked out of sync and unprepared to win a game against a team they should have handled comfortably.

    Another major flaw in this team was their inability to run the football. One of the few rushing defenses worse than the Patriots was the Bengals’ last year. They managed just 1,527 yards at 4.0 yards per carry, the second worst rush offense in the league. They replaced Joe Mixon with Zach Moss and hoped that Chase Brown could step up to be a dynamic back.

    On Sunday the Bengals ran the ball well, at least statistically. While Cincinnati was able to manage 4.4 yards per carry, they only mustered 70 total yards on the ground. The Bengals offense operated in fits and starts overall and turnovers certainly did not help them gain any real momentum. The run game was certainly a victim of that.

    Like it or not, the Bengals will go only so far as Joe Burrow will take them. Cincinnati fans were understandably excited to see their franchise quarterback on the field for the first time since November of last year. While it was good to see Burrow’s accuracy on display, he took no chances down the field and kept it vanilla. He averaged just 5.7 yards per completion and had 164 yards passing on 21 completions.

    Whether it was the play calling by Taylor and new offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher (who has plenty of questions of his own to face after this game), Burrow’s rustiness, or even his lingering injury, Bengals fans are fair to have some trepidation about their all-pro quarterback, epically given that he had a full and healthy offseason to prepare for this game. What is most perplexing is that Burrow put up such low numbers while facing so little pressure:

    There isn’t any way to sugar coat things. The Bengals head to Arrowhead next week to take on the Kansas City Chiefs. The defending Super Bowl champions are fresh off a close but impressive win against a very good Ravens team. That have a good running back in Isiah Pacheco and a dynamic quarterback in Patrick Mahomes. If the Chiefs are allowed to run the ball with impunity, then it makes Mahomes all the more deadly in the passing game. The Bengals have a lot of work to do before next Sunday, and this loss against the Patriots clearly demonstrated that if they don’t fix those issues, things could get very ugly very quickly.

    ———————-

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

    Also, don’t forget to follow us at The Loveland Sports Desk at the below links:

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

    New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – Football is back! On this week’s episode Chris and Mark discuss the Bengals’ upcoming season and Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. They also take a look back at last weekend’s college football action for the Bearcats and Wolverines, and what fans can expect as the Cats take on Pittsburgh on Saturday, and Michigan welcomes the Texas Longhorns to Ann Arbor.

     

    Have a listen and don’t forget to leave your comments and feedback!

    _______________________

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

    Also, don’t forget to follow us at The Loveland Sports Desk at the below links:

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • Grand Marshal Tori Morrison will lead the Homecoming Parade on Thursday, September 19th

    Grand Marshal Tori Morrison will lead the Homecoming Parade on Thursday, September 19th

    Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Athletic Booster’s 2024 Loveland High School Homecoming Parade will be rolling down the streets of Loveland on Thursday, September 19th, beginning at 6:30 PM. 

    The Grand Marshal of the 2024 Homecoming Parade is longtime Loveland resident Tori Morrison who the Boosters say, “Has tirelessly supported our students, athletes, and community over the years.”

    Morrison has stepped down, but organized the Homecoming Parade for ten years. She served on the Board of the Athletic Boosters for four years in roles as Vice President and Treasurer.
    “It is a big honor to be chosen as this year’s LAB Homecoming parade Grand Marshal. I have enjoyed planning the parade over the years. I have met so many great people that became my friends.”
    Tori added that she has spent countless years as a team mom for all three of her children.

    The parade begins at the new Loveland-Symmes Fire Department Health and Wellness Center/East Nature Preserve parking lot located at 227 East Loveland Avenue. The parade continues through Historic Downtown and along West Loveland Avenue before turning down Rich Road and ending at Loveland High School.

    The Loveland Middle School and Loveland Youth program participants will exit the parade route when it reaches Phillips Park.

    The annual Powder Puff football game and other Homecoming Spirit Week activities will be held at the Loveland High School stadium immediately following the parade.

    The Homecoming football game will be played on Friday, September 20th, with the Loveland Tigers taking on the Turpin Spartans. Kickoff is at 7PM.

    _______________

    Photo Album: Loveland Athletic Boosters 2015 Homecoming Parade

    Photo Album of 2017 Homecoming Parade

    Introducing LHS Homecoming 2020 COVID-19 Style! (With Videos)

    All the fun you missed at the 2019 Homecoming Weekend [W/Photos & Video] With Queen and King photos

     

     

  • New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

    New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – This week, Mark and Chris delve deeper into Ja’Marr Chase’s contract situation, which has more twists and turns than a James Bond movie. The guys take a brief look at the Bengals’ week one opponent, the New England Patriots, and how that is a very winnable game. They also discuss how it’s clearly game over for the Reds, but talk about some of the remaining bright spots for the team and how it’s do or die in 2025. Finally, they get into the meat of the college football action as they give their predictions for the Cincinnati Bearcats, Michigan Wolverines, and the college game in general

     

    Have a listen and don’t forget to leave your comments and feedback!

    _______________________

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

    Also, don’t forget to follow us at The Loveland Sports Desk at the below links:

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • Ja’Marr Chase Returns to Practice as Bengals Prepare for the Patriots

    Ja’Marr Chase Returns to Practice as Bengals Prepare for the Patriots

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – Ja’Marr Chase has been at almost every Bengals practice this offseason. Whether it’s engaging with his teammates or cheering them on, his presence amidst all of the contract issues has shown his true dedication to this team.

    After watching Justin Jefferson and Cee Dee Lamb cash in, Ja’Marr Chase still put on the pads and laced up his cleats to prepare for the New England Patriots in week one. And that tells you all that you need to know about his commitment level. He’s been a participant at both Monday and Tuesday practices this week and the national media has taken notice.

    Even still, Bengals fans and beat writers alike paid close attention to both Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb. Those two players were seen early on as barometers for what a potential deal might look like for Ja’Marr Chase. Jefferson’s contract was finalized earlier this year. But it took until Monday for Lamb’s payday to come through. He and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year, $136 million deal. This makes Lamb the second-highest-paid receiver in the NFL behind Jefferson. It is yet another domino to fall in a summer dominated by talk of extensions for some of the best pass catchers in the league.

    There is no need to panic until Ja’Marr Chase makes it clear that he won’t play for the Bengals until his demands are met. Justin Jefferson set the market for wide receiver contracts, and CeeDee Lamb cashed in as well. The dust from those major deals will soon settle and the cards will all be on the table between Chase and the Bengals. The team knows how much Chase wants, and Chase can see how his peers are being paid. This sort of certainty can bring a perspective to the discussions that might make a reasonable deal all the more probable.

    And that certainty would be crucial for the Bengals and their fans. Having Chase’s contract in place prior to week one would give all parties the ability to solely focus on the product that is on the field and to work on getting back to the Super Bowl. That is a golden opportunity for a team that has struggled in the worst way to start prior seasons and the Bengals absolutely have to take advantage of it.

    ———————-

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

    Also, don’t forget to follow us at The Loveland Sports Desk at the below links:

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball With Loveland Football Coach Brian Damewood

    New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball With Loveland Football Coach Brian Damewood

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – On this week’s podcast episode, Chris connects with Loveland Tigers head football coach Brian Damewood. Coach Damewood recaps the end of the Tigers’ preseason and talks about all the fight on display against Harrison on Friday night. While the end result wasn’t ideal, Loveland’s players refused to give up and played with heart and tenacity. They were already in the film room on Saturday finding ways to get better in advance of next week’s matchup against Lebanon. Go Tigers, and we thank Coach Damewood for taking the time to be with us!

    Have a listen and don’t forget to leave your comments and feedback!

    We’re also aware of some audio issues with this weeks’ episode and will have those ironed out for all our future talks with Coach Damewood, so thanks for your patience!

    _______________________

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

    Also, don’t forget to follow us at The Loveland Sports Desk at the below links:

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.