LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: Donovan Mitchell

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

by Chris Ball

Loveland, Ohio – This week only 1/2 of the dynamic duo was able to get a recording in, and Chris of course used it to talk about the Cleveland Cavaliers, a topic that doesn’t get mentioned much here in Southwestern Ohio. And it’s really a shame, too, because the Cavaliers are the most recent non-college Ohio team to win a Championship, and they are real contenders to do so again.

Chris explains just what has changed this season to transform Cleveland from a middle of the pack Eastern Conference team into one that is already counted among one of the league’s best. It all starts with the hiring of Kenny Atkinson as head coach. His system and coaching style have this team maximizing its potential. And with General Manager Koby Altman making all the right moves in terms of trades and draft picks, the success isn’t just for the short term.

So have a listen, get your NBA and Cavaliers fix, and very soon Chris and Mark will get down to a deep dive into the upcoming Reds season, as well as what the future holds for the Bearcats on the basketball court. The Wolverines also looked prime to make a good run in the NCAA Tournament, so there will be plenty to discuss in the coming weeks!

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.

Feb 21, 2025
New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

by Chris Ball

Loveland, Ohio – Don’t look now, but the Bearcats have some life! They’ve won 3 straight games, and scored 84 or more points in each of them. Jizzle James is dominating on offense, and the Cats are getting back to their dominance on the glass. Their offense is playing to its strengths once again, and what seemed like a program on the brink just a short few weeks ago has a pulse, and a realistic chance to make the NCAA Tournament. Mark and Chris talk you through exactly what the numbers look like, and just how Cincinnati has pulled itself back into the hunt. They are still behind the eight ball with very tough tests upcoming against Iowa State, Baylor, and Houston, but there is still hope in the Queen City.

The guys next talk about the Michigan Wolverine’s big home win against the top 10 Purdue Boilermakers, avenging a huge blowout lost a few weeks ago in West Lafayette. Dusty May has transformed a program that won just 8 games last year into one that now sits atop the Big 10. Although the Wolverines turn the ball over far too much, Mark and Chris explain why some of these turnovers are the result of the offense the Wolverines run, and just how efficient they can be if they are cleaned up. Ahead of a big matchup with Ohio State this weekend, Michigan looks to keep the momentum rolling as they climb in the polls.

Finally, the guys bring you a recap of the Super Bowl and a tough loss for the Kansas City Chiefs. Jaylen Hurts answered the call and led the Eagles to victory as Saquon Barkley was relatively quiet. Though Patrick Mahomes had an uncharacteristically poor performance, he surely had no help from his line, running backs, or receivers. In the wake of this loss, Kansas City has plenty of holes to fill, and we will see if they can return to the title game in 2026.

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

In addition, here is the article that Chris and Mark referenced when discussing the Wolverines and their efficient offense, despite having one of the worst turnover rates in college basketball.

_______________________

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.

Feb 13, 2025
New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

by Chris Ball

Loveland, Ohio – Our Super Bowl preview episode is here! Chris and Mark touch on whether Jalen Hurts can win this game on his own if the Chiefs’ run defense shuts down Saquon Barkley. It’s ultimately going to come down to the game’s biggest players, and that means, of course, Patrick Mahomes. The combination of Mahomes and Andy Reed are creating quite a dynasty, and a third straight Super Bowl win will cement them among football’s best franchises.

The guys also get to the week in Bearcats basketball. They skip over a bad loss against West Virginia to recap a much more positive 93-83 win on the road against UCF. The Cats played their game on offense and got some better looks at the basket, which resulted in shooting nearly 60 percent from the field. It was a win the program desperately needed, but it remains to be seen if they can stay on track.

Mark and Chris briefly talk about the Wolverines’ tough win over Oregon, and the difficulty their guards have in creating offense without such high turnover rates. The guys break down the Cavaliers’ huge acquisition of Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter and it’s a move both the guys really like. And Joe Burrow has been making the rounds doing media events prior to the Super Bowl, and Chris and Mark bring you just how his comments may impact the Bengals’ offseason plans.

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

And don’t forget, it’s almost time for Reds’ Spring Training! In just a few short weeks the Cincinnati Reds will be taking the field on February 22 for some split squad action. The first broadcast game will be on February 26, so catch it if you can! The Reds open the regular season against the San Francisco Giants on March 27th!

_______________________

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.

Feb 7, 2025
New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

by Chris Ball

Loveland, Ohio – The Cincinnati Bearcats are struggling mightily and are now 2-7 in the Big 12 after a very good start to the season. Mark and Chris do a deep dive on what has gone wrong during this last stretch of very winnable games for the Cats. The problems stem from what we all thought was going to be a huge strength for this team, namely rebounding and hustle. Cincinnati has been outrebounded in their last several games, and it is making it nearly impossible to win, especially when the offense has also struggled. Mark and Chris disucss just what has gone wrong and what it means for the rest of this Bearcats season, and even the prospects for the team going into next year. The guys also get into the NFC and AFC Championship games, and the impact that both Saquon Barkley and Patrick Mahomes had on their teams’ victories. And don’t forget to tune in next week when we preview the Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

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.

Jan 30, 2025
New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

by Chris Ball

Loveland, Ohio – Is it time to panic for Bearcat basketball fans? After the loss against Texas Tech this past week, Mark explains exactly why there is still plenty to be positive about for Cincinnati. Make no mistake though, this next stretch of winnable games for the team could very well could decide whether they end up becoming a promising NCAA Tournament team, or whether their season is effectively over. Chris and Mark also give their reactions to Ohio State winning the National Championship and the reflection the Irish defense’s performance had on Bengals fans perceptions of their new hire in defensive coordinator Al Golden. Chris also discusses the Wolverine basketball team’s grueling overtime win against Northwestern and their big matchup with top 15 Purdue on Friday.

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.

Jan 23, 2025
New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

by Chris Ball

Loveland, Ohio – The Bearcats got their first conference win on Wednesday night and Mark is here to break down how they did it. The Bearcats’ offensive struggles are still an issue and he and Chris discuss which Bearcat player is the catalyst for turning it all around. It’s also going to be a crucial stretch for Cincinnati in their next run of winnable games, in Mark’s opinion they have to take advantage in order to improve their resume before the NCAA Tournament field is announced in the coming weeks. For his part, it was a rough Thursday night sports-wise for Chris, as the Thunder blew out the Cavaliers and Michigan had an ugly loss on the road to a determined Minesota team. But Mark was able to talk him off of the ledge and the guys discuss how both teams can learn from these losses and how they don’t mean the sky is falling for either team. The guys also touch on the upcoming championship matchup between Ohio State and Notre Dame, and why they feel the game will be closer than most of the pundits are predicting.

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.

Jan 16, 2025
Ohio Sports Roundup: Reds Take on Guardians, Kappa Extended, and the Cavaliers Search for a Coach

by Chris Ball

Queen City Sports from Loveland, Ohio

The Cincinnati Reds After taking 3 of 4 from the Chicago Cubs the Reds split their series against the Cleveland Guardians. The Guardians are 20 games over .500 and in first place in the American League Central Division and the Reds played them just about as tough as they have against the Dodgers and Phillies, two other division leading clubs. Against those three the Reds are 9-7 this year and have played some solid baseball in getting those wins.

Perhaps the biggest story from the Guardians series was the continued hot bat of Jeimer Candelario. He hit 2 more home runs in the Reds 4-2 win over Cleveland on June 12 including what would be the game winner. His three run bomb in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Reds a 4-2 lead that their bullpen would never relinquish. It also spoiled a great outing by Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee who still finished the game with 11 strikeouts in just 5.1 innings. Since May 27, Candelario is hitting .306 with 19 hits, 6 home runs, 12 RBIs and 8 runs scored.

Other Reds batters are staying hot in June. This includes a surprising run by Will Benson, hitting .333 with a .967 OPS in his last 15 games. Jake Fraley in his last 15 is batting .293 while TJ Friedl has 3 home runs and 11 RBIs.

Cincinnati next faces the Milwaukee Brewers tonight at 8:10 PM. The Brewers sit atop the NL Central with a 7 game lead over both the Reds and Cubs. If they can take this series on the road and claw back at least a game or two from Milwaukee, Reds fans will have plenty of reasons to be optimistic going forward.

The Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals finished their mandatory mini camp this week. All of the major players were in attendance, including a few that were absent for the voluntary OTAs such as Ja’Marr Chase and Trent Brown. Tee Higgins has yet to make an appearance as he continues his holdout, but this was something all sides were clearly prepared for.

The main storyline this week remained former first round pick Dax Hill and his reps with the first team defense while battling for a job at cornerback against DJ Turner. By all reports Hill, a former safety, looked very good at his new position. There remains a lot of optimism that he can be a quality starter at the position, even if his time at safety may be at an end. Hill was a versatile athlete at the University of Michigan and played both safety and cornerback there, and so that flexibility should serve him well as he tries to see the field as much as possible next year for the Bengals.

Another positive development for the Bengals this week was the extension they reached with center Ted Karras. Karras signed an extension that will keep with the team through the 2025 season. Early reports indicate that the next two years of his contract will pay him about 12 million. He’s started 36 games since joining the Bengals in 2022. Last year, according to PFF he was the 15^th highest graded center and allowed 6 sacks All numbers aside, Kerras is a team captain and has been a stalwart for the Bengals on the line for several years. Consistency and communication will be paramount for Cincinnati’s front five in 2025. Having a veteran back at the center position is absolutely essential to our success next year.

The Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers are a team with many substantial questions this offseason. The future of two of its key stars are up in the air in Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. But the decision that may be the most crucial of all is which coach will take the reigns in 2024 and beyond.

The name that seems to have the most buzz over recent weeks is James Borrego the former Charlotte Hornets head coach. Borrego, a Gregg Popovich protégé and two-time champion as an assistant, has a 148-183 mark as head coach with Charlotte and Orlando. But he has many of the qualities that Cleveland is seeking to build the team around going forward, including the ability to build a dynamic offense built around dynamic players (such as Zion Williamson in New Orleans) and he is a coach that his former players have spoken very highly of.

The Cavaliers are in no hurry to name a successor to JB Bickerstaff. But announcing a new head coach soon will likely be the catalyst that spells the decisions of both Mitchell and Garland. It’s possible that the future of Cleveland’s basketball team for the next several years to come will be defined by the decisions President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman makes in the next few weeks.

______________

A new Loveland Magazine feature: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball

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 LovelandSportsGuy@gmail.com!

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.

Jun 14, 2024