It's only been a couple weeks since the last bereavement update, but there's been a lot of action. Most notably, the beautiful and talented Patrick Swayze; also Gertrude Baines, the world's oldest person; and Myles Brand, the president of the NCAA and the man responsible for firing Bob Knight at IU. Swayze and Brand both died of pancreatic cancer.

I have just recently discovered Point Break, and I think it's one of the best bad movies of all-time. Myles Brand has been one of the most important and influential men in college sports the past decade. Gertrude Baines loved Jesus and "never did fool around." 

13 of the 21 entrants had Patrick Swayze, tying him with Fidel Castro as the second-most popular choice behind Ted Kennedy (14). (EDITED. THX BRIAN B) He was worth 68 points, Brand 58 and Baines, a 115-year-old woman but a unique pick, 35. As always, if I left someone off or made an adding error, let me know.

1. Brian B: 331 points (Michael Jackson, Jack Kemp, Millvina Dean, Ted Kennedy, Robert Novak, Les Paul)
2. boobs' mom: 302 points (Farrah Fawcett, Karl Malden, Ted Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Walter Cronkite, Patrick Swayze)
3. boobs: 291 points (Ted Kennedy, Jim Johnson, Gertrude Baines, Patrick Swayze, Myles Brand)
4. Petey Hendrix: 277 points (Dom DeLuise, Karl Malden, Ted Kennedy, Patrick Swayze, Myles Brand)
5. Red Menace: 274 points (Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Ted Kennedy, Robert Novak, Sir Bobby Robson, Patrick Swayze)
6. Cesar Hernandez: 267 points (Michael Jackson, Dom DiMaggio, Walter Cronkite, Patrick Swayze, Myles Brand)
7. Brian B's wife: 249 points (Paul Harvey, Karl Malden, Ted Kennedy, Robert Novak, Patrick Swayze)
7. boobs' coworker Steve: 249 points (Karl Malden, Ted Kennedy, Robert Novak, Patrick Swayze, Myles Brand)
9. ctnyc: 231 points (Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Ted Kennedy, Robert Novak, Les Paul, Patrick Swayze)
10. Chandrathan: 183 points (Ed McMahon, Karl Malden, Ted Kennedy, Patrick Swayze)
11.  nlt-Andrew: 155 points (Ed McMahon, Ted Kennedy, Patrick Swayze)
12. 3fast: 118 points (Ted Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Walter Cronkite)
13. BengalRed: 116 points (Ted Kennedy, Patrick Swayze)
13. Brendan: 116 points (Ted Kennedy, Patrick Swayze)
15. Madville: 101 points (Dom DiMaggio, Patrick Swayze)
16. RedinWrigleyville: 75 points (Michael Jackson)
17. boobs' coworker Brian: 48 points (Ted Kennedy)
18. Joshuar9476: 28 points (Karl Malden)

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We've had quite a few passings since the last update. We must be getting a lot better at this, because there's a lot more names on the top lists, and it's only August. Nearly everyone's on the board at this point. If you aren't, shame on you. The big rivercrossers included Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Bob Novak, Walter Cronkite and, last night, Ted Kennedy.  

Brian B and my mom are still out in front, but Brian B's wife is making her move, trying to become the first person in the history of the RR Bereavement Pool to be in the money in consecutive years. Good luck Mrs. B! EDIT: I missed Bobby Robson. Apparently he was some soccer guy who was important enough to pass through the pearly gates of ESPN on his way out. Menace is in third!

As always, if I've overlooked someone or made a math mistake, let me know.

1. Brian B: 331 points (Michael Jackson, Jack Kemp, Millvina Dean, Ted Kennedy, Robert Novak, Les Paul)
2. boobs' mom: 234 points (Farrah Fawcett, Karl Malden, Ted Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Walter Cronkite)
3. Red Menace: 206 points (Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Ted Kennedy, Robert Novak, Sir Bobby Robson)
4. Brian B's wife: 181 points (Paul Harvey, Karl Malden, Ted Kennedy, Robert Novak)
5. ctnyc: 163 points (Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Ted Kennedy, Robert Novak, Les Paul)
6. Petey Hendrix: 151 points (Dom DeLuise, Karl Malden, Ted Kennedy)
7. Cesar Hernandez: 141 points (Michael Jackson, Dom DiMaggio, Walter Cronkite)
8. boobs: 130 points (Ted Kennedy, Jim Johnson)
9. boobs' coworker Steve: 123 points (Karl Malden, Ted Kennedy, Robert Novak)
10. 3fast: 118 points (Ted Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Walter Cronkite)
11. Chandrathan: 115 points (Ed McMahon, Karl Malden, Ted Kennedy)
12. nlt-Andrew: 87 points (Ed McMahon, Ted Kennedy)
13. RedinWrigleyville: 75 points (Michael Jackson)
14. BengalRed: 48 points (Ted Kennedy)
14. boobs' coworker Brian: 48 points (Ted Kennedy)
14. Brendan: 48 points (Ted Kennedy)
17. Madville: 33 points (Dom DiMaggio)
18. Joshuar9476: 28 points (Karl Malden)

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Hi all. My name's Rick, my friends and I are planning our annual roadtrip starting next week. We usually hit up a bunch of minor league parks along the way and make plenty of time for post-game drinking.

But this year one of my buddies said all he wanted to do was see Fenway Park. So I'm planning a little excursion there for the Thursday day game against the Tigers. I looked on StubHub a couple weeks back and saw the tickets going for $45 apiece, so I waited it out. Then last week they were going for $20 apiece for GA tickets, but I could only buy three. There's four of us.

So I wanted to know what's my best course of action here? Can I get a decent scalped ticket the day of the game? Or should I find the best price for one seat on StubHub (or elsewhere?) now? 

Also, what would you guys recommend for visitors to do around the park, before or after the game? Any good lunch spots we should hit, and souvenirs we should pick up, or anything special to do for a day game?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

More photos » by Al Behrman - AP

Jonny Gomes is the only Red whose name rhymes with "foams." Here he is with his brother Lixefat.

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Big boobs McGee needs to get to bed for tomorrow's Nudes-a-Poppin, but I am obligated to get you guys a late-night thread. Unfortunately the game's not over yet, but all in due time.

Here's the sitch: Reds down 4-1, rain delay in the 8th. Aaron Harang has thrown 107 pitches, so he'll be back after the break. Do what you guys do.

(Note: A lot has happened since the star of Star Search became a Star Man, but Johnny Carson's favorite drunken Irishman is what I had to start with, so I'll dance with the corpse that brung me. -boobs) Ed McMahon, one of my favorite dudes growing up, passed away, leaving a legacy of placating Johnny Carson, showcasing future stars and lending Chandrathan and nlt-Andrew 39 points. He was 86. Anyone seen any good Star Search YouTube clips?

Despite McMahon's passing, Brian B is still miles ahead of the field with his unique selections of Jack Kemp and Millvina Dean. It's going to take some work to catch up with that. (UPDATED with Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Karl Malden and Billy Mays deaths.)

1. Brian B: 205 points (Michael Jackson, Jack Kemp, Millvina Dean)
2. boobs' mom: 116 points (Farrah Fawcett, Karl Malden)
3. Cesar Hernandez: 108 points (Michael Jackson, Dom DiMaggio)
4. Petey Hendrix: 103 points (Dom DeLuise, Karl Malden)
5. Brian B's wife: 86 points (Paul Harvey, Karl Malden)
6. RedinWrigleyville: 75 points (Michael Jackson)
7. Chandrathan: 67 points (Ed McMahon, Karl Malden)
8. nlt-Andrew: 39 points (Ed McMahon)
9. Madville: 33 points (Dom DiMaggio)
10. boobs' coworker Steve: 28 points (Karl Malden)
10. Joshuar9476: 28 points (Karl Malden)

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John Wall has captured the imagination of UK basketball fans. He has also captured the attention of most every other human with an interest in the game. 

Earlier today, when Wall's AAU coach, Brian Clifton, spoke to ESPINRISE, he said, "He likes Cal's style of play and is excited about the opportunity to display his creativity. John has a chance to take college basketball by storm."

Clifton didn't say which John he was speaking of. And judging by some of his other comments yesterday, we can guess he wasn't speaking of the C variety. 

But it's probably time to consider this: John Calipari is doing as much for college basketball as he is for Kentucky basketball.

Several analysts have already been more than happy to extoll the return of the Kentucky brand to the college landscape. And it's not just because the SEC recently signed a deal with ESPN. And it's not because Calipari is in discussions to take a prominent role in the NCAA 2010 video game. College basketball fans root for Kentucky basketball because they like a superstar.  In a climate of 347 teams, one versus the field makes the skies clearer. 

The Sporting News is ready for it.

ESPN is ready for it.

FoxSports is ready for it. 

College basketball is ready for it.

Are we ready for it?

We are busy capturing bandwagon fans all over nation. Just ask LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki and Ben Roethlisberger.

We are also busy gathering enemies all over the place, from Duke to Xavier. They're jealous. They're covetous. They're haters. 

When it comes to college basketball, it's all good.

Fans like to know what's what. Even if they don't like the results, they'd rather have a poll to size everyone up. It's better to know who the big dogs are. It's better to know who to shoot for.

Today, everyone is shooting for No. 11, No. 23 and No. 54. For that slick guy in the expensive suit. For Blue.

Big Blue.

"I think right now everybody is on notice," Dave Telep told The Courier-Journal. "This is old-school Kentucky. These guys are coming after players and are getting guys."

No matter how much they hate it, no matter how much they loathe our history and our boisterousness and our sense of entitlement, they love it. They want it. They need it.

Basketball fans need to know the score, need to know who's ahead, need to know who to watch for. They want to know who's now, who's on point, who's next.

Who to hate. And who to emulate.

Cal has given UK fans something to dream about tonight, something to fall back on this summer and something to look forward to in the fall.

But he has given college basketball something to shoot for next spring. We are not the only ones aware of what happened today. This is Kentucky basketball again. This is what we want. This is what we love.

This is what they hate. But they need it.

And they love it.

Lots of fun Reds news coming out of Washington. Here's the breakdown:

1. Wily Mo Pena was placed on waivers. He's guaranteed $2 million this year, so that's the price for any team wishing to add his services.

2. The Nationals sent Corey Patterson down to minor league camp. See how easy that is?

3. Washington also assigned Javier Valentin to the minor leagues, but he refused the assignment and became a free agent.

There's the possibility for the Reds to bring back Pena and Valentin, although I doubt they would take a flier on either, considering the logjam for mediocre talent in the outfield and the signing of Hernandez. Still, More Reds news coming out of Washington than from Cincinnati.

This is a little rudimentary as I just haven't found time to make a proper post. There are 21 participants this year, meaning the winner will receive $180, with $20 going to second place and $10 going to third. I haven't yet gone through to signify who all the unique picks are, but I'll update this post as I comb through the list again. 

The list is now alphabetized with all unique selections noted. I've also put the rosters in a table for better readability.

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About a week to go before all entries are due, and I've only heard from a handful of people.

Those in and paid:

boobs
Seattle Slim
JoshuaR
JoshuaR's wife

Those in and thus far unpaid:

Red Menace
tHan
RedinWrigleyville
cesarhernandez
justin
bengalred

Those who have stated interest but have not yet entered:

man mountain
brendan
madville
BK
caleb
brian b
brian b’s wife
petey hendrix
ctnyc
andromache
gejoe
nlt-andrew
3 fast
gray

Others who may be interested:
you

Plenty of time left, just wanted to get the fire stoked. The rules are here, in the entry post.

I just happened to look this up and wanted to share it. I don't remember hearing about this as a topic during the season, so I think it's a legitimate piece of trivia. Please try to answer this question without looking it up, because it's easy to look it up and spoil it if you want to. 

Here we go:

How many times did Jay Bruce bat cleanup for the Reds in 2008?