In this edition of Nerone’s Notes, the Cincinnati Reds conclude their homestand on a winning note. The U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials begin this weekend. Plus, the Big 12 Conference could soon change its name.

This week in Cincinnati Reds baseball

Despite only playing two games this week heading into Friday. It’s been an eventful week for the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds split their two-game series against the Cleveland Guardians. Losing 5-3 on Tuesday in a game where the most notable moment was a spectator running onto the field. Doing a backflip in the outfield before being subsequently tased by security.

Cincinnati concluded their homestand on a winning note on Wednesday. While Wednesday was Elly De La Cruz bobblehead night. Jeimer Candelario was the star of the 4-2 Reds win. His runs batted in accounted for all of the Reds runs on Wednesday. Now the Reds face a Father’s Day weekend road series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Beginning the three-game series Friday at 8:10 PM (all times Eastern).

The Brewers lead the National League Central with a 40-28 record. Milwaukee goes into Friday 6.5 games ahead of the second place St. Louis Cardinals. The gap between the other teams in the division is narrow. The Reds head into Friday in third place with a 33-35 record. That’s half a game behind the 33-34 Cardinals. The fourth place Chicago Cubs are half a game behind the Reds. The last place Pittsburgh Pirates are a full game behind the Reds. 

Locals to watch in the Olympic swimming trials

Several swimmers with connections to Cincinnati’s tri-state area will compete in the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. Which begins this Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. Three swimmers have connections to the University of Cincinnati. Joleigh Crye, Hunter Gubeno and incoming freshman Owen Chiles. Crye will compete in the 100-meter breaststroke. Prelims for that event will begin at 11 AM on Sunday.

Gubeno will compete in the 200 meter backstroke and 200 meter individual medley. He competed in the 2021 Olympic trials in the 200 meter backstroke. The prelims for Gubeno’s 200 meter backstroke will begin on June 19th at 11 AM. The men’s 200 meter individual medley prelims begin on June 20th at 11 AM. Chiles will compete in the 200-meter individual medley. He will join UC this fall after a record-setting high school career in Iowa. Chiles set the Iowa record for the 100 yard freestyle and 100 yard backstroke.

Other Cincinnati area connections include Mason, OH native Adam Cheney. He will compete in the 100-meter breaststroke. The heats for that event will be on Saturday. Brothers Cason and Jake Foster will compete in several events. Jake Foster will compete in the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke. Carson Foster will compete in 200-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle and two individual medleys (200 and 400-meters). The Foster brothers and Cheney all swam for the Mason Manta Rays club in Mason, OH.

Indiana University alumnus Lily King will be the most recognizable name for many. King will compete in the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke. Meanwhile, Mariah Denigan has already qualified for the Olympics. The Northern Kentucky native will compete in open water swimming. The trials for that event happened earlier this year.

The Allstate 12 conference could soon be a reality

The Big 12 Conference is looking for the highest bidder. Multiple outlets reported Thursday that the conference could sell its naming rights. Potentially to Allstate Insurance through a multi-year deal. Such a deal could earn the Big 12 $30 million to $50 million. Which would be divided among the conference’s 16 schools. Which includes the University of Cincinnati as of last year. Along with this, the conference could soon have a private equity firm buy a stake in the league.

In a Cincy Sports Journal article published last August. I wrote about several tongue-in-cheek ideas for college conferences to consider. Amid the landmark shifts unfolding in American college athletics. One of those ideas was for conferences to sell their naming rights. What was meant as a joke could actually become reality here.

Dan Hurley and Mike Tomlin are sticking around with their respective teams

Well Xavier Men’s Basketball team will still have to deal with UConn Men’s Basketball head coach Dan Hurley. On Monday, Hurley confirmed that he will not leave Connecticut. After declining an offer to be the Los Angeles Lakers next head coach. Last April, Hurley coached UConn to a second-consecutive national title. Marking the culmination of a season where Connecticut also won the Big East’s regular season and tournament titles. Hurley’s decision is part of a busy week of Lakers news. On Wednesday, legendary former Lakers player and executive Jerry West passed away at the age of 86.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers gave head coach Mike Tomlin a three-year contract extension last Monday. Meaning the Cincinnati Bengals will still have to contend with one of the NFL’s best head coaches being with a division rival. Tomlin is entering his 18th season as the Steelers head coach. Making Tomlin the longest tenured active head coach in the NFL. If not for the new deal, this upcoming season would’ve been the last of his current contract. Even though they’ve had rough seasons recently by Pittsburgh’s standards. The Steelers haven’t had a losing season during Tomlin’s head coaching tenure.