Jay Fiedler And The CBA

Just a couple of quick notes this morning before we head out the door. ...

First, a little more background on what Jay Fiedler is up to these days. His Trinity Sports & Entertainment Group's Eastern Kentucky basketball team in the CBA is up and running. A story in the Herald Leader tells a little more about the financial commitment to get the team on the court:

Ford, a businessman, and Fiedler wouldn't say how much money goes into starting a professional basketball team. With advertising, finding a mascot and putting together a dance team, Fiedler said, it's "a lot."

Fiedler said the annual budget is about $750,000. About $120,000 of that is used to pay the players, who play about three games a week and make $350 to $1,000 a week, Keathley said.

For more about Fiedler's Trinity Sports and Entertainment Group, click here.

The stories keep coming in about Dartmouth grad and poker legend Chip Reese, who died last week. Reese was a high school center and football was an important part of his family. From a story in the Dayton Daily News tells about his grandfather's, uncle's, and father's roles in the game:

A former player for the Dayton Triangles, a charter member of the organization that became the National Football League, Reese became the first commissioner of the Mid-American Conference. It was from Dr. Reese, friends say, that Chip gained the card genes.

... (Reese's uncle), Dave Maurer, coached the Wittenberg University football team from 1969-83 and, with a 129-23-3 record and two NCAA Division III national championships, was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Reese's father played football and basketball at Oakwood High School.

New Hampshire didn't make it to the FCS championship game, but conference-mate Delaware -- a team the Wildcats defeated this fall -- did. The Blue Hens beat Southern Illinois, 20-17, to earn the possibly dubious distinction of playing Appalachian State Friday in the championship game in Chatanooga. Find a story here.

And finally, we are headed off to see the New England Patriots play the Pittsburgh Steelers today. It's a wonderful treat for the kids, and my wife after they put up with me missing dinners, barking at the kids to keep quiet while I write at night, and working all weekend every weekend from mid-August until Thanksgiving.