SpringfieldNewsSun.com

If you ask me, and a lot of people have ...

• The Cincinnati Bengals will always have an opportunity to reach the Super Bowl as long as quarterback Carson Palmer stays healthy.

But first things first. The club needs some addition by subtraction, and it can start with the release of tailback Rudi Johnson and a draft-day trade of wide receiver Chad Johnson.

Rudi has lost a step, and Chad, who claims he wants out of the 'Nati, should be accommodated. Chad is an elite player who delivers great production. But he's a front-runner who often disappears in the clutch. He's part of the team's Hollywood image that needs to be purged.

• My favorite NBA player is Golden State point guard Baron Davis. He's built like a tank, owns a pillow-soft shooting touch, is a great leader and — even though he plays hard — never seems to be in a hurry. My kind of guy.

• Wright State (14-6, 7-4 Horizon League) is the best men's college basketball team in the Miami Valley. The Raiders' average margin of victory is 5.9. Nine wins have come by five or fewer points, including four one-pointers. That's a sign of great coaching and teamwork.

• Dayton (15-5, 3-4 Atlantic 10) better beat Xavier (18-4, 6-1) on Feb. 24 or it'll be "Hello, NIT" for the Flyers.

• WONE radio's Mark Schlemmer, David Fulcher and Flash Minor are a breath of fresh sports-talk-radio air. They're informative, entertaining and opinionated — a perfect combo for the Dayton-area market.

Trouble is, they're only on two nights a week (from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday). They deserve a full five-course meal.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.