With the Reds away in Arizona and another story already planned on UC this week, I was left pondering what to do to fill this space — and then I got one of the greatest gifts ever handed to sportswriting — Charlie Coles.   

Those of us looking for progress from the Reds came through the first week of the season with mixed feelings. But it ended nicely, as if a momentary crisis were averted. Meanwhile, the NCAA hockey championship game ended in a bitter disaster for Miami, as the RedHawks' apparent title went up in two goals worth of smoke with one minute left against Boston University.