John Clay’s Sidelines

Kay and Matthew McConaughey

Lunch break:

• Interesting leftover from Bear’s Boys reunion this weekend. Jim McConaughey, the late father of actor Matthew McConaughey, apparently played a year for Bryant at Kentucky. He didn’t letter, but went on to play for the Green Bay Packers. In fact, Matthew’s mother, Kay, was an English major at UK, and regularly attends the reunion. Previous engagements kept her at home in Texas this year, however.

• Sorry, I’m just not that crazy about Ricky Barnes hat at the U.S. Open. My son says he looks like a train conductor.

• I’m rooting for Phil Mickelson.

• Contrary to the headline in the print edition of the H-L, the Reds were not swept this weekend. Instead, they lost two of three to the Chicago White Sox. Saturday’s 10-8 loss was the lowlight. Light-hitting team stroked 14 hits. Led 5-0. Had Johnny Cueto on the mound. But still got beat in the Civil Rights Game. Maybe Cueto had difficulty concentrating with big crowd and all hoopla surrounding the game. There sure were a lot of booth interviews with George Grande and Chris Welsh. Best was the classy Hank Aaron, who told funny story of getting then teammate Dusty Baker out of jail after a disturbance at a pool hall in spring training. Interesting note from Baker: He said Aaron would wake him up every morning and make him eat breakfast, when two played for the Braves.

• Jodie Meeks is working out for the Portland Trailblazers today. I don’t buy reports that he’s received pre-draft guarantees of early second round. Any draft is a fluid animal. A team doesn’t know who will be available at its pick until it is time for its pick. We’ll see what happens Thursday.