Someone sent me a link last August to a site called LikeMe.net, who have recommendations on Cincinnati-area restaurants and attractions supposed to be personally recommended by Brandon Phillips.

You can check out his recommendations here:
http://www.likeme.net/users/BrandonPhillips/recommendations

No way for me to really tell whether these are Phillips’ actual haunts, other than to actually stake out the Super Bowl in Erlanger, KY, but I don’t have any reason *not* to believe it either. I mean, would you really be that surprised to find yourself sitting next to BP at the bar at BW3?

Digging through my neglected RHM inbox uncovers another gem that’s of no particular interest to me but I know there are tons of baseball fans out there who will love it. And since I’m so far behind in posting it, it’ll hardly even seem redundant if any other blogs you read posted it.

Over at Sully Baseball, Sully had taken on an odd task: creating a roster of the best homegrown Cincinnati players throughout history and a roster of the best traded-for Cincinnati players throughout history. Brandon Phillips makes an appearance.

Check it out at http://sullybaseball.blogspot.com/2009/02/cincinnati-reds-all-time-home-grown.html

In a quote from Reds reporter John Fay’s blog, Brandon Phillips had this to say.

I don’t believe that on-base percentage stuff. That’s overrated to me. If you get hits, you’ll be on base. That’s what it’s about.

My first reaction is similar to Fay’s and others: that it does nothing more than piss off baseball fans with brains. However, the more I think about it, the more I think the quote wasn’t for us.

Phillips was directing that comment directly to “manager” Dusty Baker. That’s right, Brandon Phillips is kissing ass.

CINCINNATI — Brandon Phillips today was named the Reds’ recipient of the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy. He is one of 30 Major League Club nominees for the national 2008 Roberto Clemente Award, which is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who combines outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community. Tomorrow will mark the seventh annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball in 2002 to honor the legacy of Roberto Clemente, and Phillips will be honored in a pregame ceremony.

The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy, is part of Chevy’s official sponsorship of Major League Baseball, and recognizes those players who best represent the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions to their teams. The award is named for Clemente, a 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who died on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. This award perpetuates Clemente’s legacy and character by recognizing current-day players who truly understand the value of helping others.

Fans are encouraged to participate in the selection of the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy. From September 3rd through October 5th, 2008, fans can log on to www.chevy.com/clemente and vote for one of the 30 Club nominees.

Since arriving in Cincinnati in 2006, Brandon has emerged as one of the Reds’ top players on the field and in the community. In 2008, he contributed $25,000 to help restore a baseball field at Clark Montessori School in Winton Place. The new complex will be known as “Brandon Phillips Field” and will serve as the home for Cincinnati’s RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program as well as for all Clark Montessori varsity and junior varsity baseball home games. Phillips has participated in school visits, Reds Heads Kids Club activities, the Reds Rookie Success League, the Reds winter caravan and Redfest.

The fan vote winner will be tallied as one vote among those cast by the selection panel, which includes Vera Clemente, wife of the late Hall of Famer, and Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. Participating fans automatically will be registered for a chance to win a trip to Game Three of the 2008 World Series, where the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy will be announced.

As the official sponsor of the Roberto Clemente Award, Chevy will donate $7,500 to the charity of choice of each of the 30 Club recipients. Chevy also will donate $30,000 and a Chevy vehicle to the national winner’s charity of choice and an additional $30,000 will be donated by Chevy to Roberto Clemente Sports City, a not-for-profit organization in Carolina, Puerto Rico, designed to provide recreational sports activities for children.