The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 21

the Cincinnati enquirer TEMPO Tomorrow: Statement ties '90s neckties carry messages that let guys tell the world: "Hey, this is me!" Section Television 3 Comics 4 Puzzles 5 Editor: Sara Pearce, 768-8495 Monday June 5, 1995 BY JOHN KIESEWETTER The Cincinnati Enquirer IS HERE'S fa Vs i i f'' ike many of us, Chris Welsh grew up listening to Cincinnati Reds games on a tiny transistor radio under his pillow. Never did that Kenwood kid imagine sitting in front of a microphone describing the action for Reds fans. Before 1 "I had no aspirations of doing this while I was going to bed listening to Reds games," says Welsh, Reds analyst for WLWT (Channel 5) and SportsChannel Cincinnati. "I always wanted to be a ballplayer, to be on the field," says Welsh, a former St. Xavier High School pitcher who played five seasons for the Reds, San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos and Texas Rangers.

Like many of us, Welsh was raised in a home where Reds games were the summer soundtrack. "We listened to the game because it was the game. Home games, away games, it didn't matter," says Welsh as he relaxed recently in his childhood home, about a long fly ball from Moeller High School. Welsh, 40, sees a lot of his parents these days. He stays at their house when in town for Reds telecasts.

"I never thought I'd 1 ft 1 Young left-hander Chris Welsh happy to be home as Reds TV analyst After A mite tight? Jeans claim bottom boost LOOKING TO THE STARS: A new poster, 250 Fears of Astronomy in Cincinnati, celebrates the anniversary of the first professionally operated observatory in the United States. The Cincinnati Observatory opened on Mount Adams in 1845. It moved to its present location in Mount Lookout in 1873, and is now operated by the University of Cincinnati. The poster, illustrated and designed by Enquirer artist Rob Schuster, features a variety of astronomically significant people, places and things against a celestial background. Included: Ormsby MacK-night Mitchel, who founded the Cincinnati Astronomical Society in 1842 and pushed for the observatory's construction.

Posters, $6, will be available beginning Friday at the UC Bookstore, the museum shops in Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, the Cincinnati Planetarium and frame and art shops. They can be ordered by mail (add $3.50 postage and handling) by writing Larry Paul, 8852 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati 45236. Proceeds benefit the UC Observatory, the Cincinnati Astronomical Society and the Cincin- nati Planetarium. "I know that Cincinnati Reds baseball fans are knowledgeable. They read the paper and know what's going on.

If I only repeat what's in the paper, I won't be around long, Chris Welsh have a job after baseball that I enjoyed as much as playing. This is such a good job that I pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. "It's so enjoyable because it's for the Reds in Cincinnati. I never enjoyed pitching as much as I did for the Reds," he says. Single season Not that many remember his single season as a Reds' left-handed pitcher, except for his inclusion in a trivia question.

(Q: Who were the six Cincinnati natives on the 1986 Reds? Pete Rose, Barry Larkin, Buddy Bell, Ron Oester, Dave Chris Welsh jotin jonnston jL, Career highlights: Shut out the Reds as a Padres rookie in 1981 "I was more thrilled about being on Joe Nuxhall's Star of the Game than pitching a shutout against the Reds," he says. Hit only big-league home run pitching for the Reds in Philadelphia during a 1 986 Channel 5 telecast. That was my finest night as a Cincinnati Red," he says. Broadcasting: Was doing University of South Florida games on SportsChannel Florida when hired by WLWT in 1 993 to replace analyst Gordy Coleman. Nicknames: Teammates often called him by variations of his last name, combined with the words "jelly" or "juice." Was dubbed The Creeper" by TV partner Marty Brenna-man "as an affectionate name related to the speed of my fastball," Welsh says.

Born: April 14, 1955, in Wilmington, Del. Moved with his family to Kenwood in 1961. Education: Attended All Saints School in Kenwood, St. Xavier High School (Class of 73) in Finneytown and University of South Florida (Class of 77) in Tampa. Residence: Lives in Bradenton, with his wife, Debbie, and three children: Carrie, Erin, and Daniel, 4.

They're expecting a fourth child in November. Baseball career: Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1 977. Won 22 and lost 31 games in five seasons with the San Diego Padres (1981-83), Montreal Expos (1983), Texas Rangers (1985) and Cincinnati Reds (1986). "I won 20 games it just took me five years," he says. Parker and Chris Welsh.) Welsh won only six games and lost nine for the Reds.

He was cut that winter and never pitched again in the big leagues. So he returned to his home in Bradenton, and put his marketing degree to work. But soon he drifted back to the game as a SportsChannel Florida baseball analyst for his alma mater, the University of South Florida. That's where he was when his father sent him a 1993 Enquirer clipping saying that Channel 5 needed a Reds TV analyst. "I didn't think I was qualified to be a color analyst because I wasn't a Hall of Fame-type player.

Why would they hire Chris Welsh when they could get Johnny Bench or Joe Morgan? I didn't think it was even a possibility," he says. He called someone at Channel 5, who invited him to send a videotape. So Welsh sat down on his couch, turned on his video camera, and introduced some SportsChannel excerpts. (Please see WELSH, Page C2) BY REON CARTER The Cincinnati Enquirer Bottoms up! That's what denim manufacturer Sun Apparel Inc. is promising with the introduction of MiracleBoost jeans.

Part of the company's Code Bleu line, MiracleBoost jeans are made from a cotton-spandex blend that manufacturers say will do for the butt what the Wonderbra did for the bust pump it up. The jeans, due in stores in late July, are supposed to define and lift sagging buttocks comfortably as much as an inch. Says Clare Tassone, Sun's director of merchandising: "MiracleBoost's unique properties re-engineer each woman's figure individually. For most women, the experience of buying a pair of flattering jeans is frustrating. Jeans are notorious for flattening and widening our bottoms." Fair comparison? After analyzing the "before" and "after" photos distributed by the manufacturer, however, consumers aren't advised to ditch their Buns of Steel videos just yet (We requested an advance pair of the MiracleBoost jeans for closer inspection, but the company declined.) In the before photo, the model is wearing a pair of classic cut Code Bleu jeans noticeably loose, as many classic cuts are.

Even the most bodacious buns can appear nonexistent in baggy, air-filled pants. The after photo features the MiracleBoost a slim, hip-hugging cut that resembles the painted-on styles that were popular circa 1980. (Think old Gloria Van-derbilt, Sergio Valente and Chic). The model's derriere appears a tad more shapely because the jeans are tighter. A more valid comparison would be between the MiracleBoost and another pair of snug-fitting jeans, such as Levi's 512s.

And why not show both "before" and "after" photographs shot from the side? That's the true test of the jeans' uplifting qualities. Those whose rear ends dive toward the pavement or blend into their lower back and upper thigh without the slightest detour can attest that the side view is the ego crusher. We took the before and after MiracleBoost photos to the woman and man on the street to see what they think. (A Sun Apparel spokesperson says the company is tossing around the idea of a man's version). Donna Miller of Greenhills wouldn't be interested in buying the behind is big enough," she says.

"I wouldn't want to wear anything that's going to draw more attention to it." Stacey Hamilton of Clifton also would steer clear. "They don't look comfortable to me," she says. "They look kinda' tight They remind me of my first pair of Calvin Kleins. I couldn't breathe when I wore them." Antonio Davis of Avondale says: Tight jeans on a guy aren't masculine, but I prefer anything fitted over baggy on a woman." The jeans, $40 a pair, will be available at the Lazarus Kenwood and Tri-County stores in a variety of sizes (1 and up), denim finishes and colors. RECUMBENT CYCLING: Three years ago, Kathie Skewis was an avid biker who nonetheless experienced back and neck pain from riding a 10-speed bicycle.

From her own scribblings and drawings on a napkin came ReBike, a recumbent bicycle that provides a padded seat and a padded back support for exercise, running errands, pleasure biking and fun. The seat slides along the frame to adjust to riders of all sizes from children to 6-foot adults. Skewis, 45, of Florida, is the patent holder of ReBike and says the bike allows riders to sit comfortably while getting exercise. "Besides working your body the way it's supposed to, it's a lot of fun to ride," she says. ReBike 2600 has a 26-inch rear wheel and 18 speeds.

ReBike 818 has a 20-inch rear wheel and 18 speeds. Because it sits low to the ground, ReBike allows the operator's feet to touch the ground in a stopped position. There's also a three-wheeled version called ReTrike. ReBike products are available at Valley Cyclery, 8128 Vine St, Hartwell. Suggested price is $450 and up.

Sue MacDonald Photos by Michael E. KeatingThe Cincinnati Enquirer Chris Welsh publishes a newsletter for college and high school coaches, The Thinking Pitcher. He writes on his laptop computer, here at his parents' home in Kenwood, while he's on the road with the Reds. Send items to Scoop, The Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm Cincinnati 45202; fax, 768-8330. Games at Borders Borders Books Music has Game Night, a twice-a-month do for players who love a good game.

Tonight is for Scrabble players; Borders provides game boards and opponents. All you bring is yourself. 7 p.m. Free. 11711 Princeton Pike.

671-5852. Cheapo plants Krohn Conservatory sells off plants from its Taste of Krohn show dirt cheap at its end-of-show sale. On the block are plants (lilies, exacum, coleus, caladium) and shrubs (purple leaf plum, dogwood, lilac). 10 a.m. Krohn, Eden Park.

Free. 421-5707. Large-scale art Contemporary Arts Center continues its show of large paintings by David Humphrey (through June 25) and electronic art by Bill Viola (through June 1 8). 1 0 a.m.-6 p.m. daily except 1-5 p.m.

Sundays. $2, $1 kids; free Mondays. 115 E. Fifth St. 721-0390.

From the garden Civic Garden Center shows off one of Cincinnati's best-kept secrets neighborhood gardens and the role they play in reclaiming land in a display at Kenwood Towne Centre. Daily during mall hours through June 1 8. Kenwood and Montgomery roads. 891-2139. iftl ii ifWt rfi tKt trfi rfl tf ti i fl fi r1 iT ffi At 1 rff ffnlff iffi irf iflt 1t1i rUmrt iffirtffirflTnilffff 0, it Jf it, it it ltt ff 4 SkM A iJfc A rfffff iff ff 4ft 4 iff rtiift! rlfT rf iftTiiiT riTa1 ff rfrilfirr-flirJnrif.