> With the Ohio State-Southern California game a little more than a
> month away, the former U.S.C. quarterback Carson Palmer isn’t holding
> back. The only problem is he currently plays for Cincinnati, where
> many Bengals fans also root for the Buckeyes.

> In an interview Thursday with the Los Angeles radio station KLAC,
> Palmer said when asked about the Sept. 13 game: “I cannot stand the
> Buckeyes and having to live in Ohio and hear those people talk about
> their team, it drives me absolutely nuts.

> “It’s amazing to hear what those guys think about that university and
> what they think about that football program and Tressel and all the
> crap I got to put up with being back there.”

> Palmer said he hoped to attend the U.S.C.-Ohio State game when the
> Trojans come to Columbus in 2009. In the meantime, he predicted a big
> victory this season.

> “I just can’t wait for this game to get here so they can come to the
> Coliseum and experience L.A. and get an old fashioned, Pac 10 butt-
> whooping and go back to the Big Ten,” he said.

> Feeling the heat on talk radio shows in Ohio and on fan message
> boards, Palmer released this statement Tuesday on the Bengals’ Web
> site: “I’m a Trojan all the way, and I was talking to a Trojan
> audience in California. I guess I got a little fired up, as all good
> fans will do.

> “But I really do respect the Buckeyes, and I know their fans are
> passionate, too. I hope they all understand I’m just looking forward
> to a big game for my school against a very tough opponent, and that
> it’s all in the good fun of a rivalry. You don’t have a real rivalry
> unless both sides are great teams.”

> Still some fans may be wondering what’s next for Palmer, perhaps a
> Mets hat at a Reds game?