Goodbye Paris, Hello LA: Reds Fight On & Cincinnati Open Shines
The Key for the week of August 12, 2024
Au Revoir, Paris!
The Olympics wraps up with 126 medals for the US, 40 of them gold, and quite a closing ceremony show that will be a tough act to follow in Los Angeles four years from now. (who came up with the floating piano?) Tom Cruise’s rappelling arrival to escort the Olympic flag to LA sets the tone for what we’ll likely see in the 2028 Games—celebs, Hollywood, special effects. New/returning sports we’ll be seeing at LA28 include baseball/softball, lacrosse, cricket, flag football and squash. But Olympic boxing, which dozens of boxers, including then-Cassius Clay, used as a springboard to their pro careers, has not been confirmed yet as part of the Games in 2028. Breaking (break dancing) is the only sport so far definitely not coming back.
So you say there’s a chance?
After a 4-3 road swing (thank you, Miami) the Reds are home for a Missouri double—St. Louis first, then Kansas City for the weekend. The Reds are fractionally staying out of the Central cellar, 4 and a half games back in the wild card race (thank you, Pittsburgh). Right now, four teams are ahead of the Reds for the last wild card spot, including the aforementioned Cardinals, along with the division foe Cubs. Yes, there’s still a chance at the post season, but there’s a lot of ground to make up and a lot of teams to hop over to make it.
Cincinnati Open brings out the stars
It has always been a see-and-be-seen event for Greater Cincinnati, but this year the ATP-WTA stop in Mason, Ohio is more important than ever. More than 100 Olympians, including more than 20 medalists, will have to shake off the red clay of Roland Garros and get used to the feel of hardcourt surfaces quickly. Usually, right after Wimbledon, the pros will play hardcourt from June on, to prepare for the US Open but this year, the top players returned to clay for the Olympics so Cincinnati is the last big test before Flushing Meadows. Minus Novak Djokovic, who won gold in Paris but withdrew from Cincinnati, the top ranked players, including defending women’s champion Coco Gauf, will be back in Mason, where selected seats now are air conditioned(!). Go out and see the world’s best, right in our own back yard.
Ben’s Best Bet
With Djokovic not in town, don’t be surprised if Carlos Alcaraz storms through the field to take the Cincinnati Open crown. Jannik Sinner is top seed, Alcaraz the #2. Sinner is the reigning Australian Open champion, but Alcaraz holds this year’s other two major titles, the French and Wimbledon. And Alcaraz is battle tested against the best, including Djokovic. Bet MGM likes Alcaraz to get ready for the US Open by winning at Cincinnati.