Time to Sell or Stick it Out?
Ben likes a good deal…And it may be time for the Reds to think about selling, instead of buying, down the pennant stretch. It’s always a tough decision, because a fire sale basically means the team is throwing in the 2024 towel—with two months of ticket sales on the line. Buying shows that you’re heart is still in it, if not your team. Since the adrenaline spike of the Yankees sweep, the Reds have gone 5-8 in 13 games against four teams with losing records and have slid back into the cellar. The July 30 trade deadline is the day of reckoning for so many teams—Reds included. Who might be out there for the trading? Jonathan India, who avoided arbitration by signing a two-year contract right before the season, has been brought up more than once for trade bait. How the Reds do the next week will tell the tale.
“This one time, at Bengals camp…”
The boys are back in town, and Coach Taylor says Joey B is full go for contact heading into camp. As he heads into his fifth season in Cincinnati, Coach Taylor says Burrow may see preseason action for one of the few times in his career. (preseason 2020 canceled by pandemic, 2021 by ACL recovery—only three snaps--2022 by appendicitis, 2023 by calf strain) And of course, he missed the second half of the season with the wrist injury. New haircut, new season, new opportunity for Burrow and the boys to look at another Super Bowl run.
FC Cincinnati in unchartered territory
And it’s not good. This weekend’s loss to the Red Bulls gives the Orange and Blue a three-march losing streak, the first since Pat Noonan became coach and the first for the club in three seasons. The skid puts FC Cincinnati in third place in the Supporters’ Shield race, after leading earlier in the week. The All-Star break comes at a good time this week, as the team was shorthanded by injury, red cards and international play, plus it’s Leagues Cup time as the MLS and Mexico’s top teams compete in this in-season tournament. FC won’t see MLS play again for a month.
Ben’s Best Bet
The Olympics start at the end of this week in Paris, and Saturday is the first day for many competitions, including men’s basketball. Yes, Team USA almost lost to South Sudan and had a close call this week in a warmup against Germany, but as Allen Iverson said, “Practice? Not a game. We’re talking about practice.” When the games start to count, expect the LeBron-led Team USA to show up and show out. He’s the flag bearer for the USA at opening ceremonies, for heaven’s sake, so he has lots to play for. USA Basketball for gold, men and women.