Brett Ludwiczak
Guest
You’re Nuts: What is getting you through the summer until Ohio State football returns?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
On Saturday we saw Ohio State wrap up their spring practices with the annual spring game. Now comes a lull in the athletic calendar. No disrespect to baseball, softball, and all the other spring sports but they don’t move the needle in terms of attention compared to football and basketball. With not as much attention being paid to Ohio State sports from mid-April till mid-August, it gives Buckeye fans a chance to step away a bit and recharge their batteries.
Today we want to know what is going to get you through the spring & summer until Ohio State football starts back up. Luckily here in Columbus, there are plenty of sporting events on the schedule over the next few months. Not only is there The Memorial Tournament up at Muirfield in June, but there will be plenty of Columbus Crew matches, as well as the MLS All-Star Game. Also, we can’t forget about the Columbus Clippers and some of their famous dime-a-dog nights. Elsewhere around Ohio, there are Reds and Guardians games, SummerSlam in Cleveland in early August, and professional tennis tournaments down near Cincinnati.
For some people, the best way to get ready for the football season is to step away from sports fandom completely. For those people, the best way to unwind might be traveling, going to music concerts and festivals, or just spending time with friends and family. Everybody has their own interests and likes, so there is no wrong answer when it comes to how you spend your time outside of being an Ohio State sports fan.
This summer is going to be huge for soccer in Columbus. Not only are the Columbus Crew the defending MLS champs, but they’ll be hosting the MLS All-Star Game against the Liga MX All-Stars in July, as well as a friendly against English Premier League side Aston Villa shortly after. While tickets for the MLS All-Star Game likely won’t come cheap, those in attendance will have a chance to see some of the best players in the MLS and Liga MX in Mexico.
Since I’m a Chelsea FC supporter, what I’m looking forward to most this summer is the friendly between Manchester City and Chelsea at Ohio Stadium. I was there a decade ago when PSG and Real Madrid played at The Horseshoe and I wasn’t even a fan of either squad, I was just happy to see soccer being played at the iconic venue. In a perfect world, Ohio Stadium would be a host site for the World Cup in 2026 but I know that isn’t a possibility because the field isn’t quite big enough to accommodate a soccer pitch. The requirements aren’t quite as strict for a soccer friendly. Really the big clubs on tours of the United States before their domestic seasons begin are just looking for venues where they can bring in the most fans.
When it comes to Chelsea, over the last few years the club hasn’t been as strong as they had been over the last 20 years. There has been a change in ownership, along with a number of managers that have failed to produce. I’m sure nobody is going to feel sorry for me because of the way Chelsea has spent money in the past. Honestly, I became a Chelsea fan while drunkenly playing FIFA with friends during my teenage years. This was back when the Premier League was rarely on television in the United States. Now you can see every game on NBC, USA, or Peacock.
I’m not only excited to see Cole Palmer and the rest of the Chelsea players, I’m also pumped to see all the stars Manchester City has on their roster. It’s not often when teams stocked with world-class players come to Columbus, so I’ll take every advantage I can to see them when they do. Plus, while we won’t see both squads playing their most popular players for a full 90 minutes since they are building towards the start of the season a few weeks later, we should at least see them for a decent amount of time on the pitch. It should be a great night under the lights in early August at Ohio Stadium!
My Ohio State fandom is inextricably tied to the fact that I grew up as the son of two Ohio State alums. Long before I became an Ohio State student, there was no doubt that I would bleed scarlet and gray for the entirety of my life. However, during the summer months, that scarlet blood does warm up a little bit and turns are particularly attractive shade of red.
Even though both of my parents were raised in Central Ohio, they came of age in the era of the Big Red Machine, so just as I was taught to root for the Buckeyes from birth, my love of the Cincinnati Reds was also part and parcel with being a member of my family. So, as the football offseason is now officially upon us, it is time for me to turn at least one eye toward the happenings at Great American Ballpark.
Despite getting swept by the Seattle Mariners earlier this week, the Reds are currently just 2.5 games out of first place in the NL Central, perhaps the most competitive division in all of baseball. They are also 1.5 games out of one of the NL Wild Card spots. Of course, it is only April, so those standings don’t mean anything, but after the excitement generated by the Rally Reds in 2023, the start to the 2024 season has been gratifying.
Led by guys like Elly De La Cruz, Jonathan India, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Spencer Steer, Hunter Green, Alexis Díaz, and more, the youth on the team means that there will continue to be some growing pains — as evidenced by the trip to the Pacific Northwest — but they are incredibly competitive and resilient.
I always used to say that all I cared about was the Reds staying in the hunt until August when the Buckeyes’ fall camp started, and then everything that they did in the final months of the season was a bonus. But I’m starting to think differently about this team. With the expanded Wild Card situation and all of the young talent, I really think that this team can make some noise in the postseason, so I’m hoping to have to split my sports attention between the Reds and the Buckeyes deep into the fall.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
On Saturday we saw Ohio State wrap up their spring practices with the annual spring game. Now comes a lull in the athletic calendar. No disrespect to baseball, softball, and all the other spring sports but they don’t move the needle in terms of attention compared to football and basketball. With not as much attention being paid to Ohio State sports from mid-April till mid-August, it gives Buckeye fans a chance to step away a bit and recharge their batteries.
Today we want to know what is going to get you through the spring & summer until Ohio State football starts back up. Luckily here in Columbus, there are plenty of sporting events on the schedule over the next few months. Not only is there The Memorial Tournament up at Muirfield in June, but there will be plenty of Columbus Crew matches, as well as the MLS All-Star Game. Also, we can’t forget about the Columbus Clippers and some of their famous dime-a-dog nights. Elsewhere around Ohio, there are Reds and Guardians games, SummerSlam in Cleveland in early August, and professional tennis tournaments down near Cincinnati.
For some people, the best way to get ready for the football season is to step away from sports fandom completely. For those people, the best way to unwind might be traveling, going to music concerts and festivals, or just spending time with friends and family. Everybody has their own interests and likes, so there is no wrong answer when it comes to how you spend your time outside of being an Ohio State sports fan.
Today’s question: What is going to get you through the summer until Ohio State football returns in August?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: The Manchester City/Chelsea friendly at Ohio Stadium
This summer is going to be huge for soccer in Columbus. Not only are the Columbus Crew the defending MLS champs, but they’ll be hosting the MLS All-Star Game against the Liga MX All-Stars in July, as well as a friendly against English Premier League side Aston Villa shortly after. While tickets for the MLS All-Star Game likely won’t come cheap, those in attendance will have a chance to see some of the best players in the MLS and Liga MX in Mexico.
Since I’m a Chelsea FC supporter, what I’m looking forward to most this summer is the friendly between Manchester City and Chelsea at Ohio Stadium. I was there a decade ago when PSG and Real Madrid played at The Horseshoe and I wasn’t even a fan of either squad, I was just happy to see soccer being played at the iconic venue. In a perfect world, Ohio Stadium would be a host site for the World Cup in 2026 but I know that isn’t a possibility because the field isn’t quite big enough to accommodate a soccer pitch. The requirements aren’t quite as strict for a soccer friendly. Really the big clubs on tours of the United States before their domestic seasons begin are just looking for venues where they can bring in the most fans.
When it comes to Chelsea, over the last few years the club hasn’t been as strong as they had been over the last 20 years. There has been a change in ownership, along with a number of managers that have failed to produce. I’m sure nobody is going to feel sorry for me because of the way Chelsea has spent money in the past. Honestly, I became a Chelsea fan while drunkenly playing FIFA with friends during my teenage years. This was back when the Premier League was rarely on television in the United States. Now you can see every game on NBC, USA, or Peacock.
I’m not only excited to see Cole Palmer and the rest of the Chelsea players, I’m also pumped to see all the stars Manchester City has on their roster. It’s not often when teams stocked with world-class players come to Columbus, so I’ll take every advantage I can to see them when they do. Plus, while we won’t see both squads playing their most popular players for a full 90 minutes since they are building towards the start of the season a few weeks later, we should at least see them for a decent amount of time on the pitch. It should be a great night under the lights in early August at Ohio Stadium!
Matt’s answer: The Cincinnati Reds
My Ohio State fandom is inextricably tied to the fact that I grew up as the son of two Ohio State alums. Long before I became an Ohio State student, there was no doubt that I would bleed scarlet and gray for the entirety of my life. However, during the summer months, that scarlet blood does warm up a little bit and turns are particularly attractive shade of red.
Even though both of my parents were raised in Central Ohio, they came of age in the era of the Big Red Machine, so just as I was taught to root for the Buckeyes from birth, my love of the Cincinnati Reds was also part and parcel with being a member of my family. So, as the football offseason is now officially upon us, it is time for me to turn at least one eye toward the happenings at Great American Ballpark.
Despite getting swept by the Seattle Mariners earlier this week, the Reds are currently just 2.5 games out of first place in the NL Central, perhaps the most competitive division in all of baseball. They are also 1.5 games out of one of the NL Wild Card spots. Of course, it is only April, so those standings don’t mean anything, but after the excitement generated by the Rally Reds in 2023, the start to the 2024 season has been gratifying.
Led by guys like Elly De La Cruz, Jonathan India, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Spencer Steer, Hunter Green, Alexis Díaz, and more, the youth on the team means that there will continue to be some growing pains — as evidenced by the trip to the Pacific Northwest — but they are incredibly competitive and resilient.
I always used to say that all I cared about was the Reds staying in the hunt until August when the Buckeyes’ fall camp started, and then everything that they did in the final months of the season was a bonus. But I’m starting to think differently about this team. With the expanded Wild Card situation and all of the young talent, I really think that this team can make some noise in the postseason, so I’m hoping to have to split my sports attention between the Reds and the Buckeyes deep into the fall.
Continue reading...