In this Memorial Day edition of the Weekly Review; FC Cincinnati hires their next head coach. Noteworthy developments for two Cincinnati area sports venues. Plus, remembering two sports legends with Kentucky connections.

FC Cincinnati hires Jaap Stam to be new head coach

FC Cincinnati revealed what was becoming their worst kept secret last week. Hiring Jaap Stam as their new head coach last Thursday. Recent statements suggested Stam was on the fast track to being hired. With FC Cincinnati president Jeff Berding stating that Stam was their top candidate days earlier. Wrapping up a coaching search that lasted roughly three months.

Stam was most famously a defender for Manchester United and the Netherlands national team. He also played for Serie A stalwarts Lazio and AC Milan. Along with PSV Eindhoven and Ajax in his native Netherlands. His managerial experience includes 98 matches with English club Reading. Along with stints with two top tier Dutch clubs. Managing PEC Zwolle for 17 matches and Feyenoord for 18. Both of those managerial stints were within the last two years.

The announcement of Stam’s hiring featured a blooper that became fodder for rivals. Through FCC using the wrong photo in their tweet announcing Stam’s hiring. Instead of using a photo of Stam; FCC used a photo of Ajax youth coach Tinus van Teunerbroek. The club corrected the error with a subsequent tweet. Rivals pounced on the club’s error through subsequent tweets. Welcoming Stam to Cincinnati with photos of several famous bald men. Including among others, Vin Diesel, Pitbull and Bruce Willis.

Horse Racing returns to Belterra Park in June

Horse Racing is set to resume at Cincinnati’s Belterra Park in June. The Anderson Township racetrack will resume racing on June 4th. Similar to other tracks, racing will resume with no spectators. Racing resumed at Louisville’s Churchill Downs on May 16th. Last week, the new date for this year’s Belmont Stakes was announced. That race will be the first Triple Crown race of the year on June 20th. Instead of their traditional position as the last triple crown race.

GABP to serve as an antiviral testing site

Great American Ball Park will soon buzz with activity. Not for a Cincinnati Reds game but as an antiviral testing site. According to a report by WXIX-TV, GABP will be used to test an “aerosol viricide” meant to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The antiviral was developed by Grignard Company to neutralize COVID-19 in the air. Reportedly already tested by an independent lab; the spray would be deployed through GABP’s HVAC system or through a haze/fog machine.

This will not be the first time GABP is used as a testing ground beyond baseball. GABP has been used in recent years for disaster drills. Meanwhile, negotiations continue to have MLB’s season potentially start in July. The most recent proposal would have teams playing a more regionalized schedule. With the Reds potentially playing just divisional opponents and American League Central opponents.

The proposal also calls for a universal designated hitter, expanded postseason field and rosters. Plus, a 50/50 revenue split between the owners and players. The revenue split and safety concerns are likely to be the big hurdle to clear. In negotiations between MLB and the MLB Players Association. Unlike some previous proposals, this leaves the possibility of a Reds game at GABP open.

Remembering two sports legends with Kentucky connections

On this Memorial Day, a private funeral service for Phyllis George will take place. She died at age 70 on May 14th in Lexington, Kentucky. After a long fight with a blood disorder. George was a former Miss America and First Lady of Kentucky. She was also a pioneering sports broadcaster. Joining the cast of CBS’ “The NFL Today” in 1975. At a time when there were few female sports broadcasters and journalists.

Meanwhile, former Kentucky Basketball coach Eddie Sutton passed away this past Saturday. Passing away at his home in South Tulsa, Oklahoma at age 84. He’s most closely associated with his successful tenure coaching Oklahoma State Basketball from 1990-2006. While his tenure with Kentucky in the 1980’s was memorable for unsavory reasons. Resigning after four years during an NCAA investigation into UK’s basketball program. Prompted by allegations that a UK assistant improperly paid a recruit’s father. The investigation resulted in a two-year postseason ban for Kentucky.

Sutton maintained his innocence in the matter. Scandal aside, Sutton had a historic coaching career with various schools. Being the first coach to lead four different teams to the Final Four. Several weeks ago, Sutton was announced as an 2020 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He and Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant will be inducted posthumously in August.