In this review, the Summer Olympic’s wrap up with many local athletes winning medals. The Cincinnati Reds spend the weekend pummeling the Pittsburgh Pirates. While FC Cincinnati parts ways with their General Manager.

Olympic wrap up

The journey home is on for Team USA. After the Summer Olympics wrapped up Sunday in Tokyo. The United States wrapped up the games with a gold medal surge. Surpassing China for the lead in gold medals by one. The U.S. is the only nation to win over 100 overall medals in these games.

University of Cincinnati alumnus Jordan Thompson and the U.S. Women’s Volleyball team played a key role in the Sunday surge. Sweeping Brazil in three sets to win the gold medal. Thompson is one of several athletes with local connections wrapping up the Olympics with a medal. She suited up for Team USA’s games last week but didn’t play. After an ankle injury during group play on July 30^th. The injury disrupted a phenomenal premiere for Thompson. Likely to be a key player for Team USA going forward.

Thompson is one of three to leave Tokyo with gold. UC alum Vanessa Gilles is part of Canada’s first gold medal winning women’s soccer team. Beating Sweden in the Gold Medal Match last Friday through a penalty shootout. Winning the shootout 3-2 after a 1-1 tie going into it. Canada advanced to the Gold Medal Match with a 1-0 win over Team USA last Monday. Cincinnati native Rose Lavelle and the U.S. Women’s Soccer team won bronze. Through their 4-3 win over Australia in last Thursday’s Bronze Medal Match.

Zach Apple is the other local gold medalist. Winning gold in 4×100 meter swimming relays. In men’s featherweight boxing, Cincinnatian Duke Ragan won a silver medal. Former Cincinnati Reds player Todd Frazier and Reds prospect Mark Kolozsvary won silver too. As part of Team USA’s baseball team; which lost to hosts Japan in the gold medal game.

Now the international spotlight turns towards this month’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo. The games will begin on August 24^th and conclude September 5^th. There will be several athletes with local connections in the Paralympics. Cincy Sports Journal will have coverage of how those athletes fare later this month.

Cincinnati Reds: routs, reunions and a remembrance

The Cincinnati Reds began last week splitting a series against the Minnesota Twins. Losing game one last Tuesday in another rocky night for the bullpen. As a 5-4 lead collapsed into a 7-5 loss in the ninth. Cincinnati fended off an attempted Minnesota comeback last Wednesday. Winning 6-5 after a Twins four-run rally in the eighth.

Cincinnati then went on to do exactly what they needed to do against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sweep the National League Central’s last place team in four games. Cincinnati won the first three games by large margins. After their 7-4 win on Thursday, The Reds shutout Pittsburgh 10-0 last Friday. In Mike Moustakas’ return from a lengthy stint on the injured list. Cincinnati scored seven runs in the bottom of the first. A rally started by a bases loaded two run double by Moustakas.

Last Saturday, the Reds officially clinched the series with an 11-3 drubbing. The closest game of the series came in last Sunday’s finale. Cincinnati completed the sweep with a 3-2 win. On the same day the Reds paid tribute to the late Joe Morgan. With a nod to his uniform number eight on August 8^th.

The Reds will make up a Mother’s Day washout against the Cleveland Indians (soon to be Guardians) today. First pitch in Cleveland is set for 6:40 PM Eastern. Cincinnati will face the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta Tuesday-Thursday. Tuesday and Wednesday’s games are set to start at 7:20 PM Eastern. Thursday’s finale is set to start at 5:10 PM Eastern. The Reds will wrap up this week on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies. Playing Friday at 7:05 PM, Saturday at 4:05 PM and Sunday at 1:05 PM Eastern.

FC Cincinnati: ties, transfers and Nijkamp’s departure

It was a rinse and repeat kind of week for FC Cincinnati on the pitch. Starting with a scoreless tie on the road against the New York Red Bulls last Wednesday. Followed up by a 1-1 home draw against Orlando City last Saturday. Marking FC Cincy’s fourth tie in their last five matches. Leaving Cincinnati still in search of their first win at TQL Stadium.

FC Cincy is the only Major League Soccer team without a home win this season. FCC got on the board first with a goal from Brenner in the 42^nd minute. As has been the case so often this season, the lead slipped away. This time through Nani’s decisive equalizer in the 56^th minute. FCC’s next match is August 18^th, hosting Montreal CF at 7:30 PM Eastern on WSTR-TV 64.

Off of the pitch, FC Cincinnati parted ways with general manager Gerard Nijkamp last Friday. Wrapping up a two year stint in that role. Nijkamp helped to guide FCC through much of it’s first two and a half MLS seasons. The club made significant signings and opened their new stadium during his time as GM. Wins have been elusive during Nijkamp’s GM stint. With back-to-back last place seasons and a 3-7-7 record this season.

Nijkamp’s departure came a day after the close of MLS’ summer transfer window. Cincinnati signed defender Tyler Blackett from England’s Nottingham Forest in a free transfer. FCC also acquired midfielder Florian Valot through a trade with the Red Bulls. In exchange, New York is getting $50,000 in General Allocation Money.

Cincinnati Bengals prep for preseason opener

The first full week of Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp is complete. In the college ranks, Cincinnati Football began their training camp last week. Making the annual trip to Camp Higher Ground in West Harrison, IN. The Bengals are preparing for their preseason debut this weekend. In their first preseason exhibition in nearly two years. The Bengals will face the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday. The exhibition in Tampa is set to start at 7:30 PM Eastern.

According to Bengals Wire reporter Chris Roling, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow wont play on Saturday. While running back Joe Mixon is expected to play. Arguably Cincinnati’s best play-makers on the current roster. Burrow and Mixon are recovering from injuries that disrupted their 2020 season.