Despite Miami team’s recent championship series appearances. Cincinnati could be considered the happier city sports-wise.

One would figure with Miami being home to two teams simultaneously contending for major league championships. Along with attracting global soccer star Lionel Messi to Inter Miami. That Miami would be considered the happiest place in American sports. However, Miami looked from afar like a miserable place to be this week. For reasons relating and not relating to sports.

Miami is matching the recent championship futility that Philadelphia recently endured. The Miami Heat lost to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals. In a five-game series that concluded on Monday. A day later, the Florida Panthers lost the fifth and deciding game of the Stanley Cup Final in a rout. In retrospect, it’s amazing the Heat and Panthers didn’t get swept despite their title-worthy rosters.

Miami adds to Florida’s overall sports success in recent months. Florida State Softball lost to powerhouse Oklahoma in the Women’s College World Series earlier this month. Miami and Florida Atlantic’s men’s basketball teams advanced to the NCAA D-I Final Four. All of Florida’s National Football League teams made it to the playoffs. Yet, this is where things turn to Cincinnati. 

The Cincinnati Bengals advanced further than any Florida team in this year’s NFL Playoffs. The Bengals are poised to continue contending next season. Meanwhile, FC Cincinnati is contending for two titles. The team leads Major League Soccer and have qualified for August’s U.S. Open Cup Semifinals. Cincinnati is a rather fun place to be sports-wise this month. With FC Cincinnati winning their U.S.O.C quarterfinal match last Tuesday. The same night Cincinnati Reds rookie sensation Elly De La Cruz made his Major League Baseball debut.

De La Cruz is helping make the Cincinnati Reds baseball’s most compelling team currently under .500. The Reds could wrap up their road trip above .500. As they face the defending world champion Houston Astros this weekend. De La Cruz is making an interesting as a write-in candidate for next month’s MLB All-Star Game. Reds outfielder Stuart Fairchild is also making a strong write-in case. To participate in the All-Star Game being hosted by his native Seattle. Rookie Matt McLain leads the team in All-Star voting.

Amid a stretch where the Reds have won eight of their last ten games. Reds players have recently dubbed themselves “America’s Team.” While some might find the Reds claiming the America’s Team moniker ridiculous. It’s worth noting that the Dallas Cowboys have clung to that moniker for decades. Despite not playing in a Super Bowl since the 1990’s. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins are in second place in their division. One wonders if many in Miami have even noticed.

In golf, Florida is set to deal with the aftermath of a seismic shift. After the PGA Tour announced plans to merge with the controversial LIV Golf Tour. The PGA Tour’s headquarters are in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. PGA Tour executives there and elsewhere will have much to sort through. From regaining the trust of those who feel betrayed by this merger. To sorting out how the PGA, LIV and DP World Tour’s will operate in the future. Including broadcasting rights and how much control Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will have.

Venues for future tour events are another question. Former President Donald Trump’s Doral Golf Club hosted a LIV Tour event last year. After the PGA Tour stumbled their way into a public relations rut. I doubt a Trump hosted tour event will help the PGA Tour climb out of that rut. Doral and other events didn’t bring viewers in droves to LIV Tour broadcasts. Plus, that event came months before Trump became the first former president to be federally indicted. Trump’s indictment unfolded in Miami on Tuesday; in between the Heat and Panther’s season-ending defeats.

That indictment and other political developments have put Florida in the national spotlight. Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Miami’s Mayor Francis Suarez are running for President. Meaning three Florida residents are vying for the presidency in the same year. If a Florida dog catcher announces their presidential candidacy. I wouldn’t be surprised at this rate.

Florida’s politics make the state look miserable from afar. Gov. DeSantis has made a name for himself as a culture warrior. He’s seemingly eager to guide Florida into banning anything with a rainbow in it. Ironic for a hurricane prone place nicknamed the sunshine state. The cross-section of Florida’s politics and its success in sports. Could put Florida’s numerous sports stars in uncomfortable positions. Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s sports stars are able to lead their lives without facing Florida-level wackiness.

So, while the Reds would love to have the Tampa Bay Ray’s MLB-leading record. The Reds and other Cincinnati sports teams can delight in Cincinnati’s comparatively chill vibes.