From championship games to a rookie hitting for the cycle. 2023 concludes as another big year on the Cincinnati sports beat. Providing many worthy contenders for Cincy Sports Journal’s Best and Worst in Show awards.

Best Athlete: Damar Hamlin

There were many deserving candidates for this award this year. FC Cincinnati star and MLS Most Valuable Player Luciano Acosta is one. Cincinnati Reds youngsters Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and Spencer Steer were also worthy contenders. Yet, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin wins this award. For reasons not relating to his on-field efforts.

Hamlin survived going into cardiac arrest during the Bengals January 2nd home game against the Bills. His survival became one of the best stories of the year. Shining a spotlight on heart health issues. Along with the importance of an AED device, which helped save Hamlin’s life. Hamlin himself has become an advocate for heart health. While finding many ways to showcase his gratitude to the medical staff that saved his life. Hamlin’s 2023 could be a textbook definition of positively turning pain into purpose.

On another positive note, along with Hamlin surviving, it was beautiful to see the outpouring of support for Hamlin from both teams and their fans. From vigils, to visits from teammates to donations to a charity Hamlin is involved with. Last January strengthened an already tight bond between Bills and Bengals fans. In a world that finds all kinds of ways to tear itself apart. It’s always nice to see people come together in a positive way.

Worst Athlete: Cincinnati Football quarterback Emory Jones

I’m hesitant to give this award to a college athlete. After all, they’re students not fully professional athletes. Yet given Emory Jones’ lackluster season in Cincinnati, I’m making an exception. Playing-wise, Jones’ Cincinnati tenure has been the opposite of awe inspiring. Jones was not helped by the fact that Cincinnati had quarterback alternatives they could’ve pursued.

Former Cincinnati QB Ben Bryant helped Northwestern Football through a difficult season. After Northwestern fired head coach Pat Fitzgerald amid a hazing scandal in July. Northwestern went on to have a winning season, to the surprise of many. Cincinnati also could’ve had Evan Prater as their quarterback. The 2021 Ohio Mr. Football was shifted to wide receiver this year. Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield should be thankful that Prater continues to stick with the Bearcats. In the transfer portal era, some in Prater’s situation would’ve transferred.

Best Coach or Management: Pat Noonan

After a spectacular first season as FC Cincinnati’s head coach last year. Leading the orange and blue to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time. Noonan and FC Cincinnati followed that up by winning MLS’s regular season title this year. The club advanced all the way to both the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup semifinals. Producing the best season to date in FC Cincinnati’s history.

Worst Coach or Management: the NFL’s handling of the Damar Hamlin situation

The NFL found several ways to stumble through their handling of the Damar Hamlin situation. From waiting a few hours to suspend the game. To the ultimately unnecessary scenario where a coin flip could’ve determined if the Bengals hosted a playoff game. Along with floating the idea of having a neutral site AFC Championship Game. The NFL seemed more concerned with figuring out how to carry on with business as usual. While one of the league’s players was fighting for his life as a shocked world watched. It was not a great look for a league with many health and safety concerns to address.

Best Game or Moment: Elly De La Cruz hits for the cycle

Cincinnati Reds infielder Elly De La Cruz drew several comparisons to Reds’ legend Eric Davis this year. From his hitting prowess to wearing No.44. In June, De La Cruz became the first Reds player since Davis to hit for the cycle. De La Cruz’s efforts in his cycle game helped extend one of the longest winning streaks in modern Reds history. That streak, De La Cruz’s arrival and the Reds being contenders this year rejuvenated interest in the Reds. After the team lost 100 games in 2022. The Reds went on to have a winning season this year.

Worst Game or Moment: the Cincinnati Bengals preseason strategy

The Cincinnati Bengals struggled through the early weeks of this season. A consequence of their preseason approach of resting many healthy starting players. Putting the Bengals in a position where they’ve spent this season having to catch up with the contenders. This is not a new concern, the Bengals had to do the same thing last year. Their early struggles this year are affecting their playoff hopes going into the final weeks of the regular season.

As Bengals QB Joe Burrow battled through a calf injury throughout the preseason and in September. The Bengals lost to the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Making the Bengals 0-2 overall and in divisional play. The Bengals didn’t help backup QB Jake Browning by resting starters in the preseason. Doing the opposite might’ve helped the Bengals’ playoff hopes.

After Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in November. Several national analysts quickly declared the Bengals season effectively over. While Browning and company endured a 16-10 loss to the Steelers in Week 12. The team ultimately rallied together in December, starting the month with a three-game winning streak. Reviving the Bengals playoffs hopes in the process. Several NFL teams, including the Bengals, have managed well with backup quarterbacks this year. Perhaps the Bengals would have a few more wins this season, if they helped Browning be more prepared.

Best Team: FC Cincinnati

The team was a few minutes away from advancing to the MLS Cup Final and U.S. Open Cup Final. Blundering leads late in the semifinals of both tournaments. While losing those games were rough for fans to watch or listen to. The fact that the team got as far as they did was phenomenal. Considering the team was stuck in the cellar two years ago. FC Cincinnati ultimately got to do something local sports fans have yearned for. Having a trophy presentation at home, through winning the Supporter’s Shield.

Worst Team: Cincinnati Bearcats Football

2023 will go down for now as the Bearcats worst season in this century. Going 3-9 overall and winning just one conference game. Marking a rough welcome to Cincinnati for head coach Scott Satterfield. Along with a rough welcome to the Big 12 Conference. Among the losses, Cincinnati lost to their Victory Bell rivals Miami (OH) for the first time since 2005.

While Miami went on to win the Mid-American Conference Championship. Cincinnati’s Victory Bell loss marked the start of a seven-game losing streak. During that streak Cincinnati would go from narrowly losing one week to being shellacked the next. It’s not unusual for a team to struggle in a head coaches first season. It’s also not unusual for a team to struggle adjusting to a new conference. Yet, with several returning players from the Luke Fickell era. I didn’t think this season would go as poorly as it did.

Best Move: the Western and Southern Open opts to stay in the Cincinnati area

For several months earlier this year, the W&S Open’s future in Cincinnati was in doubt. As the tennis tournament’s owners Beemok Capital considered a plan. That could’ve moved the nearly 125-year-old tournament to Charlotte, NC. Leading to a bidding war over the summer between Ohio and North Carolina. Ohio’s state government and Warren County, OH’s government allocated millions to upgrade Mason, OH’s Lindner Family Tennis Center. Where the tournament has been held since 1979. That helped convince Beemok to keep one of America’s most prestigious tennis events in the Cincinnati area.

Worst Move: the dismantling of the Pac 12 Conference

The “Conference of Champions” will effectively dissolve in mid-2024. Marking the most significant development in a bizarre conference realignment period. As power five schools desperately chase media revenue and clout. The fall of the Pac 12 could be blamed on that conference’s inability to put a new media deal together. The Pac 12 exodus began last year with UCLA and USC’s decisions to join the Big Ten. This year, as the Pac 12 fumbled through their media deal negotiations. The rest of the conference scrambled to find a rescue boat.

Many member schools will join the Big Ten and Big 12. Stanford and California will join the Atlantic Coast Conference. I don’t think that last sentence will ever make sense, but it’s set to happen. Oregon State and Washington State will not be joining a Power Five Conference. They’ve recently made scheduling agreements with the Mountain West and West Coast Conferences. The ones left in the lurch here will most likely be student-athletes. Some of whom will be battling jet lag while working on their midterm projects.

Most Unexpected: the Cincinnati Reds were contenders deep into the season

The Reds went into the last week of the 2023 regular season contending for a postseason berth. Beyond the most perpetually optimistic Reds fans. Few likely would’ve predicted this in July 2022. As the team blundered through their worst season in 40 years. Few likely foresaw the Reds being contenders in early May of this year. Yet, not only did the team contend deep in the season. For a brief period in the summer, the Reds led their division.

Expectations Met: Xavier Men’s Basketball returns to March Madness

This is what Xavier head coach Sean Miller was hired to do. Bring Xavier back to the NCAA Tournament. After several early exits from the Big East Tournament during the Travis Steele era. Xavier advanced all the way to this year’s Big East Championship Game. Then went onto the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

Summing up 2023

From the Bengals playing in the AFC Championship Game. The Cincinnati Reds having a better-than-expected season. To FC Cincinnati winning Major League Soccer’s Supporters Shield. 2023 was another awesome year for Cincinnati sports. Hopefully the rest of 2023 and all of 2024 is happy and peaceful for everyone. Thank you for reading Cincy Sports Journal this year. I hope you will continue to follow CSJ in 2024, when this site will celebrate its fifth anniversary.