Monthly Archives: July 2021

Sports

Crew Fever is Alive and Well

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The last month has been one of celebration for Columbus Crew fans, without question.

July 2021 began with the club opening its new downtown stadium, Lower.com Field, with the excitement present all week throughout the city. It came to a head that Saturday afternoon, when fans paraded through the downtown area to the stadium, gaining support all the way to the venue.

As for the game itself, Columbus began with an intent to attack, but quickly found themselves trailing New England 2-0. Gyasi Zardes scored the opening goal at the new home for the Crew, before an equalizer in the most bizarre fashion…. (the highlight of the goal begins at 2:57)

From a personal standpoint, it was certainly an emotional day. I’ve been fortunate to see the various highs and lows associated with Columbus Crew: their introduction as the first MLS franchise; the move from Ohio Stadium to the first soccer-specific stadium in the United States; the joy of winning MLS Cup 2008; the despair of the franchise nearly moved to Austin; all these emotions capped off by local investors buying the club, keeping it in Columbus, and a 2020 MLS Cup serving as the perfect happy ending. (Don’t forget the city’s “Dos a Cero” history with the U.S. men’s national team!)

The new stadium appears to have given the Crew players a mental boost as well. Following their incredible comeback against the Revolution, Columbus rallied from another 2-0 deficit to salvage a draw at Cincinnati; that was shortly followed by a first home win. Entering Friday, the Crew has not lost a match since Lower.com Field’s inaugural match. Can they keep that going into August, and mount a serious title defense?

For Columbus fans, the last few years have been a major win keeping the team in its original home. July 2021 was simply another chapter in what could turn out to be the club’s most successful phase yet.

Fans gather outside Nationwide Arena as part of the pre-game march through Downtown to Lower.com Field
A first look at the new stadium
The Nordecke’s new location
Following a thrilling 2-2 draw

Sports

Almost Deja Vu in London Town

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For those interested in sports history, especially in London, the second Sunday of July 2019 won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

That was the day Roger Federer & Novak Djokovic made Wimbledon history, going to an unprecedented fifth-set tiebreaker to determine the gentlemen’s singles champion. The tiebreaker was nearly as back-and-forth as the match itself, with Djokovic emerging victorious 7-3. It’s been considered the greatest match of the decade, and arguably the greatest in men’s singles history.

At roughly the same time, 10 miles north from Wimbledon, the England cricket team made history of their own at Lord’s Cricket Ground, winning their first ICC World Cup title after outlasting New Zealand in their version of a tiebreaker, a “Super Over.” The match literally came down to the final ball delivered, and officially the Final was declared a draw, England winning due to having recorded more boundaries. Another historic result decided by the thinnest of margins.

To have two exciting events decided on the same day only miles apart? It couldn’t happen again, could it? Oh, did the second Sunday of July 2021 come close.

Djokovic was back in the men’s singles final at Wimbledon, but facing a new opponent in Italian Matteo Berrettini. The underdog won the first set, but the Serbian, on a quest to win all four Grand Slams in a calendar year, showed why he remains one of the best ever. Djokovic’s four-set victory takes him to 20 major championships, level with Federer and Rafael Nadal. Worldwide, tennis fans eagerly anticipate who will make it to #21 first.

Hours after the match at Centre Court, attention shifted 13 miles north to Wembley Stadium, as England had a chance to win a European soccer championship on home turf. It was a dream start for the English, scoring in the second minute against Italy. But the Italians pressed for an equalizer, were rightfully rewarded with one, and were able to edge England on penalties.

The loss may sting for a while for England players and fans, but ever since their humiliating loss to Iceland at Euro 2016, they’ve regrouped to finish fourth and second in the last two major tournaments; many key players will still be in their prime for the 2022 World Cup. And Italy, which failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup at all, showed a new brand of exciting play that began with the very first game of the tournament; they were worthy winners, able to do what needed to be in any circumstance.

So it may not have been quite the same emotions as two years ago, but it gave fans a glimpse of how important sports can be. And the likelihood that a day like this (or days) is replicated remains very slim, at least until the second Sunday of July 2023.