At some level on Thursday, earlier than seeing the information that Joe Burrow was carted off the follow field, I used to be operating over some story concepts in my head as one does in late July when only a few sports activities are in season. The half-baked idea I used to be taking part in round with was: Are we in the center of an Ohio professional sports activities renaissance? The Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians are each above .500, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been a four-seed in the playoffs, and the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals technically each have franchise quarterbacks.
It was clearly meant as a backhanded praise seeing as the Cavs bought dismissed in 5 video games, the baseball groups aren’t shoo-ins for the playoffs, and a kind of QBs is Deshaun Watson. There’s definitely an argument to be made for it this century, and a backhanded praise continues to be technically a praise. Then Burrow went down, and the thought turned significantly much less humorous. (It’s nonetheless sort of humorous although, and I do know Ohio has quite a lot of sports activities followers who get pleasure from darkish humor.)
The reviews are it’s solely a calf pressure, and rather a lot was manufactured from the cart and the new compression sleeve Burrow was carrying on the leg he injured. There’s no data concerning a timetable, however the Cincinnati Enquirer did the math on the regular restoration time for calf sprains, and even for a grade two (three to 6 weeks), there must be sufficient time for Joey B to get again for the Sept. 10 opener.
It seems the Bengals prevented an all-out disaster, and hopefully they’ve as a result of any fanbase that’s needed to put up with proprietor Mike Brown’s shit deserves greater than fleeting happiness. Honestly, I sort of really feel that method about most Ohio professional sports activities followers — outdoors of Browns supporters who defend Watson.
So with that mentioned, let me end this renaissance angle.
OoOoO-hio! Hio!
In addition to Burrow and the idea of Watson nonetheless being a franchise QB, there’s star energy in Ohio. Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Reds phenom Elly de la Cruz are two of the most electrical athletes you’ll see in any sport. Browns operating again Nick Chubb rushed for 1,525 yards final yr, good for third-best in the NFL in 2022. The Cavs’ duo of Darius Garland and Evan Mobley is considered one of the most promising in the NBA.
Joey Votto ripped Mike the Mad Dog to his face the other day, and no matter if he was joking, somebody wanted to knock Russo down a few rungs. Tee Higgins is rattling good, too, and the Bengals must pay him. I haven’t even talked about Donovan Mitchell but, and say what you’ll about the Knicks collection, however he’s nonetheless a strolling spotlight bundle. José Ramírez may have one other 30 dwelling run, 100 RBI season, and he wasn’t the Guardians’ solely All-Star. (With 28 saves, the Guardians’ different All-Star, closing pitcher Emmanuel Clase, is presently tied for third in all of baseball.)
Yes, the Blue Jackets missed the playoffs the previous three seasons, however that’s hockey, and Ohio has plenty of professional sports activities groups to account for. If we’re simply speaking MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL, solely 5 states have extra franchises than Ohio’s six, behind California (15), New York (10), Florida (9), Texas (8), and Pennsylvania (7).
Also, when you think about the historical past of professional sports activities in Ohio, and the chance that the Browns, Bengals, Cavs, Reds, and Guardians will all be at the very least common at the similar time once more (the Browns however), this is perhaps as near an Ohio professional sports activities renaissance because it will get.
Now, whether or not that’s encouraging, or miserable, I don’t know. That half-full glass is for Ohioans to guage. Hey, at the very least Joe Burrow… properly, let me cease there earlier than I jinx it once more.
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