Early summer is that time of year where a sport’s addict has to dig deep to get her or his fix. Sure, there’s major league baseball, but how excited can you get over a team’s win or loss when they still have almost 80 games left to play?
Football season is still too far away and hockey and the Triple Crown are in the rearview mirror. The College World Series has just ended and college basketball might as well be next year. In short, visit your library, fools, and read a book because you’re living in the Great Void of Sports.
Thankfully, this year we have the women’s World Cup in soccer to root for and, good heavens, the New Orleans Pelicans are inspiring something known as…hope. Let’s take a look, shall we?
U.S. Women’s Soccer Team
I want to get very excited about the U.S. Women’s National Team in soccer but that’s, in a way, sort of like cheering for the San Francisco 49er’s in the 80’s, the Chicago Bulls in the 90’s and the Golden State Warriors (even though they lost) the past few years. Right?
The women’s team is the absolute bully in the women’s tournaments. If they lose, it’s panic attack mode. If a game is close, we’re left asking “why did this happen?” If they win, but not by enough, it’s “what can they do better?” This is a hell of a position to be in.
In the current rendition of the World Cup the women’s team is absolutely not messing around. They knocked out France this week, in what some say would be their best competition on the way to the finals, and now are looking at a semifinal matchup versus England tomorrow. A win puts them in the World Cup finals for the third time straight.
Yet, they might not make it as the World Cup is a brutal contest and nothing is guaranteed for any team. However, what is guaranteed is my eternal love for Megan Rapinoe after she made it very clear that she had no interest in visiting a white house in Washington D.C. Honestly, I might get a tattoo of her face on my arm, that’s how enamored I am with Rapinoe.
The greatest team in the world takes on England tomorrow at 2 p.m.
USA! USA! USA!
Pelicans revamp
Am I wrong or did NBA free agency go straight to 11 in terms of heat this year? The New Orleans Pelicans, after getting Zion Williamson with the first pick of the NBA draft, did not mess around and signed J.J. Redick, a three point specialist that will make things a lot easier for Williamson inside. According to Nola.com, Williamson will be joined by newly acquired big man Derrick Favors down on the baseline.
So, for those scoring at home, it will be Jrue Holiday at point with Redick at shooting guard. Down low it will be Williamson, Favors and Brandon Ingram. How cool is that? No matter what happens, New Orleans can be happy in knowing this is a better all around team than it was in the past few seasons. That’s all, folks.
Dominik Koepfer
Hey Uptown, let’s go to Wimbeldon! All right maybe not all of us but one former Greenie who walked Willow Street will be there — Dominik Koepfer. The former Tulane star fell a match short from making it last year but would not be denied again as he punched his ticket to play on the hallowed grass of Wimbledon by claiming his first ATP Challenger Tour title. The 25-year old beat Dennis Novak in three sets and will now play on the same grounds that made John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors household names.
This will be Koepfer’s first (of hopefully many) visits to the All England Club. Wimbledon kicks off today and Koepfer’s first match is tomorrow versus Filip Krajinovic.
And like a fine wine with a steak dinner, every game should be accompanied by a beverage and song.
Beer Pairing: New Belgium Brewing’s Brut IPA
Playlist Recommendation: Mazzy Star – “Fade Into You”
Around the Way
I have to send props out to my favorite local homegrown team called the Irish Channel Coyotes. They are an…OK, I’m just kidding.
Yet, after kicking back on my buddy’s porch watching these beautiful creatures chill in a yard all I can say is GOOD LORD SOMEONE TRAP THESE THINGS. Yes, they’re pretty. Yes, they look like adorable dogs but damn, come on city of New Orleans, get them out of here.
