These are exciting times, sports-wise at least, in not just the 614 but Ohio at large. The battle of Ohio last weekend went to the Browns, in a 17-6 win over the Bengals. The Reds made the playoffs, but following the trend they ended the season on, decided to crap their pants against the Pirates and are no longer in the postseason.
Tonight, the Indians make a return to October baseball when they will play host to the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card game. Cleveland last saw post-season action in 2007 where they blew a 3-1 ALCS lead to the Boston Red Sox. There is plenty of irony here as Terry Francona is now the manager of the Tribe, and if they win they will face his former team (Boston).
The Browns are 2-2 after seemingly waving the white flag in trading away Trent Richardson. Brian Hoyer has stepped in for the injured Brandon Weeden and led the team to victories over the Vikings and Bengals. Cleveland will be showcased on Thursday Night Football against Buffalo, with a realistic chance to get over .500 and take over first place in the AFC North, with Sunday's games still pending to determine where the rest of the division will be by the weekend's end.
In hockey, the Blue Jackets have as much momentum as ever as an organization and get their season started on Friday against the Calgary Flames. Columbus made quite a bit of noise in the off-season as they re-signed their Vezina-winning goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky, to a two-year deal. They also added free agent-winger Nathan Horton to the mix in what might have been the biggest splash of the off-season in the NHL. The team moves to the Eastern Conference and the Metropolitan Division. There is a renewed sense of optimism around the team and their journey to make the playoffs will start October 4th at Nationwide Arena.
The President's Cup gets underway Thursday as a team of the twelve best U.S. golfers take on the best non-European golfers in some international competition at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio. This is only the third United States venue ever for the President's Cup. Passes for all four days of competition are sold out, meaning 35,000 spectators will fill "Jack's course" this weekend.
In case that wasn't enough, Ohio State is quietly riding the nation's best win streak at 17 games. The Buckeyes took care of Leaders Division rival Wisconsin in prime time last weekend, 31-24. They will go on the road this weekend to Evanston, Illinois, where they will take on undefeated Northwestern, again in prime time. ESPN's "College GameDay" has chosen Northwestern as its location this week.
The phrase "best....ever" is often over-used in society today. But for Columbus as well as Ohio, "biggest sports weekend ever" has never been more appropriate. Enjoy it, because these kinds of weekends do not come around very often.
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