All posts in category Sports

Hello from Northside.

Good morning from Northside…

Since they’re finally done working on our street, we moved our stones and bricks back to their original place in our front yard…

I think we’re going to come out of the water main replacement on our street with only losing a couple of flowers. And that’s really not too bad.

And after our fun afternoon, good evening from Northside…

My Minnesota United was playing FC Cincinnati tonight at Minnesota. Apparently even with the pandemic, a ban on spectators at the matches AND the match being played all the way in Minnesota, FC Cincinnati matches are still blacked out on ESPN+…

Come to find out that thankfully, you can actually stream the FC|C matches through YouTubeTV now…

Minnesota United knocked off FC Cincy 2-0. And Louisville City neat Swope Park Rangers 2-1. It was a great way to end a really fun day. 😀🌄📺⚽️❤️

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by Thadd F. on October 3, 2020 • Permalink

Posted in #FALLinCINCY, FC Cincinnati, Northside, Sports

Posted by Thadd F. on October 3, 2020

https://tplusg.com/2020/10/03/hello-from-northside-18/

Covington Yard & Holiday Spirits.

This afternoon we headed out to cross the river over into Kentucky…

On our way, we drove by the new soccer stadium in the West End…

It looks pretty nice. Too bad the team that will be playing in the there is so terrible. We also drove by our old apartment building…

And then it was over the river into Kentucky…

And then we were at Covington Yard…

Genifer had a sangria slushie…

There are three shipping containers restaurants at Covington Yard: Mr. Bulgogi Korean BBQ, Django Western Taco and Yardbird…

We can get delicious Django tacos whenever we want and Mr. Bulgogi wasn’t open so we shared their delicious chicken sammich and fries from Yardbird…

That chicken sammich was really delicious.

Genifer had a bourbon slush and I had a Mango Cart…

Covington Yard is so fun. On our way back home, we stopped in Over-the-Spirits at Holiday Spirits…

We talked about all the trips we’d like to take when the pandemic is over.

And we watched a Black Lives Matter march go by on Liberty Street…

There was the new stadium again…

And we’ve come full circle. We had a really fun afternoon. 😀🐔🍟🍻❤️

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by Thadd F. on October 3, 2020 • Permalink

Posted in #FALLinCINCY, FC Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Odd & Ends, Over-the-Rhine, Sports

Posted by Thadd F. on October 3, 2020

https://tplusg.com/2020/10/03/covington-yard-holiday-spirits/

Fantasy baseball 2020.

I had five fantasy baseball teams competing in ESPN head-to-head points leagues. To be honest, I had a really hard time getting into fantasy baseball this season. I neglected my teams a lot and had a hard time remembering to update them. Four of my teams didn’t do very well. But even with all my neglect, my Whipty Dips finished 5-2 on the season…

They actually made the playoffs in the winner’s bracket…

And come to find out, they actually won their league…

So I earned myself another fantasy baseball championship…

Fantasy baseball is still pretty fun. 😀⚾️🏆❤️

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by Thadd F. on September 28, 2020 • Permalink

Posted in #FALLinCINCY, Northside, Odd & Ends, Sports

Tagged 2020, Championship, Fantasy Baseball, Ffffound, Home Sweet Home, Northside, Odds&Ends, Ohio, Seen and noted, Sept28, September

Posted by Thadd F. on September 28, 2020

https://tplusg.com/2020/09/28/fantasy-baseball-2020/

Another good Saturday.

We love our new little side yard…

And we love our backyard fence…

Good morning from Northside…

This afternoon we drove out to West Chester…

We had lunch at Dingle House…

They had a peanut butter milk stout from Left Hand that was just out of this world…

Genifer ordered Mike’s pastrami on sour dough…

I had a half-order of their fish and chips…

While we out in West Chester, we visited Geri for a bit, gathered Oscar and Bear to finally bring them back home with us and then we headed back to Northside…

Good evening from Northside…

And this evening, we watched Minnesota United draw with Houston and Louisville City thump Memphis…

It was another really good Saturday. 😀🌄🇮🇪📺⚽️❤️

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by Thadd F. on September 19, 2020 • Permalink

Posted in #SUMMERinCINCY, Northside, Odd & Ends, Sports, Suburbia

Posted by Thadd F. on September 19, 2020

https://tplusg.com/2020/09/19/another-good-saturday-2/

Great sports… for a Tuesday.

We were trying to find the Reds game on TV tonight. But on Fox Sports Ohio was game one of the Stanley Cup playoffs between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Columbus Blue Jackets. And the Reds were coming on as soon as the hockey game was finished. The problem was the hockey game became an epic five overtime thriller,..

I’m not a huge NHL hockey fan. But it was crazy that every time we tried to turn on the Reds game tonight, this hockey game was still going. We came back from walking the dogs, still going. We played ball and went upstairs, still going. And finally, Tampa Bay scored to take game one from Columbus in what turned out to be the fourth longest hockey game in the NHL history despite the Jackets goalie’s NHL record 85 saves…

And then it was time for the finals of the MLS is Back Tournament…

And thankfully, Portland Timbers defeated Orlando City to lift the trophy…

I don’t mind the Portland Timbers. They’re probably my third favorite MLS team. But I do not care for Orlando City and I especially don’t care for Orlando City’s “star” player, Nani. I didn’t like him when he played in England for Manchester United, and I certainly don’t like now. Not at all. Not one bit. He’s just an entirely unlikable player. I’m really happy he didn’t win.

But other than Nani, the MLS is Back Tournament was so much fun. I watched every single match. And it was really terrific to have three soccer matches to watch each day for a couple of weeks during the group play. It was a great tournament. And I already miss it. I feel like I’m going through MLS is Back soccer tournament withdrawl right now. I hope they do some version of a tournament like this every season.

It was a really great sports night… for a Tuesday. 😀🏒⚽️🏆❤️

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by Thadd F. on August 11, 2020 • Permalink

Posted in #SUMMERinCINCY, Odd & Ends, Sports

Tagged 2020, As seen on TV, Aug11, August, Cincinnati, hockey, Home Sweet Home, MLS, MLS is BACK tournament, NHL, Northside, Odds&Ends, Ohio, Overtime, Seen and noted, Soccer, Sports

Posted by Thadd F. on August 11, 2020

https://tplusg.com/2020/08/11/great-sports-for-a-tuesday/

And after aaaaall, you’re my wonderwall.

Minnesota United played San Jose Earthquakes in the quarterfinals of MLS is Back…

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And the Loons burst the Quakes bubble 4-1…

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Cue Wonderwall! The Loons are still undefeated on the season and they’re marching into the MLS is Back semi-finals. They will play Orlando City for a spot in the tournament finals Thursday night on ESPN2. 😀⚽️❤️

Combine this win with Arsenal’s FA Cup win earlier in the day, and that’s what I call a very good sports day.

by Thadd F. on August 1, 2020 • Permalink

Posted in #SUMMERinCINCY, Odd & Ends, Sports

Tagged 2020, As seen on TV, Aug1, August, Ffffound, Minnesota United FC, MLS, MLS is BACK tournament, Odds&Ends, Seen and noted, Soccer, Sports

Posted by Thadd F. on August 1, 2020

https://tplusg.com/2020/08/01/and-after-aaaaall-youre-my-wonderwall/

2020 FA Cup Final.

Today was the final of the FA Cup. My favorite club in the world, Arsenal were making their record 21st appearance in the FA Cup final. Arsenal are also holders of the record for FA Cup final wins at thirteen. They were playing London rivals, Chelsea in today’s final. At the end of last season, Chelsea demolished Arsenal 4-1 in the 2019 Europa League final in Baku, Azerbaijan. Hopefully, the match would go much better for the Gunners today…

Leading up to this year’s FA Cup Final, Arsenal America took a look back at all thirteen Arsenal teams that lifted the Cup and in the process became FA Cup legends! They started with the very first Gunner squad to lift the FA Cup in 1930…

And moved through all thirteen squads ending with the 2017 side…

There were some neat graphics and photos on social media leading up to the match…

The match was all knotted at the half…

A brace by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang lead Arsenal past Chelsea…

With the FA Cup win, Arsenal booked their spot in next season’s Europa League. It will be the Gunners twenty-fourth consecutive season of European football. Mikel Arteta’s side finished eighth in the Premier League table. Their win knocks Wolves out of Europe next season and forces sixth-place finishers, Spuds into the Europa League qualifying round to play an extra three matches before the tournament properly commences. And that makes lifting the FA Cup trophy just a little bit sweeter…

I hope Aubameyang stays with Arsenal for a long time to come…

I’m so happy Mikel Artera is leading Arsenal now…

Best handshake ever…

Fourteen. Come on you Gunners! 😀🔴⚽️❤️

And I saw this graphic about Nicolas Pepe…

After a slow start, I think he’s going to be a really good one. #COYG

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by Thadd F. on August 1, 2020 • Permalink

Posted in #SUMMERinCINCY, Odd & Ends, Sports

Tagged 2020, Arsenal, Aug1, August, Cincinnati, FA Cup, Ffffound, Odds&Ends, Ohio, Premier League, Seen and noted, Sports

Posted by Thadd F. on August 1, 2020

https://tplusg.com/2020/08/01/2020-fa-cup-final/

Baseball is back!

Welcome back baseball! Our Redlegs look like they have a pretty good team this year…

This is going to be a very unique, one-of-a-kind season the likes of which will hopefully never happen again. It should make the baseball really interesting…

With the COVID-19 shortened regular season only being 60 games long, every game is really going to matter. And I hope baseball can make it all the way through the regular season to get the expanded playoffs…

Because that sounds like it would be a blast! Fingers crossed that the COVID-19 doesn’t ruin this too. 😀⚾️🦠❤️

I don’t understand why baseball didn’t try to create a bubble just like the other major North American sports. After a rocky start, the MLS bubble seems to be holding really well and the so far the NBA bubble seems to be intact too. It’ll be interesting to see if the MLB made a huge mistake by not creating a bubble in Arizona with all the little spring training ballparks out there. I guess we’ll find out.

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by Thadd F. on July 24, 2020 • Permalink

Posted in #SUMMERinCINCY, Northside, Odd & Ends, Reds baseball, Sports

Tagged 2020, Baseball, Baseball is back, Cincinanti, Cincinnati Reds, COVID-19, Ffffound, Home Sweet Home, Jul24, July, MLB, Northside, Odds&Ends, Ohio, Reds, Reds baseball, Seen and noted, Sports

Posted by Thadd F. on July 24, 2020

https://tplusg.com/2020/07/24/baseball-is-back/

Timehopping.

Five years ago today was the MLB All-Star Game live from Great American Ballpark in beautiful downtown Cincinnati…

Five years on and it’s still one of the most incredible sporting events I’ve ever attended. But it wasn’t just the All-Star Game, it was all the build-up to the game, all the months of excitement around Cincinnati and all the events of All-Star Week that made it such a memorable event. That, and getting to snap a photo of these guys…

We’ve done some pretty incredible stuff in Cincinnati.

Thanks for all the wonderful memories, Timehop. 😀🦕⚾️❤️

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by Thadd F. on July 14, 2020 • Permalink

Posted in #SUMMERinCINCY, Central Business District, Odd & Ends, Reds baseball, Sports

Tagged #Timehop, 2020, All-Star Game, Baseball, Cincinnati, Five years ago, GABP, Great American BallPark, Jul14, July, MLB, Odds&Ends, Ohio, Seen and noted, Sports

Posted by Thadd F. on July 14, 2020

https://tplusg.com/2020/07/14/timehopping-15/

Fantasy basketball 2020.

I played NBA fantasy basketball again this year. It seems like it was forever ago that was anxiously approaching another undefeated season. But then all the COVID-19 happened. And the world, including all sports, ground to a halt for months. And our Dallas Mavericks were the default NBA Champions. I was kind of hoping the season would start back up and we could finish out this fantasy basketball season. But it looks like that’s not going to happen now…

Back on June 4, the NBA elected to move forward with a 22-team format to finish its regular season, which was postponed on March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic. With an incomplete collection of teams playing for the remainder of the season, the ESPN Fantasy Basketball season is complete.

And that’s that. I played eight teams this season. I had teams three finish in first…

Four teams finished in second…

And one team finished third…

It would have been way more fun to get to run through the fantasy basketball playoffs. But what are you going to do? COVID-19 has made a mess of everything. Still, the fantasy basketball season was pretty dang fun again while the season lasted.

Hopefully, there’ll be an uninterrupted fantasy basketball season next year. 😀🏀🏆❤️

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by Thadd F. on June 28, 2020 • Permalink

Posted in #SPRINGinCINCY, Odd & Ends, Sports