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For a guy in his seventies, this past weekend was a bit disconcerting in sports. With baseball right in the middle of their season, the focus this sports weekend was on three other events – Wimbledon, the Women’s World Cup, and the inaugural 3M Golf Championship. It turned out that it was not a good weekend for old age and experience.
Playwright David Mamet once said that, “Old age and treachery will always beat youth and experience.” This past weekend, there was not enough treachery in sports because the very young ruled.
Let’s start with the youngest – Coco Gauff. She is 15 years old and is the youngest player to ever qualify for Wimbledon. She is now into the fourth round at Wimbledon. As I am typing this, her next match is just moments away. She is due to play Simona Halep of Romania, who is currently ranked #7 and was, at one time, #1. Win or lose, no one can take away her win over Venus Williams, surviving two match points in her third round match, and receiving a social media message from Beyonce’s mom. There is no question she has become the primary focus right now in tennis’ greatest tournament. And at 15, that is quite an achievement as it would be at any age.
Then this weekend, I watched 20-year-old Matthew Wolfe become only the third player in golfing history to win the NCAA Championship and a PGA tour championship in the same year. Ben Crenshaw did it and Tiger Woods did it. After it looked like experience would win the title when Bryson DeChambeau eagled the 18th hole to take a one stroke lead over Wolfe and 22-year-old Collin Morikawa, Wolff made a 26-foot eagle putt that was just off the green to win.
https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1147992294122876928
He became the ninth youngest winner in PGA history and the youngest since Jordan Spieth did it in 2013. He now has job security for two years and has qualified for the Masters. Not bad for a 20-year-old.
And finally, there is the “oldest” of the group – US soccer player Rose Lavelle. She is a whopping 24-years-old. Much like the aforementioned Coco Gauff and Matthew Wolfe, she has now been labeled the star of the future in soccer.
Of course, the star of the World Cup was Megan Rapinoe, but it was Lavelle who often “oohed” and “ahhed” the crowd with her footwork, sharp passes, and strong shots. Rapinoe scored on a penalty kick on Sunday, but it was Lavelle who put the match away with a booming left-footed kick into the far corner.
These young athletes so thrilled me this past week that I watched women’s tennis, women’s soccer, and ten hours of golf. Trust me when I tell you that is new for me.
Youth not only won out this weekend, but it also won me over!
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- Bryce Harper is pictured on the All-Star banner that everyone sees as they come into Cleveland, where the All-Star game will be played. The problem is that Bryce Harper did not make the All-Star team. When the banner was made, the assumption, obviously, was that he would make the team. After all, he had accomplished that every year since 2014. His numbers are getting better, but he is on schedule to strike out 189 times. The Phillies desperately need him to have an outstanding second half of the season.
- For the first time ever, Monday’s Home Run Derby has a prize of one million dollars. Of the eight participants, five of them make less than that for the entire season.
- If you are looking for a team that has failed miserably in the first half of the season, look no further than the Red Sox. They are 11 games behind the Yankees. Their record is 45-41. Last year, at this time, they were 59-29. They did not lose 41 games until the last week of August.
- In June, the Phillies gave up 5.63 runs per game and the bullpen had an ERA of 6.62. The bullpen is the second worst in baseball next to the Mets. To contend, that must change.
- BML baseball continues next Tuesday with the Hellertown Royals taking on the Easton Falcons. The BML Game of the Week comes on at 9:30 PM. Join the RCN-TV sports team.
