Whether you tuned in or not, here is a quick recap of everything sports in the summer of 2024. Here are my three standouts of the 2024 summer season.
The Quick Rise and Fall of Breakdancing
The Summer Olympic Games were held over two weeks in August. The Summer Games featured numerous first-time sports, including surfing, skateboarding, sport climbing, and breakdancing. While breakdancing is fairly unknown to most of the sports world, 33 breakers from 15 different countries competed at this year’s Olympics. One thing I learned about the sport is that the music is randomized for each competitor. I thought there were two major problems with breakdancing. First, there are few actual rules to the sport, other than to dance your heart out. Second, the scoring system seems awfully subjective. Phil Wizard took home the gold for Canada. Dany Dann of France and Victor of the US took home silver and bronze. Breakdancing may be fun at parties and weddings, but the concept did not translate well as an Olympic sport.
Men’s and women’s gold medal basketball games
The spectacle of the Olympics was the men’s and women’s gold medal basketball games. Both of the gold medal games featured the United States and France. First up was the women’s game Saturday morning. Both games were physical. The women’s game was a low-scoring, gritty game. A’ja Wilson struggled in the first half going 2-9 and missed many easy looks inside. Kelsey Plum and Kaleah Cooper were sparking off the bench for Team USA, scoring 12 points each. Team USA struggled with France’s intimidating defense and were down double digits at half. Wilson responded with a huge second-half performance. Ultimately, Wilson finished the game with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. France maintained their lead for some of the third quarter but failed to convert on offense, and this led to a closely contested fourth quarter. In the final second of the game, down by 3, France’s Gabby Williams banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game. But, after review, they found that her foot was on the line, resulting in a win for Team USA.
Next up was the men’s game on Sunday. After a showdown against Serbia days earlier, the USA faced an even greater challenge in the gold medal game. France played hounding defense the entire game, anchored by the 7 ‘4 Victor Wembenyama roaming the paint. France’s standout players were Gucherson Yabusele and Victor Wembenyama. Yabusele finished with 20 points on 43 percent from the field and threw down a monster dunk on Lebron James. Additionally, 20-year-old Victor Wembeyama led the way with 26 points and 7 rebounds. Despite France’s valiant efforts, the brilliance of Lebron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant was too much for France. The three combined for 53 of the USA’s 98 points. In the final moments of the game, Steph Curry seized the moment and iced the game with four shots from deep, including a twenty-five-foot heave over Evan Fournier and Nic Batum. It is evident that international basketball is catching up with the USA, but for now, the USA remains on top at the Olympics.
The First 50-50 Season in Baseball History
On September 22nd, Shoei Ohtani became the first professional baseball player to record 50 home runs and 50 steals in a single season. After sliding into 3rd base in the top of the third for his 50th steal, he blasted his 50th home run into deep left field in the top of the seventh. At the end of the game, his stat line included 3 home runs, 2 doubles, 2 stolen bases, 10 RBIs, and 6-for-6. His performance was so incredible that after he rocketed his third home run into deep right field, the announcer shouted, “ SHOEI OHTANI! The greatest day in baseball history! “ Only 6 players had ever recorded 40-40 seasons before Ohtani: Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, and Ronald Acuña Jr. Ohtani’s blend of all-star level pitching and batting is any front office’s dream. Ohtani has stepped into his exclusive club and is quickly becoming one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
