NEW YORK — Game, Set, and Match! Sports fans across the Tri-state area can enjoy the wind down of summer-time with Men’s and Women’s pro-tennis being played in Flushing, Queens.
The arrival of mid-August means the tennis world will be turning its eyes to the World’s Borough. While the main draw of the US Open does not start until Monday, August 26, the qualifying tournament for wildcard slots for both the men’s and women’s divisions starts this Tuesday and concludes on Friday.
While there are some ticketed events scheduled for Arthur Ashe Stadium, there is no charge for strolling the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, making it the best consumer value in sports. In addition to the qualifiers, fans can watch the top men’s and women’s players sharpen their skills on the practice courts. There will also be plenty of entertainment on the grounds as well.
Image Credit: US Open
The qualifying week preceding the US Open main draw used to be a well-kept secret which only diehard tennis buffs knew about. Very few concession stands were open. Those days are in the rearview mirror. Every restaurant kiosk at BJKNTC will be open, as will most of the sponsors’ booths for promotional giveaways.
It is a good idea to visit the US Open’s webpage and sign up for a Fan Access code for your phone for easier grounds entry for Fan Week which officially runs from August 19-25.
Tennis is also returning next week to the US Open’s original home, Forest Hills Stadium, as the Ultimate Tennis Showdown will take place on Thursday, August 22, and Friday August 22. Among the top male players taking part in this event’s debut are Casper Ruud, Denis Shapovalov, Nick Kyrgios, Andrey Rublev, and Gael Monfils. It is worth the price of admission to watch Monfils return volleys with trick shots between his legs. Unlike the US Open, the UTS promoters do not mind if fans make noise. In fact, they encourage it.
(Louis Armstrong Stadium) Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow Park – Image Credit: US OPEN/IBM
Surprisingly, none of the better American male players such as Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Taylor Fritz, are participating in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown. No American male player has won the US Open since Andy Roddick did it in 2003. Given the dominance of both Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, that drought will probably continue.
Nadal a No-Go for 2024 US Open
Rafael Nadal announced last week he would not be taking part in the 2024 US Open. He underwent hip surgery last year and has had abdominal issues this year. On the bright side, 44-year-old Venus Williams will be taking part yet again at the US Open. No one is expecting her to be holding up a trophy when the tournament concludes, but as long as she is competing, the United States Tennis Association will make sure she is playing in either Louis Armstrong or Arthur Ashe stadiums.
Harrison Bader’s return to St. Louis
Harrison Bader signed a one-year deal with the Mets this past winter – Image Credit: George Napoltiano/Latino Sports
Kudos to Cardinals fans for the classy ovation they gave to Mets center-fielder Harrison Bader on his first return to St. Louis as a visiting player. Bader played for Cards for six seasons.
USA Men’s and Women’s Basketball takes home the Gold
It was not an easy path for the Team USA Men’s Basketball Team to win the Olympic gold medal. There were no blowout wins, and they had to hold off an incredibly talented French team led by NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama on their home court in the championship game. Even though Team USA was comprised of future Hall of Famers, there was emphasis on old school team play; namely lot so passing and taking the best shot possible. Don’t expect to see much of that during the regular NBA season.
The Gold Standard. pic.twitter.com/m7MbU8wYY4
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 11, 2024
The mood did not brighten the next day in Paris for the locals when Team USA edged France 67-66 to win the gold medal for women’s basketball. Had Team USA fallen short of gold, we would never have heard the end of whether Caitlin Clark should have been on the roster.
Craig Carton’s radio play-by-play in Rangers-Yankees
The doomsday scenario coming from fans and the media about Craig Carton doing radio play-by-play for the weekend Texas Rangers-New York Yankees three-game series, proved unfounded. Carton did a particularly respectable job informing listeners of what was happening on the field.
There was speculation Carton’s booth partner, Suzyn Waldman, would not get along with him because he made fun of her as bit when he was doing both morning and afternoon drive-time. Waldman is a pro, and I am certain she knows it comes with the territory. She and Carton displayed a nice chemistry, and they even joked about buying fruit from vendors who work on the Cross Bronx Expressway and find receptive customers who are stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Caitlin Clark visits Yankee Stadium
The aforementioned Caitlin Clark was interviewed Saturday by Carton and Waldman as she was a guest of the Yankees.
Thanks for stopping by @yankeestadium, @CaitlinClark22 🙌 pic.twitter.com/gBDVr2hKvG
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 10, 2024
She revealed her dad is a Kansas City Royals fan, but she grew up cheering for the Chicago Cubs because their top minor league team, the Iowa Cubs, play in her hometown of Des Moines.
NFL 2024 Preseason
The Jets and Giants started the 2024 preseason with wins over the Commanders and the Lions, respectively. Wins in August are meaningless, so what excited local NFL fans were the terrific performances of Giants running back Eric Gray, and Jets rookie rusher Braelon Allen.
The Savannah Bananas, coming to a town near you!
The Savannah Bananas are baseball’s answer to the Harlem Globetrotters. The rosters of the Bananas, and their opponents, the Party Boys, are players who either played in the minor leagues or in college. More important than their baseball skills are their abilities to entertain a crowd. Players must be able to dance and find every way to make folks laugh.
That's a wrap on our fourth MLB Stadium of the tour🤩 We have one thing to say – Cleveland Rocks! We had special appearances from Cleveland legends, Corey Kluber & Jason Kipnis, and the Fastest Man on Two Hands, Zion Clark. Can't forget Ryan Cox and Eric Jones securing the 1000th… pic.twitter.com/Ou0X4GLUzT
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 11, 2024
The Bananas sell out minor league ballparks around the country, and they have even done well in the handful of Major League Baseball stadiums in which they have appeared. They have played in Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park but have not yet made their New York debut.
ESPN televised a pair of Bananas-Party Boys games from Louisville last week. Tru TV, a cable division of Warner Brothers Discovery, will be televising their games for the next five consecutive Friday nights.
Harlem Globetrotters set to takeover the American Dream Mall
Speaking before of the Harlem Globetrotters, they will begin a ten-day residency starting August 16 at East Rutherford’s American Dream, located across from MetLife Stadium. While it is unlikely the Globetrotters will ever relive their 1960s glory days of Goose Tatum, Curly Neal, and Meadowlark Lemon, the current owners of the team are hoping to raise its profile with a stay in the New York area. Since American Dream is also a retail mall, there will be pop-up store where merchandise can be purchased. I wonder if there will be any Globetrotters jerseys with the names of their stars from my childhood available for sale.
PBR at Barclays
The Professional Bull Riders have long kicked off a new year with a three-day tournament at Madison Square Garden. In recent years, PBR has tried to create fan interest by having contests where riders represent teams with city names. This past weekend at Barclays Center, the New York Mavericks defeated both the Kansas City Outlaws and the Florida Freedom. I have a feeling Ron DeSantis is a big Florida Freedom fan.
Remembering Juan “Chi-Chi” Rodriguez
I was saddened to learn of the passing of Puerto Rico’s greatest golfer, Juan Antonio Rodriguez, better known as Chi-Chi Rodriguez, at age 88. Chi-Chi always had fun on the course and was a master showman.
A showman on the course, a tireless philanthropist off the course.
World Golf Hall of Famer Chi Chi Rodriguez has passed away at age 88.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 9, 2024
I remember watching him sink a birdie at the PGA Senior Tour in Eisenhower Park thirty years ago. In custom, he picked up his putter and waved it as if he were Zorro brandishing his sword. The crowd ate it up.
Paying Tribute to Kevin Sullivan
Another untimely passing was that of former professional wrestler Kevin Sullivan. He was a terrific heel whose villainous gimmick was to be the “darkness trying to defeat the light.” I had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin Sullivan in Miami in the 1990s and I asked him if his act was based on “The Confessions of St. Augustine.” He laughed and admitted that was the case. “I was an English major at Boston College and that book about faith resonated with me,” he replied. Kevin Sullivan was 74.
You can read more of Lloyd Carroll’s columns posted weekly on The Queens Chronicle.
