Women’s World Cup now underway

While we’re gearing up for football season, another type of football, or more like futbol, got underway Thursday as the 2023 Women’s World Cup got started literally down under in both Australia and New Zealand.

All eyes are on Team USA, not only to see if the top-ranked Americans can being home their third straight World Cup title, but watching the swan song for player Megan Rapinoe, who said this will be her final World Cup. Team USA will be in Group E along with Vietnam, The Netherlands and Portugal — matches all of which will take place in New Zealand.

For the record, there are eight new countries playing in their first-ever Women’s World Cup — Vietnam, Portugal, The Philippines, Ireland, Zambia, Haiti, Panama and Morocco.

• Another Wimbledon came to a close last weekend, but the highlight of the two-week event came compliments of American Christopher Eubanks from Atlanta.

One could tell throughout the event that as Eubanks kept advancing that he was the fan favorite. Despite losing 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-1 to Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals, the Atlantan got a huge ovation. Most definitely, he represent the United States admirably.

However, just a couple of days later, Spain’s Carlos Alcatraz got just about as much fanfare as Eubanks did as the Spaniard knocked off Novak Djokovic 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 on Sunday to win the gentlemen’s singles championship in a championship match that lasted four hours and 42 minutes — making it the second-longest ever men’s title match. Also, Carlos, 20, became the third youngest man to hoist the trophy.

• As you know, when I first arrived May 22, I mentioned how I was going to find ways to make the sports coverage even better, so I thought I’d close out this week’s column by announcing the first new wrinkle I’m going to add.

I noticed that while all the high school sports had a special section — whether it be a season-preview themed special section or just special recognition — there were two sports that did not have any such “hype” — fast-pitch softball and cross country. I believed Your TIMES needed to change that, so I am.

I’m happy to announce that in the Friday, Aug. 11 edition, there will be a special season-preview section dealing with both fast-pitch softball and cross country.

My first photograph shoots for it will take place at 9 a.m. Monday with Webbers Falls cross country and 11 a.m. Monday when I slip out to Gore to conduct the photograph shoot of coach Michael Randolph’s Lady Pirates softball team.

I’m working with the other FP softball coaches and cross country coaches to set up the same thing.

These photograph shoots will allow me to get team photos to go with their respective season-preview story and get individual headshots for stories about their teams throughout the season in our regular editions.

It’s my goal that I can get all the photograph shoots finished by Friday, Aug. 4 — but I have been advised I could use Saturday, Aug. 5 through Monday, Aug. 7 if absolutely needed.

From what I can tell, this is going to be well received, and I’m happy to be able to begin a new tradition with Your TIMES.

David Seeley is sports editor at Your TIMES. He can be reached by telephone at (918) 775-4433, Ext. 139 or by email at davids@cookson.news