Profit Players July 17

Author

Nate Rodgers
July 17, 2024

Alcaraz Wins Again

Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old tennis player from Spain, defeated Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon on Sunday. This victory marks his fourth major tournament win and his second consecutive one, establishing him as a dominant force on all surfaces—grass, clay, and hard court. Alcaraz’s physical and mental stamina continue to improve, and his game keeps getting better, prompting speculation about how many major tournaments he might win in his career.

Despite the tennis world facing a "legend deficit" with Roger Federer retired, Rafael Nadal near retirement, and Djokovic aging, Alcaraz's emergence hints at a new legend rising. However, excessive speculation isn't fair to Alcaraz, as tennis has a history of phenoms burning out. It's better to appreciate his current excellence than to focus on future possibilities. In his match against Djokovic, Alcaraz demonstrated superior skills, breaking Djokovic’s serve in a 14-minute game to set the tone. He showcased dazzling foot speed, powerful shots, and strategic drop shots, making Djokovic, 16 years his senior and recently recovering from knee surgery, look outdated. Alcaraz’s dominance was evident, despite Djokovic’s admirable effort to rally in the third set.

Alcaraz, now a back-to-back winner of the French Open and Wimbledon, will be the favorite at the upcoming U.S. Open. His game is evolving, with improvements in his serve and point dictation, which will benefit him as he ages. Alcaraz remains focused on growth and improvement, aiming to sit "at the same table with the big guys" by the end of his career. While it’s tempting to speculate about his future, it’s more enjoyable to savor his present achievements.

Copa failures

The U.S. aimed to host global soccer events like this summer’s Copa America and the 2026 World Cup, boasting its robust infrastructure from the NFL and Major League Soccer. However, recent missteps have raised doubts about its capability to manage such events safely.

The issues culminated on Sunday night at the Copa America final in Miami, where thousands of ticketless fans stormed into Hard Rock Stadium, delaying the game between Argentina and Colombia. Similar problems had occurred earlier, including poor-quality playing surfaces and crowd control failures. Miami-Dade County officials pledged a review to prevent future incidents, but U.S. Soccer has yet to comment. These troubles mirror those at the 2021 European Championship final at Wembley Stadium. The U.S. also faced challenges with pitch quality, criticized by players as dangerous and subpar.

These problems, combined with crowd control issues at other matches, cast a shadow over the U.S.’s readiness for future events. Despite the NFL players' preference for grass fields, which were installed for soccer but not NFL games, the chaos at the Copa America final underscored significant organizational flaws. The tournament concluded with Argentina's victory, but the event was marred by controversy and mismanagement.

The best thing to happen to pro golf

In professional golf, top players traditionally earned millions from sponsorships only after turning pro. However, since 2021, relaxed name, image, and likeness (NIL) policies in college sports have accelerated this process. Brands now invest in young talent before they become well-known, aiming for early visibility and long-term partnerships.

Jeff Lienhart, president of Adidas Golf, acknowledges the challenges in measuring return on investment (ROI) with both professional and amateur deals, but believes early relationships can be beneficial. For example, college golfer Michael Thorbjornsen, while at Stanford (a Nike school), signed an NIL deal with Adidas. Despite brand conflicts, Thorbjornsen remained with Adidas upon turning pro. Young golfers benefit from NIL deals with apparel and equipment endorsements, earning significant paydays before joining tours. Thorbjornsen notes that transitioning from college to professional golf feels seamless due to these early sponsorships, reflecting a new reality for emerging golf professionals.

Quick Reads

  • Teoscar Hernández becomes the first Dodgers player ever to win the Home Run Derby

  • Skip Bayless is leaving FS1 and his role on “Undisputed” after eight years

  • Spain saw record numbers of fans at their Euro Championship parade

  • For the first time in over 4,000 days, a new EA college football game is now available to play.

  • LA28 has unveiled more host sites for the 2028 Olympics:

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