On Jan. 2, Paycor Stadium was uncharacteristically, chillingly silent. That was the moment Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after a routine play during the first quarter of a game with the Bengals, just seconds after colliding with Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins. Hamlin collapsed to the ground and underwent nine minutes of CPR on the field as teammates and more than 60,000 fans openly wept and prayed. Field medical staff quickly transported Hamlin to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's level 1 trauma center, where he was intubated. For about a week, UC medical staff provided around-the-clock care for Hamlin as worried fans regularly held vigils outside the hospital. Today, Hamlin is on the road to recovery, thanks largely to UC caregivers. Though he hasn’t been cleared to play — and may not for a long time — Hamlin has credited Cincinnati doctors with saving his life and changing his outlook on his situation. uchealth.com.

Here are the 2023 Best Of Cincinnati® Reader and Staff Pick winners for Sports & Recreation.

1. Soccer City
2. Town and Country Sports Health Club
3. Wall2Wall

1. Schmidt Boat Ramp and Ballfields
2. Riverside Park
3. Westside Sports Park

1. 700 WLW-AM
2. FOX Sports Ohio
3. WCPO-TV

1. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
2. YMCA Camp Ernst
3. Clifton Cultural Arts Center

1. Cincinnati Rollergirls
2. Florence Y’alls
3. Dayton Dragons

1. Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino
2. FanDuel Sportsbook
3. Betfred

1. University of Cincinnati football
2. Xavier University men’s basketball
3. Ohio State University football

1. Cincinnati Bengals
2. FC Cincinnati
3. Cincinnati Cyclones

1. Sawyer Point Park
2. Camargo Racquet Club
3. The Club at Harper’s Point