Frozen Four

The Rundown: Ninja Style

Is your weekend full of happy hours, charity events and birthday parties? Break the ice with anyone by perusing today’s Rundown over your morning cup of coffee.  

 

Small talk ninja,

The Last Night’s Game Team  


PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association)

  • Slippery when wet. The competition at The Masters took a hit as the favorite Dustin Johnson (#1) withdrew from the tournament just before teeing off, citing a back injury from falling down the stairs in his Augusta rental house. Word is he was wearing socks on wood floors. Everyone who’s seen Risky Business knows that’s a slippery slope.
  • A tea and lemonade toast to you. This was the first time since 1954 that Arnold Palmer was not present at Augusta. (He passed away in September). Golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player hit the ceremonial first shot in front of a huge crowd with tears in their eyes and Palmer’s green jacket draped over an empty chair.
  • What they’re saying. The terrible weather is the talk of the town with high winds and rain taking a toll. What else is everyone talking about? Find out in our five things to know about The Masters.

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)

  • The need for speed. Who doesn’t love American Ninja Warrior? Nothing like parading the physical specimens of the nation across our TV while we eat ice cream. Three NASCAR drivers are going to take their chances on the Warrior’s obstacle course this summer. To see which drivers and when, click here.

Overtime

  • The college hockey “Frozen Four” was yesterday in Chicago. In the two semifinal games, Harvard and Notre Dame lost as did Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Tickets were in such high demand that the Mayor of Chicago struggled to get extra tickets. Minnesota-Duluth takes on Denver tomorrow for the national championship.

Sideline stat

  • Amazon won the rights to stream NFL (National Football League) Thursday night football games on their platform. (The games will also be simulcast on NBC or CBS). Reports suggest the deal is worth up to $50 million. Last season’s games were streamed on Twitter, which was reportedly a $10 million deal.

Coaches’ corner

  • On Thursday, former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Tim Tebow made his minor league debut for the New York Mets (MLB – Major League Baseball) Single-A affiliate, the Columbus Fireflies. Tebow hit a home run in his first at bat.

The Rundown: Caffeine-Fueled

We know it was hard to get out of bed this Monday morning but the world of sports is your oyster. Now go wow that cute stranger in line for coffee by telling them you know what happened in Last Night’s Game.

 

Caffeine-fueled and ready to take on the world,

The Last Night’s Game Team


NCAA March Madness Basketball Tournament

  • Carried away. Last night we learned which teams are the final four teams in the tournament. The nation saw North Carolina beat Kentucky on a last second shot. Although in Cleveland, OH the local CBS affiliate cut away from the game right before the game winning shot for a tornado warning. This means life or death, of someone’s bracket. Tornados can wait.
  • The odd squad. It’s an unlikely Final Four to say the least. Why?
    • Gonzaga Bulldogs and South Carolina Gamecocks - the two teams have never played in the Final Four.
    • Oregon Ducks - they haven’t played in the Final Four since 1939.
    • North Carolina Tarheels - they're making their 20th Final Four appearance.
  • How you doin’? Kudos to “bjarv” who is in the lead in the Last Night’s Game Bracket Challenge. Although “Clueless Newbie” and “Not a Jock” are hot on their tail. It all comes down to next weekend and the championship game a week from today.  

F1 Racing (Formula One)

  • Crikey. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel emerged victorious down under in Melbourne to start the F1 season. This is the first time Team Ferrari has won the opening race since 2012.

Overtime

  • Good guys alert in the NBA (National Basketball Association). Earlier this month, Golden State Warriors fan, Isaiah and his mom had tickets to the Warriors game but were victims of ticket fraud and weren’t able to attend. The Warriors heard about the disappointment and flew the 6-year-old and his mom to Memphis, TN to sit courtside at the Warriors-Grizzlies game. They also arranged a meet and greet with players including Isiah's hero Stephen Curry.

Sideline stat

  • While the college players had the spotlight, a second-year player for the Phoenix Suns had a night for the record books. Devin Booker, 20, scored 70 points on Friday night, becoming just the sixth player in NBA history to do so. Sadly, his team still lost despite his valiant effort.

Coaches’ Corner

  • Basketball isn’t the only sport to produce a Final Four. College hockey also has a March Madness-style tournament and they’re down to the “Frozen Four,” the four teams remaining in the quest for the national championship. Notre Dame, Denver, Harvard and Minnesota Duluth will compete next week in Chicago for the freezing-cold title. The other teams will have to “let it go.”