5 Pride Month Sports Stories That We Love
Celebrating the world's LGBTQ communities.
Photo: Giphy
(Podcast length 5:38 mins)
Pride month honors the world's LGBTQ communities by coming together and celebrating the freedom to be themselves. To mark the occasion, here are five stories we love.
Transcript
1. Out athletes like Billie Jean King (tennis), Megan Rapinoe (soccer) and NBA (National Basketball Association) player Jason Collins are passionate advocates of the LGBTQ community. Collins was the first active male player in any of the four major men's pro sports leagues to come out as gay publicly. During his playing days, he wore the number 98 to protest the anti-gay hate murder crime in 1998. During his recent address to the graduates of Middlebury College, Collins expressed his appreciation for Billie Jean King and her advocacy that gave him courage. He also shared the life lessons he learned from team sports (including a quote from Ted Lasso) that made him "the big, beautiful, fabulous Black man" he is. WISE WORDS
2. Professional sports teams across the country will celebrate Pride Month with Pride Nights. Major League Baseball (MLB) is getting on board with teams wearing LGBTQ pride logos to celebrate Pride Night at the ballpark. The Los Angeles Dodgers saw record-breaking ticket sales during their Pride Night vs. the New York Mets. The Dodgers will then make history on June 11 when they join the San Francisco Giants to become the first two teams to wear Pride caps in the same game. While the Dodgers and Giants may be on board, some players, like those on the Tampa Bay Rays, opted out of wearing the Pride logos due to religious reasons. STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE
3. As evident with the record-breaking numbers of ticket sales for the Dodgers Pride Night, fans show their support with their wallets. For example, look no further than when Las Vegas Raiders player Carl Nassib came out in 2021, and his jersey instantly became the highest-selling jersey. But teams are also showing their financial support. Austin FC (MLS – Major League Soccer) will auction off their game-worn jerseys from their Pride Night (June 27). In addition, 20 percent of proceeds from the club's pride patch sales will be donated to the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce's Education Fund. BETTER TOGETHER
4. The Summer Olympics in Tokyo set a record with at least 186 LGBTQ athletes competing, which is more LGBTQ athletes than all the previous Summer Olympics combined. That group includes WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner who has been detained in Russia since February. Sharing the horrendous conditions he lived in, Trevor Reed, an American veteran who spent nearly three years detained in Russia before being released in April, joined athletes and advocates worldwide this month to call upon legislators and the White House to work faster to free Griner. Just last weekend, the Boston Celtics used their platform to support Griner by wearing "We Are BG" shirts during their warmups during the NBA Finals. FREEDOM
5. In early June Amazon released the trailer for their new show "A League Of Their Own," an adaptation of the 1992 favorite movie starring Madonna, Tom Hanks and Geena Davis. The show's creators highlighted the importance of bringing stories of queer joy and perseverance in a time when that really wasn't acceptable in society to the small screen. Racism will also be a central storyline of the show. The show premieres on Prime Video on August 12. MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkward out of the conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We break down what's happening in sports in an easy-to-understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon, so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or networking event switches to sports.
You can always catch us between podcasts at www.lastnightsgame.com or on social media. If you love us, make sure to leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts.
LIKE US? SHARE US WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
It's Our Birthday - Celebrate With Our Favorite Moments
There’s never a dull moment around here.
(Podcast length 25:14 mins)
It’s our birthday, and to celebrate, we’re sharing our favorite daily conversation starters from the past year. The one good thing about working in sports is that there’s never a dull moment, and that’s obvious in this week’s podcast.
Transcript
Click image for more.
1. The Bills Mafia knows a thing or two about giving back. This season alone, the Buffalo Bills (NFL - National Football league) fans donated more than $65,000 to a visual impairment charity on behalf of the gameday referees and $120,000 to injured Bills player Tre’Davious White’s hometown charity - the Food Bank of New Orleans.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans took a page out of the Bills Mafia playbook, donating to Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson after Carlson won the game for the Raiders, which subsequently sent the Steelers to the playoffs.
Click image for more.
2. Furthering women’s sports, celebrity women all over the country have been investing in NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) teams. Washington Spirit investors Jenna Bush Hager and Chelsea Clinton joined Los Angeles Angel FC owners Natalie Portman, Jennifer Garner, Billie Jean King and Eva Longoria, to name a few. Tennis star Naomi Osaka purchased a stake in the North Carolina Courage. Patrick Mahomes’ fiancée Brittany Matthews is a co-owner of the Kansas City expansion team.
The league saw increased viewer numbers this season.
Click image for more.
3. For just a moment, the man who seemingly has it all together did not. The vegan health nut Tom Brady had a little bit of fun at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) boat parade celebrating their Super Bowl win and had to be carried off by security. Brady launched the Lombardi Trophy to another boat during the parade and allegedly had some tequila. Either way, he had no problem poking a little fun at himself afterward. And neither did anyone else.
Click image for more.
4. Atlanta Braves (MLB - Major League Baseball) Joc Pederson rallied his team and city with a pearl necklace. He started wearing a pearl necklace for whatever reason, and then he played lights out while wearing it. The Braves beat the Houston Astros to win the World Series, all while their fans, including grown men, wore pearl necklaces to the game in support of their team.
5. We’ve seen some pretty horrendous penalties for losing a fantasy football league but making Lee Sanderlin spend 24 hours in a Waffle House ranks right up there with body waxing and tattoos on the list. Sanderlin had to spend 24 hours at the local Waffle House, but there was a caveat. He could shave off an hour for every waffle he ate. Sanderlin took to Twitter to pass the time, and his journey went viral. A ‘mere’ 9 waffles, and 15 hours later, he was free. And not a moment too soon.
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkward out of the conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We break down what's happening in sports in an easy-to-understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon, so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or networking event switches to sports.
You can always catch us between podcasts at www.lastnightsgame.com or on social media. If you love us, make sure to leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts.
LIKE US? SHARE US WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
The Most Memorable Sports Moments Of 2021
A year worth revisiting.
PHOTO: Instagram/Caeleb Dressel
(Podcast length - 5:22 mins)
In some ways, 2021 might have felt a bit like a reboot of 2020, but there were so many moments to be excited about. Let's look back before diving headfirst into 2022.
1. The college sports landscape changed forever with the July ruling that allowed athletes to be paid for their name, image and likeness (NIL). Athletes like the Cavinder twins who play women's basketball at Fresno State were the first to take advantage of the ruling. Some athletes like Michigan running back Blake Corum and Iowa lineman Tyler Linderbaum used their NIL money to benefit a good cause, not just their wallets. GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT?
2. Mental health became a dinner table topic thanks to athletes like Simone Biles (gymnastics), Naomi Osaka (tennis) and Lane Johnson (NFL). Johnson took a leave from the Philadelphia Eagles to face his battle with depression head-on. Osaka withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon to focus on her well-being. But the world saw just how the pressure impacted an athlete when Simone Biles battled the "twisties" in the Summer Olympics. She put her safety and her team first, withdrawing from the women's gymnastics all-around competition. BRAINS > BRAWN
3. Sports fans continued to realize what so many already knew, women's sports are the place to be. Not only did viewer ratings soar for the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association), women's college basketball championship game and the NWSL (National Women's Soccer League), but we saw the first college softball game on a major national network. The NFL and MLB (Major League Baseball) added more female coaches and front-office executives. In 2022, look for the women's college basketball tournament to use the coveted "March Madness" title for the first time. HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
4. The year brought us athletes who seem to get better with age. Tom Brady won the Super Bowl with his new team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL – National Football League), in February at age 43. (And then celebrated with maybe one too many shots at the championship boat parade). At 46, Helio Castroneves won the Indy 500, and Phil Mickelson showed off his impressive 50-year-old calves on his way to a PGA (Professional Golfers Association) Championship win. AGE-DEFYING
5. The delayed 2020 Summer Olympics gave the world the positivity and excitement we'd all been missing. COVID precautions meant athletes' families had to watch from the comfort of their couches, too, but the stories of athletes like Caeleb Dressel, Suni Lee and Katie Ledecky all brought us to our feet. The US topped the medal count with 113 total medals, 39 gold, including one from the US Men's Basketball Team, who continued their medal streak. WORLD’S GREATEST
Bonus:
If you’re a fan of F1 (Formula One) Racing, then you likely caught the race of the century when Max Verstappen beat out seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton for the 2021 championship. But did you know that Hamilton, the only Black F1 driver, is also a fan of fashion? He purchased a table at the Met Gala, which runs around $275,000, and filled it with three emerging Black designers to grow their reach. SMOOTH MOVE
Links:
Sports Curious presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkward out of the conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We break down what's happening in sports in an easy-to-understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or a networking event switches to sports.
You can always catch us between podcasts at www.lastnightsgame.com or on social media. If you love us, make sure to leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you have feedback or questions, you can email Amy at amy@lastnightsgame.com.
LIKE US? SHARE US WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
What You Need To Know About Sports Most Fashionable Night - The ESPYs
Athletes ditch their jerseys for couture this Saturday, July 10.
Photo: Instagram/Lindsey Vonn
(Podcast length - 5:10 mins)
The ESPYs are like the Golden Globes – you get the best of both worlds. It’s the one night of the year where athletes and celebrities gather to celebrate the achievements in the world of sports while giving us the summer red carpet we’ve all been missing.
Transcript
1. Typically, the awards show takes place on a Wednesday in July after the MLB (Major League Baseball) All-Star Game, referred to as “Black Wednesday,” the one day a year where there are no live sports. This year, with leagues playing COVID adjusted schedules, there is no dark day to hold the event. So that means there will likely be no Olympians, MLB (Major League Baseball) or WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) players or members of the Phoenix Suns or Milwaukee Bucks who are playing in the NBA (National Basketball Association) Finals in attendance. There’s a chance the Stanley Cup Finals (NHL - National Hockey League) will be over by then, but it’s not a sure bet. ZOOM CALL
2. Just because there will be no Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird sighting on the red carpet, it doesn’t mean you’ll be disappointed. The fashion game will undoubtedly be impressive when Lindsey Vonn, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, Russell Wilson and Ciara and LeBron James (likely promoting Space Jam 2) step into the spotlight. BEST ESPY LOOKS
3. Unlike the Oscars, where you’ve never heard of most of the movies, the fans get a say who receives some of the awards like the best athlete in women’s sports, best game and best team. EVERY VOTE COUNTS
4. ESPN can put together a video package that’ll pull at your heartstrings while leaving you inspired, and the awards at the ESPYs are no different. Here’s a quick summary of each of the major awards:
Chris Nikic, the first person with Down syndrome to complete a full IRONMAN triathlon, will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.
Four-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic medalist Maya Moore will receive the Arthur Ashe Award Courage Award. She is being recognized for her work to free Jonathan Irons, who she felt was wrongly convicted of a crime. She stepped away from her career to work to free him. (Ultimately, he was released).
Manchester United (European soccer) star Marcus Rashford rallied Parliament during COVID to support children who received free lunch pre-pandemic, securing a $556 million grant to provide meals into 2021. For his work that impacted 1.7 million children, he will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
5. Actor Anthony Mackie, known for his many movie roles but especially in the Marvel series, will add ESPY host to his lengthy resume. Mackie is expected to poke fun at some of the best athletes on the planet in his opening monologue, which could be scarier than any script he’s encountered. Unlike most red carpet events, this one will take place at The Rooftop at Pier 17 at the Seaport in New York City. GET YOUR GAME FACE ON
Links:
Sports Curious presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkward out of the conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We break down what's happening in sports in an easy-to-understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or a networking event switches to sports.
You can always catch us between podcasts at www.lastnightsgame.com or on social media. If you love us, make sure to leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you have feedback or questions, you can email Amy at amy@lastnightsgame.com.
LIKE US? SHARE US WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
Athletes Who Own Professional Sports Teams
Only the best will do.
Photo: Instagram/David Beckham
(Podcast length - 5 mins)
Have money make money?
Transcript
1. Athletes and the biggest names in Hollywood love investing in women’s sports, especially the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League). Angel City FChas the most notable investors, including Jennifer Garner, Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria and athletes Mia Hamm, Serena Williams, Candace Parker and her daughter Lailaa and tennis icon and activist Billie Jean King. Not to be outdone, NHL (National Hockey League) superstar Alex Ovechkin (Washington Spirit) and the No. 2 tennis player in the world (and the highest-paid female athlete ever) Naomi Osaka, is now an owner of North Carolina Courage. SMART INVESTING
2. The hot ticket item (after an NWSL team) is buying a stake in a NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) team. Both Michael Jordan and Mr. Worldwide himself, Pitbull, became owners of a NASCAR team before this year’s season started. Jordan’s team is a new team led by the only Black driver in the pro circuit of NASCAR, Bubba Wallace. The car features Jordan’s longtime jersey number No. 23. Pitbull is the co-owner of the Trackhouse Racing Team, which has the No. 99 car of Daniel Suarez. FAST MONEY
3. Joining Justin Timberlake as an NBA (National Basketball Association) owner are the NFL’s (National Football League) Larry Fitzgerald (Phoenix Suns) and Aaron Rodgers (Milwaukee Bucks). Former NBA players Shaquille O’Neal (Sacramento Kings) and Dwyane Wade (Utah Jazz) have diversified their assets with team ownership. HOOP DREAMS
4. One sport that you might not think of is Esports. The sport is the fastest growing sport globally, with viewers watching more than 2.1 billion hours of Esports videos worldwide. You may have heard of cities across the country building dedicated Esports arenas, and that’s why. David Beckham, also the owner of Inter Miami CF (MLS), launched Guild Esports in 2020. The company has already gone public on the London Stock Exchange. He joins the long list of athlete investors in Esports, including Steph Curry (Team SoloMid), Alex Rodriguez (NRG Esports), Michael Jordan (aXiomatic), Michael Strahan (NRG Esports) and Mike Tyson (Team Fade 2 Karma). NUMBERS DON’T LIE
5. LeBron James has his hands in everything and it all seems to be turning to gold with his stake in Liverpool FC, who won the UEFA Championship in 2019. Also looking for a return on their investment is the NBA’s Kevin Durant, an owner of the Philadelphia Union (MLS – Major League Soccer). GOAL!
Sports Curious presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkward out of the conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We break down what's happening in sports in an easy-to-understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or a networking event switches to sports.
You can always catch us between podcasts at www.lastnightsgame.com or on social media. If you love us, make sure to leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you have feedback or questions, you can email Amy at amy@lastnightsgame.com.
LIKE US? SHARE US WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
Moms Who Made The Sports World Up Their Game
Don’t mess with these rockstar mamas.
Photo: Instagram/Alex Morgan
(Podcast length - 5:06 mins)
When being forced to choose between a family and their job, these women picked both and then paved the way for others to do the same.
Transcript
1. With some of the highest TV ratings we’ve seen in years, the University of Arizona Wildcats women’s basketball team lost to the Stanford women in the March Madness championship game. Leading those Wildcats was former WNBA player, head coach Adia Barnes. Barnes, who inspired women everywhere in her quest for her dream job, coaches alongside her husband and is a mom to two children. During halftime, she was not only giving a pep talk to her team but also pumping as she’s still nursing her six-month-old daughter. Barnes shed light on the NCAA’s rules that have stifled working moms. Coaches’ children, such as Barnes’ six-month-old daughter, counted against a team's limited traveling party numbers, which means she had to choose between her children and a member of her staff. MAKING IT HAPPEN
2. Mom was the word last year at the U.S. Open (tennis), with nine moms qualifying for the tournament. Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Tsvetana Pironkova made history as the first trio of mothers to reach the quarterfinals of the same Grand Slam. The WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) has stepped up with new policies to support new moms (or expecting), including a new ranking policy and adjusting the dress code. Women on the tour will not be penalized or prohibited from wearing leggings or compression shorts without a skirt, dress or shorts over them at WTA tournaments. REAL HEROES WEAR LEGGINGS
3. We’re seeing the progress in women’s sports in adopting maternity policies for their players. Before these policies were put into place, you had stars like Skylar Diggins-Smith, who played an entire WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) season while pregnant and didn’t tell anyone. In fact, it was such a great season for her that she was named to the all-star team. After the birth of her son, she was criticized for taking two months off from the season due to postpartum depression. Because of players like Diggins-Smith, the new collective bargaining agreement features full salary on maternity leave, a childcare accommodation and new, progressive family planning benefits. CUT THE GAL SOME SLACK
4. Olympic track star Allyson Felix made an impact on the track, winning six Olympic gold medals, but it’s what she did off the track that has shaped her legacy. The previously Nike-sponsored athlete took on the company, saying that she would be financially penalized for having a child per her contract. (Her daughter was born via emergency c-section in 2018). She was so fed up with their lack of support for female athletes that she left Nike for Athleta. Felix isn’t the only athlete worried about being dropped for having a child – it’s a far too common practice. NIKE has since changed its policies and they will not apply any performance-related reductions for 18 months if an athlete becomes pregnant. A FORCE FOR CHANGE
5. U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team co-captain Alex Morgan was one of the few athletes that were okay with the delay in the Olympics because it gave her more time with her newborn baby. The co-captain isn’t slowing down, signing with Tottenham Hotspur in England and then returning home to the Orlando Pride (NWSL – National Women’s Soccer League). She’s racking up the goals for both her club team and the USWNT as they prepare for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Players like Morgan will be able to utilize the new maternity policies put in place by FIFA (the governing body of international soccer). IT’S A START
Sports Curious presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkward out of the conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We break down what's happening in sports in an easy-to-understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or a networking event switches to sports.
You can always catch us between podcasts at www.lastnightsgame.com or on social media. If you love us, make sure to leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you have feedback or questions, you can email Amy at amy@lastnightsgame.com.