LAST NIGHT'S GAME 9/7/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 9/7/22

What You Need To Know To Shine This NFL Season

Giving you the tools to survive and thrive in America's favorite season

(Podcast length 4:39 mins)

The NFL (National Football League) is back, and just like that, there goes your Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and sometimes Saturdays.

1. We're used to seeing players change teams, but the broadcaster shuffle in the off-season was unprecedented. The top duo at FOX, Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, bolted for ESPN and “Monday Night Football.” College GameDay mainstay Kirk Herbstreit ventures into the NFL with Amazon Prime on Thursday nights. He joins longtime “Sunday Night Football” broadcaster Al Michaels. Lastly, Cris Collinsworth gets new teammates on “Sunday Night Football” on NBC with Mike Tirico (you might also recognize him from NBC's Olympics coverage) and Melissa Stark. COMING TO A TV NEAR YOU

2. The Washington Commanders (formerly known as the Washington Football Team) have one of the worst stadiums in the NFL, but they also hold the record for the highest-priced "cheapest" beer at $14. The team ownership has been in hot water in the off-season, with the owner subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee. COLD BEER & COLD SHOULDER

3. The NFL will play its first-ever game in Germany. The league is bringing Tom Brady to rally fans when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Seattle Seahawks in Munich. There will be five international games this season, with the other games in London and Mexico City. AMERICAN FOOTBALL IS ON THE MOVE

4. Regarding on-field performance, the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the favorites to reach Super Bowl. The oldest player in the league is leading the Bucs, Tom Brady, who signed a one-year extension with the team. Could this be his last season, as he's already signed a record-setting broadcast deal with FOX? Speaking of QBs, Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers is the back-to-back league MVP. Still, will his off-the-field activities (like ayahuasca consumption) distract him from the ultimate victory, a Super Bowl? GAME FACE

5. There are an unprecedented number of new head coaches this season - 10. The most notable change is Todd Bowles. Bowles spent years at the New York Jets in his first head coaching job going 24-40 before joining the Bucs under head coach Bruce Arians. Now he's leading the charge at the Buccaneers, taking over for Arians. Luckily having Tom Brady at quarterback and Arians' staff still on board should make for a winning (dare we say Super Bowl winning) combination. FAMILIAR FACE

Don't think we forgot about the women of the NFL. We dedicated next week's podcast to these talented women.

How to watch

How to watch an NFL game became a little more confusing this year with more platforms joining the lineup. "Thursday Night Football" can be seen exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, Sunday's games on FOX and CBS with "Sunday Night Football" on NBC and Peacock. "Monday Night Football" will remain on ESPN. TUNE IN

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 8/31/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 8/31/22

The 5 Things You Need To Know About The College Football Season

Sayanora summer and hello to fall, football and pumpkin spice lattes

(Podcast length 3:28 mins)

Saturdays are for football, friends and food. This week's podcast covers everything you need to survive college football season

Transcript

1. Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) has changed the landscape of college sports since being announced last year. Restaurant chain Hooters signed 51 offensive linemen. Plenty of players are making money but none like Alabama quarterback and defending Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young who is bringing home an estimated $3.2M. GETTING PAID

2. The Saturday morning staple, ESPN's "College GameDay," has a new addition - Peloton instructor Jess Sims. She will join the familiar faces of Gameday Rece Davis, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit. NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

3. Here are three storylines to follow on the field. Look for leading Heisman Trophy candidates Ohio State's quarterback C.J. Stroud and Alabama's quarterback Bryce Young to lead their team on the field. Former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley made a hasty exit from Oklahoma last year and is now living the California life as the head coach of USC Football. The Georgia Bulldogs are the reigning champions. FAST AND FURIOUS

4. Well, this is awkward. Major programs like Oklahoma, Texas, USC and UCLA have announced they are leaving their conferences, but not for a few years. HELLO, GOODBYE

5. You can't talk football without talking about tailgating. Unsurprisingly, the average tailgater is a male between 25-44 years old who spends over $500 a year on tailgating food by attending or hosting 6-10 parties a season. But that number may rise this year as beer prices have gone up 5% and groceries up 13%. MORE BEER, LESS FOOD

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 8/24/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 8/24/22

Celebrities You'd Never Guess Own Sports Teams

Forget the red carpet, on the field (or court) is the place to be.

(Podcast length 4:47 mins)

Being an owner of a sports team - this could be the longest relationship some of these celebs have ever had.

Transcript

1. The Miami Dolphins are a tough NFL (National Football League) franchise to be a fan of, as they've had some rough seasons over the past few years, but that hasn't scared away big names from buying into the ownership group. Fergie, Gloria Estefan, Jimmy Buffet, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Venus and Serena Williams. Lopez lost the team ownership in her divorce from Anthony. Venus and Serena became part-owners of the Miami Dolphins, thus making them the first African American females to own part of an NFL team. SO THERE'S THAT

2. Buying a NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) team has been all the rage lately, with Michael Jordan, Pitbull and boxer Floyd Mayweather joining the ranks of team owners. But the OG was David Letterman, who bought into what is now Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 1996. The team competes in the IndyCar and SportsCar Championship Series and previously won the Indianapolis 500 in 2004 and 2020. START YOUR ENGINES

3. Forget the red carpet; the soccer sidelines are where it's at. Will Ferrell played an athlete in "Blades of Glory" and "Talladega Nights," but in real life, the Los Angeles native is a part-owner of LAFC – Los Angeles Football Club (MLS – Major League Soccer). Ferrell bought into the team in 2016, two years before its MLS debut. Other celebs who also have a stake in a professional soccer team include Angel City FC (NWSL – National Women's Soccer League) owners Natalie Portman, Jessica Chastain, Uzo Aduba, Eva Longoria, Gabrielle Union, Jennifer Garner, Christina Aguilera, tennis legends Billie Jean King and Serena Williams, to name a few. Also an NWSL team, the Washington Spirit, boasts Jenna Bush Hager, Chelsea Clinton and Dominique Dawes as investors. KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL

4. Usher had no ties to Cleveland, Ohio, until he bought into the Cleveland Cavaliers (National Basketball Association). He bought in shortly after the team drafted a young LeBron James, who took the team to five NBA Finals and one championship in 2016. According to Forbes, Usher paid $9M for his share of an ownership group that spent $375M to become minority owners. CLEVELAND ROCKS

5. Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Justin Timberlake and Destiny Child's Michelle Williams also own a piece of a basketball team. Williams is a minority owner of her hometown team, the Chicago Sky (Women's National Basketball Association). Besides Usher, she is also the only professional basketball team owner in this piece who can boast a championship ring. Memphis native Timberlake is a 2.8% owner of the Memphis Grizzlies (NBA). Will and Jada round out our list as minority owners of the Philadelphia 76ers. The two are part of an ownership group that, as a whole, paid $280 million for the franchise. IN WEST PHILADELPHIA BORN AND RAISED

Honorable mention goes to the inspiration for this post, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who purchased soccer team Wrexham FC in 2020. A new documentary, "Welcome To Wrexham," on FX starting August 24, 2022, highlights the actors' purchase of the third oldest professional soccer club in the world.

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 8/17/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 8/17/22

5 Tips To Avoid The Intimidation That Is Fantasy Football

Here’s how to talk shop. Athletic ability (or football knowledge) is not required.

LISTEN ON Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Stitcher

Listen on soundcloud

(Podcast length - 5:13 mins)

Being a fantasy football pro doesn’t have to be a fantasy at all. So much of it is luck and knowing a few key strategies. There’s nothing wrong with embracing the way you want to pick your team and enjoying the game.

Transcript

1. The “sport” of fantasy football was originally developed in 1962, but modern fantasy football started in 1999 when Yahoo! offered an online league. Now players can create teams using ESPN or other sports apps and make some dough with online betting sites like DraftKings, although sports betting sites are still illegal in a few states. BETTING IT ALL

2. It’s a male-dominated sport, with men making up over 80% of the 60 million participants. But don’t look now because women are whipping up teams of their own. Just because some men want to debate the 1982 Super Bowl champions doesn’t mean that means that’s required to enjoy a fantasy football league. Women have to remember their mother-in-law’s birthday and the neighbor’s cat’s name, so there is no need to use those brain cells up with useless football factoids. There are whole leagues and even businesses dedicated to helping female football fans (like our women’s only league) join in on the fun. YOU GOT THIS

3. Fantasy football is usually fun, but some leagues aren’t for the faint of heart. They take it very seriously, and there’s a punishment for coming in last. The penalties include spending 24 hours at a Waffle House (seriously), buying drinks for the entire next football season, doing standup at a local open mic night or waxing of the nether regions (by a professional, of course, because what are we animals)? THAT’S GOING TO LEAVE A MARK

4. Picking a team name is the best part but remember no one is intimidated by the “Unicorn Underdogs.” Luckily for you, there are massive lists of names out there for inspiration. Some of our favorites? Blitz Creek, Sacks and the City, Game of Throws, Drinkers with a Kicking Problem, Teddy Throwsevelt and Real Housewife Who Fantasizes. CLEVER EH?

5. Our biggest pointer for first-time fantasy football players is: don’t forget to set your lineups once a week. You have up until your first player’s game starts to adjust. Remember, some teams play on Thursday night. With the average person spending $556 on entry fees, materials and prizes, you want to put your best foot(ball) forward. ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS

Bonus: If you play, you may hear the word PPR or points per reception. Some leagues use it and some don’t. It means every time your player catches the ball you are rewarded with a point.

Who is the commish, why do I care about bye weeks and what's the recipe for success? Check out our fantasy football 101 for the answers to all your questions.

Links:

Shop the swag

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 8/10/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 8/10/22

The Messiest Divorces In Sports

Don’t forget to fasten your prenup.

(Podcast length 5:25 mins)

We've been binging "Loot" starring Maya Rudolph (Apple TV+). The story shares similarities with the Jeff Bezos divorce and many other celebrity divorces. That got us thinking, what were the messiest divorces in the world of sports? Well, here we go.

Transcript

Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren

The marriage between Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren was riddled with numerous affairs with a side of prescription drugs. But it all culminated in 2009 when Tiger Woods crashed his SUV. You might remember Nordegren used a golf club to smash the back window to get Woods out of the car. Nordegren's divorce filing came shortly after that. Woods admitted he was in the wrong, and she walked away with a rumored $100M settlement. Woods has only won one major since his divorce. KARMA?

Marylin Monroe and Joe DiMaggio

While Marylin Monroe and baseball's Joe DiMaggio were married in a quiet ceremony at City Hall in San Francisco, the quiet didn't last long. The couple's level of fame may have been their demise. Monroe tearfully told reporters that she was seeking a divorce from DiMaggio on the grounds of "mental cruelty." Initially drawn to her goddess-like ways, he was not okay with her flaunting it. Even after the divorce and her tragic death, DiMaggio still held onto their love. According to a Vanity Fair article, DiMaggio spoke about his ex-wife in his final words on his deathbed in 1999, "I'll finally get to see Marilyn." NO END TO LOVE

Hulk and Linda Hogan

Hulk Hogan and his wife Linda appeared to be a happy family on their TV show "Hogan Knows Best." After 24 years of marriage and allegations he cheated with their daughter's friend, the divorce came along with a lengthy, nasty court battle. It became messy again after that, with Linda dating Charley Hill, who was 19 at the time. Hill proposed to Linda on an episode of "Celebrity Therapy." They broke up, but he sued her for treating him like a laborer during their relationship. Hulk remarried, but they parted ways in early 2022. HULKMANIA

Scottie and Larsa Pippen

The bitter divorce of Larsa and former NBA (National Basketball Association) player Scottie Pippen spent a better part of the last few years in the headlines. Larsa filed for divorce again in November 2018 amid rumors the "Real Housewives of Miami" and former “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” guest star had an affair with rapper Future. The drama escalated when Larsa was pictured with another NBA player, Malik Beasley, who was married with a child. The divorce between the Pippens was finalized in December 2021. ONWARD AND UPWARD

Frank and Jamie McCourt

The divorce between Frank and Jamie McCourt was something out of a movie. Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt separated from his wife of 30 years, Jamie, but it was a little awkward. You see, Jamie was the CEO of the team, and she was fired one week after the couple's separation was announced. So she filed for divorce. The public battle ensued. Long, bitter story short, she walked away with $131M and real estate assets, a far cry from half of what Frank sold the Dodgers for in 2012 - $2.5B. The two signed their divorce agreement in 2011 when the team was bankrupt. TAKE ME OUT TO THE COURTHOUSE

Honorable mention goes to three dissolutions of marriage. The first is Michael Jordan's divorce from his wife Juanita, one of the most expensive celebrity divorces of all time. Then in a story too weird that we had to mention it: New York Yankees Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich held separate press conferences during spring training in 1973, announcing they had traded wives. Entire families, actually, including dogs.

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 8/3/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 8/3/22

The Kardashian's Love Affair With Sports

The Kardashians have a long history with the world of sports.

(Podcast length 4:00 mins)

It's not all basketball and breakups; they also have their eye on the business of sports.

Transcript

1. First, we have to acknowledge the elephant in the room – there has been a fair share of relationships with athletes, primarily with the players of the NBA (National Basketball Association). We were all sad to see Devin Booker and Kendall Jenner break up, although rumors are they are back together. Then there was Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. Kim also dated international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and don't forget about NFL (National Football League) player Reggie Bush. The Khloe Kardashian-Lamar Odom drama seemed intense until we met Tristian Thompson. HEARTBREAK HOTEL

2. Kim's underwear, shapewear and loungewear company SKIMS outfitted all of Team USA in its loungewear and undergarments at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. They continued their collaboration into the Winter Games, equipping all female members of Team USA in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games with lounge and sleepwear to wear in their downtime. TEAM SPIRIT

3. Let's not forget about Caitlyn Jenner and the patriarch Robert Kardashian. Robert became a household name after being a part of NFL player O.J. Simpson's defense team. He passed away in 2003. Jenner graced the cover of the coveted Wheaties box after winning a gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics. LEGENDS

4. After the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in November 2021, Kim Kardashian partnered with a New York Rabbi and a U.K soccer club to evacuate members of the Afghanistan's women's youth development soccer team and their families to Britain. A plane charted by Kim carried 130 people to an airport near London where the English Premier League club, Leeds United, offered support to the teenage athletes. FORCE FOR GOOD

5. As daughters of an Olympian, Kendall and Kylie have dabbled in athletic contests. Kylie revealed she played on a boy's football team. Kendall certainly has the athletic spirit in her blood, saying, "Every blood test I have ever done has said that I am, like, over the normal limit of athleticness." Kim has left her mark on the sports world, serving as a cover model for this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. And it was so fast you may have missed it, but Kim’s face appeared on the hood of a NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) car promoting her fragrance line. BRANDING AT ITS BEST

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 7/27/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 7/27/22

Hilarious and Ridiculous Reasons Athletes Have Used When Failing A Drug Test

It wasn’t me.

(Podcast length 5:16 mins)

Failing a test is never fun, but athletes will say about anything to prove their innocence with their careers on the line. Here are the true stories of real, funny lies.

Transcript

1. New York Jets (NFL) player Jeremy Kerley blamed ghosts for his failed drug test. He stated that “There’s a lot of ghosts around here. Ghost put it in there. You know, the ghost of Christmas past? … I don’t know.” That didn’t work and he was suspended for four games. BOO

2. Passionate kisses from bad women. Yes, more than one athlete has used this excuse. A Canadian pole vaulter (he tested positive for cocaine, not steroids – totally different) and an American track and field athlete were both allowed to compete after using this excuse. IF IT WORKS

3. French runner Fatima Yvelain, a 2000 Olympian, said a positive drug test at a half-marathon was due to heavy rainfall. Specifically, the rain washed "unidentified medical waste" onto the course, then to her shoes and then splashed and soaked her shorts. The substance from the soaked shorts tainted the test, she claimed. The French federation rejected her reasoning. UM, WHAT?

4. Cyclist Tyler Hamilton blamed his failed drug test on his vanishing twin. He said he absorbed the blood of his twin, who died in the womb, which caused him to fail the test. We can’t make this up. JUST NO

5. In the ultimate test of chivalry, Olympic champion Dennis Mitchell blamed his high testosterone levels on his wife. More specifically on “five bottles of beer and sex with his wife at least four times…it was her birthday, the lady deserved a treat.” No one bought this Rico Suave’s story and he was banned for two years. YOU WISH

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 7/20/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 7/20/22

Pickleball - The Sport That's Taking Over The Nation

From Vanity Fair articles to a comedic primetime special, Pickleball has gone mainstream.

(Podcast length 5:16 mins)

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. We've seen your notes asking us about the sport, and if we're being honest, we knew nothing about pickleball until doing this research. So here we go, diving in head first to Pickleball 101.

PS: We checked this info with actual pickleball players; therefore, you're in good hands.

Transcript

Before we get started, the basics:

It's a sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.
It's played indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net.
The game is played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes, similar to a Wiffle ball.
It can be played as doubles or singles, and your opponent doesn't have to be the same gender.

1. Pickleball has gone mainstream - major sports brands are selling pickleball gear, sponsoring pickleball players, and networks like CBS broadcast games. The New York Times declared pickleball "ready for prime time," Vanity Fair has covered the sport, and the sport will be the focus of a comedic primetime special called Pickled, set to air on CBS and Paramount+ later this year. USA Pickleball Membership had over 53,000 members at the end of 2021, a 43% increase from the previous year and the organization's largest single growth year. PICKLEDOME

2. Everybody is playing it. They're all picking up a racket from the Kardashians to Melinda Gates, Michael Phelps, Ellen DeGeneres, Jamie Foxx, Owen Wilson, Russell Wilson to Drew Brees. Leonardo DiCaprio plays every day—by his own rules, naturally. His game is "like a free-for-all," one L.A.-based showrunner confided to Vanity Fair. The best pickleball story is about an unsuspecting Pittsburgh mom who ended up playing with members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, including TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. BIG FANS

3. The genesis of pickleball dates back to 1965 on Bainbridge Island, WA (near Seattle). Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washington State and his friends Bill Bell and Barney McCallum came up with the sport because their kids were bored with their usual summertime activities. Pickleball has evolved from original handmade equipment and simple rules to the sport it is today, where it's played by official university pickleball teams, to the National Senior Games to the Pickleball National Championships with 2,300 registered players. OLYMPICS NEXT?

4. Although a great story, the game is not named after the Pritchard family dog, Pickles. (Pickles wasn't alive in 1965). The sport's name is in reference to the local pickle boat races. Yes, college crew "Pickle Boats" inspired the game's name, but Joel Pritchard confessed he used to confirm the dog story as a funny newspaper interview hoax. LAUGHING WITH YOU, NOT AT YOU, REPORTERS

5. Some terms to throw around if you're picking up a paddle at one of the 8,500 locations on the USA Pickleball's Places2Play map are similar to what you might hear in tennis, like ace and backhand. Then there's the non-volley zone (NVZ or "The Kitchen"), a seven-foot area on either side of the net where players cannot volley the ball. It includes all lines surrounding the zone. At worst, yell "pickle!" before serving, the universal warning the server shouts to alert players that they are about to serve. TALKING SHOP

If you want more on pickleball, this is an excellent resource or here's a five-minute video that goes over the rules.

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 7/13/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 7/13/22

Break Out Your Spandex - The 5 Things To Know About The Tour De France

This isn't your mama's spin class.

(Podcast length 4:22 mins)

This isn't your mama's spin class.

Transcript

Overview - The Tour de France is the world's biggest annual sporting event with 3.5 billion television viewers and over 12 million spectators annually. It started on July 1 and runs through July 24. It covers over 2,000 miles and features 22 teams of eight riders. There are 21 stages (i.e., mountain or flat) that make up the race. Out of the 23 days of the Tour, the riders only have two days of rest.

1. Until the 1960s, it was common for participants to drink alcohol to hydrate and numb the pain. Despite its 'healing power,' alcohol was later banned because it's a stimulant. BRAKE FOR BOOZE

2. It's not all about the benjamins. After enduring three weeks of grueling terrain through four countries (Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland and France), the winner takes home a check for $502,000. (For comparison sake, the Wimbledon winners each won $2.01 million). The man to beat for the cash prize is two-time winner Tadej Pogačar. CASHING IN

3. While you may fly solo while spinning away on your Peloton at home, in the Tour, a big group of riders grouped together is called the peloton, or French for "group." Other terms you might enjoy dropping into conversation include a musket bag, a shoulder bag containing food and water handed to riders at feeding stations. Then there's a SAG wagon. You and I might know it as an Uber, but it's a vehicle that follows cyclists and picks them up when they can no longer ride, whether from fatigue, injury, equipment failure, etc. OUI

4. Seven Americans are vying for one of the illustrious jerseys, the most American riders in 13 years. Why the different colored jerseys? The overall leader in the Tour wears the yellow jersey, the points leader wears a green jersey, and the red polka dot jersey goes to the best hill climber. SO FASHION-FORWARD

5. A team to watch. Ahead of the start of the race, Team Bahrain Victorious faced their second police raid in a week. This time the raid was from the Danish authorities, which stems from an ongoing doping investigation launched by the French authorities during last year's Tour de France. Europol made several raids across Europe a few days before at key staff and riders' homes. STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR

Bonus: When Le Tour is over, the excitement doesn't stop. The Tour de France Femmes, the highly anticipated new stage race for pro-women, runs from July 24-31. The eight-stage race packs in 640 miles starting in Paris, across northeastern France, and into the Vosges mountains.

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 7/6/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 7/6/22

True Crimes - Athletes Edition

Serving up championships with a side of murder.

(Podcast length 5:28 mins)

They might be invincible on the field, but not in the eyes of the law.

Transcript

1. During his career, Chicago Bears (NFL – National Football League) wide receiver Sam Hurd was the head of a high-level drug-dealing operation. It appeared he thought he was invincible. How so? Before being arrested, one of his associates was pulled over with $88,000 in cash while driving Hurd's car. Hurd had the guts to ask for the money back. He knew the police were onto him, but he refused to believe that police could wiretap cell phones from Mexico. He's serving out a 15-year sentence in Texas. NEW PHONE, WHO DIS?

2. Currently serving his 25-year sentence in a Moroccan prison is former UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighter Lee "Lightning" Murray. His former boss UFC President Dana White, once said, "He's a scary son of a b---h, and I don't mean fighter-wise." Murray was charged with being the mastermind of the largest bank heist in history - $100M. While the plan was flawlessly executed – the robbery took place without any injuries or even a bullet being fired. They weren't so bright afterward, where flubs like abandoned guns and cars and snitches were prevalent. Don't think this half-Moroccan citizen has let the downtime in the slammer go to waste. He tried to escape using tiny saws that were snuck inside of biscuits. WHERE THERE'S A WILL

3. The world fell in love with track and field star Oscar Pistorius, who was born with a congenital disability and had his lower legs amputated as an infant. In 2004, the "Blade Runner" won a gold medal at the Athens Paralympics and later competed in the 400-meter run at the 2012 London games. In 2013 he was arrested for shooting his girlfriend Reva Steenkamp multiple times through a bathroom door in his home on Valentine's Day. He was later found guilty of culpable homicide (the South African legal system's equivalent of manslaughter). He was sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison but is now eligible for parole. Although there's one sticking point before that happens. He has to meet with Steenkamp's parents, who have a right to do so under South Africa's victim-offender dialogue policy. Steenkamp’s parents can then make a recommendation to the parole board. NOT SO FAST

4. We've all stepped out of the house in our favorite outfits only to get something on them. The same happened to former NFL player Ray Lewis at a post-Super Bowl party. He and some friends got into a fight that left two people dead. Lewis was a suspect because he had blood on his suit and in his limo. The cream-colored suit became the storyline of the trial. Lewis said his suit was too nice to have committed murder, but the suit disappeared not long after the crime and is still MIA to this day. No one was charged with the murder, and Lewis ended up going to jail for obstruction of justice because he instructed his friends not to speak of the incident. SNITCHES GET STITCHES

5. The story of professional bodybuilders Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan is a little crazy. Titus had a bit of a storied past with drug-related arrests and parole violations. Then he met and married three-time Fitness Olympia runner-up Kelly Ryan, and it was all downhill from there. In 2005 police discovered the burned body of Melissa James, the couple's personal assistant. Ryan and Titus ran from the police for a week and were eventually arrested. They claimed James was stealing from them when she died of a drug overdose; they set her body on fire, abandoned it in a car and left town because they were afraid they would be accused of her death. James had been shot with a stun gun, given morphine, and strangled. In 2008, Titus was sentenced to between 21 and 55 years in prison, while Ryan was given two consecutive terms of 3 to 13 years. Ryan was released on parole in 2017. NOT SO SMART CRIMINALS

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 6/29/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 6/29/22

The Independence Day Tradition That Makes Us Want To Puke

An American tradition unlike any other.

(Podcast length 5 mins)

After fireworks and listening to Whitney Houston’s rendition of the National Anthem on repeat, this is our favorite 4th of July tradition.

1. In a tradition unlike any other, our nation will celebrate its birthday with the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. The contest will be returning to its home at Nathan’s flagship restaurant on Coney Island after two years of being away, thanks to COVID. Why hot dogs? According to Nathan’s legend has it that on July 4, 1916, four immigrants gathered at the very first Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand on Coney Island and made eating contest history. As the story goes, they competed to see who was the most patriotic. The winner was determined with a hot dog eating contest. BUT OF COURSE

2. Let’s talk about what everyone is thinking about – vomiting. An eater who has "a Roman incident" or “reversal of fortune,” as it is so delightfully called, will be disqualified if the result of that incident touches the plate or table. After the contest, eaters can dispose of the food however they’d like, although some contests have a post-binge wait period. MAKE SURE NOT TO SIT IN THE SPLASH ZONE

3. This isn't college; the competitors don't show up just for the food. The winner out of the dog-downing competitors will take home $10,000. Want to bet on it? That can be done. You can also bet whether PETA will interrupt the contest or not or if there will be a “reversal of fortune.” One thing that’s a sure winner, Nathan’s will continue their annual tradition of donating 100,000 hot dogs to the Food Bank of New York. EATING FOR GOOD

4. The crowd of 35,000 people might be just what 14-time champion Joey Chestnut needs to beat his record 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes set last year. He reveals what happens to his body post-contest, and it’s gross (his sweat smells like hot dogs). He is one of 18 men to compete for the mustard belt. Chestnut has won the champion’s belt every year since 2007, except for 2015. He also holds the record for the most hard-boiled eggs eaten in 10 minutes at 151. IRON STOMACH

5. Don’t worry, this sport isn’t only for the boys. Miki Sudo won seven straight years until last year when she missed the competition because she was pregnant with her first child. But don’t worry, she’s back. Only three women, Sudo, Sonya Thomas and last year’s champ, Michelle Lesco, have won the women’s competition since it started in 2011. STEP UP TO THE PLATE

You can catch the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on ESPN from 10:45 ET to 1 pm ET on July 4.

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 6/22/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 6/22/22

Why Players Wear White And All About Rufus The Hawk - Behind The Scenes Of Wimbledon 2022

The biggest tournament on grass is serving up plenty of champs with a side of tradition.

(Podcast length 4 mins)

The oldest tennis tournament in the world is steeped in history, but that doesn't stop the common folk like us from enjoying a match, traditional Pimm's or donning our Wimbledon whites.

Transcript

1. The prestigious tournament has a strict dress code, requiring players to wear all white. (Rumor has it was that it was because it didn't show sweat like other colors). Now we all know that nothing ruins your summer whites like bird poop. Luckily you don't have to worry about that at Wimbledon. Rufus is a specially trained hawk that keeps those pooping pigeons away from the grounds. Like a good predator, Rufus flies above the grounds for one hour, around 9:00 am most mornings, before the gates open to keep the birds away. EYES LIKE A HAWK

2. The biggest news about Wimbledon is who isn’t going to be there. The tournament banned Russian and Belarusian athletes due to the invasion of Ukraine. Men’s No. 1 ranked player Daniil Medvedev is Russian and therefore will not be in attendance. In turn, the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) and the WTA (Women's Tennis Association) have decided not to award points to players in the tournament that will go towards world rankings, leaving some players wondering if it’s worth playing.

If you’re looking for someone to cheer for, Serena Williams, 40, is back playing in her first tournament since 2021. She is striving to tie the record of 24 major titles. (Wimbledon is the third major of the year). Rafael Nadal could tie Williams’ record of 23 majors if he wins at Wimbledon. RECORDS WERE MADE TO BE TIED

3. The tennis balls are replaced every seven to nine games to ensure they’re in perfect shape. It’s no wonder more than 53,000 tennis balls are used during the two-week tournament. But did you know tennis balls used to be white or black, not yellow? Changing them to yellow made it easier for the TV viewer to see the ball, but Wimbledon was a late adopter of the color change, waiting until the 80s. HOLY BALLS

4. Did you know that Wimbledon is the largest single annual sporting event in Europe from a catering perspective? In previous years, spectators consumed over 276,000 glasses of Pimm’s to wash down 18,061 servings of fish and chips. The tournament has served 4,242 servings of sushi and 6,147 servings of pasta to their racket-wielding athletes. WHO’S HUNGRY?

5. Grunting is something no longer left to gremlins and grumpy old men. Even the classiest of tennis players vocalize their play. While you may think this is new, Monica Seles and Jimmy Connors are known as the original creators of the tennis grunt. The loudest one on the court? Russia's Maria Sharapova at 105 decibels – the equivalent of standing next to an accelerating motorcycle. THAT'S NOT AWKWARD AT ALL

Noted: The 135th edition of the Wimbledon Championships begins on Monday, June 27 in London, and will go on till Sunday, July 10.

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 6/15/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 6/15/22

Athletes Who Are The Definition Of Dad Goals

#raddads

(Podcast length 4:56 mins)

Just because these dads have careers that put them in the limelight doesn’t mean they don't know which job is most important.

Transcript

1. Retired NBA (National Basketball Association) player Dwyane Wade grew up in a challenging environment which taught him to "lead with love" as he raises sons Zaire, 20, and Xavier, 8, and daughters Zaya, 15, and Kaavia, 3, and his nephew Dahveon Morris, 20. He and his wife actress, Gabrielle Union, rallied around Zaya, who came out as transgender in 2020. He refers to Zaya as the "bravest" person he knows for sharing her story, "knowing there's other kids that are going through similar things, and knowing that they do not get the love and attention and the respect from their parents." The couple is also very open about their journey with surrogacy with Kaavia after struggling to conceive. FAMILY IS EVERYTHING

2. Denver Broncos (NFL – National Football League) quarterback Russell Wilson never had a chance to celebrate his illustrious career with his dad. His dad passed away shortly after he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies (MLB – Major League Baseball), and he never had a chance to see him play in the NFL. Wilson, married to singer Ciara, is dad to 1-year-old son Win Harrison, daughter Sienna Princess, 5, and son Future Zahir, 8, whom Ciara shares with ex Future. Wilson and Ciara not only invest in their own family but in children in their community through their Why Not You Foundation, which fights poverty through education and empowering youth to lead with a "why not you" attitude. ROLE MODEL

3. Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best soccer players of our generation, but the title that makes him most proud is "dad." Losing his father at a young age at 20 years old is a topic that brings him to tears. Ronaldo is the father to Cristiano Jr., 11, whose mother has not been revealed, five-year-old twins Evan and Mateo, born via surrogate, and Alana, 4, and one-month-old Bella with longtime girlfriend, Georgina Rodríguez. Ronaldo and Rodríguez lost Bella's infant's twin brother during childbirth. While he's used to being the rock, after the death of his son, soccer fans stepped up to support him, signing the song "You'll Never Walk Alone" during Ronaldo's first game back. RAISE 'EM UP

4. Most dads would do anything to help their kids achieve their dreams. Enter Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB). The beginning of last season wasn't going so well for Freeman. His son Charlie said, "Daddy, I'm gonna need you to start playing better so I can go to the All-Star Game and meet Fernando (Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres)." Freddie said, 'That's the only reason you want me to play better?" Charlie said yes, and the rest is history. Charlie had a chance to make his dreams come true by meeting Tatis and his other heroes at the 2021 MLB All-Star Game. Freddie then made his own dreams come true by winning the World Series with the Atlanta Braves. DREAM BIG

5. While you might disagree with his antics, LaVar Ball has taken a page from Kris Kardashian's book regarding his sons' successes. His undying belief in his offspring's abilities is second to none. Lonzo Ball was the second pick in the NBA Draft in 2017, Lamelo was the No. 3 pick in 2020 and LiAngelo is in the G League (the NBA's development league). Nobody markets like LaVar, but he's also not perfect, so we won't judge him on his Big Baller athletic apparel company and its' $800 shoes. ULTIMATE CHEERLEADER

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 6/7/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 6/7/22

5 Pride Month Sports Stories That We Love

Celebrating the world's LGBTQ communities.

(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

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 6/1/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 6/1/22

Cute Kids, Soaring Ratings And Louis Vuitton Luggage - What You Need To Know About The NBA Finals

Where passion, grit and talent unite to make some darn good TV.

(Podcast length 4:23 mins)

The NBA Finals – where passion, grit and talent unite to make some darn good TV. If you haven't had a chance to watch a game this season, now's your chance.

Transcript

1. If it seems like the Golden State Warriors are always in the finals, well, they are. This is their sixth appearance in eight years, and they're seeking their fourth title. They're taking on the Boston Celtics, who you may have seen in "Winning Time" on HBO as one of the league's most storied franchises. The Celtics have 17 championships, securing their last title in the 2007-2008 season. ALL IN DUE TIME

2. Despite blowout games and a lack of fan-favorite names like LeBron James, the ratings for the playoffs have been high with recognizable franchises like the Warriors and Celtics. The playoffs saw a 23% boost in viewers from last year when Milwaukee Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns. The ratings are up 102% over the 2020 delayed postseason. MUST-SEE TV

3. The coaches are in a league of their own. First, the outspoken head coach of the Warriors, Steve Kerr. An NBA veteran player with eight championships (five as a player and three as a coach), Kerr most recently made headlines for his passionate press conference after the Uvalde school shooting. Kerr's father was shot in killed in Beirut in the 80s and has been a longtime advocate for gun control. Celtics head coach Ime Udoka patiently waited to get his first NBA coaching job, and his team is in the finals. You might recognize his partner, actress Nia Long in the stands. The two share a 10-year-old son. BOSS MEN

4. Speaking of kids, in 2015, Riley Curry stole the spotlight from her dad Steph Curry when she crashed a Western Conference Finals press conference. Now that Riley is nine, look for Deuce Tatum, the four-year-old son of Celtics star Jayson Tatum to carry the torch. Deuce is a fixture on the sidelines and in the postgame locker room. THEY GROW UP SO FAST

5. The league has had a longtime partnership with Tiffany & Co., the makers of the Larry O'Brien trophy, named after the league's third commissioner. This year's trophy received a bit of a facelift that includes the net and ball shifted forward, which is a direct reference to the NBA's focus on the future. The trophy comes with its own Louis Vuitton travel case. WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY

Bonus: Besides Steph Curry and Jayson Tatum, a few players to look out for include the Celtics Al Horford, 36, who has played in more playoff games than anyone in history without making the finals. That is until this year. Marcus Smart from the Celtics is the defensive player of the year, so maybe he'll help slow down Curry.

Two of Curry's teammates on the Warriors to watch for are the outspoken Draymond Green, who predicted these two teams would meet in the finals. Then there's Klay Thompson, who missed the last two seasons with an injury. Coincidentally, those are the seasons the Warriors didn't win it all.

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 5/25/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 5/25/22

Snake Pits, Chugging Milk And EDM Concerts - Why The Indy 500 Is Worth Watching

Drive full-speed into Memorial Day weekend’s long-standing tradition.

Photo: Instagram/indianapolismotorspeedway

(Podcast length 4:50 mins)

Start your summer by cruising with the windows down, the wind blowing through your hair and a smile on your face. That’s how Indy fans prefer their Memorial Day weekend too.

Transcript

1. Move over Gatorade; milk is the drink of the winners at the Indianapolis 500. The tradition that involves the winner swigging milk began in 1936 with Louis Meyer, whose go-to drink after a win was a refreshing glass of milk. An overjoyed milk executive spotted the act, and the rest is history. Each driver picks their milk choice in advance should they win. The options include whole, two percent or fat-free milk. MILK…IT QUENCHES YOUR THIRST, SAID NO ONE EVER

2. Leading the pack in this year's race is veteran IndyCar driver and team owner Sarah Fisher who will drive the official pace car. Fisher raced in nine Indy 500s, the most of any female driver, and set the record of 229.439 mph, making her the fastest woman in Indy 500 history. Other notable figures at this year's race include the man who will start it all by waving the green flag, actor Miles Teller. He plays Rooster in the new "Top Gun: Maverick." Broadway actor and musician Jordan Fisher will sing the national anthem. THE NEED FOR SPEED

3. Something you never thought you'd want to know, yet here we are. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the world's largest spectator facilities, with more than 250,000 permanent seats and average attendance at the Indy 500 of 300,000. The infield is 253 acres and has its own golf course. During the race, the infield is home to the Snake Pit, an EDM concert series. The music lineup for this year's Snake Pit includes Martin Garrix, deadmau5 and Steve Aoki. Did you know that Churchill Downs, Yankee Stadium, Rose Bowl Stadium, Vatican City, the Taj Mahal, the White House, Liberty Island and the Roman Colosseum could simultaneously fit inside the Speedway? THE BIG HOUSE

4. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is also known as the Brickyard. It's called the Brickyard because the track was made of bricks, which are still exposed under the asphalt at the start-finish line. It's a tradition for the drivers to kiss these bricks before the race. We cannot confirm or deny if that's where monkeypox comes from. YOUR KISS IS ON MY LIPS

5. The tradition of retired IndyCar and NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) driver Danica Patrick joining Mike Tirico in the broadcast booth will continue this year. One tradition that you won't see this year is the release of thousands of balloons during pre-race festivities. Organizers say it's an environmental decision, but other sports teams plan to discontinue similar traditions, blaming the helium shortage. The Indy 500 balloon release has been part of the race day tradition since 1947. UP IN THE AIR

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 5/18/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 5/18/22

Pitbull + $19 Beer + Tiger = The PGA Championship. What You Need To Know.

Your all-inclusive guide - your hole-in-one, if you will, to dive into golf chatter.

(Podcast length 4:21 mins)

Golfers have caddies to up their game and you have us. Let's dive into the PGA Championship.

Transcript

1. Yes, it's a little odd that the PGA (Professional Golfers Association) Championship is the only "championship" in sports in the middle of the season. It wasn't always that way. Citing weather and the inability to compete with the NFL season's allure, the tournament moved from the season's final Major to the spring. Technically speaking, it's not a championship but simply a tournament name. The Championship isn't just any 'ol tournament; players have to qualify by meeting criteria that includes, but are not limited to, winners of the last five U.S. Opens, Masters and Players Championships and the top 70 leaders in official money standings on the PGA Tour. MAKE IT HAPPEN

2. Initially slated for Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey, this year's Championship will be hosted at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, OK. Southern Hills was slated for the 2030 Championship, but the PGA moved the tournament to Tulsa after the capital insurrection on January 6, 2021. This will be the fifth Championship hosted by Southern Hills, the first golf course to host five PGA Championships. It is estimated that the Championship will have an approximate $120 million impact on the combined Tulsa and Oklahoma economies. FIFTH TIME’S A CHARM

3. One person happy about playing at Southern Hills is tournament favorite and Masters winner Scottie Scheffler, who says the course is his favorite. Scheffler will be competing in a field of 156 golfers, which includes Tiger Woods. Woods won the 2007 PGA Championship at Southern Hills. Not in the field of 156 is Phil Mickelson. Mickelson was slated to play but dropped out this week. Rumors suggest he dropped out to prep for playing in the new Saudi-backed league that he previously criticized. Mickelson has lost over $40 million in gambling over the past four years, so maybe he's upping his game to a league with higher earnings? ALL THE DRAMA

4. The biggest tournament in golf, The Masters, is known for its cheap concessions. We're talking $5 beer and $1.50 sandwiches. Well, the Championship is not The Masters, with fans taking to social media to complain about the $18 beers and $6 water. Fans can bring in one sealed bottle of water per person. (Also, the $18 beer is a 25 oz. beer, so there's that). GOOD TO THE LAST DROP

5. The cherry on top of an already exciting week of golf has a charitable element. Two of music's biggest names, Eric Church and Pitbull, will be headlining two separate private concerts to benefit local and PGA-related charities, including First Tee Tulsa, Tulsa Day Center, Tulsa Dream Center and PGA Reach. TIME OF OUR LIVES

BONUS: Let's get a bit technical. If you've ever watched golf, the broadcasters have talked about making "the cut." The cut means that not everyone makes it to the weekend. In the Championship, of the 156 players that start, only the lowest 70 scores will make it to play on Saturday and Sunday for a chance at the win.

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 5/11/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 5/11/22

The Best Commencement Speeches By Athletes

Time to be inspired by greatness.

(Podcast length 5:20 mins)

It’s that time of year – time to be inspired by greatness. Here are snippets of some of our favorite commencement speeches by outstanding athletes.

Transcript

Megan Rapinoe

World Cup winner and Olympic Gold medalist in soccer, Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020.

“We’re separated in ways we’ve never experienced and facing a world that will never be the same. So, I’m not going to ask you to come together. I’m going to ask you to demand better together. For many of you this year will be the first time you’ve cast a ballot…I know first-hand the power of a movement led by and for the next generation. You are that next generation. Take the torch and leave your mark. Put your stake in the ground and build the future that you want and you believe in and fight like hell to do it.” DO BETTER, BE BETTER

Magic Johnson

Hall of Fame NBA (National Basketball Association) Player, Commencement address at Michigan State University, 2010

“You can’t control if your boss will like you or not, but you can control if your boss respects you or not. And how can you do that? By being the first one to work and the last one to leave.” SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL

Billie Jean King

Hall of Fame tennis player, Commencement address at the University of Massachusetts, 2000

“Every ball that comes to me is a decision. Do I slice it, do I hit cross-court, do I hit topspin, do I hit sidespin, do I lob? What do I do? But I have to accept responsibility for that. And that’s where sports teaches us to put it on the line, so to speak, and live it. And here remember one thing. It’s everyone’s responsibility to lead, to honor, and to fight, for everyone’s basic rights, for equality.” STAND FOR OTHERS

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Hall of Fame NBA player, Commencement address at Washington University in St. Louis, 2021

“The other important lesson you should have learned by now is that in life you never stop graduating. Life is an endless series of graduations, during which you feel the same anxious uncertainty, that roiling feeling in your stomach that you experience as the roller coaster goes up, up, up, anticipating curling over the top and the sudden, face-yanking plummet...But they all have similar characteristics in common: they will challenge what you think you know about the world and about yourself. Each time you open that new door, you’re a different person from the last time. You’re graduating but you’re also evolving.” NEW DAY, NEW YOU

Sabrina Ionescu

No. 1 draft pick and WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) player, Commencement address at the University of Oregon, 2020

“Kobe taught me that dedication sees dreams come true. Give it everything you’ve got. This time is teaching us that we are not always in control. Don’t forget to live in the moment, but try to be the best you can. It is so important to control what you can, and just do your best. The rest will take care of itself…Kobe taught me that the most important thing is to inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do. Use your platform, big or small, we all have voices.” BETTER TOGETHER

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 5/4/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 5/4/22

Why The Kentucky Derby Is Our Favorite Event Of The Year

Always a sure bet for a good time. If not, there are mint juleps.

(Podcast length 5 mins)

Giddy up! Everyone's favorite excuse to wear big hats, eat and bet on horses takes place this Saturday, May 7, and here's why it's one of our favorite events.

Transcript

BLINK, AND YOU'LL MISS IT

The Derby is the "most exciting two minutes in sports" because that's how long it takes for the horses to run the 1¼ mile track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. It's the first race of the famed Triple Crown. It's followed by the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. This year will be the first time since 2019 that there are no attendance restrictions at the Derby. SHORT AND SWEET

One person you won't see there in his signature blue-tinted glasses is six-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission stripped Baffert's horse in last year's Derby, Medina Spirit, of his Derby title in the wake of the horse testing positive for the banned race-day substance. Medina Spirit died unexpectedly last year.

THE NAMES OF THE HORSES

Try naming a horse – it's not as easy as it seems. There are so many rules set forth by the Jockey Club to abide by when naming a horse. Of course, nothing racy is approved, but names like Sexy Pork Chop, Hoochiecoochiemama, Bodacious Tatas and Hardawn (say it aloud) have slipped past the reviewers. WE'D PAY TO HEAR ANNOUNCERS READ THOSE NAMES ON TV

THE OUTFITS

The long-standing tradition of Derby hats started with the goal of having high-class spectators attend the race. The Derby hat as we know it didn't come around until the 1960s when fashion norms loosened up and big, bright and festive colors were socially acceptable. THE BEST CELEBRITY DERBY HATS

PS - If you're attending a Derby party and need something to wear, check our friend Amy Ann over at Straight A Style for some Derby dress ideas.

PLACE YOUR BETS

The horses in the Derby are all three-year-old males. You'll never see a horse win the Derby twice because they're only allowed to race when they're three, and that's it. Keep an eye on the favorite in the Derby, Zandon. Then there's Crown Pride hoping to achieve the title of Japan's first winner of a Triple Crown race. Then there’s the horse Cyberknife, whose name comes from a cancer treatment that helped his owner beat prostate cancer. WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Win, place, show? Betting on the Derby can be confusing, so here's our betting on horses 101.

LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS (HORSES)

Ever wonder how these high-priced horses get from one race to another? Air Horse One. No, really. They fly on a Boeing 727 cargo plane nicknamed "Air Horse One." It's equipped with stalls built around the horse and even inflight snacks. Tex Sutton Equine Air transports about 2,500 horses per year. AND YOU THOUGHT BUSINESS CLASS WAS EXPENSIVE.

COCKTAILS GALORE

The mint julep has been the official cocktail of the Derby since 1938. The drink is made with Woodford Reserve bourbon (the official sponsor of this year's event). Over 120,000 juleps are sold every year at the Derby on a typical year. This year, Woodford Reserve is selling special mint julep cups. Of the 148 cups, 18 are gold and retail for $2,500, and 130 are silver and retail for $1,000, with sales benefitting a non-profit for retired thoroughbred horses. BOTTOMS UP

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.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 4/27/22 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 4/27/22

How the NFL Draft Became A Pop Culture Phenomenon

There’s something for everyone, even the non-sports fan.

(Podcast length 4:40 mins)

From features on the “Today Show” to concerts and red carpets, the NFL Draft has come a long way since first being televised in 1980. Here's what you need to know.

Transcript

1. Until a few years ago, the draft had always been in New York. This year is the first time Las Vegas has hosted the draft (they were supposed to host it in 2020), and they're blowing out all the stops for the expected 600,000 fans. As part of the opening festivities on day one of the draft, prospects will walk a floating red carpet in the Bellagio fountains. Weezer, Ice Cube and Marshmello will all take to the stage separately for the 2022 NFL Draft Concert Series. ONLY IN VEGAS

2. Typically quarterbacks dominate the first pick but not this year. The worst team in the league last season, the Jacksonville Jaguars, have the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row. Projections have a defensive player as the first draft pick, an honor that seems to go to a quarterback more often than not. PICK ME

3. A few notable players to watch for include Colorado State star Trey McBride, who is poised to become the first NFL player with same-sex parents. Then there's Malik Willis, quarterback from Liberty, who made headlines for donating gear right out of his suitcase to a homeless woman when he was in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine. (Combine is the 'tryout' for draft prospects). Willis didn't know, but a fan recognized him and caught his act of kindness on video. He could be the first quarterback selected in the draft. RAISED 'EM RIGHT

4. It's tradition for the fans at the draft to boo NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell every time he walks out on the stage to announce first-round draft picks' names. In an attempt to quiet the boos for Goodell, the league introduced notable guest pickers. They include kids from Make-A-Wish and fans from the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the National Gay Flag Football League and more. The first special guest at the podium is Sam Prince, who is fulfilling his Make-A-Wish request when he announces pick No. 5 on behalf of the New York Giants. THE MORE THE MERRIER

5. The Jags may have the first selection, but it's all about the last pick, at least to some. Mr. Irrelevant is the title given to pick No. 262, the last person drafted. Why irrelevant? Because of the multitude of players chosen before them, they are not likely to make the team roster. Making a negative into a positive, one Mr. Irrelevant established Irrelevant Week, celebrating that last player. The week, which has turned into a big event with a charitable element, preaches that it's not a negative to be picked last in the NFL Draft; instead, it's an honor to be drafted at all. FINDING THE SILVER LINING

The NFL Draft begins on Thursday in Las Vegas, and it runs through Saturday.

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.

How to watch

Transcript

LIKE US? SHARE US WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren

Marylin Monroe and Joe DiMaggio

Hulk and Linda Hogan

Scottie and Larsa Pippen

Frank and Jamie McCourt

Megan Rapinoe

Magic Johnson

Billie Jean King

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Sabrina Ionescu

BLINK, AND YOU'LL MISS IT

THE NAMES OF THE HORSES

THE OUTFITS

PLACE YOUR BETS

LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS (HORSES)

COCKTAILS GALORE

The Last Night’s Game