Batter Up! Baseball Season Is Back
The 5 things you need to know
Photo: Instagram/mlb
The boys of summer are back. Here's what you can expect on the diamond this season.
Transcript
(Podcast length - 4:45 mins)
1. The Houston Astros are this year's defending champions, and teams are spending a pretty penny to rob them of back-to-back titles. The league does not have a salary cap but a luxury tax. The New York Mets owner Steve Cohen isn't worried about the luxury tax. The Mets are projected to pay roughly $111M in luxury tax fees in 2023, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. That figure is higher than what 10 MLB teams will spend their entire 26-man rosters. WINNING ISN'T CHEAP
2. Food is synonymous with baseball, and this year there are some exciting treats to titillate your taste buds at the ballpark. Like the Texas Rangers' Boomburger, a two-foot burger. (It's the big brother to the Boomstick, a two-foot-long hot dog). The Seattle Mariners boast chapulines or toasted grasshoppers on the menu and cult favorite Din Tai Fung in the ballpark. The New York Mets have a fried donut chicken sandwich with glazed donuts for buns. GET IN MY BELLY
3. MLB is looking to ride the momentum of the wave of the World Baseball Classic, which shattered previous American viewership records for the event. Starting the season off, all 30 teams will play on Opening Day, Thursday, March 30. Teams are rolling out their big-named pitchers, with eight Cy Young Award winners, 21 All-Star hurlers and five pitchers making their team debuts. TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME
Want a sweet moment? Check out this one with Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller finding out he'll be the starting pitcher for opening day. Then there's the prank the New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone pulled over on their top prospect Anthony Volpe.
4. Remember that starting last season, both leagues adopted the designated hitter, which was previously only an American League thing. The change allowed big named players like Bryce Harper, who could not throw due to injury, to play the whole season by only hitting. BATTER UP
5. Now for our last and most technical point, the new rules. There are new rules this year, a major one being the pitch timer. Baseball has a reputation for being a slow game, and this pitch timer reduced minor league games by 25 minutes. The bases will be larger to encourage more stealing (i.e., more excitement). Lastly, there are shift restrictions on the infielders. When trialed in the minor leagues, these shift restrictions "increased batting average and decreased strikeouts in Minors while giving players more opportunity to show off their athleticism." MORE ON THESE RULES HERE
What's a can of corn, where is the all-star game, and why are they called the boys of summer? We have those answers and more in our Major League Baseball FAQ. READ
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
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The Most Powerful Women in Sports
Ain’t no stopping us now.
Photo: Instagram/danygarcia
Wrapping up women’s history month.
We can't be what we can't see, and these women are showing the next generation of female leaders that being a powerhouse in the sports world is attainable.
Transcript
(Podcast length - 5:13)
Dany Garcia
Dany Garcia has been making things happen behind the scenes for years, and now she's in the spotlight as the Chairwoman and Owner of the XFL. Garcia works alongside her ex-husband Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, on everything from the XFL to "Jumanji." Garcia's acquisition of the XFL made her the first woman to own an equal or majority ownership stake in a major professional sports league in the United States.
Garcia is the co-founder of Seven Bucks Productions, a production company for TV, film and digital networks and founder, CEO, and chairwoman of The Garcia Companies, where she oversees a portfolio of brands within the business, entertainment, sports, entrepreneurial and food spaces. As balancing 50+ projects isn't enough, she's passionate about the sport of bodybuilding. She first competed in 2011 and was the first-ever Women's Physique Division athlete to be signed to the Weider roster. UNSTOPPABLE
Simone Biles
Simone Biles is this generation's "it" girl. With 32 Olympic and World Championship medals, she's the GOAT in the gym. Still, she singlehandedly changed the way we think about the impact of pressure on an athlete's mental health after she withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics. (She later earned a bronze medal on the beam). Biles reminded everyone that it's okay not to be okay. With she has the hardware to back it up.
If that wasn't brave enough, she spoke out against a system of injustice, testifying before Congress about how the US justice system failed to stop former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar from sexually abusing her and others. BOLD
Jeanie Buss
Jeanie Buss made a name for herself as the president and controlling owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. The daughter of Jerry Buss, the former Lakers owner, became the first female owner to lead a team to an NBA championship title.
But running the Lakers didn't come without hard work. At only 19, she served as the general manager of the Strings, a tennis team owned by her father. She bought the Los Angeles Blades, a roller hockey team, and was named Executive of the Year by the league. She isn't afraid to make bold moves. She fired the Lakers general manager in 2017 and pushed for her brother's resignation as VP of operations. She hired Magic Johnson as the team president and Rob Pelinka as the new GM. She's also the owner of WOW, Women Of Wrestling. THIS IS HOW WE DO
Becky Hammon, Katie Sowers and Jennifer Welter
Becky Hammon, Katie Sowers and Jennifer Welter have made a career of paving their path as coaches. In 2014, Hammon became the first full-time female assistant coach in the NBA, following a 16-year WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) career. She joined the San Antonio Spurs (NBA – National Basketball Association) as an assistant coach. Last year the Las Vegas Aces signed Hammon to a $1M/year contract, the largest in WNBA history. Hammon went on to win Coach of the Year and became the first coach to win a title in her first year.
Sowers made NFL (National Football League) history in 2020 by becoming the first female coach to coach at the Superbowl and the first openly gay coach in the NFL. Welter broke barriers in 2015 by becoming the first female NFL coach in a coaching position with the Arizona Cardinals. WHO RUN THE WORLD?
Julie Urhman
Julie Uhrman is the co-founder and president of her hometown NWSL (National Women's Soccer League) team, Angel City. The Los Angeles-based team is one of the world's only majority female-founded and -run pro sports teams. It's an expansion team that began play in 2022, with owners including Natalie Portman, Serena and Olympia Williams, Eva Longoria and other high-profile celebrities.
Working alongside her is another powerhouse, Angela Hucles, the vice president of player development and operations at Angel City FC. WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
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Everyone’s talking about it, why not join in the March Madness conversation? DIVE IN
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Athletes spend how much to stay at the top of their game? READ
5 Things To Know About March Madness
Put on your dancing shoes.
Photo: Instagram/wfinalfour
(Podcast length - 4:21 mins)
You might care less about March Madness, but it will undoubtedly be the hot topic of conversation over the next few weeks. Here's how you can level the playing field and join the conversation. (Hint: you don't have to know anything about basketball).
Transcript
1. The NCAA tournament had become the second most popular sporting event amongst gamblers in the sportsbooks, office pools or online. (Super Bowl is the most popular). Many companies have turned the tournament into a team-building opportunity with various contests. Take Warren Buffet and his $1M a year for life promise for an employee who picks a perfect bracket in the first round. What are the chances of picking a perfect bracket? 1 in 9.2 quintillions. For perspective, there are 31.6M seconds in a year, so 9.2 quintillion seconds is a quick 292 billion years. YOU CAN BET ON IT
2. Did you know that vasectomies increase during March Madness because it's doctor's orders to be a couch potato, so men might as well heal while watching basketball? Speaking of feeling blue, the color might be the ticket to winning. Since 2002, except for two teams, every winner has had blue as their primary uniform color. LET’S DO THIS
3. The first women's NCAA tournament began in 1982 — 43 years after the men's debut. This is only the second year the women's tournament has been allowed to use "March Madness" in its promotion. Keep an eye out on the team to beat the defending champion South Carolina Gamecocks that finished the season undefeated. An interesting fact to note, while the men play two-20-minute halves, the women play four-10-minute quarters. GAME ON
4. The defending champion Kansas Jayhawks landed a No. 1 seed in the tournament. But the most important win for the Jayhawks is the return of their head coach Bill Self. Self checked into the hospital on March 8 with chest tightness and balance concerns. He underwent a standard heart catheterization and had two stents placed to treat blocked arteries. Self will return in time to pace the sidelines during the NCAA tournament. DOCTOR'S ORDERS?
5. Experts project hourly corporate losses of roughly $1.9B due to workers whose productivity is diverted by March Madness. When choosing your bracket in this single-elimination tournament, remember that the most likely upset is a No. 12 team over a No. 5. A No. 16 team has upset a No. 1 seeded team once in the tournament's history. Where did the bracket come from? It began in a Staten Island bar in 1977 when 88 people joined a prize pool and completed their tournament predictions. The prize pool ballooned to $1.5M and 150,000 people in 2006. The pool was shut down in 2006 after scrutiny from the IRS. CHOOSE WISELY
PS: The sun is setting on Jim Nantz's basketball broadcast career. The famed voice for both The Masters and March Madness is in his last year calling the NCAA tournament.
Notable dates:
Women's March Madness Tournament
The first round is Friday and Saturday, March 17-18
The championship game is on April 2 in Dallas
Men's March Madness Tournament
The first round is Thursday and Friday, March 16-17
o The championship game is on April 3 in Houston.
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
Other posts you might enjoy
Are you Super Bowl ready? Check out our Tailgate Treats for our fan favorites. GOOD STUFF
5 athlete rituals to incorporate into your every day life. WORTH A SHOT
Ahead of Valentine’s Day, we celebrate these sporty power couples. ULTIMATE TEAMMATES
Women Leading Sports Teams From The C-Suite
Changing the face of sports.
Photo: Instagram/cyntgm
These women aren't the norm to hold positions in the C-Suite, but they are changing the face of sports.
Transcript
Kim Ng
Kim Ng serves as the General Manager of the Miami Marlins (MLB - Major League Baseball) and is the first female to ever serve in the role in American sports history. She served as an assistant GM with the Yankees and the Dodgers and in the executive suite with the White Sox. Hall of Famer and Miami Marlins CEO/owner Derek Jeter led the breakthrough hire. HOME RUN HIRE
Cynthia Marshall
Cynthia Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, became the first Black female CEO in the NBA (National Basketball Association). But being first is nothing new for her. In ninth grade, her mother inspired her to claim her place in school leadership. Later Marshall became the first Black president at her school. "It was historic and the faculty was more emotional than I was. We've been blazing trails ever since then," Marshall said. She became the first Black cheerleader at Berkley and the first Black woman in Delta Gamma at the school. TRAILBLAZER
Nikki Williams and Nikki Fargas
Las Vegas Raiders (NFL – National Football League) and Las Vegas Aces (WNBA – Women's National Basketball Association) owner Mark Davis knows talent when he sees it, hiring women to lead his professional teams. First, Nikki Williams and Nikki Fargas lead the championship Aces as the general manager of basketball operations and president of business operations, respectively. Last year the Aces signed Becky Hammon to a $1 million per year contract, the largest in WNBA history. She won Coach of the Year and became the first to win a title in her first year. A STEP ABOVE THE REST
Amy Trask and Sandra Douglass Morgan
Amy Trask became the Oakland Raiders' chief executive and the first woman of that rank in the NFL in 1997. After nearly 30 years with the team, Trask now serves as an analyst for CBS. Sandra Douglass Morgan, who serves as the team's president, is filling the big shoes left by Trask. She is the first Black female president in NFL history. TOUCHDOWN
Shari Ballard and Carolyn Kindle
The USWNT (US Women's National Soccer Team) aren't the only ladies in soccer making things happen. Shari Ballard was named CEO of Minnesota United FC last August. She is the first female to be CEO of a Major League Soccer (MLS) team. The newest edition to the MLS, the St. Louis City, also boasts Carolyn Kindle as the team's president and CEO. She is part of the nine-strong majority female ownership group that shelled out a reported $200 million in expansion fees to make St. Louis City the 29th MLS team. "I'll be honest, four years ago I knew nothing," Kindle, the team's CEO and President, told USA TODAY Sports. "I've learned a lot about the sport since then. Now, I understand why it's called the beautiful game." HUMILITY
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
Other posts you might enjoy
Dwayne Johnson’s XFL is taking the field. Here’s what you need to know. DIVE IN
Check out our Tailgate Treats for our fan favorites. GOOD STUFF
Athletes spend how much to stay at the top of their game? READ
The Most Fashionable Athletes
Every day is a chance to make a statement.
Photo: Instagram/lewishamilton
More athletes are claiming their stake in the fashion industry by starting clothing lines and walking the catwalk. They may be uniform when honing their craft on the court, field or track, but their style is anything but conforming for these athletes.
Transcript
Kyle Kuzma
From walking the runway in New York Fashion Week in 2022 wearing a black basketball jersey over a black hoodie and a skirt made of puffy coats, Kyle Kuzma has established himself as a fashion icon in the NBA (National Basketball Association). His arrival style at the arena ranges from a trench coat and bucket hat to a hilariously oversized pink sweater (which was immortalized as a bobblehead). The NBA champion's girlfriend, model Winnie Harlow, may have helped him on the catwalk, but the Childhood Dreams clothing brand founder's fashion is one-of-a-kind and influenced by no one (or everyone). WERK IT
A’ja Wilson
The Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson (WNBA - Women’s National Basketball Association) claimed the championship crown last season, but she's always been the queen of fashion. From her arrival in vintage WNBA jerseys and "We are BG" shirt or her admission to wearing spandex underneath her red carpet looks, Wilson always has us swooning over her fashion. PERFECTION
Lewis Hamilton
F1 (Formula One) driver Lewis Hamilton's clothing line +44 is the number on his race car and his lucky number. (It is also the country code for calling his homeland, the UK). Sir Hamilton (he was knighted by William, the Prince of Wales, in 2021) has been seen in the front row of the Valentino show at Paris Fashion Week, seated next to Zendaya. He was selected as one of the world's most stylish people as part of 2022 The New York Times, "93 most stylish people." SO CHIC
Joe Burrow
Not many athletes joined Lewis Hamilton on The New York Times' list of "93 most stylish people" in 2022. But one who did, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. His fashion flair ranges from SpongeBob clothing items to Cartier glasses to oversized diamond pendants. The Times even gave him the nickname, "Joey Flowers," for his floral-print suit. Flowers, or Burrow, doesn't even try hard, saying, "he throws on whatever he thinks looks good." EFFORTLESS
DK Metcalf
A candy addict (Skittles and Jolly Ranchers) turned health nut, DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) doesn't exactly throw on whatever works when he heads to the stadium. He plans his outfits in advance. It clearly works, as Metcalf is a frequent visitor to the NFL's weekly list of most fashionable player arrivals. He told GQ one of the ten items he can't live without is his Louis Vuitton murse. STRUTTING SEAHAWK
Honorable Mention
Honorable mention to the NWSL's (National Women’s Soccer League) highest-paid player, Trinity Rodman, Megan Rapinoe of the NWSL/US Women's National Team and the Los Angeles Clippers Russell Westbrook, founder of clothing line Honor The Gift.
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
Other posts you might enjoy
Dwayne Johnson’s XFL is taking the field. Here’s what you need to know. DIVE IN
Check out our Tailgate Treats for our fan favorites. GOOD STUFF
Athletes spend how much to stay at the top of their game? READ
Dwayne Johnson's XFL Is Taking The Field
The season starts on February 18.
Photo: Instagram/xfl
Just in time to fill the void after the Super Bowl, the XFL is back, but this time it’s under the watch of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. If you’re wondering what XFL stands for, it doesn’t stand for anything, so feel free to use your imagination.
Transcript
1. It seems like everything Johnson touches turns to gold, and he’s hoping that’s the case for the defunct football league. He and his business partner (and ex-wife) Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital Partners purchased the XFL for $15M five months after the league folded in August 2020. Vince McMahon, former chairman of the WWE (Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment), owned the league in its (failed) 2001 and 2020 iterations. TEAMWORK
2. The new (and improved?) league, which starts February 18, will have eight teams- the D.C. Defenders, Houston Roughnecks, Arlington Renegades, Orlando Guardians, Las Vegas Vipers, Seattle Sea Dragons, San Antonio Brahmas and St. Louis Battlehawks. The teams will play a 10-week season followed by the semifinals and the championship game on May 13. LET’S DO THIS
3. Johnson has had a longstanding relationship with Under Armour through Project Rock, which continues with the XFL team uniforms, sponsored by none other than Under Armour. Each jersey features a “Blood, Sweat, Respect” mantra – a personal message from ownership to players. WEARING YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE
4. What’s different about The Rock’s XFL compared to previous ownership? He has already established a five-year TV deal with major networks, and he’s partnering with the NFL (National Football League). BETTER TOGETHER
5. Leading the teams in a head coaching capacity are a group of high-profile collegiate coaches like Bob Stoops (Arlington) and former NFL players Hines Ward (San Antonio) and Hall of Famer Rod Woodson (Vegas). LEADING THE PACK
There are some untraditional rules compared to an NFL or college football game. Here they are if you’re into that kind of stuff.
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
Other posts you might enjoy
Check out our Tailgate Treats for our fan favorites. GOOD STUFF
5 athlete rituals to incorporate into your every day life. WORTH A SHOT
Ahead of Valentine’s Day, we celebrate these sporty power couples. ULTIMATE TEAMMATES
5 Things To Know About The Super Bowl
The music, the history makers and the hottest foods for the big game.
Photo: Instagram/nflonfox
(Podcast length - 4:43 mins)
On Sunday, February 12, nearly half the country will be tuned into Super Bowl 57 to watch football, rate the commercials, dance to the halftime show and enjoy all the great foods that are devoured on Super Bowl Sunday.
Talk sports confidently leading up to the battle between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs with this week’s “super” podcast.
Transcript
1. Neither Rihanna nor anthem singer Chris Stapleton will receive an appearance fee for their performance, but the NFL is undoubtedly getting paid for it. The halftime show is no longer sponsored by Pepsi but by Apple Music at the cost of $50M a year. In 1996, Oscar Mayer became the official sponsor of the halftime show, making it one of the earliest official sponsors, if not the first. (So you can time your snack run, with the game kicking off around 6:30 pm ET, halftime will likely be around 8 pm ET). MUSIC TO OUR EARS
2. After Thanksgiving, the Super Bowl is America's second-highest calorie intake day. The average person will consume 11,000 calories - more than four and a half times the recommended daily calorie intake. America’s favorite dish? Chicken wings. We consume more than 1.3B chicken wings and wash them down with 325M gallons of beer. (Coors Light is the most popular, followed by Miller Lite and Bud Light). FEEL THE (HEART)BURN
3. Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts will be the first Black quarterbacks to start in the Super Bowl. Joining them in the history books is Eagles assistant coach Autumn Lockwood who will be the first Black woman to coach in a Super Bowl. Another first? Brothers playing in the Super Bowl - Jason and Travis Kelce. Andy Reid, the current head coach of the Chiefs, drafted both brothers. Reid drafted Jason when he was the head coach of the Eagles and drafted Travis to the Chiefs. KEEP IT COMING
4. Super Bowl ads weren’t always a thing. Still, in 1973, Joe Namath and Farrah Fawcett’s “Cream Your Face” spot for Noxzema helped establish the game “as an event for advertisers,” according to Smithsonian Magazine. This year a 30-second Super Bowl ad will cost you between $6M - $7M, and expect to see a Serena Williams “Caddyshack” commercial along with one featuring “six degrees from Kevin Bacon.” Don't expect to see a lot of cryptocurrency commercials, which dominated the space last year. BETTER THAN THE GAME?
5. NFL Players aren’t paid their salaries beyond the regular season but receive compensation for postseason play. Players on the winning team will make $157,000, while each player on the losing team will earn a consolation check of $82,000. In many cases, it’s less than the players’ regular season game-day paycheck. (NOT) ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS
Bonus: State Farm Stadium is the home of the Arizona Cardinals and the Super Bowl. The Cardinals only won one game at their home stadium this season, which includes losses to the Chiefs and Eagles. That means the winner of the Super Bowl will have won more games in State Farm Stadium this season than the Cardinals.
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
Other posts you might enjoy
Are you Super Bowl ready? Check out our Tailgate Treats for our fan favorites. GOOD STUFF
5 athlete rituals to incorporate into your every day life. WORTH A SHOT
Ahead of Valentine’s Day, we celebrate these sporty power couples. ULTIMATE TEAMMATES
GRAMMY Winners Who Are Good At Sports
Don't call these GRAMMY Award-Winning artists one-trick ponies.
Photo: Instagram/sza
(Podcast length - 4:10 mins)
They make it look so easy.
PS: Tune into the GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, February 5.
Transcript
Justin Timberlake
Ten-time GRAMMY winner Justin Timberlake is known for his dance moves, but he's also an avid golfer. He started playing when he was 12 and now has a rumored six handicap. (The lower, the better). Timberlake is also a partial owner of the Memphis Grizzlies (NBA – National Basketball Association) and has a stake in the Music City Grand Prix ownership group. LIKE I LOVE YOU
SZA
SZA (pronounced Sizza/SIZ-uh) is the hottest artist in music right now with her chart-topping album, "SOS." Before she dove into music full-time, she was quite a gymnast. She was ranked number five in the nation at one point. SZA, who won a GRAMMY for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her hit with Doja Cat - "Kiss Me More," said she still finds time to head to the gym for a "tumble and bounce around" and is into rock climbing and swimming. WOMAN OF MANY TALENTS
Justin Bieber
We all know Justin Bieber is Canadian, and just because he's Canadian doesn't mean he's great at hockey, except when he is. In 2012, the two-time GRAMMY winner was offered an ECHL (East Coast Hockey League) contract with Bakersfield for his excellent puck-handling skills. You might remember back in early 2020 when All-Star NHL (National Hockey League) goalie Jordan Binnington challenged Bieber to a shootout after seeing a video on the pop star's Instagram. Bieber has also been known to pick up a game or two with a few of his NHL friends. NEVER SAY NEVER
Prince
Prince's basketball talents gained a life of their own in an occasional '“Chappelle's Show” sketch. Prince played basketball in high school and into his adult life for fun. Comedian Charlie Murphy, Eddie's brother, recounted a time when Prince completely dominated him on the court and, afterward, the seven-time GRAMMY winner served pancakes. CARB LOADING
Rod Stewart
Soccer (or football as Rod Stewart would call it) was always a dream of Stewart's, long before music. He was the captain of his high school team and, with his father's encouragement, tried out for his local professional club, Brentford FC. Stewart reportedly did well during the session but was not signed to a contract. He then set his eyes on music, which, it turns out, he was pretty good at, landing one GRAMMY win and 15 nominations. GOLDEN VOICE, GOLDEN BOOT
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
Other posts you might enjoy
Are you Super Bowl ready? Check out our Tailgate Treats for our fan favorites. GOOD STUFF
5 athlete rituals to incorporate into your every day life. WORTH A SHOT
Ahead of Valentine’s Day, we celebrate these sporty power couples. ULTIMATE TEAMMATES
The Top 5 Power Couples in Sports
The ultimate teammates.
Photo: Instagram/mrapinoe
(Podcast length - 5:25 mins)
Ahead of Valentine’s Day, we celebrate these sporty power couples.
Transcript
1. Olympian Shaun White and actress Nina Dobrev don’t take themselves too seriously. The couple met briefly in 2012, but it wasn’t until a Tony Robbins workshop in late 2019 that they became acquainted. The two had dinner after their speaking engagements. White admittedly had no idea who Dobrev was, but fans kept coming up and asking “The Vampire Diaries” actress for her autograph. Dobrev can keep up with him on a snowboard and is his biggest fan. She supported him from afar (thanks to COVID restrictions) in his final Olympics and made him a list to accomplish in his retirement. On Instagram, the couple gives us insights into their world (and world travels). LOVEBIRDS
2. Do you know that plotline where two members of royalty happen to run into each other at a coffee shop? This love story is not that. Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are the unofficial first couple of women’s sports. The two have been dating since meeting at the 2016 Summer Olympics and are a fixture in the Seattle sports scene. They’ve been featured on the cover of InStyle Magazine and were the first same-sex couple to grace the cover of ESPN’s Body Issue. The outspoken and seriously fashionable duo seem to have it all, including a plethora of championships and safety deposit boxes for all their gold medals. The two, who were engaged in 2020, also have each other’s backs. During the Women’s World Cup, Bird, who recently retired from Seattle Storm (WNBA - Women’s National Basketball Association), came to Rapinoe’s defense in her battle with President Trump, penning an essay titled “So the President F—ing Hates My Girlfriend.” ROM-COM WRITTEN ALL OVER IT
3. This next love story started with an awkward first dance. Tennis greats Steffi Graff and Andre Agassi began dating after the French Open in 1999, but their story goes back years before that. In 1992, Graff and Agassi, who tried to pick up Graff the year before at the French Open, were winners at Wimbledon. It used to be a tradition for the two winners of Wimbledon to dance with each other at the Wimbledon Champions’ Ball. But as luck would have it, that was the year they decided to cancel the dance due to “lukewarm receptions from modern players.” It all worked out in the end, as the two married in 2001 and are still together. FATE WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS
4. Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty (WNBA) and Hroniss Grasu of the Las Vegas Raiders (NFL - National Football League) are headed to the altar after a made-for-a-movie proposal scene. The WNBA All-Star and former No. 1 draft pick and the NFL center began dating in 2021. Grasu and Ionescu both attended Oregon, though their athletic careers at the university never overlapped. He was selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and she started at Oregon in 2016. The pair are both of Romanian descent and grew up in California. TYING THE KNOT
5. Our final story is a modern storyline of a virtual, long-distance relationship. Together Julie and Zach Ertz have a Super Bowl championship and two World Cup victories, and what do they have to prove it? A Visa commercial. The Arizona Cardinals tight end (NFL) and the soccer star met at a Stanford baseball game in 2012 when he offered her sunflower seeds. They had their first date at Chipotle, and the rest is history. Married since 2017, they too, have bared it all for ESPN’s Body Issue. They live the saying, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” They say they’re lucky to have three months a year in the same city. WHEN FACETIME IS YOUR FRIEND
Honorable mention: A shout out to Ertz’s former teammate at the Cardinals, JJ Watt and Chicago Red Stars (NWSL – National Women’s Soccer League) player Kealia Watt. The two married in 2020 and welcomed a son, Koa, in October 2022. JJ retired at the end of the Cardinals 2022-23 season. Kealia is recovering from an ACL injury, which makes her an unlikely candidate for the USWNT (US Women’s National Team roster in the Women’s World Cup (soccer) this summer. CUTEST COUPLE
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
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Looking for some recipe inspiration to kick off the new year? Look no further than this Tailgate Treat. GOOD STUFF
5 athlete rituals to incorporate into your every day life. WORTH A SHOT
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What To Know: The Australian Open Kicks Off The Tennis Season
It’s called the “Happy Slam” for a reason.
Photo: Instagram/tennischannel
(Podcast length - 5:02 mins)
The Australian Open kicks off the new year and the professional tennis season. Like the Aussies, this tournament always brings a lot of partying and excitement to the court. Roger Federer nicknamed it the “Happy Slam” for a reason.
PS: Can you name the four Grand Slam or Major tournaments in tennis? Answer below.
Transcript
1. The prize pool for this year's tournament is a record-high $76.5M, a 3.4% increase from last year. The men's and women's singles champions will make $2.97M each, while the winning teams in doubles will land $695,000. Reaching the second round in the singles tournaments means a guaranteed payout of $106,000. COMING IN HOT
2. It seems that the Australian Open has become synonymous with pregnancies. Most famously, while pregnant, Serena Williams won the Australian Open (her 23rd and last career Grand Slam win). Former Open champion Naomi Osaka dropped out of this year's tournament. Earlier this month, she announced that she and her boyfriend were expecting. Last year's Open champion, former No. 1 Ash Barty, ended a 44-year drought for Australians winning the tournament, then retired in March. She recently announced she is pregnant. THE NEXT GENERATION
3. As we enter into an era in women's tennis without the Williams sisters (Serena is "evolving away from tennis," and Venus qualified but is injured), there will still be a strong showing for American women. No. 3 Jessica Pegula (whose family owns the Buffalo Bills/Buffalo Sabres), No. 7 Coco Gauff, No. 10 Madison Keys and No. 14 Danielle Collins are poised to be a threat this season. BIG SHOES TO FILL
4. On the men's side, No. 1 ranked Carlos Alcaraz and No. 10 Nick Kyrgios had to withdraw from the tournament, so Rafael Nadal takes the No. 1 seed, seeking to tie Serena Williams with 23 majors. But his friendly foe, Novak Djokovic, is back after missing the tournament last year after a vaccine mandate that turned into a deportation mess. Djokovic has won the tournament a record nine times. The bracket is designed so that Nadal and Djokovic can only meet in the finals. MADE FOR TV
*Update: Rafael Nadal exits the tournament in the second round with a loss to American Mackenzie MacDonald. It’s his earliest exit in the tournament since 2016. He is battling a hip injury.
5. Since Australia's seasons are opposite the US, it's likely to be a scorcher in Melbourne. Enter the EHP or "Extreme Heat Policy." The scale starts at (1) for temperate playing conditions and escalates to (5), which results in a suspension of play. It's not just the athletes they're worried about. There are 394 ball kids selected for this year's Open, the largest batch in the tournament's history. THE HEAT IS ON
PS: Want more tennis? Check out the new Netflix series, “Break Point,” giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional tennis or the latest tiebreaker format for Grand Slam tournaments this season.
Answer: The four Grand Slam/Major tournaments are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
Other posts you might enjoy
Looking for some recipe inspiration to kick off the new year? Look no further than this Tailgate Treat. GOOD STUFF
5 athlete rituals to incorporate into your every day life. WORTH A SHOT
Women changing the face of the NFL. BIG DEAL
True Crimes Storytime Edition - Lee "Lighting" Murray
The Securitas heist is the largest cash heist in history.
(Podcast length - 4:53 mins)
The UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) middleweight fighter, Lee “Lighting” Murray, is the mastermind behind the largest cash heist in history.
Summary
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 biscuits.
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
Other posts you might enjoy
Looking for some recipe inspiration to kick off the new year? Look no further than this Tailgate Treat. GOOD STUFF
5 athlete rituals to incorporate into your every day life. WORTH A SHOT
Women changing the face of the NFL. BIG DEAL
Sporting Events We're Looking Forward To In 2023
Football with The Rock, Rihanna and the Women’s World Cup means great times are ahead.
PHOTO: Instagram.com/people
(Podcast length - 4:42 mins)
The best part about January is looking ahead at the year and all the possibilities to be entertained.
Phoenix Open/Super Bowl
February 9 - 12
Phoenix will be the home to two of the rowdiest events of the year – the Super Bowl and The Waste Management Phoenix Open. Leading up to the Super Bowl (with the final round on Super Bowl Sunday) is the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which is hands down the biggest party of the golf season. The 16th hole is surrounded by stadium seating and is known for its’ wild and tipsy crowd.
We all love the Super Bowl (February 12), the commercials, the music and the food. Rihanna is this year’s halftime entertainment. LIFT ME UP
The Launch of the XFL
The XFL is back, but this time it’s under the watch of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. It seems like everything Johnson touches turns to gold, and he’s hoping that’s the case for the defunct football league he purchased for $15M. The new league, which starts February 18, will have eight teams. What’s different about The Rock’s XFL? He has already established a five-year TV deal with major networks, and he’s partnering with the NFL (National Football League). If you’re wondering what XFL stands for, it doesn’t stand for anything, so feel free to use your imagination. NEW AND IMPROVED?
World Baseball Classic
March 8 - March 21
The World Cup (soccer) brought the world together at the end of 2022, and now it’s baseball’s turn. The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament featuring Major League Baseball caliber players representing their countries. The event is traditionally every four years but was canceled in 2021. Taichung, Tokyo, Phoenix and Miami will be the four host cities of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, with Miami hosting the championship game. BATTER UP
FIFA Women’s World Cup
July 20-August 20 in host countries Australia and New Zealand
Will the US Women’s National Team claim the title of best in the world for the third time in a row? 31 other nations will do their best to stop that from happening – the largest field to date. With the expanded field comes newbies to the tournament, including Morocco, the Philippines, the Republic of Ireland, Vietnam and Zambia, which will play in the World Cup for the first time. GLOBAL PHENOMENON
Ryder Cup
September 29 to October 1 in Rome, Italy
A biennial event that we love is the Ryder Cup. The tournament that pits the USA vs. Europe against each other provides global bragging rights, camaraderie, and teamwork in a mostly individual sport. Expect to see your favorites hitting the links as friends become foes. Team Europe hasn’t ruled out inviting LIV golfers to play, but the US has decided against including any players who defected from the PGA for the Saudi-backed golf league. FORE!
Honorable mention
As Las Vegas natives, we must show a little love for our city, which will host its first-ever F1 (Formula One) race in November 2023. The race will take place at night on the iconic Las Vegas Strip. FROM SIN CITY TO SPORTS CITY
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
The Top Sports Moments of 2022
Out with the old and in with the new.
PHOTO: Instagram.com/speedyj
(Podcast length - 5:03 mins)
This is our most challenging job of the year – narrowing the list of the best sports moments of 2022. We're highlighting the top moments of the year in no particular order.
The Rise of Pickleball
Everyone picked up a pickleball racket in 2022, from the Kardashians to Melinda Gates, Michael Phelps, Jamie Foxx, Owen Wilson, and Drew Brees to Leonardo DiCaprio. Pickleball had its own primetime television celebrity tournament and has been featured in Vanity Fair. What's one thing that LeBron James, Tom Brady and entrepreneurs Mark Cuban and Gary Vaynerchuk have in common? They've all invested in Major League Pickleball.
The World Cup
Soccer’s World Cup took place in a Muslim country in the Middle East for the first time and was uneventful for the most part. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo played in their last World Cup tournament, hoping to land the elusive international win. Messi and his Argentinian team prevailed, winning the tournament. The people of Argentina are also winners as they are the beneficiaries of all of the Budweiser beer that the official beer sponsor wasn't allowed to sell at the games.
The US Men's National Team (USMNT) qualified for the World Cup for the first time in eight years, but the US Women's Team (USWNT) also benefitted. Thanks to their new collective bargaining agreement, the USWNT pocketed at least $6.5M from the men's team reaching the World Cup knockout rounds—more than they received for winning two successive World Cups.
Basketball
In February, the WNBA’s (Women’s National Basketball Association) Brittney Griner was detained in Russia for bringing cannabis-derived oil cartridges in her luggage into the country. As time passed, it seemed like her chances of being released dwindled, but social media never allowed us to forget her. #WeAreBG trended for months as fans, the WNBA and NBA fought to get Griner home. Griner arrived home in time for Christmas following a prisoner swap. She and her wife, Cherelle, are now using their platform to bring home retired US Marine Paul Whelan, who has been captive in Russia for four years.
Tennis
Rafael Nadal set the men's Grand Slam record at 22, while his main competition Novak Djokovic was forced to miss grand slam tournaments due to his COVID vaccination status. Serena Williams, who has 23 grand slam wins, announced her evolution away from tennis. She gave us an epic going away match at the US Open, which boasted nearly 7M viewers on ESPN, a record for tennis on the network.
Golf
The LIV Golf League created a divide in the professional golf world. The Saudi-backed league, led by golf legend Greg Norman, promised fewer tournaments with larger payouts. Big names like Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau left the PGA. LIV players were ineligible to compete in any PGA tournaments or the postseason. Although in 2023, they will be eligible to play in The Masters.
winter Olympics
The 2021 Winter Olympics in Beijing finally happened in early 2022. A few notable moments for the US included American Erin Jackson winning a medal in speedskating, the first African American woman to do so, and snowboarder Shaun White retiring after his storied Olympic career. Norway topped the medal count, with the US coming in fifth on the list.
Baseball
Aaron Judge had a great 2022. New York Yankees' star was named the American League MVP and TIME's Athlete of the Year. This season he broke Roger Maris' single-season American League home run record, which stood for more than 60 years. The cherry on top is the coveted free agent signed a massive nine-year deal worth $360M to stay with the Yankees.
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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.
Dreaming Of A Polite Christmas? We've Got You.
How to keep your holiday merry and bright.
(Podcast length - 4:26 mins)
We all have this idyllic vision of our family holiday with chestnuts roasting on an open fire while drinking eggnog and laughing in our Christmas sweaters. Now let’s be honest; that only happens in the movies. When things take an awkward turn, here are a few ways to redirect the conversation to safer ground.
WHEN anyone starts talking POLITICS, all you want to do is run.
Hold your horses; there's a way to deflect into safer conversational waters. You could make a joke about politics being controversial and then dive into something non-confrontational – random acts of kindness. NBA Hall of Famer and broadcaster Shaquille O'Neal is known for his random acts of kindness. From buying an engagement ring for a fellow customer at a jewelry store to purchasing shoes for a 13-year-old boy with size 18 feet to a new car and food for a family in need, may Shaq's generosity inspire us all this holiday season to do more good.
The holidays are a time of year to give, and no one gives more than these five athletes who give back to their community in a big way.
AT YOUR OFFICE POTLUCK, YOU'RE STUCK IN A CONVERSATION WITH THE MOST BORING PERSON IN THE OFFICE WITH NO RESCUE IN SIGHT
They must be passionate about something – pets, travel, stamp collection, or not having to work on Christmas. Christmas Day is usually a coveted day for NBA teams to take the court, but this year, they're being overshadowed by the NFL. The empire that is the NFL has a tripleheader planned for Christmas Day. If you're staying up late waiting for Santa, you can catch a game on Christmas Eve. EGGNOG AND ENDZONES
YOU WERE THE LIFE OF THE PARTY, BUT NOW THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ADVIL IN THE WORLD TO STOP YOUR HANGOVER.
You can thank athletes like Danica Patrick for that infamous "one last glass." The retired racecar driver has gone from breaking the glass ceiling in racing to wine. One might say her career drove her to drink, but she's accomplishing a dream in retirement. No, really. Her Napa Valley vineyard Somnium means "dream" in Latin.
From wine to tequila, here are more athletes you can thank for your next hangover.
WHEN YOU PUT ON YOUR BIG FAKE SMILE BECAUSE YOU RECEIVED YET ANOTHER PAIR OF UNDERWEAR
Be a good sport because it could be worse. It's bowl game season, and the winning coach of the Duke Mayo Bowl will get mayonnaise dumped on his head instead of the traditional Gatorade. After a flub last year that resulted in a near concussion, the bowl game has hired official "Mayo Dumpers."
If you need New Year's plans, the top four teams in the country (in ranking order – Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State) will take the field on New Year's Eve in the College Football Playoffs. The two winners will play for the national championship on January 9.
For more on what you need to know for bowl game season, check out our "Five Things You Need To Know About Bowl Game Season."
No matter how hard you try, your sibling always upstages your gift with your nieces and nephews.
Do you know who is good at epic gifts? Athletes. Like Trevor Siemian. The Chicago Bears QB, Siemian loved Skittles, so he purchased custom parkas for his linemen that dispense Skittles. Yes, the fur-trim hooded parkas have a button on the chest that, when pushed, Skittles arrive in a coat pocket.
Need last-minute gift ideas? These athletes deserve a championship trophy for the well-thought-out gifts to their teammates and loved ones. READ
Sports Curious, presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkwardness 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, 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 College Football Bowl Game Season
The couch is calling.
(Podcast length - 5:07 mins)
While you might be knee-deep in the holiday shopping season, others are immersed in college football bowl game season.
Transcript
1. What's in a name? Well, for bowl games, it's big money, with the cheapest bowl game sponsorship costing an estimated $500,000. The committees will do anything to please their title sponsors, including naming the game something odd. The most memorable bowl game names roll off the tongue this season, like the Cheez-It Bowl, Gasparilla Bowl, the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, and the Cure Bowl. And yes, there used to be a game called the Salad Bowl. HOW LONG UNTIL WE HAVE THE SMOKE-A-BOWL?
2. Not all teams are invited to bowl games. The program's TV exposure and additional revenue make a bowl game a coveted spot. Traditionally teams had to have six wins to be eligible, but then we had more bowl games than teams. So now the NCAA defers to a team's APR (Academic Progress Rating) for those final spots, and because of that, five-win Rice landed a spot in the LendingTree Bowl. HEAD OF THE CLASS
3. Players heading into the NFL Draft (National Football League) tend to opt out of participating in non-playoff bowl games, and teams are hoping NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) will change that. Who can turn down the offer from Cheez-It? They will honor one player from each of the four teams participating in its sponsored bowl games, the Cheez-It Bowl and Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. The players will enjoy the Cheez-It "Feelin' the Cheeziest" hotel rooms, which are precisely what you think they are – very orange. ORANGE YOU EXCITED?
4. If you think being named the Heisman this season was impressive, how about the title of "Mayo Dumper?" The winning coach won't get Gatorade dumped on his head at the Duke Mayo Bowl, but mayonnaise instead. For the record, Caleb Williams took home the Heisman Trophy this season. Still, of the finalists (CJ Stroud - Ohio State), Stetson Bennet – Georgia and Max Duggan - TCU), Williams is the only one not heading to a college football playoff game. WIN SOME, LOSE SOME
5. The top four teams in the country (in ranking order – Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State) will play each other on New Year's Eve in either the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix or the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. Each conference receives $6 million for each team selected for a semifinal game and $4 million for each team that plays in a non-playoff bowl. There is no additional payout for the National Championship Game, only additional expenses covered. BOWLED OVER
Worth noting: Bowl game season begins on Friday, December 16. There are no bowl games set for New Year’s Day, January 1, which is traditionally a big bowl game day. That day officially belongs to the NFL this year, as New Year's falls on a Sunday. The winner of the two playoff games on NYE will play each other in the National Championship Game on Monday, January 9. SCHEDULE
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 Give Back To Their Community In A Big Way
Who doesn’t love good news?
(Podcast length - 5:20 mins)
If volunteering reduces depression and early mortality rates, these athletes will be the happiest centenarians.
Transcript
1. John Cena's heart is bigger than his biceps. The WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) wrestler's mantra is "Never Give Up," and that's what he's told the countless Make-A-Wish kids he's met with. There are many moments to make you smile, like when he had a tea party with one Make-A-Wish visitor decked out in his full wrestling regalia. Cena set a new Guinness World Record for granting the most wishes through Make-A-Wish at 650. No one, except for Cena, has ever granted more than 200 wishes in the foundation's history. TINY UNIFORM, BIG HEART
2. NBA Hall of Famer and broadcaster Shaquille O'Neal is known for his random acts of kindness. From buying an engagement ring for a fellow customer at a jewelry store to purchasing shoes for a 13-year-old boy with size 18 feet to a new car and food for a family in need, may Shaq's generosity inspire us all this holiday season to do more good. PAY IT FORWARD
3. International soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is known for his cover model looks, supreme soccer skills and the big payday those bring in. While he's not afraid to write a significant check, he's also been known to roll up his sleeves, literally, as a frequent blood donor. The father of five has made a considerable impact on his young fans all over the world. In one instance, he invited a Syrian orphan who lost his parents in the war to a game and spent time with him. He has also paid for numerous children's lifesaving medical treatments. His signature move is auctioning off coveted trophies he's been awarded, with the proceeds going to charity. INTERNATIONAL MAN OF GOOD
4. From donating $43,000 prize money to relief funds for raging Australian bushfires after her Australia Open win to serving as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Serena Williams is the GOAT in giving back. Through UNICEF, Williams has been an outspoken advocate for education worldwide, but she never forgot where she came from. She and her sister Venus have been invested in causes like the Yetunde Price Resource Center, which offers healing-centered and trauma-informed programs to the residents of their hometown of Compton, CA.
5. Love him or hate him, LeBron James (NBA -National Basketball Association) has left the community better than he found it. While he has worked countless hours with organizations that support children, like Boys & Girls Clubs of America, his big project is the I Promise School in Akron, OH. The school serves over 450 at-risk third through sixth graders. In its first year, the year-round school saw growth among 90% of students who started the school year at least one year behind. The school engages the entire family with an on-campus Family Resource Center and regular events requiring parent participation to create a supportive environment both in the classroom and at home. CHANGING THE FUTURE
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 And Their Thoughtful Gift Giving
Coworkers, take note.
(Podcast length - 4:38 mins)
These athletes deserve a championship trophy for the well-thought-out gifts to their teammates and loved ones.
Transcript
1. Truly a gift from the heart. For years Peyton Manning wrote handwritten notes to athletes and sports figures he admired. He spent his off-season writing to the people on this list, usually after they reached a milestone or retired. He would note the person's respect for the game along with his notes of best wishes. AN INVALUABLE GIFT
2. Pitcher Max Scherzer (MLB - Major League Baseball) and quarterback Trevor Siemian (NFL - National Football League) know the way to a man's heart through their stomach. The Chicago Bears QB, Siemian loved Skittles, so he purchased custom parkas for his linemen that dispense Skittles. Yes, the fur-trim hooded parkas have a button on the chest that, when pushed, Skittles arrive in a coat pocket.
Scherzer spent time in the minor leagues rehabbing from an injury. He bought his Binghamton Rumble Ponies teammates Apple Air Pods and treated them to a $7,000 lobster and filet mignon dinner to thank them for their hospitality. A DREAM COME TRUE
3. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) offensive line is a giving group that put a new spin on gift-giving. Instead of exchanging with each other, they pooled their money to give special bonuses to staff members who might get overlooked. These people take care of them daily, like the kitchen staff, trainers and the equipment team. THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
4. Pavin Smith is still in the minor leagues, but his heart is big league. Pavin used his $5M signing bonus from the Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) to pay off his parent's mortgage. Smith joins famous athletes like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Russell Wilson (NFL), who bought their parents a home. GRATITUDE
5. A gift that was designed to be the gift that keeps on giving, New England Patriots (NFL) quarterback Mac Jones gave his linemen bitcoin for Christmas in 2021. Hopefully, they cashed in while it was good. BEST OF INTENTIONS
Bonus: Ever wonder what one might buy a professional athlete who has everything? Well, Roger Federer has been gifted a cow (twice). Other notable gifts professional athletes have received include ice cream, scrapbooks and tribute haircuts and tattoos.
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.
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Turkey Day Table Topics To Avoid Awkward Holiday Moments
Steer clear from a flare-up at the Thanksgiving table with easy ways to change the subject in any scenario.
(Podcast length - 4:35 mins)
Steer clear from a flare-up at the Thanksgiving table by avoiding these conversation minefields and diverting to safer (and dare we say sportier?) ground.
Transcript
For any conversation involving politics
Plenty of political and Hollywood icons once ran the sidelines. Samuel L. Jackson, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Meryl Streep and four former US Presidents (Eisenhower, Roosevelt, Reagan and George W. Bush) had the cheerleader spirit. We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the marching band. In college, you would've found Halle Berry, Steven Spielberg, Alan Greenspan and Lionel Richie entertaining you in formation at halftime. Much safer than venturing into the political minefield at the dinner table.
Or, if you're feeling like taking a walk on the wild side, share something from our post about five athletes who turned their fame into a career in politics.
If anyone brings up the disaster that was the Taylor Swift ticket on sale.
Do you want a disaster? Let's talk about the World Cup in Qatar. From the country's reversal of the decision to allow alcohol at matches to the Frye Festival-like accommodations to the long list of human rights violations in the country's preparation for the world's biggest sporting event.
On the positive side, Stadium 974 in Qatar is the world's first transportable soccer arena. The temporary stadium is made of repurposed shipping containers and can be completely dismantled, transported to another country and put back together like your Legos. Stepping on one of the said Legos likely evokes more swear words than the TS on-sale. WEIRD BUT F-ING BEAUTIFUL
When grandma asks you why you're not married…for the 10th time, that day.
Tell grandma that a long-lasting marriage isn't a sure bet, but you know what is? The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys (NFL - National Football League) taking the field on Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving tradition started for the Lions in 1934 and in 1966 for the Cowboys. So regardless of which team you're cheering for, you can count on these teams to play while you nap off your meal. EVERLASTING LOVE
When everyone wants to take family photos, but you just ate ten days' worth of calories.
Be thankful you don't have to pass a post-meal jiggle test. Some NFL team's cheer coaches conduct "jiggle tests" to assess the firmness of the cheerleaders' bodies during the season, and if they don't pass the test, they're benched. With practices, appearances and games, they put in 30-40 hour weeks during the season, but most are required to have a full-time job elsewhere. When it's all said and done, on average, they make the same amount as the lifeguard at the community pool.
Want more? Check out five things you never knew about NFL cheerleaders.
For that relative who will drive 14 hours because they're afraid to fly
It's the first Thanksgiving without NFL broadcaster John Madden, a man who is synonymous with Thanksgiving football. Hall of Fame broadcaster Madden refused to fly because he was claustrophobic, so he adopted the now iconic Madden Cruiser bus for his cross-country adventures to games. The NFL is honoring Madden this year with a "Madden Player of the Game," as the best player in each game will get $10,000 towards their choice of high school football programs. Other areas include a "John Madden Thanksgiving" logo on the fields and helmets, as well as a Madden NFL 23 competition. AN HONOR
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.
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The 5 Things You Need To Know About The World Cup
Get your game face on for the biggest sporting event in the world.
(Podcast length - 4:40 mins)
Get your game face on for the biggest sporting event in the world.
Transcript
1. The World Cup is every four years and typically occurs in the summer during the break between European soccer seasons. Due to the extreme heat in Qatar, the tournament moved to November, which disrupts the professional soccer season for most of the world. BOYS OF SUMMER WINTER
2. The World Cup is taking place in a Muslim country in the Middle East for the first time. Fans who are in Qatar to party are going to have to tone it down. The consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Islam. Alcohol will only be available to visitors at licensed hotel restaurants and bars away from street view. Fans can buy alcoholic drinks in fan zones at matches. Official beer sponsor Budweiser has had to jump through hoops with its beer stands after the Qatari rulers wanted alcohol to be less prominent. FEAR THE BEER
3. A total of eight stadiums spread across five different Qatari cities will host the 32 teams, but the crown jewel is Stadium 974, the world's first transportable soccer arena. The temporary stadium is made of repurposed shipping containers and can be completely dismantled, transported to another country and put back together like your Legos. PLACES TO GO
4. This is likely the last World Cup for soccer legends Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and Lionel Messi (Argentina). The two have won almost every soccer award, but neither has the illustrious World Cup trophy. Hoping to stand in their way of victory is defending champions France and the youngest team the USA has ever fielded. Led by phenom Christian Pulisic, Team USA is looking for redemption after missing the 2018 tournament in Russia. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
5. The tourney has its fair share of controversy, with former FIFA President Sepp Blatter coming out and saying giving the tournament to Qatar was a mistake, and that it should've gone to the US. (The US, Mexico and Canada will host in 2026). Regardless, all eyes will be on Qatar as the World Cup is one of the most significant sporting events in the world and is watched by billions of people. We're not kidding – the 2018 World Cup peaked with 3.57B viewers. (For reference, the Super Bowl garners 99.18M eyeballs).
How to watch:
When: Sunday, November 20 - Sunday, December 18
The US kick-off their campaign against Wales on November 21 on (FOX)
TV Channel: The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be broadcast live across FOX Sports (FOX and FS1) in English and on Telemundo in Spanish.
Live Stream: You can live stream the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Peacock, Fubo, SlingTV, and Vidgo.
The month-long World Cup has two stages: a "Group Stage" and a "Knockout Stage." In the first stage (the "Group Stage"), the 32 teams are placed into eight groups of four teams each. Here's an article with more information on the stages.
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.
Celebrating 5 Veterans Who Are Also Professional Athletes
Thank you for your service.
PHOTO: Unsplash
(Podcast length - 3:29 mins)
In honor of Veterans Day, we salute our athlete veterans and say thank you for your service to all our veterans.
Transcript
1. MLB (Major League Baseball) legend Ted Williams' put his hall of fame career on hold for three years of military service. In the middle of his 19-year baseball career, he opted out of baseball and into the Navy for three years. During his assignment to the Marine Corps, his piloting skills were as revered as his ability to swing a baseball bat. In 1952, he missed part of the season when he was called up to fight in the Korean War. He returned home and finished his historic career in 1960. SOARED TO NEW HEIGHTS
2. Pat Tillman is likely this generation's most notable veteran. He walked away from a successful career with the Arizona Cardinals (NFL – National Football League) to join the Army after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. His brother joined the Army as well. Pat served with the Army Rangers until he tragically lost his life in action in 2004. TRUE LEADER
3. Before offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva played for the Baltimore Ravens (NFL), he went to West Point and served as an Army Ranger Captain until 2015. He has had quite an impressive football career since then. Villanueva is one of the few active professional athletes that are veterans. BRAVERY ABOUNDS
4. Before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers (MLB), he was drafted into the Army during World War II. While he never served overseas, he spent time at Fort Hood and Camp Breckinridge in Kentucky, where he served as an athletic coach. DEDICATED
5. Legendary "Coach K" - Mike Krzyzewski (pronounced Sha-chef-ski) - played basketball at West Point and served as a field artillery liaison to the infantry in the early 1970s at Camp Pelham. After his military career, he began coaching and was the basketball coach at West Point before leaving to coach the Duke basketball team. Krzyzewski, who also coached Team U.S.A., is the most successful coach in men's college basketball history and was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. Coach K will retire after the 2021-22 basketball season. SUCCESS AT ALL LEVELS
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.