Post-COVID small talk isn't easy. So after the "which vaccine did you get?" conversation, allow us to help you make a connection with sports with a side of pop culture.
Social anxiety no more,
The Last Night's Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
After all the last year and a half has thrown at her, Vanessa Bryant remains a stoic head of her family, and she wowed us again this weekend. Her speech at the Naismith (i.e., NBA) Hall of Fame ceremony accepting the honor on behalf of her late husband, Kobe, was incredible and wasn’t without some humor. She said, "I used to avoid praising my husband in public because I felt like he got enough praise from his fans around the world, and someone had to bring him back to reality. Right now, I'm sure he's laughing in heaven because I'm about to praise him in public for his accomplishments on one of the most public stages. I could see him now, arms folded, with a huge grin saying, 'Isn't this some s---?' He's still winning.” ALL THE FEELS
Overtime
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer has always been an outside-the-box thinker, so when MLB (Major League Baseball) told him that he wasn’t allowed to promote his own logo or he’d be fined, he got creative at a postgame press conference. NOTHING A SHARPIE AND TAPE CAN’T FIX
Sideline stat
Forget free donuts for getting a vaccine. How about going full out on a superspeedway? To encourage vaccinations, Tallegdega Motor Speedway (NASCAR - National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) opened up the race track to anyone who came to the track for a vaccine. The newly vaccinated Alabamans could take to the track in their own vehicles for two laps, all thanks to the speedway. WHATEVER IT TAKES
Coaches’ corner
If you haven’t seen it already, the “Saturday Night Live” spoof of Michael Jordan’s “Last Dance” documentary was golden. SNL cast member Heidi Gardner played John Michael Wozniak, the curly-haired, slightly quirky Chicago Bulls’ locker room security guard and guest host Keegan-Michael Key played Jordan. START YOUR MONDAY OFF RIGHT
