Whether your weekend is poolside, at a BBQ or home on your couch, here’s what you need to know to be the life of the party (or at least small talk with the best of them).
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The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
The NBA has allowed for packed arenas for the playoffs, and it seems to have backfired. Apparently, fans forgot how to act out in public. Three different teams had incidents on their home courts, and the misbehaving fans have been banned from the arenas. One Philadelphia 76ers fan dumped popcorn on Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards as he was leaving the court with an injury. In yet another incident, a fan spit on Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. The Utah Jazz has banned three fans after a verbal assault of an opposing player’s family. THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS
Overtime
The French Open, the second major tournament in tennis (out of four) and the only one on clay courts, begins this weekend. While we’re all keeping an eye on Serena Williams as she fights for that record-tying 24th Grand Slam title, Naomi Osaka is the one in the spotlight. The highest-paid female athlete in the world will be playing but will not be doing any press conferences, citing her mental health and that of other players. She signed off on her Instagram note about skipping interviews by saying, “I hope the considerable amount I get fined for this will go to a mental health charity.” TAKING A STAND
Sideline stat
As if Alex Rodriguez hasn’t had enough drama in his relationships so far this year, it looks like his purchase of the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA – National Basketball Association) could be in jeopardy. The second-largest current owner of the Timberwolves filed a complaint against the sale. The complaint said there was no provision in the $1.5 billion sale to Rodriguez and his business partner that said the team had to stay in Minnesota, violating the franchise's partnership agreement. A ROUGH START
Coaches’ corner
The University of Oklahoma and Washington will make history this Saturday as the first collegiate softball game to air on national television. Game two of the NCAA Super Regional between the two teams will be on ABC. The winner of this series will play in the College Softball World Series. BATTER UP
What to watch
Memorial Day weekend’s favorite sporting event, the Indy 500, takes place on Sunday. Keep an eye on the Paretta Autosport team with driver Simona de Silvestro. The mostly women team is the first female driver/owner duo in IndyCar Series history to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. For more on the milk-chugging, face-paced race, check out Why The Indy 500 is worth watching. READ
