Good morning, sunshine! It’s Friday, July 26th, and the excitement is palpable as we gear up for the Paris Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies today. Let’s dive into everything you need to know for the weekend ahead, whether it’s Olympic fever or other major sports news.
All Things Olympics
The much-anticipated Opening Ceremonies start at 9 AM PT, 12 PM ET. You can catch them live on Peacock or watch them in prime time tonight on NBC. Team USA’s flag bearers, LeBron James and Coco Gauff, will proudly represent Team USA in Ralph Lauren attire.
This year’s ceremony is unique, taking place on the Seine River with barges as stages. Rumors are swirling about exceptional guest performers, with names like Celine Dion and Lady Gaga in the mix. Stay tuned to see who graces the stage!
Who You Won’t See
Canada's Head Soccer Coach: Fired for using drones to spy on opponents.
Katie Ledecky: The seven-time gold medalist is resting up for her competitions starting Saturday.
Key Events to Watch
Men’s Basketball: On Sunday, the US team begins its campaign for a fifth consecutive gold medal against Serbia. They’ll be up against three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. The game starts at 11 AM Eastern.
Simone Biles will make her debut in Paris on Sunday with the women’s qualifying round.
Not Happening in Paris
Softball News
While softball isn’t in the Olympics this year, there’s significant news in the sport. Former softball pitcher NiJaree Canady is making headlines with a reported $1 million NIL deal as she transfers to Texas Tech from Stanford. This deal is a game-changer, dwarfing previous deals which topped out at $175,000.
NBA Media Rights Shake-Up
The NBA’s (National Basketball Association) recent media rights deals could mean significant changes for the beloved show “Inside the NBA” featuring Shaq, Chuck, Kenny, and Ernie. With Amazon and ESPN possibly interested in hiring the crew, we might see a new home for this iconic team after 2025.
UFC 304 in the UK
UFC 304 (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is set to take place in the UK, with two British champions defending their titles. The event starts at 3 AM local time to cater to the American audience and maximize pay-per-view sales. Expect key matchups around 5 AM, making for an all-nighter for fight fans.
For more on the Olympics, check out lastnightsgame.com. Our Olympic guide is packed with content, and our Olympic headquarters are bursting at the seams with great stuff, including blog posts, podcasts and videos. Follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Have a great weekend!
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