Taking The World By Storm

It’s Monday. Take the world by storm and show them how it’s done.

By impressing them with sports talk of course,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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World Cup

When you’re amped to start a new week. The first weekend in World Cup soccer had all the feels. From the historic tie for Iceland against Argentina that sent the country into happy hysterics while doing the Viking clap (aka the Thunderclap), to the celebration of the game winning goal for Mexico against defending champion Germany that mimicked an earthquake with fans causing seismic activity in Mexico City. In case you feel left out, don’t worry, there are still three weeks left. AND THE CROWD GOES WILD

Overtime

Unlike most interviews with Oprah, this one didn’t end up in tears or with the interviewee jumping on the couch. In her conversation with quarterback Tom Brady (NFL – National Football League), which aired yesterday on OWN Network, he opened up. Brady talked about retirement, how his children have changed his perspective on the game - especially when it comes to losing and why he respects players who kneel for the anthem but hates being called the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time). No word if they discussed their food empires over carrots and hummus. WATCH

Sideline stat

Coming off a prolonged absence after wrist surgery, golfer Brooks Koepka won his second straight U.S. Open. Not only is he the first back-to-back winner in 29 years but he was rewarded with a nice little winner’s check for $2.19 million. That’ll work.

Not having a great tournament? Birthday boy Phil Mickelson. All hell broke loose on the course after he hit his moving ball before it rolled down a hill. That’s against the rules and the USGA (United States Golf Association) threatened to disqualify him from the tournament. Although his golf partner Andrew “Beef” Johnson found it hilarious (Beef was also using an Arby’s bacon beef and cheddar golf towel during the tournament so there’s that), many golf purists had their panties in a bunch over his troubling move. AGHAST  

Coaches’ corner

It’s the 25th anniversary of the movie The Sandlot and the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB – Major League Baseball) honored the cult classic during “Sandlot Night." They recognized the actors from the movie, did a sweet t-shirt giveaway and showed the flick after the game. There have been no reports on how many times “you’re killing me smalls” was said throughout the celebration. FLASHBACK

What to watch

Confused on why a tie in World Cup soccer is a good thing? Stay tuned to our social media channels tomorrow afternoon for that answer in our Sports Curious Question of the Week. Have a burning sports question you’d like to know the answer to? Send us a note on social media (buttons below) or at theteam@lastnightsgame.com.

The 5 Things You Need To Know About The World Cup

Nearly half of the world’s population watched the last World Cup, which happens every four years. Therefore, the topic of soccer is going to be unavoidable for the next month.

If you can’t beat 'em, join 'em,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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The Five Things You Need To Know About The World Cup

1. Starting tomorrow and for the next month, the world’s eyes will be on Russia as they host the best 32 teams in the world in their fight for the global title. Not in the battle? A team from Italy and the U.S. It has been 60 years since the Italians failed to qualify for the World Cup and 32 years for the Americans. BUT WHY?

2. FOX paid over $400 million for the broadcasting rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup. Despite shelling out that cash, 8 of the 12 broadcasters will be calling games from a studio in Los Angeles, not live from Russia. Guess they forgot to include funds for a travel budget? On the bright side, Aly Wagner will become the first woman to call a men’s World Cup soccer game. KUDOS ALY

3. With the United States out of the tournament, who should you cheer for? How about Team Iceland? They’re the smallest country to ever qualify for the men’s World Cup (population 330,000), it’s their first time ever playing in a World Cup AND their coach was a dentist up until two years ago, so give it up for the underdog. (Not to be confused with the under bite – obligatory dentist joke). WHO TO ROOT FOR

4. Three of the best soccer players in the world also happen to be three of the highest paid athletes on earth, but what’s the one thing they all have in common besides big bank accounts? No World Cup trophy. You can catch Lionel Messi (Team Argentina - #2 in the world in getting paid), Cristano Ronaldo (Team Portugal - #3) and Neymar (Team Brazil - #5) as they fight for the one thing they can’t buy. LAST CHANCE

5. The host team automatically qualifies for the tournament so Russia is in. What’s also in right now in Russia? Smiling. Apparently workers who will interact with the influx of tourist (ex. train workers) have been learning how to smile in hopes of dispelling the stigma that Russians aren’t friendly. SAY CHEESE  

Bonus: Announced this morning – a joint bid by Canada, Mexico and the United States to host the 2026 World Cup has been successful. Canada and Mexico will host 10 of the games and the U.S. will host 60. MORE

Let’s talk about today

Living life in the present? Here’s what everyone is bantering about over their bacon this morning including an epic championship day, a scholarship surprise and they spent how much on booze in the past week? READ

The 5 Sporting Events To Get Excited About in 2018

If creating relationships, growing your client base or expanding your network are on your list of New Year’s resolutions, develop the rapport with sports and keep the conversation going all year long.

Talk the talk,

The Last Night’s Game

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The Five Sporting Events To Get Excited About in 2018

1. Australian Open (Tennis): Monday, January 15 - Sunday, January 28

While the Australian Open is one of the big four in tennis (i.e. a Grand Slam tournament), it’s not one you might normally look forward to so why this year? The gal that some consider the greatest of all time, Serena Williams, is planning to make her return to tennis in the same tournament she won last year, while pregnant. Get ready for her to dominate the courts again.

2. Super Bowl - NFL (National Football League): Sunday, February 4

This year’s game will be played in the "warm and tropical" home of the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. An NFL team has never played in the Super Bowl in their home stadium and the Vikings, who are in the playoffs, may be the first team to break that streak. If the commercials and the parties aren’t enough, Justin Timberlake is headlining the halftime show. Bonus - his new album drops two days before the game. 

3. Winter Olympics: Friday, February 9 – Thursday, February 25

It seems every Olympics there is a major controversy. Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, Russian doping, Zika and now the proximity of PyeongChang, South Korea to North Korea is on the minds everyone heading into the Winter Olympics. A few positive stories to focus on? Lindsey Vonn’s comeback on the slopes and Nigeria’s first team ever in the Winter Olympics, which happens to be all women.  Also, did you know that PyeongChang is the smallest host city since Lillehammer, Norway, with a population of 50,000.

4. Daytona 500 – NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing): Sunday, February 18

The Daytona 500 has been glorified in the movies (Days of Thunder anyone)? but the race that kicks off the NASCAR season will be without one of its most familiar faces this year. This will be the first time in almost two decades Dale Earnhardt Jr. will not be in the lineup. He retired last year but you can catch him on his new show on the DIY Network and in the broadcast booth for NBC. Another face slowly fading from racing is the most accomplished woman in NASCAR history, Danica Patrick. She will only race two races this year - the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.

5. World Cup - Soccer: Thursday, June 14 – Sunday, July 15

In the world’s most watched sporting event, soccer teams from all over the world will compete to determine which country is the best. In 2014, over three billion people or nearly 40% of the world’s population watched the competition, which happens every four years. Three notable teams that failed to qualify and will miss this year’s tournament in Russia? United States, Italy and The Netherlands. The underdog? Team Iceland. They’re the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup and they’re playing in their first one.

Live in the now

If you're focusing on the moment and not the future, then we have the news for you. Here are the top three topics your friends and neighbors will be talking about today. READ