Crowning Achievement

Since none of us woke up this morning as the Duchess of Sussex, it looks like it’s back to the grind.

You're still royally sports smart,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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The Race For The Triple Crown

When there’s no surprise here. Kentucky Derby winner, Justify, was the heavy favorite in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes. It wasn’t pretty but Justify easily won the sloppy, muddy race. The Preakness is the second of three races a horse has to win to achieve the Triple Crown. With two of those races in the bag, the next stop for Justify is the Belmont Stakes on June 9, where he hopes to become the next Triple Crown winner. MORE ON THE RACE

Overtime

Speaking of crowns, you couldn’t avoid the coverage of the royal wedding this weekend. As expected, even the sporty were invited. Tennis star Serena Williams and soccer great David Beckham, along with their spouses, looked the part donning a different kind of uniform for the royal celebration. PICS

Sideline stat

The first all-athlete season of Dancing With The Stars comes to a close tonight in the season finale and may the most coordinated win. The final three athletes left standing are Josh Norman, player for the Washington Redskins (NFL – National Football League) and two members of the Olympic figure skating team – Adam Rippon and Tonya Harding. We’ll find out tonight who will dance away with the famed mirrorball trophy. QUICK SEASON RECAP

Coaches’ corner

With “Star Wars” favorite Chewbacca sitting courtside, the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA – National Basketball Association) embodied the power of the force when they dominated the Boston Celtics in their playoff game this weekend. Did you know that new Chewbacca is actually played by former Penn State and Finnish basketball player Joonas Suotamo? So maybe the wookie does have game? (PS – the Cavs are down 2-1 in the semifinal series against the Celtics).

What to watch

The Vegas Golden Knights are in! In their inaugural season the team continues to chase history, defeating the Winnipeg Jets last night to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. They’re waiting on their opponent, the victor of the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning series. The two teams will play tonight for a spot in the finals. SCHEDULE

Poppin' Bottles

Celebrate your sports savviness and the fact that it's Friday by breaking open the bubbly.

It’s never too early,

The Last Night’s Game team

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NFL (National Football League)

When you’ve weighed all your options. The schedule for the 2018-2019 NFL season has been released. The schedule isn’t just thrown together, it’s a carefully thought out process that involves mapping out holidays, Beyoncé concerts and shared parking facilities. And you thought it was hard to find a time to have a drink with a few friends. SCHEDULE

When there's never enough time in the day. The NFL is giving its fans the gift of time. Fans can rejoice because the start time for primetime games (i.e. night games) have been moved up this season. Okay, so it’s not a lot of time saved but Sunday night games will start 10 minutes earlier than last season and Monday night football, 15 minutes earlier. MORE

Overtime

Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived last month in Los Angeles to play for the L.A. Galaxy (MLS - Major League Soccer) with his giant ego in tow. Ibrahimovic was a star player for Manchester United and greeted L.A. with a newspaper ad saying "Los Angeles, You're welcome." Now settling into LaLa Land, you might assume he'd like to meet up with fellow celebrities? Think again. When asked who he'd like to meet the most he said, “Me. I don’t want to meet nobody, they want to meet me.” Well then. READ

Sideline stat

The annual Time's 100 Most Influential list is out and while it’s full of big names, there are quite a few athletes that have landed on this list. The list recognizes activism and achievements of those in influential roles. On the list - Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors – NBA – National Basketball League), J.J. Watt (Houston Texans - NFL), Roger Federer (Tennis) and Olympians Adam Rippon and Chloe Kim. LIST

Coaches’ corner

Yesterday, the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars (both NFL teams) released their new uniforms for the upcoming season. The Jaguars took their big announcement a step further and revealed they're also opening the first dog park in an NFL stadium this season. Who says cats and dogs can't get along? 

What to watch for

Sunday is Earth Day and here are five intriguing ways the sports industry is leading the charge in going green to share with your friends over a sustainable, organic mimosa at brunch. (Hint: one team even went vegan). READ 

Medal-Worthy Monday

Break the ice this President’s Day by talking sports. If basketball or the Olympics aren’t your thing, bringing up golfer John Daly hitting a hole-in-one while dressed like an American flag should do it.

Hail To The Chief,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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NBA (National Basketball Association)

When taking a risk pays off. Last night, the NBA All-Star Game came down to the wire, with Team LeBron (LeBron James) defeating Team Stephen (Stephen Curry) by three points. It seems the NBA has finally found a format that makes the all-star game competitive. ICYMI – the teams were selected like an old-school kickball game with the two captains picking their teams, regardless of conference.

When you try but fall flat on your face. Not everyone’s performance was as stellar as game MVP LeBron James. During the pregame, there was an odd rendition of the national anthem by Fergie that gave some players the giggles. Top that off with bizarre player introductions by actor/comedian Kevin Hart. Maybe it’s just not Hart’s year to be at sporting events between this and the Super Bowl incident.

Overtime

America’s newest star, figure skater Adam Rippon, has made a name for himself in these Olympics. He was offered a job as an NBC correspondent for the final days of the Games, now that his competition is over. He initially agreed but then changed his mind once he realized he would have to give up his athlete credentials and move out of the Olympic Village.

Sideline stat

Driving the #3 car just like Dale Earnhardt Sr. did in his first and only Daytona 500 win 20 years ago, driver Austin Dillon took home the first win of the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) season at Daytona yesterday. There were accidents galore with only 25 of the 40 cars that started the race crossing the finish line. Sadly, one of those crashes involved Danica Patrick, who was driving in the final NASCAR race of her career. She’ll drive one last race in the Indianapolis 500, which is not a NASCAR race, on May 27.

Coaches’ corner

Last week we talked about the Swiss free ski team and their unconventional escalator ride. Clearly unconventional runs in the family becauce Swiss free skier Mischa Gasser’s dad decided to ride a bike more than 10,500 miles from Switzerland to South Korea to watch his son compete. His mom took the conventional route and hopped on a plane.

What to watch

Keep an eye on American Olympian Justin Olsen in tonight's two-man bobsled race. Two weeks ago, he underwent an emergency appendectomy in South Korea. He'll not only pilot the two-man sled tonight but the four-man one later this week as well.