Like A Good Neighbor
Here for you as you start off your first work week of 2021. The $100k bonus, the best comeback story and the Heisman Trophy is on deck.
We've got your back day in and day out by bringing you plenty to talk about, but we won't take up your trash cans when you're out of town.
Can't win them all,
The Last Night's Game Team
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The College Football National Championship Game is set. The Crimson Tide of Alabama will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes on January 11 in Miami. As if that excitement wasn't enough for this week, tomorrow college football will (virtually) crown the Heisman Trophy Winner. The trophy is awarded to the most outstanding player in college football. The finalists include two Alabama players Mac Jones (QB) and DeVonta Smith (WR), Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask. Smith is the current favorite to win. THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING US
OVERTIME
Alex Smith of Washington Football Team (NFL - National Football League) is the best comeback story of the season. After a horrific broken leg that resulted in an infection that almost cost him his leg, Smith returned to start for his team. In the coolest public display of affection, Alex's wife Elizabeth posted a photo for inspiration before yesterday's game. It was of the Lombardi Trophy (that the Super Bowl Champions receive) made of Smith’s former leg brace. She talked about how proud she was of Smith and how far he's come. It must have worked because with yesterday's win Washington locked down their division title and a spot in the playoffs, even though they have a losing record. A LONG WAY BACK
SIDELINE STAT
The Seattle Seahawks (NFL) were THIS close to wrapping up the season and heading into the playoffs, but instead of taking a knee to close out the game, the Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson called an audible and threw a pass to David Moore. Why? Moore was one catch away from a $100,000 bonus. Moore had an incentive built into his contract that stated that he would receive $100,000 if he had 35 catches this season, and that last-minute catch was Moore’s 35th of the season. In a postgame interview, Wilson said he knew of the incentive and made sure he changed the call, so his teammate received his bonus. A LITTLE HELP FROM A FRIEND
COACHES' CORNER
Today is referred to as Black Monday in the NFL. It's the Monday after the regular season that coaches get fired. So far, Adam Gase of the New York Jets and Doug Marrone of the Jacksonville Jaguars have lost their jobs, but no telling who will be next. DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU..
Get Your Game Face On
College football bowl game season and “The Bachelorette” go head-to-head, the playoffs are set and hockey season is happening.
Refine your wrapping skills and sharpen your tongue - it’s party time.
Game on,
The Last Night’s Game Team
College Football
We don’t want to jinx it but after a season of highs and lows, it looks like we will be able to crown a college football champion. We now know that Alabama (No. 1) will take on Notre Dame (No. 4) and Clemson (No. 2) will face off against Ohio State (No. 3) on January 1 in the playoffs. ‘Bama and the Irish were supposed to play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena but due to California’s COVID regulations that prohibit fans from attending, the game has been moved to AT&T Stadium in Dallas. KICK OFF 2021
overtime
It’s been a rough year for Vanessa Bryant who lost her husband, basketball legend Kobe Bryant, and her daughter Gianna in a helicopter accident in January. Now her mom is suing her claiming that she, Sofia Laine, was an unpaid “longtime personal assistant and nanny” and that Kobe “promised to take care of” her “for the rest of her life.” Laine is seeking back pay for all of the hours she’s worked over the years helping out and taking care of her grandchildren at the rate of $96/hour. In addition she is seeking “$5 million, a house and a Mercedes SUV.” In a statement to Us Weekly, Bryant said that Laine “has spiraled out of control” and is “continuing to try and find ways to extort a financial windfall from our family.” AND YOU THOUGHT YOUR HOLIDAYS WERE CONTENTIOUS
Sideline stat
The New York Jets (National Football League) secured their first win of the season but it was bad news for the team. Why? With the win, they lost their grip on the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft which would presumably be used on Clemson’s quarterback Trevor Lawrence. In other shocking NFL news, for the first time in 11 years, the New England Patriots will miss out on the playoffs. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR
Coaches’ corner
Tiger and Charlie Woods had fans swooning while playing together at the PNC Championship (golf). While the father and son combo didn’t win, their twinning was a win in our book with the matching fist pumps to their traditional “Sunday Red.” Charlie is the youngest player to every play in the tournament. THE APPLE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE
What to watch
College Football Bowl Season starts today. There aren’t nearly as many games as usual with games being cancelled and teams dropping out but regardless, there’s plenty of football to watch during “The Bachelorette” commercial breaks. (Don’t forget to set your brackets)! SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Also, the NBA (National Basketball Association) regular season begins tomorrow.
Going The Distance
The smart way one coach is penalizing players for bad behavior, who tied the knot and who is cashing in years later.
Forgo the awkward silence while waiting for a meeting to start or for your dinner to arrive by putting to use the best stories from the always interesting world of sports.
We’ve got your back,
The Last Night’s Game Team
College football
It was an exciting weekend in college football with a huge upset of another top 10 ranked team. Wisconsin (#6) was handed a loss by an unranked Illinois team. Another moment worth noting is the loss of Alabama’s (#1) starting quarterback. The team lost Tua Tagovailoa with an ankle injury. Normally the team would be okay but his talented backup, Jalen Hurts, transferred to Oklahoma this season and is dominating there, so we’ll see if Alabama can pick up the pieces and stay at the front of the pack. IT’S ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL SOMEONE LOSES A QUARTERBACK
Overtime
The road to starting a family for female athletes is a tough one. You may recall the criticism Nike faced from their sponsored female athletes that caused them to adopt a progressive maternity policy. Now WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) star Skylar Diggins is shedding some light on her story. She revealed that she played the entire 2018 season while she was pregnant. (She had an amazing season BTW). She spoke out about her critics, the lack of support and the fact that she took only two months off and that was to deal with postpartum depression. RAISE ‘EM UP
Sideline stat
Former University of Texas running back Ricky Williams was the last Heisman Trophy winner to be able to profit from the sale of his famed trophy. On Saturday, his Heisman Trophy sold for a record $504,000 to a Florida sports memorabilia collector. After 1998, any player who wins the Heisman is required to sign an agreement stating they cannot sell the iconic trophy that recognizes the best in college football. CASHING IN
Coaches’ corner
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had a creative way of laying down the law with one of his players. Freshman player Andrew Booth was ejected from this weekend’s game for punching an opposing player. The defending national championship coach made Booth ride home on the bus with the team managers instead of flying home with the team. Swinney said the almost seven hour drive home gave Booth “plenty of time to think about it.” LONGEST TIME-OUT EVER?
What to watch
Game one of the World Series is tomorrow night. The Houston Astros won their first World Series in 2017 and they’re back to try for one more. They’ll play the Washington Nationals who are playing in the World Series for the first time in franchise history. Get the skinny on this major sporting event in Wednesday’s five things to know. FOR ALL THE MARBLES