Shaken, Not Stirred
Why football players aren’t showing up for work, who’s diversifying their assets and Olympians are finally getting paid. Sort of.
You’re almost there. Happy hour is around the corner.
Let’s give them something to talk about,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
The NFL Pro Bowl (aka the NFL All-Star Game) is this Sunday in Orlando, FL and there’s a good chance you won’t recognize many of the names on the field. Why? Players often avoid the game as it’s an additional risk of injury. You also won’t see any members of the San Francisco 49ers or the Kansas City Chiefs in the game because players from teams that are in the Super Bowl are ineligible. CALLING IN SICK
PS – Amped for the Super Bowl and its commercials? We’re releasing next week’s Super Bowl podcast early, which will cover commercials and the halftime show of course. So make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss anything. (Email subscribers - You’ll get your Super Bowl 5 Things to know delivered to your inbox on Wednesday per usual).
Overtime
Arizona Cardinals (NFL) receiver Larry Fitzgerald did something only one of his colleagues has done before - buy into an NBA (National Basketball Association) team. He joins the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers as the only other active NFL player to be a partial owner of an NBA team with his purchase of a minority stake the Phoenix Suns. (Rodgers owns a share of the Milwaukee Bucks). DIVERSIFY YOUR ASSETS
Sideline stat
But wait, there’s more all-star coverage. This weekend is also the NHL (National Hockey League) All-Star Game in St. Louis. Instead of playing a standard run-of-the-mill all-star game, the NHL shakes things up with a 3-on-3 tournament with all-stars from each division playing for $1 million. And unlike the NFL Pro Bowl, hockey players will be suspended for a game if they don’t show up to the all-star game that they were selected for. CAN’T WIN (A COOL MILLION) IF YOU DON’T PLAY
Coaches’ corner
A significant number of Olympic athletes are also college athletes. And as you might recall, the NCAA (governing body of college sports) has very strict guidelines about college athletes receiving money and gifts. Well, the NCAA announced yesterday that it will allow college athlete Olympians to receive compensation for necessities like training and travel expenses. GOLD ISN’T CHEAP
What to watch
The Australian Open. Tennis’ first major of the season is keeping us on the edge of our seats. Serena Williams faced another setback in her quest for her record-tying 24th Grand Slam win. She lost to China's Qiang Wang last night, her earliest exit in the tournament in 14 years. Between homework time, 15-year-old phenom Coco Gauff upset Naomi Osaka. THIS IS GETTING GOOD
One Thing Right
An injury that’ll have you saying WTF, why the tennis season may be on hold and the cutest starting lineup around?
The first full work week of the new year also means the first official happy hour of the new year.
Always a silver lining,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
Wild card weekend lived up to its hype, with two overtime games. The biggest news of the weekend is that the New England Patriots lost to the Tennessee Titans, missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Speculation is swirling around Tom Brady’s next move, but nothing has been announced. The Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks also won and will be moving onto the next round this weekend. SAYONARA DYNASTY
Overtime
New York Mets (MLB – Major League Baseball) often injured star player Yoenis Cespedes missed last season with an ankle injury sustained from a fall on his ranch. This weekend it was reported that the ankle injury was due to a wild boar incident at his ranch. The boar either startled him or charged him, causing him to step into a hole and hurt his ankle. TRY STEPPING IN A SIDEWALK CRACK IN STILETTOS
Sideline stat
The tennis season kicks off in Melbourne on January 19 at the Australian Open but the start of the season could be impacted by the wildfires. Organizers are considering delaying the tournament if the conditions continue to deteriorate around Melbourne. Big name tennis players, athletes and celebrities of all nationalities have stepped up to donate to help the victims of the devastating Australia wildfires. RALLY FOR RELIEF
Coaches’ corner
Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner and that means it’s also time for the Puppy Bowl. The cutest lineup of adoptable shelter pups has been released. Team Ruff and Team Fluff will battle it out with the goal of getting every dog on the field adopted. Not into dogs? Don’t worry, the two teams will be cheered on by hamsters, pygmy goats, armadillos and kittens. ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Starting Off On The Right Foot
It’s Super Bowl week and sports will surely dominate the conversation over the next few days. Make the week yours by owning the conversation.
It’s Super Bowl week and sports will surely dominate the conversation over the next few days. Make the week yours by owning the conversation.
Where the magic happens,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – Las Vegas fans, catch us this morning at 8:15 am PST on CW as we talk Super Bowl or you can watch it live here.
NFL (National Football League)
If your work promotion isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Yesterday's NFL all-star game, the Pro Bowl, resembled a backyard pickup game with its laissez-faire attitude but the AFC (American Football Conference) still beat the NFC (National Football Conference). The winning team members each took home a $64,000 bonus and the losers cashed in at $32,000. Oddly enough, the winners of the Pro Bowl actually end up making more than the losing team in the Super Bowl.
Overtime
The Senior Bowl showcases college senior football players’ talents one last time for NFL scouts. You may have seen the big oops video of Shaquem Griffin being interviewed on the sideline instead of participating in a play on the field. What you may not know is that Griffin plays football one handed because he lost his left hand at age four. Now that’s impressive.
Sideline stat
Yesterday at the ripe old age of 36, a tearful Roger Federer won the Australian Open and his 20th Grand Slam title. Federer is the first male to win 20 Grand Slam tournaments. Serena Williams won her record 23rd at the same tournament last year.
A Grand Slam in tennis describes one of the four major tournaments - the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
Coaches’ corner
Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey is taking her Hollywood acting career to a different level, signing a full-time contract with WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). She made her first appearance last night at the Royal Rumble. WWE has also been in the news lately because its chariman Vince McMahon is reviving the previously defunct XFL (Xtreme Football League).
Stay tuned - Wednesday is the day you've been waiting for all year - our Super Bowl edition of Five Things To Know. Don't miss out!