Calling In Sick - 5 Absurd Reasons Athletes Have Missed A Game
If you’re looking for an excuse to call in sick today, these might work if you can handle your boss laughing their (expletive) off.
If you’re looking for an excuse to call in sick today, these might work if you can handle your boss laughing their (expletive) off.
Points for creativity?
The Last Night’s Game Team
Five Absurd Reasons Athletes Have Missed A Game
1. Now retired basketball player and current TV analyst, Charles Barkley, missed a game after an incident involving lotion. He rubbed his eyes while at an Eric Clapton concert, had a bad reaction to the lotion on his hands and had to miss the Phoenix Suns (NBA – National Basketball Association) season opener. IT’S ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL SOMEONE LOSES AN EYE
2. Former Baltimore Orioles (MLB – Major League Baseball) outfielder Marty Cordova missed a game due to severe burns he suffered from tanning bed exposure. BURNT TO A CRISP
3. In a motivational stunt gone wrong, former Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL – National Football League) punter Chris Hanson cut his leg with an axe, causing him to miss the entire season. The Jags coach put a log and an axe in the locker room as a motivational tool after a bad season start. This wasn’t Hanson’s first freak accident. He previously suffered severe burns when a fondue pot tipped over onto him. COVER HIM IN BUBBLE WRAP
4. MLB Baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs strained his back (and subsequently missed a few games) from putting on his cowboy boots. GIDDY UP
5. Former baseball player Glenallen Hill had a serious fear of spiders. He woke up in panic after having a dream about spiders and fell through a glass table. YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS UP
That's not all folks
If those freak accidents weren’t enough to keep you entertained, there’s more where that came from. Here are the top three things happening in the world of sports to keep the conversation flowing, including why you can’t be an athlete and drink beer, how Christmas came early for one fan and why a few Italian men are in big trouble. READ
The Envelope Please
Your reward for making it to Friday? Oscar award winning conversation starters.
Your reward for making it to Friday? Oscar award winning conversation starters.
It's just an honor to be nominated,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
When you know you’re not getting your security deposit back. Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry has won two league MVP awards but his golf game might need a little work. He was practicing his swing inside his hotel room which resulted in broken glass everywhere. Guess he’s the reason they charge for incidentals when checking in.
If all you need in life is the perfect cheer. NBA legend Charles Barkley is hosting Saturday Night Live this week. This is Barkley’s fourth time hosting the show and you can expect some parodies around his famous “I am not a role model” quote. Let’s see if he can one up the best athlete skit ever - Peyton Manning as a United Way youth volunteer.
Overtime
A balmy 50 degrees is like summer weather if you’re a NHL (National Hockey League) fan. The largest crowd ever at the Naval Academy is expected to brave the weather to catch the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals play outdoors in Annapolis, MD.
Sideline stat
Whoever said 50 years old was over the hill was full of crap. Meet George Corones the 99-year-old Australian swimmer who broke the record for the 50m swim for his age category by a whole 35 seconds. Somewhere Michael Phelps is envisioning his comeback.
Coaches’ corner
Not really into sports but love Hollywood? The two worlds collide at the Oscars, which are this Sunday. Former NBA player Kobe Bryant is nominated for his animated short Dear Basketball. Check out our Top Five Oscar Winning Sports Movies so you can be a part of the conversation or at least have an excuse to watch movies all weekend.
The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition - Tailgate Treat
With an action packed weekend of sports and Labor Day BBQ’s ahead, we have all you need to know to celebrate the unofficial last weekend of the summer.
Pass the sunscreen please,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Ps - Every Friday during football season we’ll feature a favorite tailgate recipe to try over the weekend. Today’s is one that’ll be nice to your waistline - roasted red pepper hummus. Have a recipe you’d like us to feature? Submit it here.
NCAA Football (College)
- Controversial choice. Penn State is set to honor former head coach Joe Paterno on the 50-year anniversary of his coaching debut - September 17. Paterno's storied career ended because of his part in a vile scandal involving Jerry Sandusky. Paterno, who passed away in 2012, was the winningest coach in FBS (division one) history.
- Inspired for sure. Heading into the fourth quarter the Tennessee Volunteers (#9) were down against an unranked Appalachian State. Known for pulling off upset games, Appalachian State couldn’t hold on and the Vols took home the win. No doubt the team was inspired by the late, great Pat Summitt. The team is honoring the former Vols coach with a sticker on their helmets this season. Summitt, who passed away earlier this year, is the winningest coach in all of division one college basketball, men or women’s.
- For the full weekend schedule, click here.
NFL (National Football League)
- The need for speed. Reminiscent of when Goose and Maverick staged a tower flyby in Top Gun, four pilots buzzed the Carolina Panthers practice field. The pilots are under investigation for being awesome. Okay, not really but they are under investigation.
- Funny guy. Peyton Manning is staying busy in retirement. Manning is a roaster in “The Roast of Rob Lowe” on Comedy Central. You can see him burn Lowe on Monday, September 5th at 10 pm.
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
- Always a silver lining. The qualifying race leading into Sunday’s big race has been cancelled due to Hurricane Hermine. The good news is that the forecast looks clear for the race on Sunday, where the field will be set by points (since there was no qualifying). The even better news is that during the race NBC will be celebrating the 1975-1984 era of racing with old school race cars and the announcers’ will dress accordingly. Bring on the mullets, big mustaches and short shorts.
Overtime
- NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley recently had hip replacement surgery and was ordered not to travel. Barkley ignored those orders when he heard that NBA sideline reporter Craig Sager’s wife came down with the flu and could not be in the hospital during Sager’s third bone marrow transplant in his battle with leukemia. Barkley, not one to care what anyone thinks, flew to Houston to show support for the ailing Sager.
Sideline stat
- Sunday’s F1 race comes to us from the famed Monza racetrack in Italy, where the competition for the top driver has become a two-man race between leader Lewis Hamilton and teammate Nico Rosberg (who trails in the standings by nine points). Another driver to watch - Like most 18-year-old drivers, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has come under fire for his driving style after a collision on the first lap of last week’s race.
Coaches' corner
- Why are there so many coaches on the sideline during a football game? While it may look like a lot of people in polo shirts standing around watching a game, they all serve a purpose. All teams have a head coach and a coach for offense, defense and special teams. Some have one for every position on the field.
You’ll also see graduate assistants, trainers, analysts and strength coaches who all have a role in helping the team win. If you think there are a lot of people on the field, there are also coaches in the press box coordinating the game from above.