Friday, we’ve been waiting for you all week. Thanks for coming. We hope you brought coffee and wine.
Only the necessities,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – Share The Rundown with a friend. Not simply because we make you happy in the mornings, but because there are prizes involved.
NFL (National Football League)
- Welcome to Cleveland. As expected, defensive end Myles Garrett from Texas A&M was selected by the Cleveland Browns as the first pick in the draft. Garrett held to his word and did not attend the draft ceremony. He celebrated at home with friends and family.
- Brotherly love. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted T.J. Watt (younger brother of Houston Texans’ heartthrob J.J. Watt). They join a rare group of NFL players with on-field family ties. The most notable brothers of the gridiron? Eli and Peyton Manning.
- A great night for guys named T.J. Make-A-Wish granted T.J. Onwuanibe's wish when he announced the Baltimore Ravens' draft pick last night. The 14-year-old, whose cancer is thankfully in remission, punctuated his big announcement with an excited fist pump. The video will make you smile.
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- Friday night lights. The NBA playoffs are still rolling with the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors advancing to the second round of the playoffs. Tonight the Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz all have a chance to claim their spot in the next round tonight. Big night for shooting hoops.
Overtime
- Mpho' “Gift” Ngoepe became the first ever African born player to play in the major leagues (MLB – Major League Baseball). Carrying the weight of his continent on his shoulders, the Pittsburgh Pirate had a hit at his first at bat.
Sideline stat
- ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, had a rough week laying off 100 employees, including on air-talent. This is their second layoff in six months. Paying high prices for broadcast rights (we’re talking $1.4 B for their NBA TV deal) and a drop in cable subscriptions led to the layoffs. This is no longer the ESPN you grew up with. For an interesting article on their demise, click here.
Coaches’ corner
- It’s tradition at the draft to boo the commissioner when he walks on stage at the draft. Philadelphia fans did such a good job, that at times you couldn’t hear commissioner Roger Goodell. The Commish is booed because most fans just don’t like him. He’s the party pooper – the guy who enforces the rules in football. Do not try this at home.