Monday Motivation

It’s Monday but don’t pull the covers back over your head. Go out and getcha some.

Making it happen,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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NFL (National Football League)

When making snow angels sounds more fun than working. The Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills played in white out conditions yesterday. In the snowiest game in recent history, the Buffalo fans stuck it out to watch their team take home an overtime win. Now that’s commitment and maybe a slight bit of insanity considering it was snowing so hard you could barely see the field.

Tennis

To your friend who’s back to work after maternity leave, Serena Williams understands. She announced that she will play in the Australian Open next month, the same tournament she won last year while pregnant. She took off most of last season from competing and daughter Alexa was born in September to Williams and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

Overtime

A heartbreaking video of a student, Keaton Jones, talking about being bullied has struck a nerve with so many. Celebs and athletes alike are using social media for good by bringing the issue of bullying to light and offering their support to Keaton. Tennessee Titans’ (NFL) Delanie Walker offered to fly Keaton to a game and UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) President Dana White invited him to their Las Vegas headquarters so they can hang out.

Sideline stat

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was named the top college football player this season, winning the Heisman Trophy. He is the first walk-on player to ever win the coveted award. The grateful player gave a heartfelt speech thanking the coaches who took a chance on him. (Wondering what a walk-on is? Here’s your answer).

Coaches’ corner

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The St. Louis Blues (NHL - National Hockey League) called on a vending machine worker who is also a season ticket holder to play as their emergency goalie in a game. The elated fan played until the replacement player brought up from the minor leagues could make it to the game.

The NHL has a rule that requires each team to have a list of emergency goalies for themselves and for visiting teams. If only that rule was around for Happy Gilmore.

College football bowl season is upon us! Join us for our bowl game pool and pick the winners. It's easy (ESPN even has auto pick) and it's a great way to learn a little more about college football without having to work too hard for it. Oh and there are prizes involved too.

SIGN ME UP (password: sportscurious)

Coffee, Tea Or LNG?

Start your Monday off right with conversation starters to carry you through the day. 

Talk amongst yourselves,

The Last Night's Game Team 

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NFL (National Football League)

• Welcome home. In the team's first game at home, JJ Watt received a hero's welcome. The Houston Texans player has raised over $31 million and counting for the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Alongside donations from other athletes, superstars like Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Fallon made significant contributions to the fund.  
• Build it and they will come.  The Los Angeles Rams opened their season yesterday and they dominated the Indianapolis Colts. Unfortunately, there were few people in the crowd to witness the win. Twitter had a field day with the awful attendance. 
• Coming up. In case you didn't get enough football this weekend, tonight there are two Monday Night Football games. One will feature the first female broadcaster to ever call a nationally televised football game.

Tennis

• On top of the world. Sloane Stephens went from unseeded (ranked 934 in the world) to Women’s U.S. Open champion on Saturday. The tournament believes in equal pay when it comes to the winner's earnings and Stephens reaction to receiving her $3.7M check is priceless.

College Football

• Victorious. In the big game of the weekend, the underdog Oklahoma Sooners (5) leveled the Ohio State Buckeyes (2) at home. Although the real excitement came from the Louisiana Tech game where the football had the last laugh during this play.

Overtime

• Remember when your mom would call you by the name of your sibling when she was mad? The Indianapolis Colts coach was so distraught by the blowout loss (see above) he kept referring to the Rams as the San Francisco 49ers when talking to reporters. Someone get this man a beer. Stat!

Sideline stat

• Rafael Nadal was crowned the Men’s U.S. Open champion for his 16th career Grand Slam win, three behind the record 19 wins held by Roger Federer. If we’re throwing out numbers, Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slams.

(A Grand Slam, also known as a major, is one of the four major tournaments in tennis).   

Coaches’ corner

• MLB (Major League Baseball) season is winding down, with the playoffs beginning in October. This weekend the Washington Nationals became the first team to secure a playoff spot.

The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition - Full On Friday

You never thought we’d make it. No, we’re not talking about it being Friday at last, but the final weekend of regular season baseball. Finally, six months later. Which reminds us it’s time to head to the dentist.  

Time for your checkup,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - It's Friday of football season and today's tailgate treat is a recipe for spicy pretzels, courtesy of ultimate fan Robin. 

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MLB (Major League Baseball)

• Who says baseball is boring? While the battles for the two wild card spots in each league are hot and heavy heading into the last weekend of regular season baseball, the division winners have clinched their spots:

American League

• East: Boston Red Sox
• Central: Cleveland Indians
• West: Texas Rangers
• Wild card: ?

National League

• East: Washington Nationals
• Central: Chicago Cubs
• West: Los Angeles Dodgers
• Wild card: ?

Click here for the wild card standings.

NCAA Football (College)

• Dominating Death Valley. ESPN College GameDay is in South Carolina tomorrow for the Louisville Cardinals – Clemson Tigers game which features a matchup of two undefeated, top five teams. Heisman frontrunner Lamar Jackson (who has an amazing 25 touchdowns in four games) has a tough task ahead of him heading into “Death Valley” to face the Tigers.
• See the full college football schedule here. 

NFL (National Football League)

• Tea, crumpets and football? Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars are set to play in England this Sunday. With the time change, the teams will be playing while you’re making breakfast (9:30 am EST). The winless Jaguars have played in London the past four seasons but this is the Colts' first time. This is the first of three NFL games that will be played in London this season.
• Who is your team playing this weekend? Find out here.  

Ryder Cup (Golf) 

• You will miss this putt. During Ryder Cup practice, Team Europe’s Rory McIlroy was struggling to make a putt and a Happy Gilmore style heckler in the crowd was relentless during his failed attempts. McIlroy invited the heckling fan to attempt the putt. Teammate Justin Rose upped the stakes by throwing in $100. The cool, calm and collected American fan stepped up and nailed the putt. What like it was hard?
• The foursome parings have been revealed for today. See who will be representing Team U.S.A. here.

Hockey

• Victorious eh? Team Canada beat Team Europe to win the World Cup of Hockey.

Overtime

• Team U.S.A. visited the White House (minus Ryan Lochte and his gas station buddies) on Thursday. Coincidentally, their visit came on the same day the U.S. Senate passed legislation for a tax exemption on the “victory tax" associated with winning Olympic medals (excluding athletes who make more than $1 million). 

Sideline stat

• The Cleveland Cavaliers broke the city’s 52-year championship losing streak by winning the NBA (basketball) Championship earlier this year. They announced that over 1,000 part-time and full-time employees associated with the team will receive championship rings, a cost of over $1 million. Feeling generous, they will even send one to former head coach David Blatt, who was fired midseason. 

Coaches’ corner

• What is the wild card in baseball playoffs? In 2011, MLB added wild card spots to the postseason. There are two wild card winners from each league (National League and American League) who play each other in a one game playoff to advance into the postseason. Essentially, the playoff game is between the two best teams from each league who didn’t clinch their division title. Consider it the bonus spot in the playoffs. For more on the wild card, read here.