Pros And Cons
The NBA player who is going back to college, football is back and the thief who found out the hard way not to mess with a UFC fighter.
Bad news - the Olympics are over and it’s still really hot.
Good news - football is back and the fall is around the corner. (At least that’s what the Halloween candy in stores tells us).
Filling the void,
The Last Night’s Game Team
UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)
A warning to all the criminals out there, be careful who you mess with. A thief made the mistake of attempting to steal the car of UFC fighter Jordan Williams and didn’t end well. Williams left his car running at a gas station he frequents, only to come out to find someone backing out in his car. He managed to land some punches and kicks before the would-be thief ran off. Williams posted the security footage on his Instagram in hopes of catching the thief. DON’T MESS WITH ME
Overtime
Another familiar face from the football field is headed morning television. Taking the chair next to Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil on “CBS This Morning" is former NFL player and current “NFL Today” (National Football League) analyst Nate Burleson. If the move sounds familiar, in 2012, Michael Strahan made a move from the field to co-hosting with Kelly Ripa and is now a mainstay on “Good Morning America.” IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY
Sideline stat
When the new name, image, likeness rules were announced, critics were worried it would bring out the worst in college sports. BYU had another plan. They’ve partnered with health food company Built Brands to compensate all 123 players on the Cougars football team, but they’ve taken it one step further. Build Brands will pay BYU’s walk-on players enough to cover their full tuition. Walk-ons are athletes that do not have a scholarship, so this is huge for these student-athletes.
If you’re wondering, NCAA rules say college football teams can have 125 players on their roster but only distribute scholarships to 85 athletes. GOOD GAME
Coaches’ corner
As a high schooler, J.R. Smith had committed to the University of North Carolina to play basketball. However, he went straight to the NBA (National Basketball Association) due to his success and was told he could always go back to school “whenever.” Well, after a 16-year NBA career, a retired Smith decided "whenever" is now. Beginning this semester, Smith will attend North Carolina A&T State University. But that’s not all. Smith wants to play on the school’s golf team and is awaiting the NCAA ruling on his eligibility. SECOND ACT
What to watch
Hold onto your hats - football is back! The NFL preseason is in full swing, with games starting last night through Sunday. The No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Trevor Lawrence, is expected to make his debut on Saturday for the Jacksonville Jaguars. HERE WE GO
It Was A Run-By Fruiting
We love a short week with plenty of sports action to keep the conversation flowing through the weekend.
We love a short week with plenty of sports action to keep the conversation flowing through the weekend.
Right on target,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
When it’s good to see an old friend. We may have seen this matchup before (or for the fourth time in a row) but the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors did not disappoint in game one of the NBA finals last night. LeBron James had a record night, setting his team up for the win. In the last seconds, the Cavs' J.R. Smith thought his team was winning when they were tied and held the ball, sending the game into overtime. The Cavs eventually lost in overtime. GAME NOTES
When you're trying to be a trendsetter. If you thought the internet was hard on J.R. Smith for his late game blunder (see above), they were equally as harsh on King James, who arrived to the game in a suit jacket with shorts combo. That’s a whole lot of leg. PICS
Game two is on Sunday. SCHEDULE
Overtime
Some of football’s best (NFL – National Football League) now have new titles to put on the back of their jerseys – M.D. Both Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers (also dating Danica Patrick) and Houston Texans' J.J. Watt were awarded with honorary doctorates this week at separate college graduation ceremonies. Dr. Watt also gave a passionate commencement speech about what he learned from Hurricane Harvey, encouraging the grads to “be the positive light to make the world an even better place.” SPEECH
Sideline stat
What were you doing at age 14? Chances are none of us were spelling “koinonia." That’s the word 14-year-old Karthik Nemmani spelled correctly to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee last night. An underdog at an early age, Nemmani didn’t win at the county or regional level, but a wild card program allowed him to compete for the national title. (For the record, koinonia means Christian fellowship or communion). SPELL THIS
Coaches’ corner
There’s going to be chaos in the nation’s capital and we not talking about politics. The Vegas Golden Knights (NHL - National Hockey League) head to Washington, D.C. on Saturday night to face the Washington Capitals with the Stanley Cup finals series tied 1-1. The unlikely matchup has been nothing but golden for the TV ratings. EVERYONE’S WATCHING
The Rundown: It All Comes Down To This
Happy first full work week of 2017. If that’s too depressing, then happy "college football national championship game day.”
It has a nice ring to it doesn’t it?
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – Tonight’s the night that we determine the winner of our Bowl Game Challenge. Will you take home the big prize?
NCAA FOOTBALL (COLLEGE)
Under the lights. Tonight is the biggest game in college football, the national championship game, featuring the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers. Be prepared for tonight’s game by reading our five things to know about the national championship game.
NFL (NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE)
It’s good to be home. All four of the home teams in this weekend’s playoffs won in blowout games (Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers).
- Party’s over. New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t play like his usual lights out self with a few pivotal dropped passes in the Giants loss to the Packers. The high strung receiver allegedly punched a hole in a wall and slammed his head into a door after the game. Although Monday's wide receivers’ party trip to Miami that included Justin Bieber likely had nothing to do with his poor performance, it will be highly debated.
For next weekend’s schedule of playoff football, click here.
OVERTIME
- Olympic gold medal gymnasts Simone Biles, Madison Kocian and Aly Raisman attended last night’s Golden Globe Awards. Raisman found herself in La La Land because she brought her new boyfriend, former NFL player Colton Underwood. (No relation to Carrie Underwood).
SIDELINE STAT
- Earlier this year a seemingly always shirtless J.R. Smith and his Cleveland Cavaliers celebrated their NBA Championship title. This weekend Smith made a much more somber announcement. His baby girl was born five months early and weighed in at one pound. He’s currently out with a thumb injury but will be taking a leave of absence until the spring.
COACHES’ CORNER
- We’re sending you off with a little game of who wore it best. The team’s quarterbacks for tonight’s football game couldn’t be more opposite. Clemson’s Deshaun Watson is an overachiever who graduated in December – it took him three years to reach that milestone and he’s a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist. Alabama’s Jalen Hurts is a little pup and a true freshman. Should ‘Bama win tonight, Hurts will become only the second full time, true freshman starting quarterback to win a national championship.
We guess we’ll find out who the winner is tonight at 8 pm EST on ESPN.