Going The Distance
The smart way one coach is penalizing players for bad behavior, who tied the knot and who is cashing in years later.
Forgo the awkward silence while waiting for a meeting to start or for your dinner to arrive by putting to use the best stories from the always interesting world of sports.
We’ve got your back,
The Last Night’s Game Team
College football
It was an exciting weekend in college football with a huge upset of another top 10 ranked team. Wisconsin (#6) was handed a loss by an unranked Illinois team. Another moment worth noting is the loss of Alabama’s (#1) starting quarterback. The team lost Tua Tagovailoa with an ankle injury. Normally the team would be okay but his talented backup, Jalen Hurts, transferred to Oklahoma this season and is dominating there, so we’ll see if Alabama can pick up the pieces and stay at the front of the pack. IT’S ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL SOMEONE LOSES A QUARTERBACK
Overtime
The road to starting a family for female athletes is a tough one. You may recall the criticism Nike faced from their sponsored female athletes that caused them to adopt a progressive maternity policy. Now WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) star Skylar Diggins is shedding some light on her story. She revealed that she played the entire 2018 season while she was pregnant. (She had an amazing season BTW). She spoke out about her critics, the lack of support and the fact that she took only two months off and that was to deal with postpartum depression. RAISE ‘EM UP
Sideline stat
Former University of Texas running back Ricky Williams was the last Heisman Trophy winner to be able to profit from the sale of his famed trophy. On Saturday, his Heisman Trophy sold for a record $504,000 to a Florida sports memorabilia collector. After 1998, any player who wins the Heisman is required to sign an agreement stating they cannot sell the iconic trophy that recognizes the best in college football. CASHING IN
Coaches’ corner
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had a creative way of laying down the law with one of his players. Freshman player Andrew Booth was ejected from this weekend’s game for punching an opposing player. The defending national championship coach made Booth ride home on the bus with the team managers instead of flying home with the team. Swinney said the almost seven hour drive home gave Booth “plenty of time to think about it.” LONGEST TIME-OUT EVER?
What to watch
Game one of the World Series is tomorrow night. The Houston Astros won their first World Series in 2017 and they’re back to try for one more. They’ll play the Washington Nationals who are playing in the World Series for the first time in franchise history. Get the skinny on this major sporting event in Wednesday’s five things to know. FOR ALL THE MARBLES
One Giant Leap For Mankind
Making history even before coffee with who’s leaving the U.S. for good, what astronauts have to do with football and a new champion is crowned.
Jumping into the weekend and making history at the same time.
Yaaas!
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – A huge congratulations to the Washington Mystics on their first WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) championship title.
Soccer
For the first time in 40 years, and after pressure from world governing body FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and women's rights campaigners, women were allowed to attend a men’s soccer match in Iran. Tickets sold out in minutes for the FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Cambodia. The home team won 14-0. EVERYONE WINS
Overtime
Halloween will come a bit early for the Purdue University football team. This weekend they’ll be wearing all white uniforms that mimic an astronaut suit as part of their moon-themed uniforms. Why you ask? It’s because Purdue has produced the most astronauts out of any school not affiliated with the U. S. Military. TO INFINITY AND BEYOND
Sideline stat
Former U.S. Open Champion and #3 ranked tennis player in the world, Naomi Osaka, is giving up her U.S. citizenship to play tennis for Japan in next year’s Olympics. The two-time Grand Slam champion’s mother is from Japan and father is from Haiti. SAYANORA ‘MERICA
Coaches’ corner
Set your alarm clock because early Sunday morning the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers play in London. This is the second NFL (National Football League) game in two weeks in England, which is all part of the league’s efforts to build an international fan base. The Brits will get a look at early MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey (Panthers running back). BUT WILL BABY ARCHIE BE IN ATTENDANCE?
What to watch
There are some big college football matchups this weekend but one rivalry that spans generations is the showdown between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners. In its 115th year, the “Red River Rivalry” takes place on neutral territory at the Texas State Fair and will feature a battle between two of the best quarterbacks in the game – Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma) and Sam Ehlinger (Texas). TELL ME MORE
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.