Jimmie Johnson

He’s Grrrreat!

How sports books lost their butts with Tiger’s win, the Boston Marathon is today and fireworks in San Fran.

The Rundown: The 5 Most Talked About Sports Moments of 2016

It wouldn’t be the end of the year without a host of lists to celebrate the year that was. We’re bringing you the most talked about sports moments of 2016. Chatting to your NYE date has never been easier.

 

Break out the bubbly,

The Last Night’s Game

The five most talked about sports moments of 2016

  1. Cubs win! The Chicago Cubs (MLB - Major League Baseball) ended their 108-year championship losing streak by coming from behind in the World Series to defeat the Cleveland Indians. Chicago went wild with an estimated five million fans attending the victory parade.
  2. Summer Olympics in Brazil. The Zika scare. Ryan Lotche’s late night antics (and maybe his hideous blue hair?) landed him in hot water. Michael Phelps retired with 28 career Olympic medals, 23 of them gold. Swimmer Katie Ledecky became the most decorated female of the Rio Olympics.  The U.S.A. women’s gymnastics team, The Final Five led by Simone Biles, dominated the competition.
  3. Championship Cavs. The Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA (National Basketball Association) championship, ending the City of Cleveland’s 52-year professional championship drought. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and their Cavs were down three games to one but managed to take home the title over the Golden State Warriors.
  4. Take a knee. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (NFL - National Football League) started taking a knee during the national anthem to demonstrate police brutality and racial oppression. No matter how you feel, the protest propelled the conversation and motivated action around the nation.
  5. Legends retire. Everyone’s favorite quarterback and five-time MVP Peyton Manning called it quits after winning the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos (his second Super Bowl victory). Although post retirement he's still starring in primetime, but in advertisements. 

Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers were terrible in his final season of basketball but the 18-time all-star still went out on top with five NBA Championships. He and his wife welcomed their third baby girl during his retirement. Better than 73-year-old Mick Jagger who’s still working and having babies.  

Overtime

  • Northwestern University will wear stickers on their helmets to honor Craig Sager, an alum of the school. Sager, who lost his battle with cancer on Dec. 15th, was one of the most respected sideline reporters in sports and was known for his colorful outfits.

Sideline stat

Coaches’ corner

  • The sports world lost so many sports icons this year including "The Greatest" boxer Muhammed Ali (74), sports reporter Craig Sager (65), women's basketball coach Pat Summitt (64), Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez (24) and the storied golfer and namesake of your favorite refreshment Arnold Palmer (87).

The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up - Let's Not Talk Politics

The weekend may be over but let’s celebrate the short week. We’re giving you something else to celebrate – the sports conversation. This way you don’t have to talk about politics at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Don’t ask Grandma what she thought about Hamilton because either way you lose.

But you’re a winner to us,

The Last Night’s Game Team

NCAA Football (College)

  • Never too late. South Carolina State gave a new meaning to senior day. With a three-yard rush Joe Thomas Sr. (55) became the oldest player to ever play in a Division I college football game. Thomas' son, Joe Jr., plays for the Green Bay Packers (NFL). 
  • Don't be upset. After last weekend's upsets, the only team in the top 10 to lose this weekend was Louisville. Don’t expect to see too much of a change when the College Football Playoff rankings are released tomorrow night. 

NFL (National Football League)

  • For the history books. Dallas Cowboys’ rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott broke the rookie rushing record that has stood since 1977. He’s not stopping there since the Cowboys still have six games left to play.
  • South of the border. The Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans will play tonight in Mexico City. Will the exposure for the NFL be worth the physical toll the game may take on the two teams? The game will be played at Azteca Stadium which sits 2,000 feet higher than the Denver Broncos’ Mile High Stadium. Oh and the pollution factor? Athletes who have played there said it’s one of the worst places to play a sporting event because you can’t breathe from the terrible pollution.

Overtime

  • Tonight starts a two night finale for Dancing with the Stars. Out of the four dancers left, three are athletes – James Hinchcliffe (IndyCar driver), Laurie Hernandez (U.S. Olympic gymnast) and Calvin Johnson (former NFL player). The odds have Hernandez as the front runner but some are calling Hinchcliffe the “best male dancer ever on the show.” Put on your sequins and tune in to see.  

Sideline stat

  • There were crashes and cars engulfed in flames and that was just the last few laps. The entire NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) “Chase for the Cup” came down to the final few laps in Miami. Jimmie Johnson won the race and the Sprint Cup Championship giving him seven career championships, tying legends Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and Richard Petty. At the age of 41, Johnson is the youngest of the three to reach this accomplishment. 

Coaches’ corner

  • You had one job. The NFL moved the extra point kick (which happens after a touchdown) from the two-yard line to the 15-yard line at the start of last season to increase the excitement on the seemingly automatic kick. Well the NFL got their wish on Sunday as place-kickers set a record, missing 12 extra points throughout the day.

 

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