The Only 5 Things You Need To Know About Fantasy Football
Here’s why office productivity is about to tank.
The sport heard round the office.
Let’s get drafty,
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. The sport of fantasy football was originally developed in 1962 but modern fantasy football started in 1999 when Yahoo! offered an online league. Now players can create teams using ESPN or other sports apps as well as make some dough with online betting sites like DraftKing and FanDuel, although they are still illegal in a few states. BETTING IT ALL
2. It’s a male dominated “sport,” with men making up over 80% of the 60 million participants. But don’t look now because women are whipping up teams of their own. There are whole leagues and even businesses dedicated to helping the female football fan join in on the fun. YOU GOT THIS
3. Fantasy football is usually fun but some leagues aren’t for the faint of heart. They take it very seriously and there’s a punishment for coming in last. The penalties include piercings, buying drinks for the entire next football season, doing standup at a local open mic night or waxing of the nether regions (by a professional, of course, because what are we animals)? THAT’S GOING TO LEAVE A MARK
4. Picking a team name is the best part but remember no one is intimidated by the “Glitter Gridiron” team. Luckily for you, there are massive lists of names out there for inspiration. Some of our favorites? Sacks and the City, Game of Throws, Teddy Throwsevelt and Hot Chubb Time Machine (referencing Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns). CLEVER EH?
5. Drafts, trades and researching game day opponents are all part of the game, hence why U.S. employers suffer a $17 billion (yes with a 'b') loss in productivity due to fantasy football. It hurts the employee’s pockets too, spending an average of $556 on entry fees, materials and prizes. ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS
Who is the commish, why do I care about bye weeks and what's the recipe for success? Check out our fantasy football 101 for the answers to all your questions.
Wednesday Wisdom
Besides their fantasy football draft, here’s what’s happening in the world of sports today, including a classic Twitter troll clapback, how you can buy a baseball team and why one female athlete is speaking up. READ
A Reason To Celebrate
There’s a new champ in town, you thought you got excited about your AM coffee and who’s rolling in the dough.
Whether it’s becoming the best in the world, first time experiences or simply making it until Friday, let’s celebrate.
Glad you’re here,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
There’s a new champion in the NBA. Last night the Toronto Raptors became NBA champions for the first time in franchise history beating the Golden State Warriors at home. Steph Curry and his Warriors won the last two NBA championships. DRAKE WAS OVER THE MOON
Overtime
“Trendsetter” Memphis Grizzlies coach and former NBA player, Nick Van Exel just discovered the next best thing, iced coffee. It absolutely blew his mind and he took to Twitter to tell the world about it…for those who’ve missed this budding trend. WELCOME TO THE PARTY
Side note – If his name sounds familiar, there’s a Nick Van Exel name-drop by Jay-Z on Beyonce's "Crazy In Love."
Sideline Stat
Soccer stars dominate the top spots in this year’s Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes. Lionel Messi brings home enough bacon to secure the top spot followed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. The NBA is the most dominate sport with 35 players in the top 100 and Serena Williams is the highest ranked woman at #63. SHAKE YOUR MONEY MAKER
Coaches’ corner
Ahead of the College Baseball World Series, last night the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals played the first ever MLB (Major League Baseball) game in Nebraska at the home of the famed college tournament, Omaha. SURELY WARREN BUFFETT WAS EXCITED
What to watch
Golfer Brooks Koepka is seeking a three-peat at this week’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, which is the PGA’s (Professional Golfers Association) third major golf tournament. What he’s hoping doesn’t repeat is when announcer Joe Buck called Koepka’s girlfriend the wrong name live on TV. Even worse, it was his ex-girlfriend’s name. The two poked fun at the situation this week with a hilarious video. SOMEBODY SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE BUNKER
The Rundown: 5 Wacky Things Olympians Have Done With Their Medals
You’re on the medal stand at the Olympics claiming your hard earned medal. The anthem has been sung and the party’s over, now what do you do with your medal? If you’re Michael Phelps, you wear one every day for the month of February and you’ll never have to wear the same one twice.
What would you do with your Olympic medal if you won?
My precious,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – Many athletes sell their medals to simply pay the bills. For more about why they’re not rolling in the dough, check out our Stilettos on the Glass Ceiling article on “Why Olympians Can't Quit Their Day Jobs.”
Five wacky things Olympians have done with their medals
- Team U.S.A. Women’s Soccer player Christie Rampone keeps her medals in her pots and pans. Her rationale? Who’s going to look there? They will now.
- U.S.A. men’s basketball won a disappointing bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic games in Atlanta. Unhappy with the teams’ performance, Carmelo Anthony gave his bronze medal to a family member who auctioned it off for $14,000.
- Sprinter Carl Lewis put his 1987 medal in his father’s casket at his funeral. He told his mom that he was going to go back and get another one. And he did.
- Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko sold his medal from the 1996 Olympics for a reported $1 million with the proceeds going to a children’s charity he started with his brother.
- And who wouldn’t think to look there? Other honorable mentions go to a school locker, their agent’s house, in the nightstand and in the nail polish drawer. Then there’s the always popular sock drawer which is where a slew of Olympic athletes store their medals including Apolo Ohno, Natalie Coughlin, Mary Lou Retton and Sue Bird.
Summer Olympics
- Tough break. Beach volleyball sensation Kerri Walsh Jennings suffered her first ever Olympic loss last night - she was previously 26-0. Walsh Jennings and her partner, April Ross, lost in the semifinals to a gritty but good Brazilian team. The women will now battle the other Brazilian team for bronze tonight.
- A dream come true. Simone Biles won her fifth medal of the Rio Olympics, (four gold and one bronze). Biles then received the shock of her life, something better than a medal; she met her crush actor Zac Efron. Biles admitted earlier in the Olympics that she has a life-size cutout of Efron in her room. She may be invincible in the Olympic arena, but she’s still a 19-year-old girl.
- Let’s get down. Allyson Felix became the winningest track and field athlete in U.S.A. history with seven medals. Felix brought home a silver in the 400m when she lost out on the gold in a photo finish, losing to Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller who dove across the finish line to win.
- A different kind of medal. U.S.A. triple jumper Will Claye won the silver medal and then jumped into the stands and proposed to his hurdler girlfriend to make it “the best day of his life.” Marriage proposals have been dominating the headlines of the Olympics where everyone is handing out the hardware.
Overtime
- Boys will be boys. Kansas City Royals (baseball) found a praying mantis in their dugout which they dubbed the #RallyMantis. The bug became a good luck charm, “guiding” the team on a 5-1 streak. Unfortunately, it was a bug and not a Jedi and it died. (Insert crying emoji here). As luck would have it, on Monday night another praying mantis appeared in the Royals dugout and it guided them to a win that night.
Sideline stat
- U.S.A. women’s gymnastics captain, affectionately known as "Grandma" by her teammates, 22-year-old Aly Raisman has won three medals in Rio which makes her the second-most-decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast of all time, one behind Shannon Miller.
Coaches’ Corner
- Today’s coaches’ corner is brought to you by a double dose of sportsmanship:
- American Abbey D’Agostino trained her entire life to run the 5,000m race in the Olympics. During her race, New Zealand runner Nikki Hamblin tripped and then D’Agostina stumbled over her, injuring her knee. D'Agostino helped Hamblin up and while not in a position to win, they finished the race.
- Jamaica’s Usain Bolt is one of the most popular athletes at the Games but during a post-race interview we saw what kind of person he really is. Bolt paused his chat to honor the playing the U.S.A. national anthem. Respect.