Poppin' Bottles
Celebrate your sports savviness and the fact that it's Friday by breaking open the bubbly.
Celebrate your sports savviness and the fact that it's Friday by breaking open the bubbly.
It’s never too early,
The Last Night’s Game team
NFL (National Football League)
When you’ve weighed all your options. The schedule for the 2018-2019 NFL season has been released. The schedule isn’t just thrown together, it’s a carefully thought out process that involves mapping out holidays, Beyoncé concerts and shared parking facilities. And you thought it was hard to find a time to have a drink with a few friends. SCHEDULE
When there's never enough time in the day. The NFL is giving its fans the gift of time. Fans can rejoice because the start time for primetime games (i.e. night games) have been moved up this season. Okay, so it’s not a lot of time saved but Sunday night games will start 10 minutes earlier than last season and Monday night football, 15 minutes earlier. MORE
Overtime
Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived last month in Los Angeles to play for the L.A. Galaxy (MLS - Major League Soccer) with his giant ego in tow. Ibrahimovic was a star player for Manchester United and greeted L.A. with a newspaper ad saying "Los Angeles, You're welcome." Now settling into LaLa Land, you might assume he'd like to meet up with fellow celebrities? Think again. When asked who he'd like to meet the most he said, “Me. I don’t want to meet nobody, they want to meet me.” Well then. READ
Sideline stat
The annual Time's 100 Most Influential list is out and while it’s full of big names, there are quite a few athletes that have landed on this list. The list recognizes activism and achievements of those in influential roles. On the list - Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors – NBA – National Basketball League), J.J. Watt (Houston Texans - NFL), Roger Federer (Tennis) and Olympians Adam Rippon and Chloe Kim. LIST
Coaches’ corner
Yesterday, the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars (both NFL teams) released their new uniforms for the upcoming season. The Jaguars took their big announcement a step further and revealed they're also opening the first dog park in an NFL stadium this season. Who says cats and dogs can't get along?
What to watch for
Sunday is Earth Day and here are five intriguing ways the sports industry is leading the charge in going green to share with your friends over a sustainable, organic mimosa at brunch. (Hint: one team even went vegan). READ
The Rundown: One Tough Cookie
A reoccurring theme in today’s Rundown is head trauma. No we haven’t started covering people who head bang at a rock show but athletes who are worried about what’s going on upstairs.
It’s what’s on the inside that counts,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
- Bo knows. Bo Jackson was an athlete for the ages. He made playing in the NFL look easy and then did the same in MLB (Major League Baseball). (Yes he played in two professional sports - a rarity). As head trauma from football continues to take center stage, Jackson spoke out saying, “If I knew back then what I know now (about head injuries), I would have never played football. Never.”
- Pack your bags. After 55 years in San Diego the Chargers announced they will be moving to Los Angeles starting next season. Disputes over funding for a new stadium led to the move. The Chargers join an already saturated L.A. market with the L.A. Rams (NFL), multiple college teams, teams in all other professional sports, the beach and Hollywood.
Divisional Playoffs
- Saturday games
Seattle Seahawks vs Atlanta Falcons
Battle of the birds. The Seahawks beat the Falcons in a nail-biter earlier in the season.
Houston Texans vs New England Patriots
Texas-sized underdog. The Patriots are virtually unbeatable at home in the playoffs and the Texans head into the game as one of the biggest underdogs in playoff history (15.5 points).
- Sunday games
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Kansas City Chiefs
Icing on the cake. The game in Kansas City will involve the two teams battling it out with each other and mother nature, who is dishing out an ice storm. (Anyone else singing Frozen’s "Let It Go" in their head? You are now).
Green Bay Packers vs Dallas Cowboys
Unbiased opinion. Green Bay fans have started a petition to prevent announcers Joe Buck and former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman from calling the game on TV. The petition has 24,000 signatures. Packers fans claim the duo are biased and too negative toward the Packers. (Here’s our unbiased five things to know about Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers in case you need a refresher for the game).
Overtime
- Carl Edwards (37) announced that he will be driving off into the sunset. Edwards has been a NASCAR driver since 2002 and is known for his backflips off the car when he’d win a race. He cited walking away with his health as one of the reasons for retirement, especially after seeing Dale Earnhardt Jr. struggle with concussions.
Daniel Suarez is poised to take his place on the circuit, becoming the first Mexican born full-time NASCAR driver.
Sideline stat
- University of Connecticut women’s basketball is a dynasty. They’ve won four national championships in a row and have tied their own winning streak at 90 games. Tomorrow they will look to win their 91st game in a row which would be an all-time record for men and women’s college basketball. The UConn women have not lost since November 17, 2014.
Coaches’ corner
- Have you ever read a game listing, such as Houston Texas vs New England Patriots and wondered where the game will be played? In most major American sports, the home team is listed last. Now you’re in the know.