Can We Just Talk?
Breaking down the Pippen-Beasley drama (so much drama…), a Friday edition of “tell me something good” and why big feet are a big problem.
Here’s to hoping that the most drama you encounter this weekend is in this newsletter.
Let’s do this,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
The conversation around the NFL season seems to be marred with constant COVID chatter, so let’s talk about something positive. This week brings us the player-led campaign My Cause My Cleats. A record number of players worked with artists and cleat manufacturers to create custom-designed cleats that will be worn this week and then auctioned off to benefit the charity of their choice. More than 20% of the 1,000 players participating chose social justice causes with others selecting youth, education or health and wellness-related initiatives. TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD
Overtime
It’s the sports-related drama everyone is talking about – the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA - National Basketball Association) Malik Beasley, 24, and Larsa Pippen, 46. Allow us to fill you in. Beasley asked Pippen out via a public Instagram post. Here’s the awkward part - Beasley is married and has a child with Montana Yao. Then photos surfaced of Beasley and Pippen out together, only a month after Beasley was charged with felony threats of violence and fifth-degree drug possession. Oh, and Pippen’s estranged husband is NBA legend Scottie Pippen. (She also a past history – allegedly – with rapper Future but we’ll let you go down that rabbit hole yourself). Yesterday Yao, who was said to be caught off guard by all of this, filed for divorce from Beasley. SO MUCH DRAMA
Sideline stat
It’s the football game we seriously never thought we’d be talking about – BYU and Coastal Carolina. The two teams are making lemonade out of the lemons 2020 gave them. Both BYU and Coastal Carolina have 9-0 records but are still looking for the respect of the CFP committee (College Football Playoff committee – they decide which teams go into the playoffs). So when Coastal Carolina’s opponent cancelled their game on Thursday, BYU lived by their 2020 motto of “Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime” and stepped in to play Coastal Carolina on two days’ notice. Now they’re the game of the week and College GameDay will even be broadcasting live from the campus. SEIZE THE DAY
Coaches’ corner
Normally we’d say that George Russell has big shoes to fill this weekend in replacing seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton (who has COVID) in this weekend’s F1 (Formula One) race, but not in this case. Russell has a big problem and it’s not nerves. His size 11 feet are too big for Lewis Hamilton’s car so he’s having to wear smaller shoes to make it work. NO PAIN NO GAIN
The Countdown Is On
Baseball shatters the glass ceiling, history was made at the Masters and why an NFL game caused Blake Shelton to call a doctor.
It is the last week before we dive headfirst into the holiday season. There’s no time like the present to brush up on drama-free conversation starters that are (mostly) family-friendly.
Cheers to that,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
November has been a historic month for women breaking the glass ceiling. On Friday Kim Ng became the newest general manager of the Miami Marlins and the first female and first Asian-American to ever serve in that role in the history of the big four of American sports (MLB, NHL, NFL and NBA). She has served as an assistant GM with both the Yankees and the Dodgers as well as in the executive suite with the White Sox. Hall of Famer and Miami Marlins CEO/owner Derek Jeter led the breakthrough hire. WATCH OUT WORLD
Overtime
Dustin Johnson went from being quarantined with COVID in a hotel room for 11 days earlier this month to the most dominant performance ever at The Masters. Johnson shot 20 under par to land his first green jacket yesterday. Par is the expected number of strokes per hole for a golfer, or “average.” So, Johnson beat that average by 20 strokes, which is the lowest score in tournament history. There to celebrate with Johnson was his fiancé Paulina Gretzky, who is the daughter of hockey great Wayne Gretzky. CHAMPIONS RUN IN THE FAMILY
Sideline stat
Formula One (F1) driver Lewis Hamilton continues to make 2020 his year. Yesterday he won his seventh world championship, tying the record set by racing legend Michael Schumacher. As expected, Hamilton’s vegan pup Roscoe was there to celebrate with him. PARTY ON!
Coaches’ corner
And just like that we’re heading into the semifinals of “Dancing with the Stars” and long gone are the days of Carol Baskin and her tiger themed performances. Usually, athletes fare well in this competition but this year Olympic Figure Skater Johnny Weir is the only one remaining. The semifinalists include rapper Nelly and former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe. (FOX) TROT TO VICTORY
What to watch
Last night’s game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Buffalo Bills (NFL – National Football League) had us all at the edge of our seats including singer Blake Shelton, who shared his angst in a hilarious post on Twitter. CAN YOU ACTUALLY TWEET THAT?
Just The Way You Like It
Lakers are champs, a vegan pup who inspired a win and “The Bachelorette” premieres tomorrow thanks to LeBron James
Bringing you the hard-hitting news you want like a vegan pup and why you should thank LeBron James for filling your Bachelorette void.
Monday morning done right,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
“The Bachelorette” fans can all breathe a sigh of relief this morning because the show will premiere tomorrow night thanks to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers destroyed the Miami Heat last night to earn their 17th championship. It was bittersweet for the team as this is the first championship since Kobe Bryant won it in 2010. If the series made it to game seven, fans would’ve had to wait until another day to watch Clare search for love on TV. LeBron James and his teammates must have been a fan of the show too because they locked it down in true championship fashion. (Don’t forget to fill out your Bachelorette bracket). CELEBRATIONS ALL AROUND
Overtime
Even at 48 years old Shaquille O’Neal still has things he’s never done before – like vote. The NBA Hall of Famer and basketball analyst revealed that he voted for the first time in this year’s election. This week on his podcast he said "I voted for the first time, and it feels good.” He said he never really understood how the system worked but now that he’s involved in various campaigns encouraging people to vote that he felt like a hypocrite not casting his ballot. YOUR VOTE COUNTS
Sideline stat
Formula One (F1) driver Lewis Hamilton, 35, tied the record for career wins yesterday his 91st career victory. No doubt his biggest fan (and maybe fitness inspiration?), his Insta-famous dog Roscoe, who recently went vegan to heal his aches and pains, was oozing with pride. PUP-TASTIC
Coaches’ corner
Yesterday in the NFL (National Football League) we saw quarterback Alex Smith make his triumphant return to the field for the Washington Football Team. Smith suffered a horrific leg injury back in 2018 that almost claimed his life. Even though his team didn’t win, it was a huge victory for him after his long, emotional journey back.
While it was a great day for Smith it was a really rough day for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dax Prescott who was carted off the field with a season ending dislocated ankle and a compound fracture. This will be the first time in his four-year career that he has missed a game. GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
What to watch
We’re down to four teams in the MLB (Major League Baseball) playoffs and things are getting spicy with a showdown between the two teams that are undefeated in the playoffs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves. On the other side, the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros are battling it out for a spot to play in the World Series. BATTER UP