Born This Way
The noteworthy from the first weekend of baseball, we have our first COVID-era champions and how the NFL is trying to keep COVID free.
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The Last Night's Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
Opening weekend of the MLB season brought us decapitated cardboard cutouts, an awkward but socially distanced fight between a head coach and an umpire and sad photos of mascots watching baseball in an empty stadium. MLB is not playing its season in a "bubble" and that might be coming back to bite them. The Miami Marlins postponed today’s game after 14 players and staff tested positive for COVID while they were in Philadelphia for an away game. NO FLY ZONE
Overtime
Lou Williamson of the Los Angeles Clippers (NBA - National Basketball Association) is on a mandatory 10-day quarantine after violating the league's COVID rules. He said he stopped to pick up some food but was actually photographed inside a gentlemen's club. (This particular club named its chicken wings after Williamson, so you can make your own conclusions on whether or not he's been there before). Visits like this are clearly a big COVID no-no, so now he'll miss the start of the season. COME ON MAN
Sideline stat
Congratulations to the Houston Dash on their NWSL (National Women's Soccer League) Championship win yesterday. They are the first team sport champions of the COVID era. The team and their MVP and captain Rachel Daly celebrated by double fisting Budweiser in the locker room. BOTTOMS UP
Coaches’ corner
We're slowly learning the rules surrounding the NFL (National Football League) season as it relates to COVID protocol. Players will not be in a bubble like so many other leagues that are in play. If a player contracts COVID from a deemed high-risk event, they'll face a fine and possibly loss of play time. Events include indoor house parties, indoor bars and indoor nightclubs with 15 or more people. PARTY POOPER
The Compelling Stories Behind 5 NBA Teams' Flashy New Uniforms
Turning the court into a catwalk.
NBA teams now have more uniform options than Carrie Bradshaw had Manolos. Thanks to their uniform partner Nike, the league has done away with traditional home or away uniforms and home teams can essentially wear whatever they’d like, turning the court into a catwalk.
Model athletes,
The Last Night’s Game Team
To clear things up (and by that we mean make them as clear as mud) teams have an association, icon, city, statement and classic edition uniforms. PLAYING DRESS UP
1. The Oklahoma City Thunder are remembering those who lost their lives in the Oklahoma City bombing this year, the 25th anniversary of the tragic event. The uniform, which will debut on November 27, will feature the times 9:01 am and 9:03 am, the time of the bombing and the time the healing started. They will also showcase an image of the 90-year old Survivor Tree that’s on site of the memorial as well as the words “Service,” “Honor” and “Kindness,” to remember how the nation reacted to the tragedy. BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE
2. The Brooklyn Nets are not only unveiling new graffiti-print statement uniforms that reflect the gritty, earthy and gray nature of their home turf but they’ve also redone the court as well. The actual basketball court in the arena is inspired by the subway system. The court itself is gray to emulate the subway and the team’s name is in the traditional Helvetica font that’s used for all train station signs. IT’S ONLY AUTHENTIC NYC SUBWAY IF IT ALSO SMELLS LIKE URINE
3. If you’ve ever been to Atlanta, you’ve likely crossed Peachtree Street at some point. The iconic street is prominent on this year’s city uniforms for the Atlanta Hawks and the team’s special edition “peachier” court. The uniform and the court will feature the peachtree logo (picture a peach crossed with a basketball) and of course, the color peach. WELL ISN’T THAT JUST PEACHY?
4. The Los Angeles Clippers acquired a few big name players in the off-season so we already knew the players on the court would look different but they took it a step further. Their new hardwood court is embracing the black and white design of the city edition uniforms, and the design is predominately black, minus a white map of Los Angeles. Some are saying these uniforms remind them of the Los Angeles (soon to be Las Vegas) Raiders (NFL – National Football League). Others are saying they remind them of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Regardless, the team will wear them 17 times this season, starting with November 22. EVERYONE’S A CRITIC
5. The Golden State Warriors have had a tough start to the season but they’re still celebrating the places they called home in their uniforms. On November 22, they’ll debut their city classic edition uniforms which will pay tribute to when the team was based in San Francisco back in the 60s (They moved to Oakland and have since moved back to San Francisco). This uniform look dates back to the Wilt Chamberlain days and will feature a cable car and the Golden Gate Bridge. BUT WILL THERE BE WILT-STYLE SHORT SHORTS ON THE COURT?
Who, what, wear? Here’s when you can catch your favorite team (or jersey) on the court. MAKING THEIR DEBUT
The Proof Is In The Pudding
Why one football player is running with the bulls, this is it for Wimbledon and the NBA has the experts all confused.
No question, it’s Friday. Take your weekend to the next level with today’s wisdom.
Knowledge is power,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
In another blockbuster trade, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded away their star player, Russell Westbrook, to the Houston Rockets. Why is this a big deal? The tides keep shifting for next season with big moves from the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers (to name a few) and now the Rockets. There’s no telling what could happen next season. THE EXPERTS ALL AGREE…THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT’S GOING ON
Overtime
The off-season workout routine for Josh Norman of the Washington Redskins (NFL – National Football League) is a little more ballsy than most. Not sure how this doesn’t violate the “things you shouldn’t do so you don’t hurt yourself too badly” clause in his contract, but watch Norman run with (and hurdle) the bulls in Pamplona, Spain this week. AT LEAST THE PILATES MAT WON’T GORE YOU
Sideline Stat
Rufus the Hawk is going to be very busy protecting the skies over Wimbledon this weekend. First the “Big 3” - Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are playing in the semifinals today. Serena Williams will play Simona Halep in the women’s singles finals on Saturday. If Williams wins, she will tie the all-time record for the most Grand Slam titles at 24. (There are four major tournaments that qualify as “Grand Slams” in tennis. Wimbledon is one of them). WILL THERE BE ANOTHER ROYALS SIGHTING?
PS – Don’t know why Rufus the Hawk is such a big deal? Check out Five Things You Need To Know About Wimbledon.
Coaches’ Corner
Because why not? Robot umpires debuted at the Minor League Baseball All-Star Game this week. The robotic system is thought to speed up the game because there will be a consistent strike zone so players won’t waste time arguing balls and strikes. Imagine all of the carefully choreographed heckling that is now going to fall on deaf (or no) ears. WHAT’S NEXT? A ROBOT BEER VENDOR ROAMING THE STANDS?