If I Can’t Have You
Who found their lobster, is there a new career on the horizon for a few senators and a Hall of Famer’s commercial that’s so bad you have to watch?
If we can’t get a Sunday reboot, might as well make this Monday worth it.
Let’s do this,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
The newest class of the MLB Hall of Fame was inducted this weekend. The New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera was the first player to receive an unanimous decision to be enshrined, but on his big weekend his awkward Toyota commercial is getting all the buzz. The wife of the late Roy Halladay, who died in a plane crash 2017 at age 40, delivered an emotional induction speech on behalf of the two-time Cy Young winner.
Elsewhere in baseball, Luke Voit of the New York Yankees took a 91-mph fastball to the face but stayed in the game. Later, he scored a run in his team’s rout of the Colorado Rockies. TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM
Overtime
Kevin Harvick won the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) race in New Hampshire and lucky him, as the winner he received a 22-lb. lobster. His young son promised to kiss the crustacean and was a man of his word. THAT’S A FIRST KISS HE WON’T FORGET
Sideline stat
Age ain’t nothing but a number to boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. On Saturday night, he beat Keith Thurman, who is 10 years his junior in a 12-round fight. A senator in his home country of the Philippines, Pacquiao not only took home a $10 million paycheck for his win but became the fifth oldest champion ever, regardless of weight class. FOR THAT PRICE, MAYBE SOME AMERICAN SENATORS WILL HOP INTO THE RING?
Coaches’ corner
The wind was howling and the weather was terrible at The Open in Ireland but the crowd was behind their countryman, Shane Lowry, as he claimed what some are calling the greatest Irish victory since the tournament began in 1860. NOTHING A LITTLE JAMESON CAN’T WARM UP
What to watch
The NFL (National Football League) season is around the corner with training camp starting this week. It’s essentially the spring training of football. Keep an eye on #1 draft pick, quarterback Kyler Murray in Arizona and wide receiver Antonio Brown at the Oakland Raiders camp. Brown is known for his outlandish arrivals at training camp. Last year it was a helicopter and previous years featured custom painted Rolls Royces.
Worth Celebrating
Who’s part of the Fashionable 50, why one team is over the moon and why is a Tour rider drinking wine in a French vineyard right now?
Congratulations! You’ve made it to Friday.
Go forth and celebrate like it’s 1969,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
The Houston Astros are going all out to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon. The Astros will replace their logo on their caps the with the official emblem of Apollo 11, fans will be able to take photos with Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit and the Astros faithful can also pick up an Orbit Moon-Landing bobblehead. HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PARTY
Overtime
Move over Swimsuit Edition, there’s a new boss in town. Serena Williams is looking fierce as she graces the cover of Sports Illustrated’s “Fashionable 50.” Other athletes who made the cut include the NBA’s (National Basketball Association) Russell Westbrook and Dwyane Wade, tennis’ Maria Sharapova, driver Lewis Hamilton (F1 - Formula One Racing) and soccer’s Cristiano Ronaldo. THE WORLD IS THEIR RED CARPET
Sideline stat
Manny Pacquiao, 40, went from being one of the best in boxing, to a politician in his home country of the Philippines and will return to the ring to fight Keith Thurman on Saturday. Thurman, who is 10 years younger than Pacquiao, is undefeated but most experts are picking the “old guy” for his experience, speed and technique. LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE
Coaches’ corner
In a strange move, Australian rider Rohan Dennis quit the Tour de France mid-race and then went missing for a few hours. The World time-trial champion finally showed up at the team bus, said his peace and left. Rumor has it he’s tired of playing second fiddle on his team, but no one is saying anything about his abrupt exit. FIND ME AT THE VINEYARDS
Need more Tour? Check out our five things you need to know.
What to watch
The blustery weather of Northern Ireland certainly got the best of former British Open (aka The Open - golf) champ David Duvall. His play yesterday was a comedy of errors that led to "a very unique, awful situation" (his words not ours) as he recorded a score so high that mortals could actually achieve it. (Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and others struggled yesterday too, but not quite as badly).
Channel the chilly conditions while sitting under a fan as you attempt to cool off from this weekend’s heat wave. The Open runs until Sunday. HERE’S HOW TO WATCH
The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up Edition
This weekend defending champion Jordan Spieth blew his lead to lose the Masters. To add insult to injury, he then had to put the esteemed green jacket on the winner, Danny Willett.
Speaking of bitter beer face, Kevin Durant is said to share the same sentiment in a farewell video to Kobe Bryant, whose last game of his career is on Wednesday.
Turn that frown upside down,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Boxing
- Going out on top. Saturday night in Las Vegas Manny Pacquiao dominated his fight against Timothy Bradley, winning with a unanimous decision. This was said to be Pacquiao’s last fight but many questioned his retirement after Saturday’s stellar performance.
MLB (Major League Baseball)
- So close you can taste it. Los Angeles Dodgers’ rookie pitcher, Ross Stripling, almost had a dream come true on Friday night. Stripling was called up from the minor leagues and took advantage of his chance on the big league field. He pitched a shut out/no-hitter into the eighth inning when he was pulled by coach Dave Roberts. Unfortunately, the relief pitchers blew the game and the Dodgers lost to the San Francisco Giants.
- Sweet start. Colorado Rockies' rookie shortstop Trevor Story is off to an unheard start to the season. Story has hit seven home runs in the team’s first six games. Story is the first player in baseball history to accomplish this.
- Hello Herbert. Washington Nationals are adding a new face to their presidential race that is run on the field between innings. Former President Herbert Hoover has been nominated to join the race. Hoover joins the other racing presidents - George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft. In case you were wondering, Hoover won his inaugural race.
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- Setting records. Golden State Warriors beat the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night to win their 72nd game of the season, tying the record set by the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls. This was the first home loss of the year for the Spurs. The Warriors have a chance to break the record with their last game of the regular season against the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Wednesday.
- Bon voyage. Kobe Bryant’s last game of his storied career is on Wednesday. Nike put together a tribute featuring athletes saluting Bryant. (Some people are saying Kevin Durant comes off as bitter, you be the judge.)
NCAA Basketball (College)
- Totally inappropriate. Louisiana Tech women’s baseball team’s head coach Tyler Summit resigned last week. Summitt, 25, is the son of Pat Summitt, legendary women’s basketball coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. Tyler resigned due to an inappropriate relationship with a player which, according to rumors, resulted in the player’s pregnancy,
NFL (National Football League)
- Tragic loss. Former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith and his wife were shot in an alleged road rage incident in New Orleans. Smith died from his injuries. Smith spent his career with the Saints and was part of their 2010 Super Bowl team and was to be inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame later this year.
PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association)
- On the back nine. Defending Masters champion Jordan Spieth led the tournament for the first three days and had a five shot lead going into the last nine holes on Sunday. In a span of three holes, Spieth went from leading by five strokes to losing by three. Danny Willett took advantage of Spieth’s struggles and took the lead and finished strong to win.
- Baby daddy. Anticipating the birth of his first child whose due date was yesterday, Willett almost did not participate in the Masters. The baby was born a week early on March 30th, paving the way for him to play in the Masters. Although his child was not born on April 10th, it still turned out to be a very special day for Willett and his wife.
Overtime
With the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, around the corner, the U.S. men’s and women’s basketball teams announced that they plan to stay on a cruise ship instead of in the Olympic Village.
Sideline stat
- Kyle Busch swept the NASCAR races for the second weekend in a row; a feat that had not been accomplished since 1991. Busch won the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 on Friday night and then the Duck Commander 500 on Saturday.
Coaches’ Corner
What is a no-hitter in baseball? A no-hitter is a complete game in which the opposing team does not get on base from a hit. This doesn’t mean no one from the opposing team makes it to base (they can be walked or hit by a pitch) but no one from the opposing team actually gets to a base by hitting the ball. It’s a rare feat and only 292 pitchers have pitched a no hitter since 1876.