Luck Of The Irish

The March Madness tournament is underway and there have been heartbreaking losses but the Cinderella teams live on.

Forget the lucky glass slippers, they’re in Air Jordans,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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College Basketball

When no one saw it coming. The Buffalo Bulls (No. 13) routed bracket favorite University of Arizona (No. 4) last night. It was a good old fashion beat down that even basketball fan, former President Obama didn’t predict in his bracket. That loss probably cleared some people out of your office pool. For that, this Buffalo player says "sorry, not sorry." RESULTS

If you’re “nun” the wiser. Loyola Chicago (No. 11) upset Miami (No. 6) in the first round yesterday but the biggest star of the game wasn’t anyone on the court. Loyola’s 98-year-old chaplain, Sister Jean, stole the spotlight with her excitement. She prays with the team before games and also sends them emails with positive messages, and sometimes constructive criticism, between games. Sister Jean is clearly the fan favorite.

How’s your bracket doing? Check it here.

 

Overtime

The saying “don’t quit your day job” is around for a reason. Actor Susan Sarandon is a longtime New York Rangers fan (NHL - National Hockey League) and because of her celebrity status she was given the rare opportunity to be a guest commentator on TV for a game. It went over like a juice bar at a tailgate party. According to Twitter, fans everywhere turned off their TVs after Sarandon called one of the players “sexy.” Maybe she needs a little Last Night’s Game in her life?

Sideline stat

Team U.S.A. continues to dominate in the Paralympics, leading the medal count. The Men's U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team beat Italy 10-1 in the semifinals and will face Canada in the gold medal game on Sunday. The U.S. Team is seeking its third-straight Paralympic gold medal.

Coaches’ corner

Butler opens their March Madness tournament today against Arkansas but a key member of their team will be missing. Their team spirit and mascot, bulldog Butler Blue III aka Trip, will not be at the game because the NCAA (the governing body for college sports) does not allow live mascots in the arena for the opening round of the tournament due to space constraints. Trip may have had some FOMO when posting on social media but he continued to spread cheer outside the arena. You can’t keep a good (bull)dog down.

Talk That Talk

Sports talk = preventing awkward silences all weekend long. It’s the least we can do since we can’t help your dance moves.

Don't break a hip,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS – In honor of this weekend’s game in Mexico City, today’s Tailgate Treat will quench your thirst.

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NFL (National Football League)

Mile high club. Tom Brady and his New England Patriots head to Mexico City to play the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. The toughest part for these two teams isn’t all of the tequila they’ll drink, it’s that Azteca Stadium sits at 7,280 feet above sea level. To train for the game the Patriots opted to stay in Denver after playing the Broncos to adjust their elevation (approx. 5,280 feet). The Raiders opted to train in Oakland.

NASCAR (National Association For Stock Car Auto Racing)

Wrapping it up. The NASCAR season comes to a close this Sunday. If you’re ever going to watch a race, this is it. There will be a field full of drivers but only four of them will be eligible for the championship title. The highest-ranking finisher of those four will take home the trophy. This will also be Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s final race before he cruises into retirement.  

Overtime

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before. A UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighter has been charged with assault after throwing a boomerang at another fighter while in Australia. The incident stemmed from one fighter insulting the other’s heritage. Right back at ya.

Sideline stat

MLB’s (Major League Baseball) MVPs come in all shapes and sizes. Yesterday 6’6” Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins, who smashed the home run record, won the National League honor. The small but mighty, 5’6” Jose Altuve from the World Series Champion Houston Astros took home the American League MVP title.

Coaches’ corner

Head coach Nick Saban and his Alabama team are back at the top of the College Football Playoff rankings this week. Besides his team, what else is top of mind for Saban this week? His distaste for distressed jeans. See his passionate yet funny rant here. 

Get This Party Started

There’s no time like the present to brush up on your sports so you can give them something to talk about.

Small talk conquered,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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College Football

Bling bling. If you’re looking for an unique holiday gift idea, the turnover chain is your answer. The Miami Hurricanes (#7) upset Notre Dame (#4) this weekend to return to football glory after a long drought. Part of the morale boost is credited to the turnover chain, a gold chain given to the defensive player who gets a turnover in the game. Somewhere Flavor Flav is jealous.

NFL (National Football League)

Pledging allegiance. The anthem protests caused fans in some cities to threaten a boycott of games this weekend. On the contrary, the NFL saw an increase in attendance this weekend. It also saw very few players kneeling before the game as the league celebrated Veterans Day weekend by honoring the military.

Overtime

Since the NFL lifted the celebration rules this year we have seen some great touchdown dances. Last week brought us the potato sack race and this week, a game of Vikings leap frog. WATCH

Sideline stat

And then there was one. The San Francisco 49ers (NFL) won their first game of the season, beating the New York Giants. After 10 weeks into the season, the Cleveland Browns are the only winless team left in the league.

Coaches’ corner

Next weekend is the last race of the NASCAR (National Association For Stock Car Auto Racing) season. During that race we’ll see Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski competing for the championship in Miami.