Pros And Cons
The NBA player who is going back to college, football is back and the thief who found out the hard way not to mess with a UFC fighter.
Bad news - the Olympics are over and it’s still really hot.
Good news - football is back and the fall is around the corner. (At least that’s what the Halloween candy in stores tells us).
Filling the void,
The Last Night’s Game Team
UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)
A warning to all the criminals out there, be careful who you mess with. A thief made the mistake of attempting to steal the car of UFC fighter Jordan Williams and didn’t end well. Williams left his car running at a gas station he frequents, only to come out to find someone backing out in his car. He managed to land some punches and kicks before the would-be thief ran off. Williams posted the security footage on his Instagram in hopes of catching the thief. DON’T MESS WITH ME
Overtime
Another familiar face from the football field is headed morning television. Taking the chair next to Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil on “CBS This Morning" is former NFL player and current “NFL Today” (National Football League) analyst Nate Burleson. If the move sounds familiar, in 2012, Michael Strahan made a move from the field to co-hosting with Kelly Ripa and is now a mainstay on “Good Morning America.” IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY
Sideline stat
When the new name, image, likeness rules were announced, critics were worried it would bring out the worst in college sports. BYU had another plan. They’ve partnered with health food company Built Brands to compensate all 123 players on the Cougars football team, but they’ve taken it one step further. Build Brands will pay BYU’s walk-on players enough to cover their full tuition. Walk-ons are athletes that do not have a scholarship, so this is huge for these student-athletes.
If you’re wondering, NCAA rules say college football teams can have 125 players on their roster but only distribute scholarships to 85 athletes. GOOD GAME
Coaches’ corner
As a high schooler, J.R. Smith had committed to the University of North Carolina to play basketball. However, he went straight to the NBA (National Basketball Association) due to his success and was told he could always go back to school “whenever.” Well, after a 16-year NBA career, a retired Smith decided "whenever" is now. Beginning this semester, Smith will attend North Carolina A&T State University. But that’s not all. Smith wants to play on the school’s golf team and is awaiting the NCAA ruling on his eligibility. SECOND ACT
What to watch
Hold onto your hats - football is back! The NFL preseason is in full swing, with games starting last night through Sunday. The No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Trevor Lawrence, is expected to make his debut on Saturday for the Jacksonville Jaguars. HERE WE GO
The Rundown: When I Met You In The Summer
Summer is here and it’s no more evident than in sports. From weddings to awaiting the announcement of the NBA (National Basketball Association) League MVP to figuring out why blondes have more fun, we have all you need to know to start a conversation with a tan stranger on a beach blanket.
Will you put sunscreen on my back?
The Last Night’s Game team
College Baseball World Series
- Do I know you? The final series in the College Baseball World Series begins tonight. The LSU Tigers (Louisiana State University) will face the University of Florida Gators in the best-of-three series to determine the national champion. These two teams are familiar foes as they play together in the SEC (Southeastern Conference) and shared a regular season title.
- Blondes have more fun. Baseball players are known for being superstitious and LSU player Kramer Robertson is no exception to the rule. He dyed his hair blonde after a previous loss in the tournament and they’re now playing in the finals. Much to the distain of his mother, Baylor University’s women’s basketball coach, he plans on keeping his good luck charm lightened locks. Whatever floats your boat.
MLB (Major League Baseball)
- What no puffy shirt? Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Cody Bellinger has continued his home run hot streak, hitting two more on Sunday (yes in one game). Even more impressive (or frightening) than his record-breaking home run streak? He doesn’t know who Jerry Seinfeld is. Apparently, he’s never met Kramer (above) either.
Overtime
- Sports reporter extraordinaire and Dancing With The Stars host, Erin Andrews married hockey player Jarret Stoll this weekend in Montana. The two were introduced by a mutual friend, former NFL (National Football League) player and morning show host, Michael Strahan. See all the pics.
Sideline stat
- Miami Marlins Ichiro Suzuki must have found the fountain of youth. He made history on Sunday, becoming the oldest player (43) to start a game in centerfield, breaking Ricky Henderson’s previous record.
Coaches’ corner
- Sports and music always seem to collide and that’s the case in the “Big 3,” a three-on-three basketball tournament started by rapper Ice Cube. The games have no time limit, the first team to 60 points wins. The players and coaches include former NBA (National Basketball Association) legends like Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Allen Iverson.
You can catch the games on Fox Sports 1 on Mondays for the next eight weeks.
The Rundown: Five Things to Know About NHL
In the midst of the NHL (National Hockey League) playoffs, we've decided to share Five Things to Know about hockey. On a day like today, 4-20, sit back, relax and read on.
Pass the Cheetos,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Five Things to Know about NHL
The Stanley Cup is the trophy presented to the National Champions. The Cup, which has a Twittter account, has seen it all. It has been used as a cereal bowl and a baptismal font, left by the side of the road and thrown into a swimming pool. The names of all members of the winning team (including coaches and management) are etched into the trophy.
- It is widely known that Canada is the birthplace of hockey. Rumor has it that the earliest hockey games were played on frozen ponds with frozen cow poop as a puck. Now that’s resourceful.
- There have been four work stoppages in NHL history. The 2004-2005 lock out caused the entire season to be cancelled along with the 2005 draft.
- Goalie Manon Rhéaume was the first woman to play in the NHL, playing in 1992 for the Tampa Bay Lightning during an exhibition game.
- The machine that inspired a song and fans everywhere to go for a cruise, a Zamboni, was invented in 1949 by a man named Frank Zamboni. The famed Zamboni resurfaces the ice between periods for a smooth skating surface.
- Extra credit - Like any other sport, hockey players have their superstitions and pregame rituals like meals, taping up their gear and routes to the arena. In a ritual that makes moms everywhere gasp, hockey phenom Sidney Crosby has a rule about not chatting with his mom on game days. He’s broken this rule three times in his career and was injured during the game all three times.
NBA (NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION)
Curry out. The Golden State Warriors sailed to victory on Monday night without their star player, Steph Curry. Curry missed game two against the Rockets for an ankle injury. His MRI provided no further insight and is still questionable for game three tonight in Houston.
- Confetti controversy. Oklahoma City Thunder lost at home on Tuesday night to the Dallas Mavericks. The Thunder put up a buzzer beater shot for the win that was eventually called off for being too late. Someone in operations for the Thunder got a little excited and deployed the confetti for the perceived Thunder win. Mavs’ player Chandler Parson gave a shout out to that employee, tweeting – “Shoutout [sic] to whoever dropped the confetti. #fired.”
NFL (National Football League)
- Crying in our breakfast Cheerios. Former New York Giants star Michael Strahan announced he is leaving “Live with Kelly and Michael” for a full-time gig with Good Morning America (GMA). Prior to his full-time offer, he worked with GMA a few days a week. Strahan has been with Live! Since 2012 when he was picked to replace Regis Philbin. The change will take place in September. You will still be able to catch Michael on “NFL on FOX” on Sundays.
- The ultimatum. Troubled quarterback Johnny Manziel has been fired by his second agent this year. Drew Rosenhaus said last week that he would terminate his representation of Manziel but that he would reverse the decision if Manziel entered a treatment facility within five days. Yesterday he officially exited stage left. In his 27 years as an NFL agent, this is the first time Rosenhaus has ever fired a player. Nike also dropped Manziel yesterday. Manziel was most recently under investigation for his involvement in a hit-and-run and is the subject of a grand jury investigation on whether or not he assaulted his girlfriend.
UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)
- Pouty pants? Top UFC fighter Connor McGregor was pulled from UFC 200. He then tweeted that he has decided to retire young. UFC President Dana White said he pulled McGregor because he was unwilling to fly to Las Vegas and participate in mandatory promotional activities.
Overtime
A ball boy at the Barcelona Open (tennis) recovered beautifully from a face plant into the wall. Luckily for us this international incident was caught on camera. Shake it off.
Sideline stat
In a 6-1 blowout game that was not favoring their team, the Philadelphia Flyers fans took it upon themselves to express their displeasure with a call on the ice by throwing wristbands used in a pregame light show onto the ice. After multiple requests to stop by players and the in-game announcer the referees penalized the Flyers for their fans’ actions. The Washington Capitals lead the series against the Flyers 3-0. Game four is tonight in Philadelphia.
Coaches’ Corner
In January, Officer Bobby White took a call for a noise complaint that kids outside were playing basketball outside too loudly. Instead of handing out citations, Officer White decided to join in on the game. When Officer White returned for a rematch this week he brought along former NBA superstar, Shaquille "Shaq" O'Neal. Shaq reiterated the "Basketball Cop" philosophy of #HoopsNotCrimes by telling the kids "I grew up just like this. Only you can change this, and you can change it through basketball and showing respect to your peers like you did." For more information on the Basketball Cop Foundation, click here.