Sun Goes Down

Make a connection on a long summer night with a little sports chatter that can easily be turned into a conversation about travel (hello French Open), tech (thanks Calm app) or YouTube videos (gracias Logan Paul).

Did someone say travel?

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Tennis

The Calm app is putting their money where their Zen is. After the uproar about Naomi Osaka missing press conferences and then subsequently dropping out of the tournament to take care of her mental health, the Calm app is stepping in. They announced that they would pay the fines for players who decide to skip their press conferences at the French Open. (Osaka’s fines were $15,000). Keep an eye on Serena Williams (No. 7) as she plays in the third round this morning against a fellow American in an unranked Danielle Rose Collins. SMOOTH MOVE

Overtime

You know you were curious how much it would cost you to see YouTube star Logan Paul go head to head in the ring with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather. For the price of $49.99, you can watch one of the best in boxing (likely) knockout his opponent in Miami. As you might recall, these two have been drumming up the buzz around the fight with Paul and his brother hiring round-the-clock security to protect them from Mayweather’s entourage. The fight is non-sanctioned, aka an exhibition fight, so there won’t be judges, but knockouts will be allowed. THE PRICE IS RIGHT TO GET PUNCHED IN THE FACE

Sideline stat

For the first time in his career, LeBron James is out of the playoffs in the first round. The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers were knocked out of the playoffs last night by the Phoenix Suns (NBA - National Basketball Association). Even after dropping 46 points on them, James still met up with Devin Booker, Kendall Jenner's boyfriend, postgame to give him his signed jersey. (Jersey exchanges are tradition). ONWARD AND UPWARD

Coaches’ corner

The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) starts its season today. They are currently the only outdoor professional lacrosse league in the country after buying their competitor, the 20-year-old Major League Lacrosse. The PLL has disrupted the traditional sports business model with a tour-based league (i.e., no home cities) and no team owners (more money to pay players). They’re also providing a vesting schedule to give players equity in the league. (Want to know more about lacrosse? Check out our lacrosse 101). NEW(ISH) KID ON CAMPUS

What to watch…

...Michelle Wie West as she makes her comeback after being absent from competitive golf for two years. In those two years, she’s added wife (married to the NBA’s Jerry West’s son) and mom to her list of accomplishments, all while overcoming major injuries. Wie West will be joining her fellow LPGA (Ladies Professional Golfers Association) players in the U.S. Open this weekend. WELCOME BACK

And Now Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

Don’t really want to divulge the details of your weekend during the small talk around the coffee pot this morning? Use sports to shift the conversation and show off your savviness.

You’ve got this,

The Last Night’s Game Team  

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College Basketball

If you’re feeling like a champ this morning. It’s championship week in college basketball. That means the different conference tournaments have begun in advance of the big March Madness tournament, which starts next week. Teams that win their conference championship earn an automatic bid into the tournament. The rest will have to sit and wait to hear their team name announced on Selection Sunday (March 11).

Who doesn’t love an underdog? The Lipscomb University Bisons won their conference tournament, which guarantees the team from a small university in Nashville a spot in the March Madness tournament for the first time ever. LIST OF TEAMS THAT HAVE QUALIFIED

If you’re interested in participating in the bracket madness of the NCAA (the governing body of college sports) tournament, you can play with us. After Selection Sunday we’ll share a link to our bracket so you can pick your teams and play along in a judgement free zone for a chance to win prizes and have a little fun too.

Overtime

Kobe Bryant isn’t only one of the best in basketball, but he can now add one of the best in Hollywood to his list of accomplishments. Last night he took home an Oscar for his animated short Dear Basketball. He is the first professional athlete to win an Academy Award.

Sideline stat

In hopes of making a team, NFL (National Football League) hopefuls showed off their athletic and mental abilities to scouts in the NFL Combine. University of Central Florida’s Shaquem Griffin was not on the original invite list but the one-handed Griffin certainly made the best out of his appearance, dominating the Combine. Not only did he bench press 225 pounds an impressive 20 times using a prosthetic hand, he ran the fastest 40-yard dash for linebackers in 10 years. And with that, we have no excuse to skip the gym today.

Coaches’ corner

Michelle Wie and Phil Mickelson are two of the biggest names in golf who have been down on their luck for years until this weekend. Wie ended a four-year losing streak by taking home a win on the last hole of the HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore. Mickelson, 47, finally broke his five-year losing streak, winning the Mexico Championship this weekend.

Wine Not?

It may be Friday morning but we’re already thinking ahead to happy hour and how these conversation starters are going to nicely pair with our glass of wine. It is National Pinot Noir Day after all.

We'll drink to that,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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MLB (Major League Baseball)

• Role models. For the first time, the little leagues will get a taste of the big leagues on Sunday when the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates play at Williamsport, PA, home of the Little League Baseball World Series (LLBWS). The LLBWS is in full swing and features teams that have traveled from all over the world to compete.

NFL (National Football League)

• Speaking out. Choosing not to stand for the national anthem is still very much a hot topic in the NFL with many players joining the protest to speak out against injustice after the events in Charlottesville, VA. The players hope the protest, started by former San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick last season, will lead to progress for equality. Here’s a more in depth look.  

Overtime

• The U.S.A will take on Europe in the LPGA’s (Ladies Professional Golfers Association) Solheim Cup starting today in Iowa. The players from Team U.S.A. hope to utilize home field advantage and win back-to-back cups. If all else fails, Michelle Wie (Team U.S.A. star) will blind her opponents with her sweet bedazzled cleats.

Sideline stat

• One – The number of games the highly anticipated Chick-fil-A in the brand-new Atlanta Falcons stadium will be open for business. The company will adhere to its policy of not being open on Sundays, despite being at an NFL stadium that has seven of its eight games on Sunday.

Former Top Chef contestant Kevin Gillespie pays homage to Chick-fil-A with his Closed on Sundays chicken sandwich, which will be served from his stand in the stadium to satisfy fans' need for poultry. 

Coaches’ corner

• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) offensive line went to dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and told the two rookies they were in charge of picking up the tab, per tradition. When the bill arrived, it was $26,000. Luckily for the two panicking rookies, it was a joke and the real bill was "only" $3,000, which their teammates paid for.

What’s the role of the offensive line? They’re the big guys who protect the quarterback and clearly can eat.