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.

We Salute You

This Friday we have an extra reason to celebrate - it’s Veterans Day. Thank you to our men and women in uniform and their families for their service and sacrifice.

We are grateful and we salute you,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - It's Friday and that means it's time for a Tailgate Treat. This could be the best chili you've ever had. Fire up the crockpot! RECIPE

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College Basketball

Here we go! College basketball is tipping off the season today with two overseas games. Texas A&M (#25) will take on West Virginia (#11) from Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany and Georgia Tech plays UCLA (University of California – Los Angeles, #21) in Shanghai, China. GAME SCHEDULE

Sticky fingers. While in China for the game, three UCLA players were apparently getting their Christmas “shopping” done early when they were arrested for shoplifting at the Louis Vuitton store. The players are still on “hotel arrest” (think house arrest), therefore will not be playing.

NBA (National Basketball Association)

Blowing into town. The NBA announced that the 2020 All-Star Game will be in Chicago for the first time since 1988. During that 1988 All-Star weekend, Michael Jordan made his iconic dunk from the free throw line. (You’ve seen this dunk photo before).

Overtime

Players on the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) have been very active and vocal about kneeling during the national anthem. To reiterate that it's not about the military, they stood during the anthem before last night's game in honor of Veterans Day.

Sideline stat

You have until tomorrow night to tweet using #SaluteToService to raise money for dedicated military non-profits. The NFL (National Football League) is donating $5 for every tweet using the hashtag as part of their Salute to Service week.

Coaches’ corner

You asked the question and we have the answer. What is targeting in football? It’s not a new term for trips to "Tar Jay," although it is kind of catchy.

Targeting is when a football player uses the crown of their head to make forcible contact or forcible contact is made to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent. These rules were put into place to protect players from concussions and head trauma. MORE INFO

Rolling In The Dough

Whether you're going out or staying in, here’s how you can carry on the conversation this weekend.

Piece of cake,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - This week's Tailgate Treat is an easy pizza with all things good and cheesy for your game day excitement. (Or breakfast the next morning. We’re not judging).

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MLB (Major League Baseball)

ICYMI. The Houston Astros made their city proud, winning the World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their win was 56 years in the making.

 

College Football

What to wear. Arizona State University will be donning their best on Saturday night. They’ll sport special 'Brotherhood' uniforms to honor the U.S. Military and the late Pat Tillman, a former ASU football player who was killed in combat.

Okie scuffle. ESPN College GameDay heads to Stillwater, OK for ‘Bedlam,’ a rivalry game that divides households. Oklahoma (#8) will take on Oklahoma State (#11) and the game will feature two of the best quarterbacks in the nation. FULL SCHEDULE

Overtime

Wedding bells are ringing in the Houston Astros locker room. Shortstop Carlos Correa proposed to his former beauty queen girlfriend on the field after their World Series win. Not to be outdone, pitcher Justin Verlander will wed model Kate Upton this weekend in Italy. He’s skipping the championship parade for the wedding. In his defense, he was playing with the Detroit Tigers, who weren’t World Series bound, when they planned their nuptials.   

Sideline stat

Major NFL (National Football League) sponsor Papa John’s has blamed declining sales on the player protests, saying the lack of NFL leadership has hurt their shareholders. Their pizza making competition disputes those claims saying their sales are up. Even DiGiorno Pizza jumped in on the action with this catty tweet. Let the cheese wars begin.   

Coaches’ corner

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was on a historic pace for a rookie. You may remember earlier in the season when Watson donated his first NFL paycheck to three stadium employees whose lives were devastated by Hurricane Harvey. Unfortunately his first season on the field is over as he tore his ACL yesterday in practice. NFL SCHEDULE