The 5 Sporting Events To Get Excited About in 2018
If creating relationships, growing your client base or expanding your network are on your list of New Year’s resolutions, develop the rapport with sports and keep the conversation going all year long.
If creating relationships, growing your client base or expanding your network are on your list of New Year’s resolutions, develop the rapport with sports and keep the conversation going all year long.
Talk the talk,
The Last Night’s Game
The Five Sporting Events To Get Excited About in 2018
1. Australian Open (Tennis): Monday, January 15 - Sunday, January 28
While the Australian Open is one of the big four in tennis (i.e. a Grand Slam tournament), it’s not one you might normally look forward to so why this year? The gal that some consider the greatest of all time, Serena Williams, is planning to make her return to tennis in the same tournament she won last year, while pregnant. Get ready for her to dominate the courts again.
2. Super Bowl - NFL (National Football League): Sunday, February 4
This year’s game will be played in the "warm and tropical" home of the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. An NFL team has never played in the Super Bowl in their home stadium and the Vikings, who are in the playoffs, may be the first team to break that streak. If the commercials and the parties aren’t enough, Justin Timberlake is headlining the halftime show. Bonus - his new album drops two days before the game.
3. Winter Olympics: Friday, February 9 – Thursday, February 25
It seems every Olympics there is a major controversy. Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, Russian doping, Zika and now the proximity of PyeongChang, South Korea to North Korea is on the minds everyone heading into the Winter Olympics. A few positive stories to focus on? Lindsey Vonn’s comeback on the slopes and Nigeria’s first team ever in the Winter Olympics, which happens to be all women. Also, did you know that PyeongChang is the smallest host city since Lillehammer, Norway, with a population of 50,000.
4. Daytona 500 – NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing): Sunday, February 18
The Daytona 500 has been glorified in the movies (Days of Thunder anyone)? but the race that kicks off the NASCAR season will be without one of its most familiar faces this year. This will be the first time in almost two decades Dale Earnhardt Jr. will not be in the lineup. He retired last year but you can catch him on his new show on the DIY Network and in the broadcast booth for NBC. Another face slowly fading from racing is the most accomplished woman in NASCAR history, Danica Patrick. She will only race two races this year - the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.
5. World Cup - Soccer: Thursday, June 14 – Sunday, July 15
In the world’s most watched sporting event, soccer teams from all over the world will compete to determine which country is the best. In 2014, over three billion people or nearly 40% of the world’s population watched the competition, which happens every four years. Three notable teams that failed to qualify and will miss this year’s tournament in Russia? United States, Italy and The Netherlands. The underdog? Team Iceland. They’re the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup and they’re playing in their first one.
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The Rundown: Best Enjoyed With Friends
We haven’t been this excited about Friday since last Friday. It’s a great weekend to put your newfound sports knowledge to the test.
Show them what you’ve got,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLS (Major League Soccer)
- Here we go. The MLS season begins today and runs through December. (MLS is the league David Beckham played for when he played in the U.S.). Here are a few MLS pointers for your Friday night happy hour.
- There are two new teams this season. Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC bringing the total to 22 teams in the league.
- Unlike most professional sports, MLS teams are only allowed four charter flights in a season. That means you’ll see them standing in line with their A-17 boarding pass just like you and me.
- Many of the teams have “FC” in their name which stands for football club. Yes, the U.S. is the only place that doesn’t call the game of soccer “football.”
NFL (National Football League)
- Take a knee. Controversial quarterback Colin Kaepernick has opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers, becoming a free agent. Kaepernick also announced that he will now stand for the national anthem, citing major progress in the issues he took a knee for.
Overtime
- Northwestern has never made the NCAA March Madness tournament but a last second win over Michigan all but guaranteed their first tournament appearance. Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ son plays for Northwestern and her reaction to the dramatic win is priceless.
Sideline stat
- Get your sequins and spray tans because it’s time for another season of Dancing with the Stars. Season 24 premieres on March 20th and will feature some of America’s favorite faces in sports.
- Olympic gold medal gymnast, Simone Biles
- Retired Chicago Cubs catcher and the first baseball player ever on the show, David Ross
- Free agent football player, Rashad Jennings
- Former Olympic ice skater, Nancy Kerrigan
Coaches’ corner
- What is a free agent in sports? A free agent means that the player is on the market and available, they do not have ties to a team. Free agent is the sports word for “being in between jobs.”