Keep It Simple
The OOTD that you need to see, teeing up tomorrow’s “Match” and the Japanese player who is making all kinds of MLB history.
As you slowly assimilate back to society after what was surely an epic fourth, we’ve covered it all so you don’t even have to think.
Served up on a platter,
The Last Night’s Game Team
The Match
The fourth edition of “The Match,” a golf game that pits golfers and other athletes against each other all in the name of charity, takes place tomorrow in Big Sky, Montana. Tom Brady and Phil Mickelson will compete against Aaron Rodgers and golfer Bryson DeChambeau. Let’s hope Brady wears better pants as he ripped his in the last “Match” and that they have better weather (the last one was played in a downpour). Regardless, the crap talking has already started, it’s for a good cause (The Match II raised $20 million for COVID-19 relief), and it’ll be fun to see. GET YOUR GAME FACE ON
Overtime
The best story you might have missed over the weekend is the story behind Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB - Major League Baseball) pitcher Joe Kelly’s outfit that he wore to the White House. The Dodgers were the first team of the Biden era to visit the White House, and Kelly, whose mother is Mexican-American, wore a mariachi jacket. He acquired the jacket earlier in the week after asking a musician from a mariachi band that played at Dodgers Stadium if he’d trade for a jersey. THE REST IS HISTORY
For more on the tradition of championship teams visiting the White House, click here.
Sideline stat
Is it a holiday if you don’t overindulge? Ask Joey Chestnut, who broke his own record yesterday, eating 76 hot dogs (and buns) in 10 minutes at the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. A new champion, Tucson native Michelle Lesco, was crowned after downing 30 and 3/4 hot dogs in 10 minutes on the women's side. FEELING A LITTLE QUEASY
Coaches’ corner
History has been made in the week before the MLB All-Star game. Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels became the first player in baseball’s long history to be selected to the all-star game as both a pitcher and a position player. Ohtani, the first Japanese player selected to start the all-star game, will serve as a pitcher and designated hitter. (More on a designated hitter here). BATTER UP
What to watch
The NBA (National Basketball Association) Finals start tomorrow between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks. The Suns have never won a championship, and the Bucks haven’t won since 1971. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lighting are looking for a sweep in the Stanley Cup Finals (NHL - National Hockey League) against the Montreal Canadiens tonight. GAME ON
Oh, It’s On
Be 4th of July ready. Barstool Sports takes NIL to a new level, the 2nd highest-paid athlete in the world needs a job and 75 hot dogs in 10 mins - GO!
This Friday, we’re bringing you everything you need to be set up for small talk success poolside or at your Fourth Of July barbeque.
Going all out,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
After no fans last year (and an awkwardly quiet competition), the crowd might be just what the competitors need to defeat the 13-time hot dog eating champion, Joey Chestnut. Although, a Chestnut defeat is unlikely as he’s the obvious favorite after beating his own record last year by eating 75 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes The women’s champion Miki Sudo won’t be there to defend her championship as she’s pregnant with her first child, so the door is wide open for a new winner. We talk more about a “Roman Incident” and other hot dog eating traditions that would make our founding fathers so proud in this week’s podcast. DON’T SIT IN THE SPLASH ZONE
Overtime
You haven’t been able to turn on the news over the past few days without hearing about NIL (name, image and likeness) for college athletes. The NCAA announced that as of yesterday, July 1, college athletes could profit from their NIL.
A few athletes took advantage of this change from the word go. Twin women’s basketball players from Fresno State, Haley and Hanna Cavinder, who have over three million followers on TikTok already signed a deal with Boost Mobile. Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler said that he’d use this opportunity to donate a portion of what he makes to charity. One athlete, Addie Halverson, a volleyball player from Jacksonville State, reached out to Barstool Sports to see what it would take to be a "Barstool Athlete," and they've now set up a whole program to support these athletes. MONEY IN THE BANK
Sideline stat
Chris Paul has played in the NBA (National Basketball Association) for 16 years and never made it to the NBA finals until now. He and his Phoenix Suns punched their ticket to the finals Wednesday night. In his postgame interview, he talked about how he writes the words “can’t give up now” on his shoes every game. The inspiration came from a Mary Mary song. Paul, who you’ll recognize from his State Farm commercials, took a risk with the Suns - a team that hasn’t made it to the finals since 1993. AT LAST
Coaches’ corner
Though COVID restrictions are still tight in Canada, the Quebec government is allowing 3,500 fans to attend tonight’s game as the Montreal Canadiens take on the sending champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the quest for their first Stanley Cup since 1993. In case you're wondering, the Lightning are up 2-0 in the series. BE THERE OR BE SQUARE
The 4th Of July Tradition That We Love, But Will Also Make You Want To Puke
It’s a tradition unlike any other.
Photo: Unsplash
Nothing says “Happy Birthday America” like sitting on your couch watching people down 75 hot dogs in 10 minutes in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Our founding fathers would be so proud…
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. In a tradition unlike any other, our nation will celebrate its birthday with the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Like our country, the contest’s roots run deep. According to Nathan’s, legend has it that on July 4, 1916, four immigrants gathered at the very first Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand on Coney Island and made eating contest history. As the story goes, they were competing to see who was the most patriotic. The winner was determined with a hot dog eating contest. BUT OF COURSE
2. Let’s talk about what everyone is thinking about – vomiting. An eater who has "a Roman incident" or “reversal of fortune,” as it is so delightfully called, will be disqualified if the result of that incident touches the plate or table. After the contest is over, eaters can dispose of the food however they’d like, although some contests have a post-binge wait period. MAKE SURE NOT TO SIT IN THE SPLASH ZONE
3. This isn't college; the competitors don't show up just for the food. The winner out of the dog-downing competitors will take home $10,000. Want to bet on it? That can be done. You can also bet on if PETA will interrupt the contents or not or if there will be a “reversal of fortune.” One thing that’s a sure winner, Nathan’s will continue their annual tradition of donating 100,000 hot dogs to the Food Bank of New York. EATING FOR GOOD
4. After no fans last year (and an awkwardly quiet competition), the crowd might be just what 13-time champion Joey Chestnut needs to beat his record of 75 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. He is one of 18 men to compete for the belt. Chestnut also holds the record for the most hard-boiled eggs eaten in 10 minutes at 151. IRON STOMACH
5. Don’t worry, this sport isn’t only for the boys. Miki Sudo has won for seven straight years on the women's side, but she will not attend this year as she’s pregnant with her first child. So while the men’s competition is pretty much a lock for Joey Chestnutt, the women’s side is wide open for any of the 10 competitors to win. Only two women, Sudo and Sonya Thomas. have won the competition since it started in 2011. A NEW CHAMPION WILL EMERGE
You can catch the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at 11 am EST on July 4 on ESPN. The contest will occur amidst stifling humidity and a massive crowd at Maimonides Park, which is steps away from Nathan’s flagship store on Surf and Stillwell Avenues.