Never A Dull Moment

Giving you something else to talk about besides how it’s still too hot to drink pumpkin spice lattes.

Spice up your life,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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NFL (National Football League)

This season's Super Bowl halftime show is a millennial's dream come true. Yesterday, the NFL announced that Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar would headline the halftime show during Super Bowl LVI on February 13 at SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. MF'ERS DID NOT FORGET ABOUT DRE

Overtime

The Phoenix Mercury (WNBA - Women's National Basketball Association) are getting kicked out of their house ahead of Sunday's game three in their playoff series against the Las Vegas Aces. Last week the team was forced to seek another place to play because of a concert. The team has is forced out because the arena is hosting Disney On Ice instead. Surely, Minnie disapproves of sending six all-stars to play a professional league playoff game at a university basketball arena. HOW ABOUT A LITTLE RESPECT?

Sideline stat

You’ve read the headlines about the drama surrounding the NBA’s (National Basketball Association) goal to get the entire league vaccinated. Players like LeBron James got it, and others like Kyrie Irving don’t want it. Irving is in an interesting conundrum as players who play on teams based in San Francisco (Golden State Warriors), and New York (Nets and Knicks) must be vaccinated to play in their home arenas. Visiting teams are exempt. The NBA said they will not pay players for missed games if they “elect not to comply with local vaccination mandates.” The NBA said that more than 90% of its players had received the COVID vaccine. ARMED FOR BATTLE

*For reference, the WNBA is 99% vaccinated and the NFL is 93%.

Coaches’ corner

Tom Brady heads back to his old stomping grounds on Sunday when his defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) take on former head coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. Brady has played down his return, especially after his dad's comments that he thought Tom felt "vindicated," leaving the Patriots and winning a Super Bowl with the Bucs. Brady's comedic response to his dad's comments included how his dad should know better at this point in his life, and Tom Jr. reserves the right to put him in a home against his will. DAD JOKES FOR DAY

What to watch
Things are getting exciting as we head into the last weekend of the MLB (Major League Baseball) regular season. There are four teams within one game of the American League Wild Card playoff spot - the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays. BATTER UP

The Rundown: 5 Things To Know About Life As An NBA Referee

The NBA playoffs are in full swing and since we’ve been yelling at them from our couch, it has us thinking…what do these refs actually do in their day job besides cause coaches and fans a lot of frustration?

We’ve seen better eyes on a potato,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Five Things To Know About Life As An NBA Referee

1. While you’re going to have to work your way up through the system, the 64 NBA (National Basketball Association) referees on payroll make anywhere between $150,000-$550,000, depending on experience. They receive bonuses for officiating playoff games at the tune of $4,500 - $24,000, depending on the importance of the game (i.e. you make more money working the finals).
2. Remember Billy Crystal traveling the nation as an NBA referee in the movie Forget Paris? It wasn’t his best flick but like his character, referees travel every two days, working 25 days a month. That equates to calling 65-70 games in an 82 game season, not including playoffs.
3. Imagine being called out by your boss every time you present in a meeting. That’s what happens to the referees in the NBA’s two minute reports. The report critiques the referees’ calls within the last two minutes of the game and overtime. 
4. It's not all mental. They have to be physically fit too because they’re running up and down the court for the entire 48 minutes alongside the players. Referees work on their fitness regimen in the off-season like any athlete would.  
5. Instant replay is a big part of the game. The referees have a centralized replay command center in Secaucus, NJ that provides them with assistance in tough situations. They’re efficient even from afar, averaging a result in a quick 42.1 seconds.

Overtime

• Former MLB player (Major League Baseball) player and boyfriend of Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, is joining the panel on Shark Tank. The head of A-ROD CORP is the all-time leader in career earnings in baseball history at $399 million.

Sideline stat

• There were a whole “lotto” surprises at yesterday’s NBA Draft lottery. Usually the worst teams get the first pick in the NBA Draft but thanks to a massive trade with the New Jersey Nets, the Boston Celtics (who finished with the best record in their conference and are in the playoffs) will receive the #1 pick in the upcoming draft.  Here’s more on the lottery.

Coaches’ Corner

• Nico Marley, grandson of music legend Bob Marley, signed with the Washington Redskins (NFL – National Football League). Hopefully the underdog can sing a “Redemption Song” and make the final roster.