Fueling The Fire
This weekend, athletes from numerous sports proved their haters wrong. We have exactly what you need to show the world who’s the boss.
This weekend, athletes from numerous sports proved their haters wrong. We have exactly what you need to show the world who’s the boss.
Fired up,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
When you’re twinning at the office. LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers channeled a group of high school girls and wore matching outfits on Friday. The team arrived to the game in matching grey suits on Friday and still lost. On Sunday, they figured they’d try their luck again and wore matching black suits and won. SEE IT
When they doubt you and you prove them wrong. Shocking the world, the New Orleans Pelicans swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs. Why is this surprising? All of the 22 ESPN analysts picked the Blazers to win. Don’t worry the Pelicans didn’t let anyone forget their erroneous choice. Damn straight. READ
Overtime
His team may have won the World Series last season and he may be married to one of the most beautiful women in the world, model/actress Kate Upton, but that doesn’t mean life is perfect for Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander (MLB - Major League Baseball). His team still has its haters but he turned the tables on a heckling fan by holding up a “no you suck” sign during the game. That’s right, kick ‘em where it counts. CHECK IT OUT
Sideline stat
Zero – the number of hits recorded by the red-hot Boston Red Sox in Saturday’s Oakland A’s vs. Red Sox game (MLB). A’s pitcher Sean Manaea became the newest member of the exclusive club of pitchers to throw a no hitter. The best part of the night? The food-filled postgame celebration. WATCH
Coaches’ corner
The City of Philadelphia is used to their teams winning championships after the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL – National Football League) and Villanova (college basketball) won it all. Therefore, fans weren’t all too happy when their Philadelphia Flyers were eliminated by their in-state rival Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL (National Hockey League) playoffs. They showed their distaste by throwing trash on the ice at the end of the game. Now that’s showing some brotherly love. MORE
Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal
Merry Christmas from our family to yours. We have a few conversation starters for you to gift your family with along with two big things happening in sports today in case you want to avoid your family and catch a game.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours. We have a few conversation starters for you to gift your family with along with two big things happening in sports today in case you want to avoid your family and catch a game.
A win-win,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Spreading Holiday Cheer
When the gift you really wanted wouldn’t fit under the tree. The New Orleans Pelicans (NBA – National Basketball Association) Anthony Davis helped a family in need by giving them a brand new car. Joy doesn’t begin to describe this great video. All the feels.
If you didn’t get what you wanted from Santa. Texas Rangers (MLB - Major League Baseball) pitcher Cole Hamels and his wife Heidi gave a charity exactly what they didn’t know they wanted – a new house. They donated their $9.75 million mansion to Camp Barnabas, an organization that helps individuals with special needs and chronic illnesses. They tried to sell the 32,000-square foot abode sitting on 100 acres in Branson, Missouri, but then decided to give it to charity. That’s quite the stocking stuffer.
The trump card to your family traditions. Carolina Panthers (NFL - National Football League) quarterback Cam Newton has a holiday tradition like no other. He surprises teachers, children and needy families the week before Christmas with gifts. “Santa Cam” gave out over $100,000 in cash, grocery store gift cards and blankets in the Charlotte area last week.
Overtime
It’s tradition to have NBA games on Christmas and part of that tradition included special game day uniforms. Since the Grinch (aka Nike) took over this year there aren't any so one fan took it upon himself, creating ugly sweater uniforms for each of the teams playing. No word if he has a new job running the Nike uniform department or not.
Sideline stat
Just three years after beating cancer, David Quessenberry will be playing his first ever NFL game today. Quessenberry was drafted by the Houston Texans but never played a game. Keep an eye out for his emotional Christmas debut with the Texans this afternoon. SCHEDULE
Coaches’ corner
Good news, bad news. Good news - LeBron James and Steph Curry are two of the best in the league and their teams are meeting up yet again. The Cleveland Cavilers and the Golden State Warriors played each other in the past three NBA finals and they’ll have the honor of playing today on Christmas. Bad news – Steph Curry will not play today as he injured his ankle. SCHEDULE
The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up Edition - Labor Day Love
This season's opening weekend of college football was touted as the best ever and unlike Crystal Pepsi, it lived up to the hype. Saturday gave us a mind-blowing (or mind-numbing for some) 21 hours straight of football.
We have the highlights to start your Labor Day. Now you can bring something great to the BBQ besides wine.
Expanding your minds,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NCAA Football (College)
- A game for the ages. Last night’s game between Notre Dame and Texas is already candidate for game of the year. The back and forth battle gave us all we could ask for, eventually being won in double overtime by Texas in front of 102,000 fans.
- Sportsmanship at its finest. In July, Nebraska punter Sam Foltz and Michigan State punter Mike Sadler were killed in a car accident on their way home from a kicking camp in Wisconsin. On the first punt of Saturday’s game, a very emotional Nebraska team sent out 10 of 11 players for the play. In honor of Foltz, they were missing the punter and they received a delay of game penalty. In a classy show of sportsmanship, their opponent Fresno State declined the penalty and let Nebraska punt without a penalty.
- We’re not done yet. There’s still one more game tonight where Florida State (#4) will open their season against Ole Miss (#11).
- Did your team win? Find out here.
MLB (Major League Baseball)
- Welcome back. Los Angeles Dodgers’ star pitcher Clayton Kershaw went on the disabled list with back issues in June and the teams’ season outlook was bleak. Since then, the Dodgers have overcome a huge deficit and are now leading the division by two games over the San Francisco Giants. Kershaw is set to start on Friday and Dodgers fans everywhere are doing their happy dance.
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
- Waving the flag. Martin Truex Jr. took home his first checked flag in Darlington yesterday. Before the race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. discussed his health during a press conference. Earlier his team announced that he would not return to racing this season due to his concussion-like symptoms. During the press conference Earnhardt said, “I definitely don’t belong in a race car today by any stretch of the imagination."
Tennis
- In U.S. Open news, Rafael Nadal lost in the fourth round to Lucas Pouille. For the first time since 2004, Nadal did not reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam Tournament in a calendar year.
Overtime
- Lauren Holiday, two-time gold medalist and member of the winning U.S.A. Women’s World Cup team (soccer), has been diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. She and her husband New Orleans Pelicans (basketball) guard Jrue Holiday are expecting a baby next month. He announced yesterday that he will take indefinite leave from his team to be with his family. Doctors will have to wait until six weeks after the birth of Baby Holiday to perform Lauren's surgery, which means Jrue will miss the start of the NBA season.
Sideline stat
- The two-man battle for the overall points lead between F1 (Formula One) drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg became a little more interesting on Sunday. Hamilton’s car failed to move as the race started and Rosberg took advantage and brought home the win. Hamilton battled back to finish second. Rosberg cut the points lead to two points as the teams head east for the Singapore Grand Prix.
Coaches’ Corner
- What’s a delay of game penalty? Delay of game means the offense failed to snap the ball before the play clock expired. Teams are given 40 seconds between plays to set up their guys and if they can’t get their acts together in the allotted time, they receive a five-yard penalty.