Better Days
Armed robbery ≠ social distancing, there are actual live sports this weekend and how the Jordan documentary almost didn’t make the cut.
The weekend is upon us.
Good to see you old friend,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
NASCAR returns this weekend with the “Real Heroes 400." Through a collaboration with NASCAR, FOX Sports and the teams, each driver’s name will be replaced on the car with the name of an individual healthcare worker who is currently battling COVID. Another fighter hitting the track is Ryan Newman, who was involved in a horrific, fiery crash in February at the Daytona 500. NASCAR has a full dance card this month as this is the first race of five taking place in the month of May. ROAD WARRIORS
Overtime
New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar (NFL - National Football League) were clearly not social distancing since they’re wanted in connection to an armed robbery investigation. They were at a party and allegedly decided to rob the patrons at gunpoint. BUT THEY WERE WEARING A MASK…
Sideline stat
Golf will resume this weekend with PGA (Professional Golfers Association) golfers Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson teeing off against their colleagues Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff. The goal of the match is to raise money for COVID relief with team McIlroy/Johnson playing for the American Nurses Foundation and team Fowler/Wolff, the CDC Foundation. The winning team will have a chance to earn anywhere from $50,000-$500,000 per hole for all 18 holes. GOLF FOR GOOD
Coaches’ corner
Bundesliga is back. (Say that fives times fast). Yes, the German soccer league that Americans fell in love with this spring is back in action this weekend. While we’ll lose the passion and the massive signs the fans bring, Bundesliga games are known for being exciting. They regularly lead Europe in average goals per game. More goals = more excitement. The top teams to watch are Bayern Munich (best described as the German Yankees) and Borussia Dortmund. Here are some more interesting facts about the league and the schedule. A SPORTS SUBSTITUTION
WHAT TO WATCH
Don’t be sad that it’s over, smile because it happened. That’s what the world will be telling itself when the Michael Jordan documentary “Last Dance” comes to an end this Sunday. The documentary was rolled out early due to COVID and the director didn’t finish editing Sunday’s episodes until last week. SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT
Go Forth And Conquer
Unlike a good Cyber Monday deal, there are no statistics and jargon in here. We’re simply covering today’s sports in a conversational way so you can conquer the world.
Unlike a good Cyber Monday deal, there are no statistics and jargon in here. We’re simply covering today’s sports in a conversational way so you can conquer the world.
Easy as pie,
The Last Night’s Game
PS – Surprise your sports fan with a gift from Last Night’s Game. Check out our gift worthy goods and use code CYBERMONDAY to save big. Hurry because the deals are good for today only. SHOP
NFL (National Football League)
Not a chance. Break out the participation trophies because after yesterday’s games, the dreams of making the playoffs died for the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants. At this point the Browns would probably be happy with winning one game this season, something they still haven’t done yet.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner. The winner of this weekend’s celebration dance goes to (drumroll please), the best team in the NFL - the Philadelphia Eagles. Even the players on the sideline took a break from playing tic-tac-toe to get in on this Electric Slide action.
Overtime
After making their official debut during the 2017 Invictus Games, Prince Harry and his actress girlfriend Meghan Markle announced they are engaged. The Invictus Games are the mastermind of Prince Harry and honor wounded soldiers as they compete in athletic, Olympic-style events. More on the engagement.
Sideline stat
There were big upsets in college football this weekend including number one ranked Alabama losing to Auburn (#6). The Tiger fans were so excited they rushed the field to celebrate. Someone is always the party pooper and the school was fined $250,000 for allowing “access to competition area.” We’d say that’s money well spent. Don’t worry, the fans still carried on the tradition of toilet papering the trees on campus too.
Coaches’ corner
Things got weird in the recent college basketball game between Alabama (#25) vs. Minnesota (#14). The entire Alabama team, minus five players, were ejected from the game for their role in a bench clearing brawl. Then two of those players weren’t able to play, so Alabama finished the game with three players against Minnesota’s five (the number of players on the court according to the rule book) and they almost won.
The Rundown: 5 Things to Know About Championship Celebrations at The White House
Earlier this week the World Champion Chicago Cubs brought their victory parade to the White House. President Obama took a break from his packing duties to show the team around. It’s tradition for the nation’s champions to be celebrated at the White House but why?
Curious like a cat,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Five Things to Know About Championship Celebrations at The White House
- The tradition of sports teams visiting the White House began in 1865 but it wasn’t until 1924 that the World Series Champion Washington Senators (baseball) were celebrated by President Calvin Coolidge. Although the NBA (National Basketball Association) champs didn’t make their first visit until 1963, NFL (National Football League) in 1980 and NHL (National Hockey League) 1991.
- Since you never show up to a party empty handed, teams typically bring along their winning trophy and a gift for the president, usually a team jersey. Not sure he has enough wall space for all of those.
- It’s not all pomp and circumstance. When the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) visited the White House, the team and the president packed over 3,000 care packages for troops serving overseas. During their time in the capital, the San Antonio Spurs (NBA) visited wounded veterans and the U.S.A. Women’s Soccer Team put on a youth soccer clinic.
- It’s not always warm and fuzzy as some players boycott the visit and use it as an opportunity to speak out against the president’s policies or the government. Others simply can’t make it. President George W. Bush said "I guess his grandmother died again" about the absence of Boston Red Sox (MLB) player Manny Ramirez.
- When the New York Giants (NFL) visited in 1987, the team dumped a cooler full of popcorn on President Reagan to honor the traditional merriment of pouring Gatorade on the head coach to celebrate a victory.
- Extra credit: It’s not only the professional athletes who visit, college champions and Olympic athletes have graced the Rose Garden with their presence.
Overtime
- Pittsburgh Steelers’ (NFL) Antonio Brown violated the sacred space of the locker room after the team’s big playoff win this weekend. Brown streamed postgame locker room talk of head coach Mike Tomlin making not so nice comments about the Patriots, their next opponent.
Sideline stat
- When Brown took to Facebook, he violated the NFL’s social media policy. The policy prohibits social media activity 90 minutes before kickoff as well as after game through the postgame press conferences. Brown is certainly going to be fined by the league for that one.
Coaches’ corner
- College football is a year-round grind and that became apparent when three players on the University of Oregon Ducks football team were hospitalized after an off-season workout. The Ducks’ strength and conditioning coach has been suspended. Phew and we thought working out with Jane Fonda was tough.