Better Than Advertised
Remembering 9/11, how much would you pay for a ‘sure’ win and the brilliant and strategic reason the Saints-Packers game is being played in Florida.
The NFL season kicked off last night with an Ed Sheeran concert. Oh, and a football game. Sheeran's NFL merch may not have lived up to expectations but the game exceeded them. Here’s to hoping your weekend does the same.
Thinking out loud,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Remembering 9/11
Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. In the weeks following 9/11, it seemed like sports was the sense of normalcy so many craved. This weekend, teams across the country will be honoring those who were lost. The NFL (National Football League), MLB (Major League Baseball) and numerous college football teams have added pregame tributes, with some wearing special uniforms.
Select NFL teams are partnering with Tuesday’s Children, an organization that aids “families who have suffered losses due to the events of 9/11, post-9/11 military service or other acts of mass violence and terrorism,” to host and recognize a family during their home game. WE WILL NEVER FORGET
Overtime
The New Orleans Saints (NFL) were forced to move their home opener against the Green Bay Packers due to Hurricane Ida, but how they finally landed on the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium as their home away from home is interesting. First, Aaron Rodgers’ (Packers QB) numbers show he struggles when playing in Florida. Florida also gave the Saints the humidity advantage as their players are used to it. Then out of the three available stadiums in Florida - Miami, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville - they picked the one that would be the most expensive for Packers fans to travel to, so they might still have home field advantage. BRILLIANT
Sideline stat
LSU (Lousiana State) is looking to bounce back after their first game that ended in a disappointing loss. But they’ll have to do it against a familiar foe - the son of LSU head coach Ed Orgeron. Orgeron’s son is the quarterback for LSU’s Saturday opponent, McNeese State. The mismatched game will likely be a blowout, but it’s common practice for college teams to pay opponents from smaller schools for an easy win. In fact, LSU is paying McNeese $600,000 to play them this weekend. NO SUCH THING AS BAD PR
Coaches’ corner
The final Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season, the US Open, comes to a close on Sunday. We know that the youth movement of Leylah Fernandez, 19, and Emma Raducanu, 18, will play on Saturday in the all-teenage women’s singles finals. The men’s final will be determined later today, but we may be witnessing history if Novak Djokovic wins in the semifinals today. If he makes it to the finals and wins on Sunday, he will be the first tennis player since Steffi Graff in 1988 to win all four majors in a calendar year. FINISH STRONG
One Thing Right
An injury that’ll have you saying WTF, why the tennis season may be on hold and the cutest starting lineup around?
The first full work week of the new year also means the first official happy hour of the new year.
Always a silver lining,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
Wild card weekend lived up to its hype, with two overtime games. The biggest news of the weekend is that the New England Patriots lost to the Tennessee Titans, missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Speculation is swirling around Tom Brady’s next move, but nothing has been announced. The Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks also won and will be moving onto the next round this weekend. SAYONARA DYNASTY
Overtime
New York Mets (MLB – Major League Baseball) often injured star player Yoenis Cespedes missed last season with an ankle injury sustained from a fall on his ranch. This weekend it was reported that the ankle injury was due to a wild boar incident at his ranch. The boar either startled him or charged him, causing him to step into a hole and hurt his ankle. TRY STEPPING IN A SIDEWALK CRACK IN STILETTOS
Sideline stat
The tennis season kicks off in Melbourne on January 19 at the Australian Open but the start of the season could be impacted by the wildfires. Organizers are considering delaying the tournament if the conditions continue to deteriorate around Melbourne. Big name tennis players, athletes and celebrities of all nationalities have stepped up to donate to help the victims of the devastating Australia wildfires. RALLY FOR RELIEF
Coaches’ corner
Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner and that means it’s also time for the Puppy Bowl. The cutest lineup of adoptable shelter pups has been released. Team Ruff and Team Fluff will battle it out with the goal of getting every dog on the field adopted. Not into dogs? Don’t worry, the two teams will be cheered on by hamsters, pygmy goats, armadillos and kittens. ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Here We Go Again
It’s Monday - let’s do this.
It’s Monday - let’s do this.
Go forth with your newfound sports know how,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
When your girl has game. Forget the guys who are paid to take the pitching mound at a game, Sister Mary Jo showed them how it’s done. The nun showed off her impressive ball skills before throwing out a perfect first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game. SERIOUSLY, YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS.
Overtime
A feel-good moment in soccer this weekend. Normally only hooligans throw things on the field during a match but fans of Dutch soccer team Excelsior threw hundreds of stuffed animals onto the field for a good cause. The stuffed critters were collected and donated to the local children’s hospital. COMING IN HOT
Sideline stat
After dominating at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, American gold medal gymnast Simone Biles took nearly two years off from the sport. She certainly didn’t show any signs of rust as she swept the U.S. Gymnastics Championships this weekend. The 21-year-old became the only woman to ever win five national all-around titles. With her win, she also became the oldest women's all-around champion in more than 40 years. RESPECT YOUR ELDERS
Coaches’ corner
We’re not sure who had more fun at the Little League World Series – the little leaguers or the big leaguers from the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets who were in town to play in the MLB Little League Classic. No matter their age, they were all kids at heart collecting autographs, souvenirs and of course selfies, especially with “Big Al,” the little leaguer who, in the promo video, introduced himself as “Big Al who likes to hit dingers.” THAT’S MORE THAN WE CAN DO