It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere

Spice up the sports-related small talk before the sun goes down.

Make it a double,

The Last Night's Game Team 

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NBA (National Basketball Association)

When you’re so good that details aren’t important. For the first pick in the NBA draft, the Phoenix Suns selected Deandre Ayton from the University of Arizona. Ayton had a big few days, first joining Jimmy Fallon and fellow draft prospects in a 90s themed skit. Not to be outdone, he was another athlete to fall victim to not reading a sponsored social media post before tweeting it. TWEET FAIL

When you have a fashion moment you regret. The newest members of the NBA attempted to emulate fashionable veterans LeBron James and Russell Westbrook at their big debut. Not only did University of Oklahoma’s Trae Young, who was the fifth player drafted, show up in a maroon suit…with shorts (maybe he couldn’t find pants that were long enough)? but the night’s fashion included jackets lined with logos, “Black Panther” inspired Gucci and a grandma inspired suit coat. DRAFT FASHION

Overtime

TV personality and chef, Ayesha Curry, wife of Golden State Warriors (NBA) star Steph Curry, is opening a new restaurant in Houston much to the dismay of some Houstonians. Still bitter that the Warriors knocked their Houston Rockets out of the playoffs, fans took to Yelp to rip apart the restaurant before it even opened, posting over 550 reviews. SPOUSAL SUPPORT

Sideline stat

Superstar Lionel Messi couldn’t save his once favored Argentina from a World Cup loss to Croatia yesterday. Their 3-0 loss could make it hard for his team to make it out of the first round, depending on today’s Iceland vs. Nigeria game. WHAT A MESSI

On the other hand, Messi’s rival, Cristiano Ronaldo is having a stellar World Cup, setting the European record for international goals scored in his team’s win over Morocco yesterday. SCORE

Coaches’ corner

Rules were made to be broken at least for one reporter. The NBA frowns upon insiders releasing draft picks before they’re announced. An ESPN reporter found a way to get creative with the way he revealed who teams would be selecting, using phrases on Twitter like the teams have “zoned in on,” “grown comfortable with,” or “focused in on” a certain player. SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT

Making It Happen

This is no early April Fool’s prank; here’s what’s happening in sports so you can create conversation all weekend long.

Like a boss,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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MLB (Major League Baseball)

If your Thursday was a home run. By all accounts, Opening Day in baseball was a success. It started with a home run on the first pitch of the season and ended with a visit from Jennifer Lopez in the broadcast booth, where her former baseball player boyfriend, Alex Rodriguez, was broadcasting the Los Angeles Dodgers – San Francisco Giants game.

College Basketball 

If your mama taught you to respect your elders. The final four is Saturday night and it features Villanova (#1) vs. Kansas (#1) and Loyola Chicago (#11) vs. Michigan (#3). The teams may have met their match but so has Sister Jean. The 98-year-old nun and chaplain for Loyola has been challenged by Michigan’s “Fab Five” legend and former NBA (National Basketball Association) player Jalen Rose’s grandma. The 100-year-old Grandma Rose loves her some Michigan basketball and told Sister that “it’s been fun but Loyola’s time is up.” A little shade thrown from her elders.  

Overtime

The Los Angeles Rams (NFL – National Football League) have made a lot of noise in the offseason with on-field acquisitions but this one made history. The Rams hosted cheerleading tryouts this week and their new squad will feature the first two male cheerleaders ever in the NFL. You’ll see Quinton and Napoleon, both professional dancers, on the sideline this the fall. (Other teams have stuntmen, but not actual male cheerleaders/dancers).

Sideline stat

The NCAA (governing body of college sports) allocates $3,000 - $4,000 for players’ families to attend the final four and the national championship game. The money is for travel costs, hotel rooms and meals. The funds allow Kansas player Udoka Azubuike’s mom to see her son play for the first time. Her visa was approved for travel from Nigeria. Also on Kansas, Svi Mykhailiuk, whose parents travelled from the Ukraine to see him play on Saturday. MORE

Coaches’ corner

Zeke Upshaw of the Detroit Pistons G League developmental league collapsed on the court on Saturday and later died. Last night, the Detroit Pistons honored Upshaw posthumously with an honorary call-up. Being called up means he’ll officially be memorialized in the record books as a player for the Detroit Pistons.

What to watch

March Madness continues tonight with the final four in the women’s bracket.  Unlike the men’s bracket, all final four teams started off the tournament ranked #1 in their division – UConn, Notre Dame, Louisville and Mississippi State.  

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