Rolling In The Dough
Whether you're going out or staying in, here’s how you can carry on the conversation this weekend.
Whether you're going out or staying in, here’s how you can carry on the conversation this weekend.
Piece of cake,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS - This week's Tailgate Treat is an easy pizza with all things good and cheesy for your game day excitement. (Or breakfast the next morning. We’re not judging).
MLB (Major League Baseball)
ICYMI. The Houston Astros made their city proud, winning the World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their win was 56 years in the making.
College Football
What to wear. Arizona State University will be donning their best on Saturday night. They’ll sport special 'Brotherhood' uniforms to honor the U.S. Military and the late Pat Tillman, a former ASU football player who was killed in combat.
Okie scuffle. ESPN College GameDay heads to Stillwater, OK for ‘Bedlam,’ a rivalry game that divides households. Oklahoma (#8) will take on Oklahoma State (#11) and the game will feature two of the best quarterbacks in the nation. FULL SCHEDULE
Overtime
Wedding bells are ringing in the Houston Astros locker room. Shortstop Carlos Correa proposed to his former beauty queen girlfriend on the field after their World Series win. Not to be outdone, pitcher Justin Verlander will wed model Kate Upton this weekend in Italy. He’s skipping the championship parade for the wedding. In his defense, he was playing with the Detroit Tigers, who weren’t World Series bound, when they planned their nuptials.
Sideline stat
Major NFL (National Football League) sponsor Papa John’s has blamed declining sales on the player protests, saying the lack of NFL leadership has hurt their shareholders. Their pizza making competition disputes those claims saying their sales are up. Even DiGiorno Pizza jumped in on the action with this catty tweet. Let the cheese wars begin.
Coaches’ corner
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was on a historic pace for a rookie. You may remember earlier in the season when Watson donated his first NFL paycheck to three stadium employees whose lives were devastated by Hurricane Harvey. Unfortunately his first season on the field is over as he tore his ACL yesterday in practice. NFL SCHEDULE
5 Things To Know About The Scandal That Rocked College Basketball
As if sports didn’t have enough excitement already this week with the anthem protests, yesterday news broke of an FBI (yes that FBI) investigation into a bribery scandal amongst big-time college basketball programs. Like a good episode of Law and Order, here’s how it all went down.
As if sports didn’t have enough excitement already this week with the anthem protests, yesterday news broke of an FBI (yes that FBI) investigation into a bribery scandal amongst big-time college basketball programs. Like a good episode of Law and Order, here’s how it all went down.
These are their stories,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Five things to know about the scandal that rocked college basketball
1. The investigation, which started in 2015, resulted in charges for assistant basketball coaches from four schools who pocked cash in exchange for pointing players toward certain financial advisors and sports agents.
2. The other party in trouble is Adidas. They’re in hot water for paying athletes when they committed to play for Adidas sponsored schools. Coincidence that last week they were named the second most popular shoe in America, passing Jordans? That’s some shady stuff.
3. Four assistant basketball coaches have been charged with violating federal statutes on bribery and wire fraud. They’re from the University of Arizona, Auburn, Oklahoma State University and USC (University of Southern California). University of Louisville may also be amongst the accused.
4. This is where it’s going hurt even more. The penalties are just beginning. Not only do those involved have to worry about the FBI charges but the NCAA smackdown on the schools could be painful. Louisville could face the NCAA death penalty as this isn’t their first violation. (See the coaches’ corner for more on this).
5. Why is the FBI involved you ask? Well because the institutions are receiving federal funds and this violates the federal statues on bribery and wire fraud (amongst other charges). Besides they have investigation resources the NCAA doesn’t have like wiretapping, subpoenas and threats of prison time. Yowza.
Keep the converstion going.
There's more to sports than scandals. Here's what else is happening in the world of sports including who's having a baby, who danced with MC Hammer and what is the death penalty? Read on.
The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up - Monday Magic
The first Sunday of NFL football lived up to expectations. Unless you were ESPN and then your Sunday was a hot mess.
Exit stage left,
The Last Night’s Game
College football
- Wait what? In one of the most bizarre endings in recent history, Central Michigan Chippewas defeated heavily favored Oklahoma State Cowboys with a Hail Mary on the last play of the game. Although the play should have never happened as the Cowboys committed a penalty on the previous play and the game should have been over. The referees erroneously gave the ball to Central Michigan and they took advantage.
- Call in the HR team. The referees who worked the Oklahoma State – Central Michigan game have all been suspended for two games for their giant error and will be unable to work any bowl games.
- Holy people. In front of record breaking college crowd of 156,000, Tennessee Volunteers topped Virginia Tech Hokies. The game was held in the infield of the Bristol Motor Speedway.
NFL (National Football League)
- Man down. The ESPN Fantasy Football app crashed yesterday only an hour into the first Sunday of NFL. Fans were not happy but their reactions on Twitter provided some levity to the situation. The cause of the crash is unknown but Putin and Tom Brady are still suspects. (Okay not really).
- Go for two. In a thrilling back and forth game in New Orleans, Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw the longest touchdown pass in Saints history – 98 yards. With seconds to go in the game the Raiders scored a touchdown to pull within one point. Instead of kicking the extra point to tie and go into overtime, Raiders went all in with a two-point conversion attempt for the win. They did just that. Winner winner chicken dinner for the Raiders.
Tennis
- On top of the world. Angelique Kerber won her first U.S. Open, which makes her the new #1 ranked player in the world since Serena Williams lost earlier in the tournament.
- Oldie but goodie. Stan Wawrinka upset Novak Djokovic (#1) in the men’s final of the U.S. Open, becoming the oldest person (31) to win since 1970.
Overtime
- Put on your dancing shoes. Dancing with the Stars begins tonight on ABC with Laurie Hernandez (Team U.S.A. gymnast), James Hinchcliffe (IndyCar driver), Calvin Johnson (retired NFL player) and Ryan Lochte (Team U.S.A. swimmer) all competing to win.
In other entertainment news, Olympic gymnasts Aly Raisman and Simone Biles teamed up with Olivia Munn (Packers QB Aaron Rodgers' girlfriend) on Lip Sync Battle Live. It was a fierce battle between a group of celebrity competitors but in the end Michael Phelps won with his rendition of "Lose Yourself" by Eminem.
Sideline stat
- In a game that resembled a basketball score, Arizona State University beat Texas Tech 68-55. ASU running back Kalen Ballage scored eight touchdowns, tying an NCAA record.
Coaches’ Corner
- What is a Hail Mary pass? It’s not the same as your favorite breakfast cocktail, a bloody mary. A Hail Mary is a long forward pass in football, used when there’s really no other option and time is running out to pull off a win. See a video here.