5 Things You Need to Know About the Ryder Cup

One of the most competitive and contentious golf tournaments of the year is upon us: The Ryder Cup.

Grab your golf cart buddy,
The Last Night’s Game Team

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5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE RYDER CUP

1. The tournament, played every other year, puts the 12 best U.S. golfers head-to-head with the 12 best golfers in Europe. The tournament alternates between both sides of the pond. This year, the U.S. team is favored to win- even though they haven’t won a Ryder Cup on European soil since 1993. BUT WE HAVE TIGER

2. For the first time, the matchup will take place in Paris in front of an audience of 50,000 spectators. In an effort to keep everyone safe, the tournament will be protected by an elite “ring of steel,” which includes elite counter-terrorism special forces and infrared missiles. NOT MESSING AROUND

3. Ryder Cup participants are not paid any prize money. It’s all about the bragging rights. This leads to fierce patriotism amongst both players and fans, who have been known to push their heckling a little too far. (It probably doesn’t help that they start selling beer at 7:00 am). TOO MUCH TRASH TALK

4. American and European celebrities also play in their own Ryder Cup. This year’s U.S. team, featuring actor Samuel L. Jackson, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, creamed the Europeans. A GOOD OMEN FOR THE REAL DEAL?

5. You may notice the players wearing yellow ribbons this weekend. That’s to honor Iowa State player Celia Barquin-Arozamena, the golfer from Spain who was tragically murdered while practicing alone earlier this month. CELEBRATING A CHAMPION

MORE. MORE. MORE.

Two female sportscasters are making history. Plus a new hockey mascot is stirring up the internet. READ MORE

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.

Fired up,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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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

For All The Marbles

After last night's momentous Golden Globe Awards, we're headed toward another exciting evening tonight. The College Football National Championship Game is this evening featuring Alabama vs. Georgia with Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar at halftime. Let’s talk about that and a few other things so you can complete the watercooler talk.

So...how was your weekend,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - Tune into our Instagram to catch the recap of our morning TV appearance about tonight's big football game. We're empowering the sports curious. 

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College football 

If you agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Nick Saban, head coach of Alabama Crimson Tide, agrees with you. He starts his day with two Little Debbie oatmeal cookies. There’s oatmeal in them so that counts right?

Don’t forget to check out our Five Things To Know About The National Championship Game here so you’re in the know for tonight’s game.

 

Sideline stat

After being the voice of Monday Night Football, former NFL (National Football League) coach Jon Gruden is heading back to the sidelines and he’s getting paid handsomely to make the move. He’s been off the field for nine years but the Oakland (soon to be Las Vegas) Raiders are giving him the largest contract in NFL history, $100 million for 10 years.

Overtime

Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux may have had the goal of the year. He scored a goal after the puck bounced off an opposing player’s butt. Somewhere Sir Mix-A-Lot is smiling.

Coaches’ corner

It was a wild weekend in the wild card playoff games in NFL. Tennessee Titans quarterback did something no else has done in NFL playoff history, he threw a touchdown to himself during his team’s epic comeback to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. PLAYOFF RECAP