All Aboard
Brady’s big night, the cheerleader who splashed across the headlines and breaking down the NWSL scandal.
October is one of the sportiest months of the year, with action in every major professional sports league, college football, and the list goes on. You won’t be able to avoid it, so you might as well embrace it.
In it to win it,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
In a recent WSJ article, Tom Brady said, “You think people care what you think, and then you care less what people think, and then you realize no one cared, anyway.” He took that mantra of not caring to heart and went out secured a win against his former team, the New England Patriots, but he claimed a prominent spot in NFL history. Brady surpassed Drew Brees’ record to claim the title of the NFL’s all-time leading passer. JUST YOUR AVERAGE SUNDAY
Overtime
Hands down, the most impressive performance of the weekend was this Purdue cheerleader doing a belly flop into a giant puddle of mud on the sideline. Her Boilermakers lost to Minnesota along with four top 25 teams, including powerhouse Clemson. Clemson, which is out of the top 25 for the first time in seven years. ALL IN
Sideline stat
If you thought baseball was boring, here’s your chance to rethink that. The MLB (Major League Baseball) wild card games are Tuesday and Wednesday, and it’s a winner take all battle. The best rivalry in baseball will be renewed when the New York Yankees take on the Boston Red Sox for the American League Wild Card playoff spot. The St. Louis Cardinals, which have won 17 games straight to make it here, will play the defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers to claim the wild card spot in the National League. IT’S GOING TO BE GOOD
Coaches’ corner
The NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) continues its triage after news broke last week of its sexual coercion scandal. The scandal resulted in the firing of a longtime coach and the resignation of its commissioner on Friday. The board of governors formed an executive committee to manage the oversight of the league’s front office operations and begin a global search for a permanent commissioner. Since there are many moving pieces to this one, we broke down the scandal in a quick read here. TURNING A BLIND EYE NO MORE
One Giant Leap For Mankind
Making history even before coffee with who’s leaving the U.S. for good, what astronauts have to do with football and a new champion is crowned.
Jumping into the weekend and making history at the same time.
Yaaas!
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – A huge congratulations to the Washington Mystics on their first WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) championship title.
Soccer
For the first time in 40 years, and after pressure from world governing body FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and women's rights campaigners, women were allowed to attend a men’s soccer match in Iran. Tickets sold out in minutes for the FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Cambodia. The home team won 14-0. EVERYONE WINS
Overtime
Halloween will come a bit early for the Purdue University football team. This weekend they’ll be wearing all white uniforms that mimic an astronaut suit as part of their moon-themed uniforms. Why you ask? It’s because Purdue has produced the most astronauts out of any school not affiliated with the U. S. Military. TO INFINITY AND BEYOND
Sideline stat
Former U.S. Open Champion and #3 ranked tennis player in the world, Naomi Osaka, is giving up her U.S. citizenship to play tennis for Japan in next year’s Olympics. The two-time Grand Slam champion’s mother is from Japan and father is from Haiti. SAYANORA ‘MERICA
Coaches’ corner
Set your alarm clock because early Sunday morning the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers play in London. This is the second NFL (National Football League) game in two weeks in England, which is all part of the league’s efforts to build an international fan base. The Brits will get a look at early MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey (Panthers running back). BUT WILL BABY ARCHIE BE IN ATTENDANCE?
What to watch
There are some big college football matchups this weekend but one rivalry that spans generations is the showdown between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners. In its 115th year, the “Red River Rivalry” takes place on neutral territory at the Texas State Fair and will feature a battle between two of the best quarterbacks in the game – Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma) and Sam Ehlinger (Texas). TELL ME MORE
Friday For The Win!
While you may not be a sports fan, you’re probably a fan of a great conversation. Here’s what everyone will be talking about this weekend.
While you may not be a sports fan, you’re probably a fan of a great conversation. Here’s what everyone will be talking about this weekend.
It’s Fri-YAY!
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS - Today's tailgate treat will warm your bellies with fall around the corner. Mac and cheese bites baby!
NFL (National Football League)
United front. Look for the anthem protests to continue to be a hot topic this weekend in the NFL. In the past week, we’ve seen anthem singers quit, owners speak out and last night in Green Bay, we saw Packers fans join in at the encouragement of the team.
College Basketball
Heads will roll. The fallout from the FBI investigation into the college basketball bribery scandal is just beginning with University of Louisville’s head coach and athletic director as the first victims to lose their jobs. (Here’s a quick summary on the scandal).
MLB (Major League Baseball)
You’ve made it. It’s the last weekend of the regular season for baseball. While many of the spots in the playoffs have been clinched, there are still a few open. The big teams to watch this weekend are the Milwaukee Brewers and the Colorado Rockies as they vie for a spot in the post season that starts next week.
Overtime
The third annual Invictus Games also wrap up this weekend. The stories and success of 550 injured service men and women turned athletes overshadowed the debut of the Games' founder Prince Harry and his girlfriend Meghan Markle. If you need some morning inspiration, read this story about a newly minted indoor rowing silver medalist who is a triple amputee.
Sideline stat
The PGA (Professional Golfers Association) season may be over but there’s one more chance to prove who’s the best. The top golfers in the world have assembled into two teams – Team U.S. and International (featuring players from everywhere but Europe) – in the Presidents Cup. Former presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama were all part of the opening ceremonies yesterday.
Coaches’ corner
No one is going to overstay their welcome at Purdue anytime soon. University of Michigan head coach took to the media this week to complain that not only are their visitor facilities outdated but his players sat in the team bus during halftime because the locker room didn’t have air conditioning. That’s one way to tackle home-field advantage.
