Born This Way
The noteworthy from the first weekend of baseball, we have our first COVID-era champions and how the NFL is trying to keep COVID free.
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The Last Night's Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
Opening weekend of the MLB season brought us decapitated cardboard cutouts, an awkward but socially distanced fight between a head coach and an umpire and sad photos of mascots watching baseball in an empty stadium. MLB is not playing its season in a "bubble" and that might be coming back to bite them. The Miami Marlins postponed today’s game after 14 players and staff tested positive for COVID while they were in Philadelphia for an away game. NO FLY ZONE
Overtime
Lou Williamson of the Los Angeles Clippers (NBA - National Basketball Association) is on a mandatory 10-day quarantine after violating the league's COVID rules. He said he stopped to pick up some food but was actually photographed inside a gentlemen's club. (This particular club named its chicken wings after Williamson, so you can make your own conclusions on whether or not he's been there before). Visits like this are clearly a big COVID no-no, so now he'll miss the start of the season. COME ON MAN
Sideline stat
Congratulations to the Houston Dash on their NWSL (National Women's Soccer League) Championship win yesterday. They are the first team sport champions of the COVID era. The team and their MVP and captain Rachel Daly celebrated by double fisting Budweiser in the locker room. BOTTOMS UP
Coaches’ corner
We're slowly learning the rules surrounding the NFL (National Football League) season as it relates to COVID protocol. Players will not be in a bubble like so many other leagues that are in play. If a player contracts COVID from a deemed high-risk event, they'll face a fine and possibly loss of play time. Events include indoor house parties, indoor bars and indoor nightclubs with 15 or more people. PARTY POOPER
Better Days
Armed robbery ≠ social distancing, there are actual live sports this weekend and how the Jordan documentary almost didn’t make the cut.
The weekend is upon us.
Good to see you old friend,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
NASCAR returns this weekend with the “Real Heroes 400." Through a collaboration with NASCAR, FOX Sports and the teams, each driver’s name will be replaced on the car with the name of an individual healthcare worker who is currently battling COVID. Another fighter hitting the track is Ryan Newman, who was involved in a horrific, fiery crash in February at the Daytona 500. NASCAR has a full dance card this month as this is the first race of five taking place in the month of May. ROAD WARRIORS
Overtime
New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar (NFL - National Football League) were clearly not social distancing since they’re wanted in connection to an armed robbery investigation. They were at a party and allegedly decided to rob the patrons at gunpoint. BUT THEY WERE WEARING A MASK…
Sideline stat
Golf will resume this weekend with PGA (Professional Golfers Association) golfers Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson teeing off against their colleagues Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff. The goal of the match is to raise money for COVID relief with team McIlroy/Johnson playing for the American Nurses Foundation and team Fowler/Wolff, the CDC Foundation. The winning team will have a chance to earn anywhere from $50,000-$500,000 per hole for all 18 holes. GOLF FOR GOOD
Coaches’ corner
Bundesliga is back. (Say that fives times fast). Yes, the German soccer league that Americans fell in love with this spring is back in action this weekend. While we’ll lose the passion and the massive signs the fans bring, Bundesliga games are known for being exciting. They regularly lead Europe in average goals per game. More goals = more excitement. The top teams to watch are Bayern Munich (best described as the German Yankees) and Borussia Dortmund. Here are some more interesting facts about the league and the schedule. A SPORTS SUBSTITUTION
WHAT TO WATCH
Don’t be sad that it’s over, smile because it happened. That’s what the world will be telling itself when the Michael Jordan documentary “Last Dance” comes to an end this Sunday. The documentary was rolled out early due to COVID and the director didn’t finish editing Sunday’s episodes until last week. SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT