Ryan Lochte

Most Of The Time

Why someone spent 15 hours in a Waffle House, the superwoman who is headed to the Olympics and a sweet Father’s Day victory for Jon Rahm.

The Rundown: The 5 Most Talked About Sports Moments of 2016

It wouldn’t be the end of the year without a host of lists to celebrate the year that was. We’re bringing you the most talked about sports moments of 2016. Chatting to your NYE date has never been easier.

 

Break out the bubbly,

The Last Night’s Game


The five most talked about sports moments of 2016

  1. Cubs win! The Chicago Cubs (MLB - Major League Baseball) ended their 108-year championship losing streak by coming from behind in the World Series to defeat the Cleveland Indians. Chicago went wild with an estimated five million fans attending the victory parade.
  2. Summer Olympics in Brazil. The Zika scare. Ryan Lotche’s late night antics (and maybe his hideous blue hair?) landed him in hot water. Michael Phelps retired with 28 career Olympic medals, 23 of them gold. Swimmer Katie Ledecky became the most decorated female of the Rio Olympics.  The U.S.A. women’s gymnastics team, The Final Five led by Simone Biles, dominated the competition.
  3. Championship Cavs. The Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA (National Basketball Association) championship, ending the City of Cleveland’s 52-year professional championship drought. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and their Cavs were down three games to one but managed to take home the title over the Golden State Warriors.
  4. Take a knee. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (NFL - National Football League) started taking a knee during the national anthem to demonstrate police brutality and racial oppression. No matter how you feel, the protest propelled the conversation and motivated action around the nation.
  5. Legends retire. Everyone’s favorite quarterback and five-time MVP Peyton Manning called it quits after winning the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos (his second Super Bowl victory). Although post retirement he's still starring in primetime, but in advertisements

Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers were terrible in his final season of basketball but the 18-time all-star still went out on top with five NBA Championships. He and his wife welcomed their third baby girl during his retirement. Better than 73-year-old Mick Jagger who’s still working and having babies.  

Overtime

  • Northwestern University will wear stickers on their helmets to honor Craig Sager, an alum of the school. Sager, who lost his battle with cancer on Dec. 15th, was one of the most respected sideline reporters in sports and was known for his colorful outfits.

Sideline stat

Coaches’ corner

  • The sports world lost so many sports icons this year including "The Greatest" boxer Muhammed Ali (74), sports reporter Craig Sager (65), women's basketball coach Pat Summitt (64), Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez (24) and the storied golfer and namesake of your favorite refreshment Arnold Palmer (87).

The Rundown: 5 Things to Know About the NHL

The NHL (National Hockey League) season begins today. Even if you didn’t grow up in a cold weather state where hockey is king, we’ll help you sound like you know your stuff. 

The puck stops here,

The Last Night’s Game Team

 

Ps- We’re presenting this morning at 1 Million Cups. If you’re bored at 9 am CST, you can watch it live on Facebook. 


Five things to know about the NHL (National HOckey League)

  1. This season marks the 100 anniversary of the NHL. In addition to the annual Winter Classic game, the League plans to celebrate with the Centennial Classic on New Year’s Day. The game will be played between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings in Toronto. They will play in BMO Stadium which is outdoors. In Toronto. In January. Brr.  
  2. The Detroit Red Wings have an odd tradition of throwing octopi on the ice. It started as a tradition back in 1952 but don’t try it the next time you’re in Detroit. Throwing octopi is a sure way to get thrown out of the arena.  
  3. The Zamboni is as exciting as the game for fans. A Zamboni is a tractor-like machine used during intermission to resurface the ice (i.e. make it smooth). Have you heard the Zamboni song? If not, listen here. Warning! It will be stuck in your head all day.
  4. The first hockey puck (used in the 1800s), was reportedly made of frozen cow dung. Now hockey pucks are made of rubber. They’re frozen before the games to keep them from bouncing.  
  5. The Pittsburgh Penguins are the defending Stanley Cup Champions. The Stanley Cup is the name of the trophy given to the team that wins it all.

Overview

  • There are 30 teams in the league. (A new Las Vegas team will join the league next season). Teams play an 82-game schedule (same as NBA). 
  • A game consists of three periods of 20 minutes with two intermissions.
  • Each team has six players on the ice at a time.

MLB (Major League Baseball)

  • Stunner. The Chicago Cubs clinched a spot in the next round of playoffs, beating the San Francisco Giants in a ninth inning comeback. The Cubs will play the winner of the Los Angeles Dodgers – Washington Nationals series starting Saturday.
  • For all the marbles. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Washington Nationals last night to force a win-or-go-home Game Five in Washington tomorrow. The winner will move onto the next round of the playoffs.  

NCAA Sports (College)

  • R.I.P. Today is a sad day as mascots and fans everywhere mourn the death of LSU’s mascot Mike the Tiger. The 11-year-old lost his battle with a rare cancer and was euthanized yesterday.  The University of Texas mascot Bevo and fans added flowers to a growing vigil earlier this week when it was revealed that Mike’s cancer had spread.

Overtime

  • Despite recently denying he had a girlfriend, U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte announced his engagement to Playboy model Kayla Rae Reid. No word on whether or not the two will be honeymooning in Brazil.  

Sideline stat

  • 24 years – that’s how long Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) radio announcer Jerry Howarth has not mentioned the team the Indians by name. Howarth revealed he won’t say Cleveland’s baseball team name because it’s offensive to some Native Americans. He made a promise to a fan a long time ago and has stuck to it ever since.

Coaches’ corner

  • San Francisco 49ers (NFL) coach Chip Kelly has made the decision to start quarterback Colin Kaepernick in this weekend’s game. Kaepernick has been the back up quarterback all season and has stirred up controversy by kneeling during the National Anthem.