Confidence Boost
Why Team Europe is wearing cheeseheads, the US Olympic Committee is taking a stand on vaccinations, WNBA playoffs are on, and everyone is watching.
No one exudes confidence like you after reading today's weekend preview.
Look out world,
The Last Night's Game Team
WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association)
The WNBA playoffs have begun with the Phoenix Mercury and Chicago Sky winning round one of the single-elimination games. The action on the court is must-see, and the viewership numbers prove it. The regular season viewership numbers are up 49% this season over last. The Las Vegas Aces and defending champion Seattle Storm are the favorites to win it all. WATCH THEM SOAR
Overtime
The Summer Olympics just wrapped up, but that doesn't mean we can't start talking about the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Team USA announced that they will only consider vaccinated athletes for the 2022 Games. LINE IN THE SAND
Sideline stat
Typically when the City of Chicago celebrates the Irish, they dye the river green but not this weekend. The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will take on Wisconsin at Soldier Field in Chicago. It's the first time these two teams have played in 57 years, and tickets are sold out, with the average StubHub resale ticket price running at $400. ESPN College GameDay will also be broadcasting live from the stadium on Saturday morning. BE THERE OR BE SQUARE
Coaches' corner
The Ryder Cup (golf) is underway, and Team Europe is deep in enemy territory. Their players are trying to win over the fans in Wisconsin (home of the 2021 Ryder Cup) while defending their title. The fans are expected to be a game-changer for Team USA at this year's tournament. In an attempt to make new friends, the players from the European team showed up wearing cheesehead hats – the unofficial headgear of Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin fans. WORTH A SHOT
The Ryder Cup is a biennial competition between the US and Europe and could be one of the most contentious sporting events around. Check out our five things you need to know to learn a little more about why there's no prize money and who could come to blows over a golf game.
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.
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
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.
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The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up - The Streak Is Over
Was your weekend as wild as the Ryder Cup? Fans gone wild was the name of the game on the course in Minnesota. Did Team U.S.A. channel their inner Simone Biles or Michael Phelps to bring home a United States win? We have that and so much more in today’s Rundown.
But first - coffee,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Ryder Cup
- Big. Huge. Team U.S.A. defeated Team Europe for the first time since 2008 to win the Ryder Cup. The home-field advantage proved to be just that with U.S.A. fans draped in stars and stripes, taunting Team Europe like it was a high school basketball game. Team U.S.A.’s win was by the largest margin since 1981.
MLB (Major League Baseball)
- Every game counts. It took all 162 games to determine the two wild card spots in both leagues. The Toronto Blue Jays will host Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday in a one-game playoff for a spot in the postseason. The New York Mets will host the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday in the playoff game for the National League spot. If you've ever wanted to watch exciting baseball, these games are some of the best you’ll see with so much on the line.
- It’s time. See the post season schedule here. Stay tuned for Wednesday's five things to know about the MLB playoffs which are guaranteed to make you sports savvy.
NCAA Football (College)
- As good as advertised. Clemson (#3) vs Louisville (#5) had the potential to be one of the best games of the season and it lived up to the hype. The energy of the fans helped propel Clemson to a halftime lead, but Louisville took the lead over in the fourth quarter. Then Clemson scored the game winning touchdown with seconds left in the game. How’d Heisman front-runner, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson play? Click here.
- Did your team win? See here.
NFL (National Football League)
- Can’t hold us. Coming into the weekend there were five undefeated teams in the NFL. Two teams no longer hold that title with Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots both suffering their first loss. The Minnesota Vikings play tonight and they’ll try to hold off New York Giants to remain undefeated.
- Was your team victorious? Check here.
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
- It’s mine…all mine! Going into the final race with the field of 16 in the Chase for the Cup (elimination-style NASCAR playoffs), Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick were the only drivers guaranteed to advance due to previous wins. Truex Jr. was showing off on Sunday when he won again. The field now shrinks to 12 drivers for the next race. Check here to see if your favorite driver made the cut.
F1 Racing (Formula One)
- Can I get you something to drink? Red Bull’s Daniel Riccardo won the Malaysian Grand Prix - his first win since 2014. Riccardo celebrated by drinking champagne out of his shoe after he had been wearing it for a few hours in the hot and humid Malaysian climate. Ew. We could think of better ways to celebrate.
Overtime
- Arguably the best Boston Red Sox player to ever wear the jersey, David Ortiz played in his last regular season game at Fenway Park on Sunday. The Red Sox pulled out all the stops - naming a street and a bridge after him and they will retire his number next season. Ortiz had such a big impact on baseball that Saturday Night Live spoofed him on “Weekend Update.”
Sideline stat
- Pittsburgh Steelers’ (NFL) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had as many touchdowns as incomplete passes (five) in last night’s blowout of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Coaches’ corner
- What does it mean to retire a number in sports? Unlike the mourning period you go through when retiring a cell phone number, this is a positive thing. When a team retires a player’s number, such as Ortiz’s #34, no member of the team (in his case the Red Sox) will ever be able to wear that number again. Teams do this to honor the outstanding career of that player.