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Ready For The Weekend

Congratulations! You made it. Relax because now you can join the sports conversation all weekend long.

The Rundown: Papa Don't Preach

So long July, welcome August!

 

Time flies when you're having fun,

The Last Night's Game Team

MLB (Major League Baseball)

  • Dad you’re embarrassing me. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie may want to think twice the next time he goes to a baseball game. A few weeks after he was booed for catching a foul ball, Christie was caught on camera berating a fan at a Chicago Cubs – Milwaukee Brewers game. Good news. Even though he was angry, he didn’t spill his nachos. Bad news. His son works in the Brewers baseball operations department. Off to family therapy. 

Soccer

  • You go girls. In a huge win, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team came from behind in the last few minutes to beat Brazil in the Tournament of Nations. Next up? They'll face Japan in the final game on Thursday.

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

  • Redemption. Fighter Jon Jones returned from a year suspension to reclaim his championship belt on Saturday night at UFC 214. He won with a knockout of opponent Daniel Cormier. It’s the first-time Cormier has ever been knocked out.

Overtime

  • Meet 15-year-old Moziah Bridges, CEO of Mo’s Bows. Like many of us may have done as a kid, he started a business. His side hustle surpassed our lemonade stand when it was featured on Shark Tank. Bridges just inked a seven-figure deal to make bow ties for each of the NBA (National Basketball Association) teams. Check them out.

Sideline stat

  • Texas Rangers’ Adrian Beltre joined the 3,000-hit club on Sunday. He is only the 31st player in baseball and the first Dominican born player in history to reach this milestone. How did his fans celebrate his accomplishment? The Fort Worth Zoo named a baby giraffe after him.

Coaches’ corner

  • The insufferable papa LaVar Ball is once again in center of controversy. (Ball's son Lonzo plays for the Los Angeles Lakers). As a coach in a basketball tournament this weekend, he asked to have a female referee removed from a game after he was unhappy with her call. After Ball’s use of derogatory and sexist language, the officiating group gave the tournament a big middle finger and ended their relationship with the tournament organizer, Adidas. Enough already.

The Rundown: 5 Things To Know About Life As An NBA Referee

The NBA playoffs are in full swing and since we’ve been yelling at them from our couch, it has us thinking…what do these refs actually do in their day job besides cause coaches and fans a lot of frustration?

 

We’ve seen better eyes on a potato,

The Last Night’s Game Team

Five Things To Know About Life As An NBA Referee

  1. While you’re going to have to work your way up through the system, the 64 NBA (National Basketball Association) referees on payroll make anywhere between $150,000-$550,000, depending on experience. They receive bonuses for officiating playoff games at the tune of $4,500 - $24,000, depending on the importance of the game (i.e. you make more money working the finals).
  2. Remember Billy Crystal traveling the nation as an NBA referee in the movie Forget Paris? It wasn’t his best flick but like his character, referees travel every two days, working 25 days a month. That equates to calling 65-70 games in an 82 game season, not including playoffs.
  3. Imagine being called out by your boss every time you present in a meeting. That’s what happens to the referees in the NBA’s two minute reports. The report critiques the referees’ calls within the last two minutes of the game and overtime. 
  4. It's not all mental. They have to be physically fit too because they’re running up and down the court for the entire 48 minutes alongside the players. Referees work on their fitness regimen in the off-season like any athlete would.  
  5. Instant replay is a big part of the game. The referees have a centralized replay command center in Secaucus, NJ that provides them with assistance in tough situations. They’re efficient even from afar, averaging a result in a quick 42.1 seconds.

Overtime

Sideline stat

  • There were a whole “lotto” surprises at yesterday’s NBA Draft lottery. Usually the worst teams get the first pick in the NBA Draft but thanks to a massive trade with the New Jersey Nets, the Boston Celtics (who finished with the best record in their conference and are in the playoffs) will receive the #1 pick in the upcoming draft.  Here’s more on the lottery.

Coaches’ Corner

  • Nico Marley, grandson of music legend Bob Marley, signed with the Washington Redskins (NFL – National Football League). Hopefully the underdog can sing a “Redemption Song” and make the final roster.
 

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