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
Do I Know You From Somewhere?
No Tinder dates in the NBA bubble, why LeBron and the Dodgers are teaming up and college championships are cancelled.
There’s something so satisfying about being the one who knows just what to say to get the weekend conversation started.
Did you hear the story about….
The Last Night’s Game Team
College Sports
With a handful of conferences cancelling their fall sports, the NCAA (the governing body for college sports) had no choice but to cancel fall championships. This includes championships for men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s field hockey and women’s volleyball. The Board of Governors has a requirement that states that 50% of schools need to play to hold the postseason. There’s hope to revisit the championships in the spring. UNPREDICTABLE
Overtime
We all know that leagues have implemented the “bubble” scenario to keep players and staff safe. While the NFL (National Football League) doesn’t have an official bubble, some teams are putting their players and staff up in a hotel to create one. Enter in Seattle Seahawks rookie Kemah Siverand, who was cut from the team after he snuck a woman into the team hotel. She was dressed in Seahawks gear in an attempt to look like a member of the team. (Aren’t you curious to know if she was wearing a helmet, jersey and shoulder pads? Us too). The NFL season is scheduled start on time on September 10. TIME TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB
Sideline stat
The biggest story out of the NBA (National Basketball Association) bubble isn’t the fact that the San Antonio Spurs missed the playoffs for the first time in 22 years or the play-in games happening this weekend for the final two spots in the playoffs. It’s that family will be able to join players in the bubble after the first round of the playoffs. The NBA made the rules very clear on who can enter the bubble. Yes – up to four family/longstanding friends (exceptions made on this number for children). No – Your Tinder date (rules specifically state it can’t be someone you’re meeting for the first time), massage therapist, personal chef or tattoo artist. Regardless, everyone new will need to quarantine for approximately seven days before entering the bubble. FAMILY FRIENDLY
Coaches’ corner
They may compete in different sports but the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB - Major League Baseball) and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James (NBA) will play together in November. The two teamed up, along with James’ organization “More Than A Vote,” to use Dodgers stadium as a polling location. It will be the first time a Major League Baseball team has offered its facility as a voting center. REGISTER TO VOTE
What to watch
The St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) haven’t played a game since July 29 due to positive COVID tests amongst the team. Fingers crossed; they should return to the field on Saturday. They won’t be able to make up all the games they’ve missed because there are only 45 days left of the regular season. FULL ON FALL
Treat Yo Self
Like the jelly of the month club, knowing what to say in the sports conversation is the gift that keeps on giving all year long.
Like the jelly of the month club, knowing what to say in the sports conversation is the gift that keeps on giving all year long.
#winning,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – Looking for a way to take your tailgate beer game to a whole new level? Today’s Tailgate Treat is exactly what you’re looking for.
NFL (NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE)
America loves a great comeback story. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is headed back to the field eight weeks after breaking his collarbone. He’ll return with a few extra plates and screws in his surgically repaired collarbone to help his team, which is on the verge of the playoffs, finish out the season.
When you can't fit one more thing into your weekend. Starting this weekend the NFL will play two games to on Saturday. You can now catch an NFL game on Monday, Saturday or Sunday. If you’re playing in a fantasy football league, don’t forget to set your rosters. (FYI - Yesterday was the last Thursday Night Football game of the regular season).
MLB (MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL)
When decisions of the head and the heart collide. The St. Louis Cardinals were looking to make a trade and it seemed outfielder Stephen Piscotty was the guy. Piscotty missed some of last season to spend time with his mom who was diagnosed with ALS. Taking in account his family situation, amongst other things, Piscotty was traded to the Oakland A’s where he could be close to his mom.
OVERTIME
In the “this really happened” file, New York Jets player Jeremy Kerley (NFL) was suspended for four games for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy. How’d that banned substance get into his system? He blamed a ghost, specifically the Ghost of Christmas Past. No really. Apparently, he not only needs to avoid any questionable supplements but he should probably lay off the Disney Christmas cartoons.
SIDELINE STAT
Florida and Nebraska will play for the Women’s Volleyball National Championship on Saturday. Florida will be playing for their first national championship. Expect a big crowd as the semifinal game drew a record 18,000+ people, serving up the biggest crowd of all time.
COACHES’ CORNER
College football bowl game season starts tomorrow with the Celebration Bowl featuring Grambling vs. North Carolina A&T. Don't take a snack break and miss halftime of this game because the Grambling band will not disappoint. They're not your average college band. BOWL GAME SCHEDULE
Want to talk college football without all the stats and jargon? Catch our Five Things To Know About College Football Bowl Games right here.
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