A Guide To The NFL Season - The 5 Things You Need To Know
Football is back and we have yours when it comes to the gameday conversation.
Football is back and just like that, there goes your Sundays (and Mondays…and Thursdays)…
Put me in coach,
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. The 100th NFL (National Football League) season starts on Thursday and culminates with the Super Bowl in Miami on February 2. Performances by Meek Mill, Meghan Trainor and Rapsody will kickoff the first game of the season that happens to be between two of the the league’s oldest rivals, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. The league is so excited about their 100th year that they’ve coined the phrase “fantennial” to celebrate fans along the way. DON’T LAUGH – YOU DIDN’T USE THE WORD GOOGLE UNTIL 20 YEARS AGO
2. While everyone expects the defending Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots, to do well this season, it’s the Cleveland Browns who are raising eyebrows. The team that went winless two seasons ago has set the bar high this season and could be one to beat, thanks to second year quarterback Baker Mayfield. THE SKY’S THE LIMIT
3. After some controversy around her Sunday Night Football song, Carrie Underwood has teamed up with Joan Jett to sing the show’s opener. For the first time in 14 years, the video for the opening song was shot inside an NFL stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons. P!nk and Faith Hill sang previous versions of the theme song. LADIES OF THE EVENING
4. While you might think the most important people on the field are the guys in the helmets, it’s a little more black and white than that. With the team’s futures in their hands, the referees, and their game changing decision making minds, are only part-time employees. As part of a labor dispute between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association, all refs will be considered part-time until further notice. After some notable controversial calls last season, we’ll see if this status affects the game. PLACE YOUR BETS
5. Did you know the NFL used to be 501 (c)(6) non-profit? They voluntary gave up their tax-exempt status, which means they no longer have to disclose commissioner Roger Goodell’s salary, which has been upward of $31 million. MAKING BANK
Want to know more about your team? Here is the top story line for each team. BE IN THE KNOW
Wednesday Wisdom
It’s all happening today including why beer and football are worth celebrating, a classic tale of a cheerleader and quarterback, who's baring it all and Serena’s U.S. Open domination. READ
Expand Your Horizons
It's Int'l Yoga Day so why is Carrie Underwood being sued, who’s working out a custody agreement of a team and who’s headed out to pasture?
On this International Yoga Day, stretch your mind into the world of sports and be one with great conversation.
Namaste,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
Just when you think you’ve heard it all, think again. In an unusual scenario, the Tampa Bay Rays received permission from MLB to explore the idea of playing their first half of the season in Florida and the second half in Montreal. Montreal used to have a team before it moved to Washington, D.C. Why? Weather, lack of attendance in Tampa Bay, a need for a new stadium in FL. It's far from happening but is not inconceivable. BUT WILL THERE BE DIRECT FLIGHTS?
Overtime
Carrie Underwood, NBC and the NFL (National Football League) are being sued over the “Sunday Night Football” theme song. Underwood has been singing the intro tune since 2018, but another singer alleges Underwood flat out stole the song from her. YOU BE THE JUDGE
Sideline stat
The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team had another dominant win yesterday, beating Sweden and winning their group in the group stage. They advance to the next round of 16 and will play Spain on Monday (Noon EST). WORLD CUP TROPHY OR BUST
Coaches’ Corner
Golfer Clement Berardo was disqualified but not because he did something heinous. But because he ran out of balls. He had a rough round and ran out of golf balls at the 15th hole and therefore was DQ’d. (He needed enough to play to the 18th hole). CAN’T HE FISH ONE OUT OF THE POND?
What To Watch
WWE’s (World Wrestling Entertainment) Nikki Bella, 35, is calling it quits. Neck and brain injuries are forcing her to retire. Her last match was against former UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighter Ronda Rousey in WWE's all-women's pay-per-view Evolution in October. THROWING IN THE TOWEL
The Top 5 Most Memorable Sports Moments of 2017
This year brought us some big wins, tragic losses and definitely some memorable moments. When you ring in 2018, here’s what to talk about until the clock strikes midnight.
Cheers,
The Last Night’s Game Team
The Top Five Most Memorable Sports Moments of 2017
1. Between three major hurricanes, multiple California fires and a mass shooting, sports teams and players stepped up to support their local communities by donating money and their time. Most notably was Houston Texans JJ Watt (NFL – National Football League) who started a fundraising effort for victims of Hurricane Harvey. He promised to match the first $100,000 raised and ended up raising over $37 million in donations for hurricane relief efforts. MORE
2. After earning the title of the No Fun League, the NFL relaxed their touchdown celebrations rules this year. Players embraced this freedom of expression and have graced us with celebrations to honor the Rockettes, playing leapfrog, a bench press workout and of course a line dance to the electric slide. SEE MORE
3. Like we needed more evidence to prove that Serena Williams is nothing short of Superwoman. In January, she won her record 23rd Grand Slam win at the Australian Open. (A Grand Slam is one of the four major tournaments in tennis). Later she revealed that she was pregnant during her big win. Therefore, this year brought us the birth of her baby girl and her glamorous wedding to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. MORE
4. The hype was worth the hype in the Mayweather vs. McGregor boxing match. MMA fighter (Mixed Martial Arts) Conor McGregor stepped outside his comfort zone to step into the ring and fight one of boxing’s best, the undefeated Floyd Mayweather. The fight lasted 10 rounds and Mayweather was declared a winner but not before McGregor earned the sports world’s r-e-s-p-e-c-t. MORE
5. This year was a terrible year for the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team. The U.S. team did not qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 31 years. Also having a crappy year? Team Italy. They didn’t qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 58 years. Ciao World Cup dreams.
PS – There are some great things ahead in 2018. Most notably, the College Football National Championship, Super Bowl, Winter Olympics and World Cup all in the first six months of the year.
There's more where that came from
Instead of focusing on the past, here are the top three buzzworthy topics in the world of sports right now, including cancelling Sunday Night Football, why the NBA had a very Merry Christmas and why Old Guys rule. READ