Wanna Get Away?
It’s going to be a party weekend in London, your favorite athletes hit the red carpet and what murraya and solidungulate have to do with $50k.
Thanks to COVID and masks, you're not likely to spend your flight stuck next to a chatty seatmate on a plane, but if you do, you're now prepared to make small talk about more than your vaccination records.
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The Last Night's Game Team
Soccer + Tennis = One Heck Of A Weekend
The place to be this weekend is in London. On Sunday, England's National Football Team (aka soccer) will be playing for their first major tournament championship in 55 years. They will play Italy in the Euro 2020 final in Wembley Stadium with 60,000 fans present. HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS
Over at Wimbledon, the stadium will be at 100% capacity for the crowning of the new women's (Saturday) and men's (Sunday) champion. And Wimbledon does it right when it comes to equal pay. Both of the winners take home $2.35 million in prize money. AND THE CROWD GOES WILD
Overtime
The biggest night in sports is Saturday night. Everyone's favorite athletes and celebrities will hit the red carpet to celebrate the best in sports over the past year at the ESPYs. The recipients of the night's three significant awards aren't necessarily the biggest names in sports but the athletes with the most drive and biggest hearts. The red carpet fashion is always worth checking out. Want more on why to tune into a night where the athletes ditch their jerseys for couture? Check out this week's podcast. AND THE WINNER IS…
Sideline stat
"Querimonious," "solidungulate," and "Nepeta," those were some of the words 14-year-old Zaila Avant-garde had to overcome to win last night's Scripps National Spelling Bee. With the correct spelling of murraya, a type of tree, Avant-garde became the first winner from Louisiana, the first African-American winner of the Spelling Bee and the recipient of $50,000 in prize money. Oh, did we mention she's also an elite middle school basketball player? SHE'S GOING PLACES
Coaches' corner
The Phoenix Suns are up 2-0 in the NBA (National Basketball Association) Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. Last night before the game, Devin Booker of the Suns received the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his dedication to the community. Amongst many things, Booker donated $100,000 to five non-profits in the community to help Arizona youth and also serves as a Special Olympics global ambassador. Booker and his Suns will play in game three on Sunday in Milwaukee. NEXT LEVEL
What to watch
The Japanese Government declared a state of emergency due to COVID and will no longer allow fans at any of the Summer Olympic competitions in Tokyo. TBD if they'll do the same for events taking place throughout the country. COUNTING ON TEAM SPIRIT
Special Delivery
It’s Monday and that means we’re delivering your cheat sheet from the weekend.
It’s Monday and that means we’re delivering your cheat sheet from the weekend.
If it was only this easy in high school,
The Last Night’s Game Team
World Cup
When you’re on top of the world. At what’s being called “the best World Cup ever,” the second youngest team in the tournament, France, defeated Croatia to take home the country’s second ever World Cup. Earlier in the weekend, Belgium beat England to claim third place. MATCH REPORT
Overtime
The players weren’t the only ones having fun at the World Cup. French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the win by learning how to “dab” alongside his French players. Also enjoying the fun? Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. Sporting her team’s jersey, she flew in economy class and sat with the fans during the games, before being invited into the VIP box. (She also happens to be the first female president for Croatia). LOVING EVERY MINUTE
Sideline stat
It was a weekend of firsts for some athletes. Angelique Kerber beat Serena Williams to win her first Wimbledon title. Williams became emotional after her second place finish, saying she was playing for “all the moms out there.” Speaking of moms, model Kate Upton announced that she and her husband, Houston Astros (MLB) pitcher Justin Verlander, are expecting their first child in an Instagram post using the hashtag #PregnantInMiami. Glad she clarified it wasn’t a #foodbaby. MODEL MOM
Coaches’ corner
After both playing in brutally long semifinal matches, Novak Djokovic beat Kevin Anderson in the men’s finals at Wimbledon. With the win, Djokovic wins his 13th Grand Slam title but his three-year-old son is the one who stole the show. #WINNING
What to watch
If you dig the long ball then tonight is your night. MLB’s (Major League Baseball) All-Star celebration starts tonight in Washington, D.C. with the fan favorite home run derby. Expected to lead the pack tonight? Hometown ambassador, the Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper. WHO’S SWINGING FOR THE FENCES
Tomorrow night will showcase all-stars from every team in the league during the MLB All-Star Game. Here are the five things you need to know about all the all-star celebrations. READ
Real Talk
It’s true, Monday is overrated. Although making a connection with a client or your boss through sports is not.
It’s true, Monday is overrated. Although making a connection with a client or your boss through sports is not.
It’s yours for the taking,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Wimbledon
A Monday is still a Monday. Yesterday was “The People’s Sunday,” a day off for everyone at Wimbledon. They’re back at it today, which is known as “Manic Monday,” where everyone who is still in the tournament plays including favorites Roger Federer and Serena Williams. Over the weekend, Williams revealed she missed her daughter’s first steps because she was training for Wimbledon. REAL TALK
Overtime
The Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB – Major League Baseball) saluted a hero dog whose story went viral. Todd saved his owner from a rattlesnake attack by taking one on the nose. The pup received a hero’s welcome and in case you’re wondering, Todd has recovered from the bite and is as cute as could be. PICS
Sideline stat
And then there were four. The excitement of the World Cup has come to a head with the semifinals this week and the final on Sunday. France will take on Belgium on Tuesday and Wednesday brings us England vs. Croatia. A few English fans took their weekend victory over Sweden a little too far, storming and trashing an IKEA while singing their World Cup anthem, “It’s Coming Home.” THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS
Coaches’ corner
Extreme sports star and daredevil Travis Pastrana recreated three of Evel Knievel’s iconic stunts in Las Vegas yesterday, including the Caesar’s Palace fountain jump that nearly killed Knievel 50 years ago. While wearing Knievel style-attire, Pastrana nailed all the stunts like a champion and celebrated with a swim in the famed casino’s fountains. IF YOU THOUGHT YOUR WEEKEND WAS ROUGH
What to watch for
The names of the players for the MLB All-Star Game have been announced. The Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox lead the way with five players each. There’s still time to vote to complete the rosters. The game is on July 17 in Washington, D.C., home of the Washington Nationals. VOTE