The 5 Things You Need To Know About The World Cup

Nearly half of the world’s population watched the last World Cup, which happens every four years. Therefore, the topic of soccer is going to be unavoidable for the next month.

If you can’t beat 'em, join 'em,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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The Five Things You Need To Know About The World Cup

1. Starting tomorrow and for the next month, the world’s eyes will be on Russia as they host the best 32 teams in the world in their fight for the global title. Not in the battle? A team from Italy and the U.S. It has been 60 years since the Italians failed to qualify for the World Cup and 32 years for the Americans. BUT WHY?

2. FOX paid over $400 million for the broadcasting rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup. Despite shelling out that cash, 8 of the 12 broadcasters will be calling games from a studio in Los Angeles, not live from Russia. Guess they forgot to include funds for a travel budget? On the bright side, Aly Wagner will become the first woman to call a men’s World Cup soccer game. KUDOS ALY

3. With the United States out of the tournament, who should you cheer for? How about Team Iceland? They’re the smallest country to ever qualify for the men’s World Cup (population 330,000), it’s their first time ever playing in a World Cup AND their coach was a dentist up until two years ago, so give it up for the underdog. (Not to be confused with the under bite – obligatory dentist joke). WHO TO ROOT FOR

4. Three of the best soccer players in the world also happen to be three of the highest paid athletes on earth, but what’s the one thing they all have in common besides big bank accounts? No World Cup trophy. You can catch Lionel Messi (Team Argentina - #2 in the world in getting paid), Cristano Ronaldo (Team Portugal - #3) and Neymar (Team Brazil - #5) as they fight for the one thing they can’t buy. LAST CHANCE

5. The host team automatically qualifies for the tournament so Russia is in. What’s also in right now in Russia? Smiling. Apparently workers who will interact with the influx of tourist (ex. train workers) have been learning how to smile in hopes of dispelling the stigma that Russians aren’t friendly. SAY CHEESE  

Bonus: Announced this morning – a joint bid by Canada, Mexico and the United States to host the 2026 World Cup has been successful. Canada and Mexico will host 10 of the games and the U.S. will host 60. MORE

Let’s talk about today

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5 Sporting Events To Get Excited About In June

Forget June gloom! This month is filled with sports action that’ll get you off your feet and into the conversation.

Ready for summertime socializing,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Five Sporting Events To Get Excited About In June

1. Normally we get to the Belmont Stakes, the third race in the quest for the Triple Crown, and we have nothing to be excited about. Not this year! On Saturday, Justify hopes to become the 13th horse in history to win the Triple Crown. If that’s not enough, watch for Gronkowski (a horse named for and partially owned by New England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski – NFL – National Football League) to add a little entertainment. BUT WILL THERE BE HATS?

2. The world’s biggest sporting event, the World Cup, starts June 14 in Russia. Over 3.2 billion (yes billion) watched the last World Cup, which happens every four years. With Team U.S.A. out, watch for Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) to make a run for the trophy but don’t count out underdog team Iceland, making their first ever appearance in the World Cup. SCHEDULE

3. The biggest names in golf will hit the links in Southampton for the U.S. Open on June 14. Known as the “toughest test in golf,” big names like Tiger Woods, who docked his $20 million yacht in the Hamptons for the tournament, will be competing. While Woods is a household name, keep an eye out for cancer survivor and full-time NHL (National Hockey League) referee, Garrett Rank, who qualified this week to play in the tournament.

4. Since the summer isn’t hot enough, why not play a little baseball outside in the humidity in Nebraska? Omaha is the mecca for college baseball and the College Baseball World Series starts there on June 16. While the eight teams battle it out, fans will fight to keep their balls, their beach balls that is. The long-standing tradition has been banned from the stadium but that won't stop them. HEY BATTER BATTER

5. Wrap up the end of the month by watching college athletes put their livelihood on the line in hopes of being chosen in the NBA (National Basketball Association) draft on June 21. Players must be out of high school for one year to be eligible and collegiate athletes that go undrafted cannot go back to school to play. Talk about all or nothing. MORE

Not interested in the future? Let's talk about today. 

Here’s the buzz on what’s happening today including the latest list of highest paid athletes and some familiar faces are missing, the sports books are finally open in one state and what’s Dennis Rodman’s new job? (Hint – it’s kind of important so fingers crossed that he doesn’t dress in drag). READ

The 5 Sporting Events To Get Excited About in 2018

If creating relationships, growing your client base or expanding your network are on your list of New Year’s resolutions, develop the rapport with sports and keep the conversation going all year long.

Talk the talk,

The Last Night’s Game

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The Five Sporting Events To Get Excited About in 2018

1. Australian Open (Tennis): Monday, January 15 - Sunday, January 28

While the Australian Open is one of the big four in tennis (i.e. a Grand Slam tournament), it’s not one you might normally look forward to so why this year? The gal that some consider the greatest of all time, Serena Williams, is planning to make her return to tennis in the same tournament she won last year, while pregnant. Get ready for her to dominate the courts again.

2. Super Bowl - NFL (National Football League): Sunday, February 4

This year’s game will be played in the "warm and tropical" home of the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. An NFL team has never played in the Super Bowl in their home stadium and the Vikings, who are in the playoffs, may be the first team to break that streak. If the commercials and the parties aren’t enough, Justin Timberlake is headlining the halftime show. Bonus - his new album drops two days before the game. 

3. Winter Olympics: Friday, February 9 – Thursday, February 25

It seems every Olympics there is a major controversy. Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, Russian doping, Zika and now the proximity of PyeongChang, South Korea to North Korea is on the minds everyone heading into the Winter Olympics. A few positive stories to focus on? Lindsey Vonn’s comeback on the slopes and Nigeria’s first team ever in the Winter Olympics, which happens to be all women.  Also, did you know that PyeongChang is the smallest host city since Lillehammer, Norway, with a population of 50,000.

4. Daytona 500 – NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing): Sunday, February 18

The Daytona 500 has been glorified in the movies (Days of Thunder anyone)? but the race that kicks off the NASCAR season will be without one of its most familiar faces this year. This will be the first time in almost two decades Dale Earnhardt Jr. will not be in the lineup. He retired last year but you can catch him on his new show on the DIY Network and in the broadcast booth for NBC. Another face slowly fading from racing is the most accomplished woman in NASCAR history, Danica Patrick. She will only race two races this year - the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.

5. World Cup - Soccer: Thursday, June 14 – Sunday, July 15

In the world’s most watched sporting event, soccer teams from all over the world will compete to determine which country is the best. In 2014, over three billion people or nearly 40% of the world’s population watched the competition, which happens every four years. Three notable teams that failed to qualify and will miss this year’s tournament in Russia? United States, Italy and The Netherlands. The underdog? Team Iceland. They’re the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup and they’re playing in their first one.

Live in the now

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