The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition - #1 Dad
This Sunday we celebrate dad. You know, the guy who showed us how to make a perfect cheeseburger on the grill. Or the guy who effortlessly caught a foul ball barehanded without dropping his hot dog or baby. How do you repay him for all he’s done? Give him the gift he’s been waiting for – sports highlights in three minutes or less, three days a week. But of course!
Shout out to our Pops and dads everywhere,
The Last Night’s Game Team
F1 RACING (FORMULA ONE)
- Racing in Europe, kind of. The European Grand Prix is this Sunday in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan. Nico Rosberg is in the points lead heading into the race, but his teammate Lewis Hamilton is only nine points behind after winning last week’s race. (Winning a race gets you 25 points). As always, there’s some controversy around this race but not because of the drivers. There isn’t a consensus that Azerbaijan is actually a part of Europe. NBCSN will have live coverage of the race from Baku starting at 8 am EST on Sunday.
NBA (NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION)
- Tying it up. Don’t worry about getting a gift for your dad on Father's Day, LeBron James and the Cavs are giving dads everywhere the gift of a game seven in the NBA Finals. Cleveland Cavaliers beat Golden State Warriors last night, tying up the series at 3-3. Steph Curry fouled out of the game and threw his mouthpiece in protest (which awarded him a technical foul). Game seven takes place on Sunday (8 pm EST on ABC). If the Cavs win on Sunday, they’ll be the first team in history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals. You’ll want to watch this one.
PGA (PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS' ASSOCIATION of America)
- Rain, rain, go away. Mother Nature disrupted the first round of the U.S. Open; only nine players were able to finish their round. Golfers will have to make up the holes today and then play their scheduled second round. This means some golfers will be facing 26 holes of golf today. Click here for scores.
SOCCER
- U.S.A! Team U.S.A beat Ecuador 2-1 in a physical and tension-filled Copa America Centenario quarterfinals match yesterday. U.S.A will play the winner of Argentina/Venezuela on Tuesday. (Argentina/Venezuela play on Saturday at 7 pm EST).
Overtime
- Basketball sideline reporter Craig Sager had never worked an NBA Finals game in his 34-year career because he’s employed by Turner Sports. Sager who has been battling leukemia was given an exemption by ESPN which allowed him to work last night’s game. Fans and players alike (especially LeBron) gave Sager a warm welcome in Cleveland.
Sideline stat
- Miami Marlins outfielder and 15-year MLB veteran Ichiro Suzuki passed an almost impossible milestone this week. He passed Pete Rose as the all-time hit leader. Although there’s an asterisk to this record. Not all of his hits were while playing for a Major League Baseball team (he started his professional career in Japan). Ichiro is also close to joining the prestigious 3000 hit club (currently has 2979 hits).
Coaches’ Corner
- It’s College World Series time! The tournament is in Omaha, Nebraska and has been held there since 1950. Eight teams make it into the World Series tournament, which starts on Saturday. The tournament is double elimination until the finals, where it’s best-of-three games. Unlike in professional baseball where they use wood bats, college baseball players use metal bats which makes the ball go further.
The eight teams in the World Series are:
- University of Arizona
- University of California - Santa Barbara
- Oklahoma State University
- University of Miami (#3)
- Texas Tech (#5)
- University of Florida (#1)
- Texas Christian University
- Coastal Carolina
The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition
It’s finally Friday and we’re revved up for this weekend’s Daytona 500. Boxer Manny Pacquiao had a rough week and find out why the NBA’s Steve Novak is feeling a bit like Taylor Swift with yet another breakup.
Shake it off,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Boxing
- Total knockout. Nike announced they have cut ties with boxer Manny Pacquiao over comments he made that same-sex couples are “worse than animals.” Pacquiao later apologized for his comments while wearing his Nike gear. Nike called his comments “abhorrent” and said farewell. Pacquiao is running for a Senate seat in Philippines (he's currently a member of the House of Representatives) and is scheduled to retire after his next fight against Timothy Bradley on April 9th. His last fight was a loss to Floyd Mayweather in May 2015.
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
- Gentlemen start your engines. The starting lineup for this year's Daytona 500 race has been determined. The most notable is, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who is starting third place. This year’s running marks the 15th anniversary of the death of his father, driver Dale Earnhardt, at the same track. For the full starting grid click here. You can catch the Daytona 500 live on Sunday at Noon (EST) on FOX.
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- Yawn. The NBA trade deadline was Thursday at 3 pm (EST). On most accounts it was uneventful. View the ESPN trade tracker here.
- Go team? NBA veteran Steve Novak has been traded numerous times over the past few years. His most recent trade warranted this photo on Twitter of his son’s confused team spirit with the caption “Knicks hoop, Thunder jersey, and Jazz shorts...and you wonder why the lil homie is confused! #TradeDeadline.“ Novak was traded from Oklahoma City Thunder to Denver Nuggets.
NFL (National Football League)
- Horsing around. After a 12-year career Carolina Panthers defensive end Jared Allen announced his retirement with a video of his ride off into the sunset. Cue Mother Nature.
UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)
- Howdy partner. Two fighters with the nickname “Cowboy” battle in the main event to see who keeps the nickname. The fight features Donal “Cowboy” Cerrone vs Alex “Cowboy” Oliviera at welterweight (170 pounds) live Sunday night on Fox Sports One at 9 pm (EST).
Overtime
- University of Miami Hurricanes head coach, Mark Richt, has offered a scholarship to eighth grade quarterback Harrison Bailey. Bailey would be part of the 2020 recruiting class and is already 6’3” and 175 pounds. Apparently early scholarship offers are not as far fetched as we think with LeBron James’ son reportedly received scholarship offers at 10-years-old.
Sideline Stat
- Major League Baseball’s (MLB) spring training has begun with pitchers and catchers reporting for duty this week. The boys of summer are back.
Coaches’ Corner
- What is the trade deadline? The trade deadline is the last day where teams can make a trade to improve their roster for the last half of the season and hopefully the playoffs. Teams are not allowed to make any trades with other teams after the trade deadline. Period.