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After a long week, Friday is here. Whoop it up this weekend while you show off your sports curious conversation skills.

Delivered for your enjoyment,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - It's the second to last Tailgate Treat this season and this one is guaranteed to make you hungry. Want us to feature your favorite party recipe in our Friday Super Bowl edition? Submit it here. 

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Olympics

When you’ve had it up to here. The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) is laying the smackdown on U.S.A. Gymnastics (USAG). They gave the entire USAG board six days to resign or the federation will be decertified. The USOC stated that “Our position comes from a clear sense that the USAG culture needs fundamental rebuilding.” This comes on the heels of the sentencing of former USAG/Michigan State doctor Larry Nassar to 40-175 years for multiple sex crimes.

NFL (National Football League)

When you get a seat at the big kids' table. The best in the NFL will play this Sunday in the Pro Bowl (the NFL’s All-Star Game). While some players choose to opt out of playing in the game after a long season to avoid injury and players from the two Super Bowl teams (Patriots and Eagles) are ineligible to play, it's still a good game because there’s cash on the line. The players on the winning team take home a $64,000 check and the losers $32,000.

 

Overtime

Last night CBS hosted the Most Valuable Performer show, a talent show featuring NFL players. The winner was Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker who sang opera. He brought down the house with his rendition of Ave Maria, winning $50,000 for the charity of his choice, the Baltimore School For Arts. Unlike most of us, he could actually quit his day job. WATCH

Sideline stat

A cool $1 million is on the line on Sunday. The NHL (National Hockey League) All-Star game isn’t one game but a three-on-three player tournament with the winning team splitting a $1 million prize.

Coaches’ Corner

Yesterday, Vince McMahon (yes that McMahon from WWE – Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment) announced he’s bringing back the XFL (Xtreme Football League). The XFL was around for one season in 2001 and for all intents and purposes, it was a joke. The league will be relaunched in 2020 and McMahon stressed that no one will be allowed to play if they have a criminal record, even a DUI - a switch from how the XFL was run before. As expected, Twitter had an absolute field day suggesting potential team names. If you’d like to know why this matters to you, let us explain.  

We like to keep these emails short and sweet for you but there’s always so much more happening in the world of sports. Keep up with us on Twitter to continue the conversation.

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Ugly Sweater Not Included

Read up so you have plenty to talk about this holiday weekend because talking sports beats discussing tax reform over the family dinner table every time.    

Bring on the eggnog,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - Moderation is overrated therefore today's Tailgate Treat features holiday cocktails everyone is bound to love. 

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NBA (National Basketball Association)

When your friend wants to drive home after too many holiday cocktails. Los Angeles Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is playing under some interesting circumstances. He is currently on work release from jail after failing to comply with the terms of his probation, stemming from a drunk driving incident. He can leave the facility for practice and games but has to wear an ankle monitor and he is not allowed to travel with the team to away games.

NFL (National Football League)

When your knight in shining armor fails.  Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers made his valiant return last week hoping to lead his team to the playoffs after being out with a broken collarbone. Well...after last week's loss, the Packers have no chance of making the playoffs and Rodgers has since returned to the injured list to preserve himself for next season. Update your fantasy team accordingly.

Overtime

After facing backlash for criticizing the NFL for its handling of the anthem protests, the face of the company and Founder/CEO of Papa John’s is stepping down. John Schnatter will stay on as the chairman of the company. Papa John’s hasn’t exactly been rolling in the dough as they’ve seen a drop in sales this year (which they blamed on the anthem protests).

Sideline stat

Rumors have been swirling that WWE (Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment) founder Vince McMahon is ready to revive the previously defunct XFL (Xtreme Football League). He sold $100 million in WWE stock and has filed trademarks for the XFL as a “professional football league.” WWE and NBC founded the XFL as a joint venture in 1999 and it had one season before it failed.

Coaches’ corner

How far would you go for your career? A player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League opted to have his middle finger amputated rather than have the prescribed surgery and miss the beginning of the season. Up yours modern medicine.