The Rundown: Papa Don't Preach
So long July, welcome August!
Time flies when you're having fun,
The Last Night's Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
- Dad you’re embarrassing me. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie may want to think twice the next time he goes to a baseball game. A few weeks after he was booed for catching a foul ball, Christie was caught on camera berating a fan at a Chicago Cubs – Milwaukee Brewers game. Good news. Even though he was angry, he didn’t spill his nachos. Bad news. His son works in the Brewers baseball operations department. Off to family therapy.
Soccer
- You go girls. In a huge win, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team came from behind in the last few minutes to beat Brazil in the Tournament of Nations. Next up? They'll face Japan in the final game on Thursday.
UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)
- Redemption. Fighter Jon Jones returned from a year suspension to reclaim his championship belt on Saturday night at UFC 214. He won with a knockout of opponent Daniel Cormier. It’s the first-time Cormier has ever been knocked out.
Overtime
- Meet 15-year-old Moziah Bridges, CEO of Mo’s Bows. Like many of us may have done as a kid, he started a business. His side hustle surpassed our lemonade stand when it was featured on Shark Tank. Bridges just inked a seven-figure deal to make bow ties for each of the NBA (National Basketball Association) teams. Check them out.
Sideline stat
- Texas Rangers’ Adrian Beltre joined the 3,000-hit club on Sunday. He is only the 31st player in baseball and the first Dominican born player in history to reach this milestone. How did his fans celebrate his accomplishment? The Fort Worth Zoo named a baby giraffe after him.
Coaches’ corner
- The insufferable papa LaVar Ball is once again in center of controversy. (Ball's son Lonzo plays for the Los Angeles Lakers). As a coach in a basketball tournament this weekend, he asked to have a female referee removed from a game after he was unhappy with her call. After Ball’s use of derogatory and sexist language, the officiating group gave the tournament a big middle finger and ended their relationship with the tournament organizer, Adidas. Enough already.
The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition - And So It Begins
Tonight’s the night we’ve all been waiting for - the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Rio (7:30 p.m. ET/PT on NBC). Not to be outdone, the NFL will induct the newest members of its Hall of Fame this weekend.
As always, a big weekend in sports and we have it covered so you can be the sports savvy guest at the party.
You little know it all,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – Make sure to brush up on your Olympics facts by reading Wednesday’s “Five Things You Might Not Know About the Olympics.”
NFL (National Football League)
Enshrined. Former NFL superstars Brett Favre, Kevin Green, Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace, Dick Stanfel, Ken Stabler, Eddie DeBartolo Jr. (owner) and Tony Dungy (coach) will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend. In celebration, the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts will play the Hall of Fame game on Sunday.
Summer Olympics
Women’s win. U.S.A. Women’s soccer opened the Olympics with a win. They beat New Zealand, 2-0. Fans chanted “Zika” and booed U.S.A. goal tender Hope Solo whenever she had the ball. Solo was vocal on social media about her Zika concerns coming into the Olympics.
NCAA football (NCAA)
The Tide is high. The first preseason Amway Coaches Top 25 college football poll was released and it has Alabama (#1) and Clemson (2) at the top. The two teams played each other for the National Championship last season. (Alabama won). College football season starts August 27th.
NBA (National Basketball Association)
Oklahoma is OK. Unlike his former teammate Kevin Durant, star Russell Westbrook chose to stay with Oklahoma City Thunder. (Durant went to the Golden State Warriors). Westbrook showed his commitment to the team by signing a three-year deal and they showed him the money - $85 million over three years.
Overtime
Quarterback Brett Favre (who you may also recognize from the Wrangler Jeans commercials) made a decision that is really going to make some cheese-heads angry. He has chosen to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame as both a Packer (where he played 16 seasons) and a Viking (he played there one season after being forced out of Green Bay and after the NY Jets). The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers are the biggest rivals and it looks like they’ll go down in history together.
Sideline stat
NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon will be substituting for Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the next two weeks. (Earnhardt is still suffering from concussion-like symptoms). Sunday's race at Watkins Glen (a road course in upstate New York) marks Gordon's 800th career start. That's the most starts for any active driver and only eight other drivers in history have more starts.
Coaches’ Corner
A controversial IndyStar.com report was released detailing the improper reporting of sexual abuse and harassment in U.S.A. women’s sports. According to the story, many complaints of abuse against the former coaches of women’s gymnastics, volleyball and basketball have been swept under the rug and not reported to authorities.