Fight For Your Right

Small talk shouldn't be hard that's why we bring you the best of the best. 

All for you,

The Last Night’s Game 

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Tennis

It’s been a rough summer to be a tennis fan with the most popular athletes dropping out of tournaments left and right. Yesterday, Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka, two of the world’s greatest players, announced they would not play in Wimbledon. But two-time Wimbledon champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Rafael Nadal made a shocking announcement that he will not be participating in the Olympics this summer either. Osaka will still play in the Olympics for Japan. SUMMER BUMMER

Overtime

Jimmy Kimmel is making history, but not with his TV ratings. He will become the first human to have a college football bowl game named after him. The Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl will debut on December 18. FUNNY GUY FOOTBALL

Sideline stat

The boys of summer are back in Omaha. After the Men’s College World Series was cancelled last year, eight teams will return to the tournament's home stadium to fight for the title in this double-elimination tournament. Stanford, NC State, Vanderbilt, Arizona, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas and Mississippi State will take the field in the tournament that provides Omaha with an economic impactof $70 million. BUY ME SOME PEANUTS AND CRACKERJACKS

Coaches’ corner

This weekend is the third of four major golf tournaments in the PGA (Professional Golfers Association) Tour. The U.S. Open has been criticized for its obscenely long beer lines (2+ hours), so watching it on TV is the perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day. As you ponder whether or not the Brooks Koepka - Bryson DeChambeau rivalry is all for a cut of the PGA incentives fund, also remember there’s no better way to celebrate Father’s Day than with a midday nap with championship golf on in the background. ZZZ…I WAS WATCHING THAT

'Tis The Season - It's Time For College Football Bowl Game Season

While you might be in the midst of holiday shopping season, others are immersed in college football bowl game season.

This is it,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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1. If the Oscars have the most coveted swag bags, bowl games are a close second. Players cannot be paid to play in the games but they can take home some great loot valued up to but not exceeding $550. Gifts this year include a cowboy hat, a life-sized decal for each participant of his likeness, a GoPro and for the first time ever at the Idaho Potato Bowl, fanny packs. TOUCHDOWN IN THE GIFT DEPARTMENT

2. What’s in a name? Well for bowl games, it’s big money. The committees will do just about anything to please their title sponsors including naming the game itself something odd. The most memorable bowl game names this season roll off the tongue like the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl, Cheez-It Bowl, Taxslayer Bowl and the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. And yes, there used to be a game called the Salad Bowl. HOW LONG UNTIL WE HAVE THE SMOKE-A BOWL?

3. Unless a player is playing in the national championship game, families cannot receive any financial assistance to travel to a bowl game, per NCAA rules. This year Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State, Chase Young, was suspended for taking a loan from a family friend to fly his girlfriend out to the Rose Bowl game in early 2019. WANNA GET AWAY?

4. Not all teams are invited to a bowl game. A team has to have a .500-plus record to be considered bowl eligible. The TV exposure, additional revenue and chance at a title all come with a price tag – winning. NO PARTICIPATION TROPHIES HERE

5. The top four teams in the country will play each other on Saturday, January 28 in either the Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ) or the Peach Bowl (Atlanta). The winner of those two games will play each other in the National Championship Game on January 13. The other bowl games are for pride and money for the program, but will not impact a team’s overall rating. BOWLED OVER

What The Elf Is Happening?

It may be Monday but did you know it’s also “Answer The Telephone Like Buddy The Elf Day?” Like you wanted to work today anyway.

Feel free to talk sports like an elf today too,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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NBA (National Basketball Association)

What to say to your friend who isn’t afraid of heights. Monday may not be your favorite day but today is the best day ever for legendary Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant. He will have not one but two numbers (#8 and #24) retired into the rafters of the Staples Center tonight. Why two? He switched numbers about halfway through his career. Bryant is also the first player in NBA history to have two numbers retired by the same team.

NFL (National Football League)

When 2007 seems like yesterday. The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t made it to the playoffs since Britney Spears’ buzz cut, the iPhone debuted and Rihanna’s Umbrella blew our minds. Yesterday, for the first time in 10 years they finally clinched a spot in the playoffs.

Overtime

With 52 days until the Winter Olympics in Seoul, Team U.S.A is coming together nicely. On Saturday, 17-year-old Maame Biney became the first African American woman to qualify for the U.S. Olympic speedskating team.

Sideline stat

Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is putting his team on the market amid allegations of workplace misconduct. A willing buyer? Brother Love aka P. Diddy is interested in getting in on the deal. Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry (NBA) has also expressed interest. Brother Love/Diddy is worth a reported $820 million and the team is valued at $2.3 billion. Looks like he’s going to need more benjamins.

Coaches’ corner

Retiring a jersey number means no one on that team can ever wear that jersey number again. Want to sound in the know? If a player’s jersey is “in the rafters,” it means their number has been retired and it hangs from the rafters of the arena. If you’re legendary, you’re in the rafters.

PS – Wondering how your College Football Bowl Game Mania entry is doing? Kudos to HuskerZ and Amy16 who are tied for first place after the first weekend of games. Don’t worry there are still plenty of games to play. CHECK THE STANDINGS