Better Days
Armed robbery ≠ social distancing, there are actual live sports this weekend and how the Jordan documentary almost didn’t make the cut.
The weekend is upon us.
Good to see you old friend,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
NASCAR returns this weekend with the “Real Heroes 400." Through a collaboration with NASCAR, FOX Sports and the teams, each driver’s name will be replaced on the car with the name of an individual healthcare worker who is currently battling COVID. Another fighter hitting the track is Ryan Newman, who was involved in a horrific, fiery crash in February at the Daytona 500. NASCAR has a full dance card this month as this is the first race of five taking place in the month of May. ROAD WARRIORS
Overtime
New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar (NFL - National Football League) were clearly not social distancing since they’re wanted in connection to an armed robbery investigation. They were at a party and allegedly decided to rob the patrons at gunpoint. BUT THEY WERE WEARING A MASK…
Sideline stat
Golf will resume this weekend with PGA (Professional Golfers Association) golfers Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson teeing off against their colleagues Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff. The goal of the match is to raise money for COVID relief with team McIlroy/Johnson playing for the American Nurses Foundation and team Fowler/Wolff, the CDC Foundation. The winning team will have a chance to earn anywhere from $50,000-$500,000 per hole for all 18 holes. GOLF FOR GOOD
Coaches’ corner
Bundesliga is back. (Say that fives times fast). Yes, the German soccer league that Americans fell in love with this spring is back in action this weekend. While we’ll lose the passion and the massive signs the fans bring, Bundesliga games are known for being exciting. They regularly lead Europe in average goals per game. More goals = more excitement. The top teams to watch are Bayern Munich (best described as the German Yankees) and Borussia Dortmund. Here are some more interesting facts about the league and the schedule. A SPORTS SUBSTITUTION
WHAT TO WATCH
Don’t be sad that it’s over, smile because it happened. That’s what the world will be telling itself when the Michael Jordan documentary “Last Dance” comes to an end this Sunday. The documentary was rolled out early due to COVID and the director didn’t finish editing Sunday’s episodes until last week. SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT
These Athlete Mamas Are Making Things Happen
Not all superheroes wear capes.
Need proof moms are superheroes? Look no further than these athletes.
Women - making things happen since forever,
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. We’re seeing the progress in women’s sports in adopting maternity policies for their players. Before these policies were put into place you had stars like Skylar Diggins-Smith, who played an entire WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) season while pregnant and didn’t tell anyone. In fact, was such a great season for her that she was named to the all-star team. After the birth of her son, she was criticized for taking two months off from the season due to postpartum depression. CUT THE GAL SOME SLACK
2. Olympic track star Allyson Felix made an impact on the track, winning six Olympic gold medals but it’s what she did off the track that has shaped her legacy. The NIKE sponsored athlete took on the company saying per her contract, she would be financially penalized for having a child. (Her daughter was born via emergency c-section in 2018). She was so fed up with their lack of support for female athletes that she left NIKE for Athleta. NIKE has since changed their polices and they will not apply any performance-related reductions for 18 months if an athlete becomes pregnant. CHANGE MAKER
3. When Candace Parker was drafted, everyone thought she’d be the Michael Jordan of the WNBA, and she was, winning attention from big sponsors like Gatorade and Adidas. After her rookie season where she was named rookie of the year and MVP, she returned to the court just 53 days after having her daughter. She did whatever it took to make the best of fitting her new role as a mom in with her career, including nursing at halftime. Parker played 12 seasons in the WNBA. Like many of her peers, during that time she played basketball overseas in the off-season where she earned a bigger paycheck. BRINGING HOME THE BACON
Side note – Parker was the first female to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game. What can’t she do?
4. Serena Williams hasn’t let a life shift like motherhood slow her down. You might remember when she won her 23rd Grand Slam tournament at the Australian Open while pregnant. (The record is 24 wins). After serious medical complications resulting from a c-section birth of her daughter, she’s continued to be a force to be reckoned with on the court. She has launched a clothing line and stays active as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, with Serena Ventures where she invests in businesses with diverse founders and doing charity work that benefits causes around the world. GIRL ON FIRE
5. U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team co-captain Alex Morgan is ready to give birth any minute but don’t think that has stopped her from sneaking in impressive workouts to keep her skills game day ready. She was prepared to represent her country in the Tokyo Olympics just three months after having her baby. But with the Olympics being rescheduled it’s a silver lining for Morgan who will have a chance to recover from childbirth and spend some time adjusting to her new role as mom. Although there’s no rest for the weary as she and her teammates continue to fight U.S. Soccer in a legal battle over fair pay. THE GOOD WORK IS NEVER DONE