The Proof Is In The Pudding
Why one football player is running with the bulls, this is it for Wimbledon and the NBA has the experts all confused.
No question, it’s Friday. Take your weekend to the next level with today’s wisdom.
Knowledge is power,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
In another blockbuster trade, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded away their star player, Russell Westbrook, to the Houston Rockets. Why is this a big deal? The tides keep shifting for next season with big moves from the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers (to name a few) and now the Rockets. There’s no telling what could happen next season. THE EXPERTS ALL AGREE…THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT’S GOING ON
Overtime
The off-season workout routine for Josh Norman of the Washington Redskins (NFL – National Football League) is a little more ballsy than most. Not sure how this doesn’t violate the “things you shouldn’t do so you don’t hurt yourself too badly” clause in his contract, but watch Norman run with (and hurdle) the bulls in Pamplona, Spain this week. AT LEAST THE PILATES MAT WON’T GORE YOU
Sideline Stat
Rufus the Hawk is going to be very busy protecting the skies over Wimbledon this weekend. First the “Big 3” - Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are playing in the semifinals today. Serena Williams will play Simona Halep in the women’s singles finals on Saturday. If Williams wins, she will tie the all-time record for the most Grand Slam titles at 24. (There are four major tournaments that qualify as “Grand Slams” in tennis. Wimbledon is one of them). WILL THERE BE ANOTHER ROYALS SIGHTING?
PS – Don’t know why Rufus the Hawk is such a big deal? Check out Five Things You Need To Know About Wimbledon.
Coaches’ Corner
Because why not? Robot umpires debuted at the Minor League Baseball All-Star Game this week. The robotic system is thought to speed up the game because there will be a consistent strike zone so players won’t waste time arguing balls and strikes. Imagine all of the carefully choreographed heckling that is now going to fall on deaf (or no) ears. WHAT’S NEXT? A ROBOT BEER VENDOR ROAMING THE STANDS?
Ace This - The 5 Things You Need To Know About Wimbledon
Because wearing your Wimbledon whites without the fear of bird poop is where it’s at.
Give yourself the upper hand when talking about summer whites, equal pay and grunting.
A jack of all trades,
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. The oldest tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon, starts on July 1. It’s the only Grand Slam Tournament (one of four during the season) that takes place on a grass court. GET OFF MY LAWN
2. While the tourney isn’t generous with their trophies, they are progressive when it comes to equal pay. For the eighth year in a row, the prize money has increased with both the men’s and women’s winner taking home a check for $3.06 million. Although they don’t get the keep the trophy – the winner receives a replica. WIN SOME, LOSE SOME
3. There’s a strict dress code at the prestigious tournament, requiring players to wear all white. And we all know that nothing ruins your summer whites like bird poop. Luckily you don’t have to worry about that at Wimbledon. Rufus is a specially trained hawk that keeps other birds off of the courts. (Seriously, have they thought of everything)? EYES LIKE A HAWK
4. The tennis balls are replaced every seven to nine games to make sure they’re kept in perfect shape. It’s no wonder more than 54,000 tennis balls are used during the two week tournament. But did you know that tennis balls used to be white or black, not yellow? They were changed to yellow to make it easier for the TV viewer to see the ball, but Wimbledon was a late adopter to the color change, waiting until the 80s. HOLY BALLS
5. Grunting is something no longer left to gremlins and grumpy old men. Even the classiest of tennis players vocalize their play. While you may think this is a new thing, Monica Seles and Jimmy Connors are known as the original creators of the tennis grunt. The loudest one on the court? Russia’s Maria Sharapova at 105 decibels – the equivalent of standing next to an accelerating motorcycle. THAT’S NOT AWKWARD AT ALL
Want to be able to dive into the details? Here’s how to speak tennis like the pros and keep score.
Wednesday Wisdom
The office chatter never stops, so jump in by talking about how your dance moves could earn you a gold medal, the catfight between A-Rod and Kylie Jenner and why the lights are still on in Omaha. READ
The Rundown: Fashion-Forward
It’s the weekend to wear white in honor of the Wimbledon finals. Just make sure you plan your undergarments accordingly to avoid a situation like a few Wimbledon players.
Sports are always in fashion,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Wimbledon
- Fashion faux pas. As we mentioned in this week’s Five Things To Know, players at Wimbledon are required to wear all white, skivvies included. In an awkward dress code enforcement situation, a men’s double team was forced to change their underwear before a match.
- One for the books. Venus Williams has advanced to the Wimbledon finals on Saturday where she will take on Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza. Williams will be playing for her sixth Wimbledon championship. If Williams wins, the 37-year-old will be the oldest woman to win in the Open era.
- Reaching for the stars. Roger Federer and Sam Querrey are both playing in the semifinals this morning (in different matches). Querrey is the first American to advance this far in the tournament since 2009. On the other hand, if Federer makes it to the finals on Sunday, he will play for his record eighth Wimbledon title.
College Football
A fearless pioneer. Kansas State football player Scott Frantz has come out as gay. Franz decided to speak out because wanted to "reach out to all the other kids who are just like me." He came out to his teammates and coaches last year and said “I’ve never felt so loved and so accepted ever in my life than when I did that.”
While it’s hard to believe this is news in 2017, there has still never been an openly gay player to play in a regular season NFL (National Football League) game.
Overtime
- Things have gotten a little out of hand at the press tour stops for the Floyd Mayweather (boxing) vs. Conor McGregor (UFC – Ultimate Fighting Championship) fight in August. Yesterday, while fans taunted Mayweather about paying his taxes (he owes a reported $22 million), McGregor took it too far using racial slurs and other degrading language.
Sideline stat
- Forbes released its annual list of most valuable sports franchises. The Dallas Cowboys (NFL) tackle first place, worth $4.2 billion. The New York Yankees (MLB - Major League Baseball) are in second at $3.7 billion. They are followed by international soccer powerhouses Manchester United ($3.69 billion) and FC Barcelona ($3.64 billion). How much is your favorite team worth? Find out.
Coaches’ corner
- What is the ‘Open era’ in tennis? The Open era is when the four Grand Slam tournaments opened up to professional players, not only amateurs, in 1968. Players who travel tournaments and claim prize money are considered professionals.
