Easy On Me

It's a Monday, the day after Halloween and the first of November - that's enough shock value for today so we're here to make the rest of the day easy.


Highest hopes,
The Last Night's Game Team

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NFL (National Football League)

On the same day that Philadelphia Eagles Lane Johnson spoke out about his crippling battle with anxiety and depression, Calvin Ridley of the Atlanta Falcons announced that he is stepping away from the game to focus on his mental health. Johnson opened up in an interview that he missed three games in October because he was "living in hell for a long time." His battle with his anxiety and depression gave him hand tremors and daily nausea, which resulted in him throwing up blood.

Johnson's interview and Ridley's announcement continue to contribute to the open discussion around mental health, including for athletes. MAY IT CONTINUE

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Short and Sweet

• Aaron Rodgers grew his hair out for his Halloween costume, but was it worth it?

• The sports world mourns the loss of the son of broadcaster Ernie Johnson, who passed at the age of 33.

• It's down to four in NASCAR's (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) Championship.

• The Houston Astros (MLB - Major League Baseball) survive elimination by the Atlanta Braves and head back home for Game Six of the World Series tomorrow.

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Before we go

Until yesterday, quarterback Trevor Siemian's career highlight might have been the Skittles-distributing parkas gifted during the holidays. In yesterday's game, he stepped in for an injured Jameis Winston to lead his New Orleans Saints (NFL) to a momentous victory over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He said he received 200+ congratulatory texts, and joked most were from his mom. LIFE'S MOMENTS

Walk This Way

Don’t follow, lead the sports conversation right into the weekend.

Channel that Friday feeling,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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MLB (Major League Baseball)

Express yourself. It’s Players' Weekend this weekend and that means it’s a chance for the players to express themselves using their nicknames on the back of their specially designed jerseys, wear individualized custom cleats and hot glue thank you patches to someone who has impacted their career on their jerseys. (Okay we made up the hot glue part). Joey "Pico de" Gallo and Shane "Not Justin" Bieber are just two of the winners in the nickname department to look forward to this weekend. CREATE YOUR OWN MLB NICKNAME  

 

Overtime

Oakland Raiders (NFL – National Football League) player Marshawn Lynch has long been obsessed with Skittles, eating them during games and even wearing custom Skittles cleats. This week, the candy company made Lynch the first athlete ever to be featured on a Skittles bag and subsequently shipped him a whole boatload of his special edition candy that he rolled around in gleefully. TASTE THE RAINBOW

 

Sideline stat

The prize money for the matchup between golfers Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods is set. The veteran golfers will play each other Thanksgiving weekend in Las Vegas for a cool $9 million. As expected, the two have begun trash talking on Twitter, which Mickelson recently joined. GRUMPY OLD MEN

Coaches’ corner

In a sweet story that we never want to see, 11-year-old Caleb Hammond has terminal cancer. The big NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) fan took to Twitter to ask for racing stickers so he can decorate his casket. Race car drivers everywhere, including a slew of NASCAR drivers, have stepped up, shipping him autographed items, stickers, and even taking him for a ride in a race car. HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP

What to watch

This weekend is all about the Little League Baseball World Series. Saturday, the teams from Georgia and Hawaii will face off to determine the winner of the U.S. bracket. The winner of that game will play the winner of the international bracket (Japan or South Korea) on Sunday for the title of the best in the world. BREAK OUT THE CRACKER JACKS

5 Strange Summertime Sports Superstitions

When routines cross the line.

Off-the-wall and conversation ready,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Five Strange Summertime Sports Superstitions

1. Just in time for the World Cup, England’s Jamie Vardy ditched his habits of nicotine pouches, drinking half a bottle of port wine on the night before a game and his concoction of Skittles and vodka. Although, he won’t break his routine of three Red Bulls on gameday and black coffee. NO ONE IS PERFECT

2. Mississippi State’s baseball team is all about the rally banana. One of their players ate a banana in their big win in a regional qualifier game and now the team is playing in their first College World Series. The demand for banana themed merchandise in the state has gone through the roof and even Dole and Chiquita have jumped on board the banana wagon, showing their support for the team. THIS SH*T IS BANANAS

3. Hockey’s Sidney Crosby has so many ‘traditions’ that we can’t list them all. Some include wearing the same jock strap for years and not calling or seeing his mom or his sister on gameday because every time he does, he ends up with an injury. PHONE HOME

4. Portugal captain and soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo must be the last one to leave the locker room and he always puts his right foot on the field first. BEST FOOT FORWARD

5. Anyone who has ever slipped into a pair of Spanx knows a good undergarment is the foundation of success and that brings us to the golden thong.  The golden thong was worn by former MLB (Major League Baseball) player Jason Giambi to help him break out of hitting slumps. Rumor has it that said tiny undergarment was left in the lockers of his teammates and they all began to hit well. WASH ME

It’s getting good now

What do nudity, a Russian beer shortage and the future of a sport have in common? They’re the top three things everyone is talking about in the sports world today. READ