We Salute You

This Friday we have an extra reason to celebrate - it’s Veterans Day. Thank you to our men and women in uniform and their families for their service and sacrifice.

We are grateful and we salute you,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - It's Friday and that means it's time for a Tailgate Treat. This could be the best chili you've ever had. Fire up the crockpot! RECIPE

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College Basketball

Here we go! College basketball is tipping off the season today with two overseas games. Texas A&M (#25) will take on West Virginia (#11) from Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany and Georgia Tech plays UCLA (University of California – Los Angeles, #21) in Shanghai, China. GAME SCHEDULE

Sticky fingers. While in China for the game, three UCLA players were apparently getting their Christmas “shopping” done early when they were arrested for shoplifting at the Louis Vuitton store. The players are still on “hotel arrest” (think house arrest), therefore will not be playing.

NBA (National Basketball Association)

Blowing into town. The NBA announced that the 2020 All-Star Game will be in Chicago for the first time since 1988. During that 1988 All-Star weekend, Michael Jordan made his iconic dunk from the free throw line. (You’ve seen this dunk photo before).

Overtime

Players on the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) have been very active and vocal about kneeling during the national anthem. To reiterate that it's not about the military, they stood during the anthem before last night's game in honor of Veterans Day.

Sideline stat

You have until tomorrow night to tweet using #SaluteToService to raise money for dedicated military non-profits. The NFL (National Football League) is donating $5 for every tweet using the hashtag as part of their Salute to Service week.

Coaches’ corner

You asked the question and we have the answer. What is targeting in football? It’s not a new term for trips to "Tar Jay," although it is kind of catchy.

Targeting is when a football player uses the crown of their head to make forcible contact or forcible contact is made to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent. These rules were put into place to protect players from concussions and head trauma. MORE INFO

The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up Edition

Valentine’s Day weekend brought us Kobe Bryant, Ronda Rousey and painted on swimsuits. Yes, three things we never thought we’d mention in the same sentence.

The No. 24 car raced again and Vaughn Taylor shared that his bags fly free.

We’ve reached our cruising altitude,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Golf

• Defying the odds. Vaughn Taylor beat the Phil Mickelson at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am yesterday. This win surprised everyone including Taylor, who hadn’t brought home a PGA win in a decade and carried on his luggage on his flight to the tournament to save money on baggage fees.  

NBA All-Star Game (National Basketball Association) 

• In a battle of East vs West, the West reigned supreme in this year’s NBA All-Star Game, winning 196-173 in Toronto.
• This was the first ever All-Star Game outside of the U.S. The game also set a record for the highest scoring All-Star Game in NBA history. 
• This was Kobe Bryant’s last All-Star Game since he’s retiring at the end of the season.
• What no Biebs? Canada’s elite came out to catch the game with appearances by rapper Drake and Nelly Furtado, who sung her country’s national anthem.
• Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook took home his second game MVP title.
• In a battle of levitation, Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon was defeated by two-time slam dunk champ, Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gordon had a killer dunk through his legs and over the head of the Magic’s mascot, Stuff, which was one of the best dunks we’ve seen. Apparently the judges did not agree. (Full disclosure, our LNG team has no game and cannot dunk). 

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue

• Yellow polka dot bikini. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue made history this weekend by revealing not only one but three cover models. The cover models include plus-size model Ashley Graham, rookie Hailey Clauson and UFC fighter Ronda Rousey (in a painted on swimsuit, literally). 

Also included in the edition is 56-year-old Nicole Griffin, the oldest model to be featured in the annual publication. Griffin stars in a swimwear ad inside the magazine. 

Overtime

• There was big air at the Green Monster. Iconic Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, hosted Big Air at Fenway, a U.S. Grand Prix and part of the International Ski Federation's (FIS) World Cup tour. The athletes saw competitors fly down a 140-foot-tall ramp built on the field.

Sideline Stat

• In NASCAR news, 20-year-old Chase Elliot became the youngest driver to win the pole position for the Daytona 500. Taking over for recently retired driver Jeff Gordon, Chase drives Gordon’s No. 24 car. Chase is also the son of NASCAR Hall of Famer, Bill Elliott. The Daytona 500 is next Sunday. This race is one of the most iconic races in NASCAR.  

Coaches’ Corner

• What is pole position in racing? The pole position is the number one position to start the race. Drivers have to qualify beforehand by driving the track. Typically, the driver with the fastest time from qualifying is slotted into the pole position.