Hello Old Friend
How a male athlete found out he was pregnant, why the Biebs was enshrined on a baseball card and Tom Brady is going to be around for awhile?
Monday, we meet again.
Fresh start,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
He may be the oldest quarterback and third oldest player in the NFL, but Tom Brady is showing no sign of slowing down. The QB, who turned 42 last week, signed a two-year, $70 million contract extension with the New England Patriots. He may be “old” but the six-time Super Bowl champion has been relatively healthy besides an ACL tear in 2008. FITNESS GOALS
Overtime
Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Indians (MLB - Major League Baseball) has spent much of his life in the shadow of pop star Justin Bieber. The pitcher made a name for himself, becoming the American League MVP in last month’s all-star game and one of the best in the game. That didn’t stop Topps baseball cards from a misprint on his baseball card, calling him Justin. The baseball playing Bieber thought it was hilarious and according to their Twitter conversation, the other Bieber did too. TOO LATE TO SAY SORRY?
Sideline stat
The NFL regular season kicks off in 31 days but that’s not stopping Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield from continuing the tradition of NFL players chugging beer on the big screen. Hyping up fans at a Cleveland Indians game (MLB), he joined his fellow football players and shotgunned a beer once he was put on the big screen. SURELY IT’S PART OF HIS TRAINING REGIMEN
Coaches’ corner
Well this is awkward. A European basketball player, D.J. Cooper, was suspended by FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball) after his drug test revealed he was pregnant. Cooper is not some freak of nature but used his girlfriend’s urine to pass a drug test. It was likely she had no idea that she was pregnant when he tried to pass her sample for his own. ALL IN THE FAMILY
What to watch
On Wednesday, ESPN2 will yet again transform into ESPN8: The Ocho. The channel, inspired by “Dodgeball: The Movie,” will feature obscure sporting events (think Stupid Robot League and lawn mower racing). We’ll cover the big day in Wednesday’s Five Things To Know but if you want a head start on all the action, check out the special edition of the Sports Curious Podcast. LISTEN UP
The Rundown: National Championship Game Special Edition
We haven’t had that much fun on a Monday night since Margarita Monday was invented. The battle between the top two teams in college football during last night’s National Championship game did not disappoint.
Grab your coffee and read on for the game highlights.
Alabama for the win,
The LNG Team
College Football Playoff National Championship Game
Alabama Crimson Tide 45 vs University of Clemson Tigers 40
- Game notes
- This game was full of momentum swings and it was an extremely competitive game between two of the NCAA’s best teams.
- Heisman Trophy winner, Derrick Henry (Alabama) proved he’s got game by scoring three touchdowns.
- Special teams made the difference in the game. An onside kick and a kickoff return for a touchdown sealed the win for Alabama. (“Special teams” refers the squad of specialists who are used for punts, kickoffs and other special plays.)
- Alabama tight end, O.J. Howard scored two touchdowns last night. Prior to this game he had not scored a touchdown since 2013.
- Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson had a great game and accounted for 478 of his team’s 550 yards.
- It was an emotional night for Alabama quarterback Jake Coker. He has had a college football career that includes losing his starting place to a future Heisman Trophy winner, a school transfer, losing his starting job again and then earning it back. It was a bittersweet win for Coker as his brother, Patrick, is serving in the Air Force in the Middle East and was unable to be at the game but he did watch it on TV. Jake called his brother his hero and an inspiration.
- This was Alabama’s fourth title in seven seasons and head coach Nick Saban’s fifth title of his career.
- Key Play
- Alabama head coach, Nick Saban, pulled out a trick play in the fourth quarter that swung the momentum in favor of Alabama. Alabama went for an onside kick and recovered it.
Overtime
- Ciara, girlfriend of Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback, Russell Wilson, sang the National Anthem and looked stunning (and controversial) in white.
Sideline Stat
- With 12 seconds left in the game, Clemson scored what some might think was a meaningless touchdown to make it 45-40. It was not meaningless if you bet on the game in Las Vegas. The “spread” had Alabama favored by seven points (meaning they had to win by more than seven points). That last second touchdown caused many to lose their bet. This is known as getting "back doored," when a meaningless score at end of game ruins the spread.
Wynn Sportsbook Director Johnny Avello told ESPN that in Vegas alone, an estimated $10 million swung from one side to the other with the late touchdown by the Tigers.
Coaches’ Corner
- What’s the Heisman? The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award (or The Heisman for short) is awarded every season to the most outstanding player in US college football whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity, according to Heisman.com. This award is not exclusive to one academic year – it is open to all eligible players. The winner is chosen by three categories of voters:
- Sports journalists
- Previous Heisman winners.
- Fans. A partnership with Nissan gives the fans a vote. Votes are tabulated through an ESPN survey and the fan vote constitutes one vote.
You’ll probably recognize a lot of the previous winners as they star in the funny “Nissan Heisman House” commercials. Are you intrigued and want to learn more or see the full list? Click here to check it out.