The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition
The always perfect date, Last Night’s Game, brings you all you need to know to impress your valentine (or the pizza delivery man) this weekend.
Pepperoni with cheese,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- Give me a break. Signifying the end of the first half of the NBA season, the All-Star break started today and the All-Star Game is this weekend. The second half of the season will resume with games on Thursday.
- In the lead. Cleveland Cavaliers are in first place in the East and the Golden State Warriors in the West.
- Recipe for success. Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry is the reigning MVP and arguably the best player in the league. This was not always the case. When first came into the league had extreme ankle problems and the outlook on his career was dismal. He became the player he is today through hard work and dedication.
- A whole new world. The NBA is taking voting for the MVP of this Sunday’s All-Star Game to the next level. NBA has created emojis for the different players in the game and fans can vote via twitter using the emojis. The TNT broadcasters also have their own emojis, which includes a dig at former player turned TNT broadcaster, Charles Barkley, whose emoji is a donut. Nom nom.
- You can catch All-Star Saturday, which includes the skills competition, three-point contest and slam dunk competition on Saturday at 8:30 pm (EST) on TNT.
- The All-Star Game is on Sunday at 8:30 pm (EST) on TNT.
NCAA BASKETBALL (COLLEGE)
- Practicing some self-restraint. University of Louisville announced a self-imposed post season ban this year. This ban is in hopes of avoiding further penalties from the NCAA. The possible NCAA smackdown stems from an escort scandal which took place from 2010-2014 involving potential recruits.
NFL (National Football League)
- Bad boys need not apply. In an attempt to clean up their image, the NFL announced that prospects with convictions involving weapons, domestic violence and/or sexual offense/sexual assault will not be allowed to participate in the predraft combine. The NFL combine takes place February 26 - 29th.
- Fast wins cash. Adidas is offering any prospect player at the combine $1 million if they break the 40-yard dash record. The current record is 4.24 seconds. Included in the fine print – the athlete must be wearing Adidas shoes.
- Insert foot in mouth. Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was on the Jimmy Fallon Show, where he told an amazing and hilarious story of how he first met a kid from Memphis named Justin (Timberlake).
- Three’s Company? Oakland Raiders announced they have signed a one-year lease agreement to stay in Oakland. The whole NFL relocation-stadium saga is about as intertwined as a telenovela so let's recap. Oakland is third in line for a possible relocation to Los Angeles. The Rams have already committed to move to L.A. and the San Diego Chargers have a year to decide if they too want to move to L.A. and share a stadium with the Rams. If not, the Raiders can make a move. Although according to reports, they really just want to stay in Oakland but need some love (i.e. money) from the City of Oakland.
Soccer
- Victory for the people. Liverpool has announced they will put a price freeze on tickets after an uproar from fans and a staged walkout last week.
- Fancy a date with a soccer player? You can start your Valentine’s Day with one of two big Premier League games this Sunday.
- Arsenal vs Leicester City at 7 am (EST) on NBCSN
- Aston Villa vs Liverpool at 9 am (EST) on NBCSN
- Money isn’t everything. Leicester City is a true Cinderella story. Last year they finished in 14th place and this year they are in first place in the league where they’re beating all the teams with much higher payrolls.
Overtime
- Wrestler Daniel Bryan of the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) has announced he is stepping away from the ring at the age 34 due to concussions. Bryan, who is married to reality TV star and fellow wrestler Brie Bella (one of the Bella Twins and star of the show “Total Divas”), has had a documented 10 concussions thought his career and suffered post-concussion seizures.
Sideline Stat
- Golden State Warriors hold the best record of any NBA team in history for the first half of the season (48-4). They are on pace to set the record for wins in a season. The record is held by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who went 72-10. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was a player on that Bulls team. .
Coaches’ Corner
- What is the NFL combine? The NFL combine is a platform for prospective NFL prospects to participate in various drills and interviews with NFL scouts to improve their visibility and draftability. Prospects can only participate if they’re invited. The NFL Network will be covering the combine live February 26-29th.
The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition
Sunday marks the NFL Conference Championship games. Yes, the last time this season to enjoy multiple football games on one day. I guess it’s back to watching Scandal on your DVR. Darn.
Speaking of DVR, don’t forget to set it to record UFC rock star Ronda Rousey on SNL, with musical guest Selena Gomez, on Saturday.
Grab the popcorn,
The LNG Team
NFL
New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos, 3:05 pm (EST) on CBS
- What are the odds? Patriots -3 (favored by three), over/under 45
- Saved the best for last. This game is most likely final match up of two legendary quarterbacks Tom Brady (Patriots, age 37) and Peyton Manning (Broncos, 39 and expected to retire after this season).
- You never know. The quarterbacks have played each other 17 times and Brady leads series 11-5 but their record is split 2-2 in the playoffs.
- Break out your bikini. Weather not expected to be issue in the game as the forecast calls for a tropical 46° at kick off.
- Trash talk. Denver Broncos defensive players have labeled Tom Brady a crybaby who always complains to referees. The defensive backs also said they were going to aim for Patriots’ 6’6” Tight End Rob Gronkowski’s knees when tackling (Gronkowski was knocked out of a game vs Broncos earlier in the season from a low hit around knees) so Gronkowski fired back with this mature tweet. Dude.
Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers, 6:30 pm (EST) on FOX
- What are the odds? Panthers -3 (favored by three points), over/under 48
- Feels like the first time. This is the first time two Heisman winning quarterbacks have faced each other in the playoffs – Carson Palmer (Cardinals) and Cam Newton (Panthers).
- Same same but different. The teams have a similar make up. Both have high scoring offenses and strong defenses.
- Break out the stilettos. Panthers’ field was in poor condition last week and it could play a factor in this weekend’s. The players have had a hard time getting traction and most will be wearing longer cleats than usual.
The winners of each game will play each other in Super Bowl 50 on February 7th in Levi Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers.
- Take that glass ceiling. Buffalo Bills make history by hiring the first full-time female coach, Kathryn Smith, as Special Teams Quality Control Coach.
NBA
- You da man! The starters for the NBA All-Star game, as voted by the fans, have been announced.
West
- Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers - leading vote getter for the NBA. He announced that he will retire after this season.
- Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder – 2013-2014 MVP. He gave a moving speech about his mom in his MVP acceptance speech.
- Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs - first time starter and 2014 NBA Finals MVP
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors - reigning NBA MVP
- Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder - reigning NBA All-Star game MVP
East
- LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers - leading vote getter for the Eastern Conference
- Paul George, Indiana Pacers – George had a miraculous comeback after breaking his leg in a 2014 USA basketball scrimmage.
- Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks - 10-time All-Star
- Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat – 2006 NBA Finals MVP, Miami Heat all-time scorer and married to actress Gabrielle Union
- Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors - A tweet of support from fellow Canadian Justin Bieber gave him enough votes to become a starter.
The game is February 14th in Toronto, Canada.
Overtime
- Colorado State Rams’ (CSU) Junior Emmanuel Omogbo is learning the power of sports. Omogbo received word that his parents and two-year-old niece and nephew passed away in a house fire on Tuesday. He insisted on playing in the game on Wednesday. He received the game ball after the CSU win even though he only scored one point. CSU started a Go Fund Me Page to help cover expenses. Word got out about the tragedy and Omogbo’s humble appreciation for the support his team and school provided. As of this morning the fund has raised $84,480 from 1,619 donors with a goal of $100,000. (In case you’re wondering the NCAA has ruled he can only use the money for expenses directly related to tragedy).
Sideline Stat
- If it’s free, it’s for me. FOX will be broadcasting a free fight on Saturday night at 8 pm (EST).
The main event, features Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero vs Danny "Swift" Garcia.The 147 weight class is without a champion after Floyd Mayweather retired.
Coaches Corner
- NFC vs AFC? The NFL has two conferences, the NFC and AFC. The NFC is the National Football Conference and the AFC is the Atlantic Football Conference. Each conference consists of 16 teams. The Broncos and Patriots are playing for the AFC title rights and Cardinals and Panthers for the NFC’s.