LAST NIGHT'S GAME 2/25/20 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 2/25/20

The XFL - The League You Didn't Know You Needed

The only five things you need to know about the newest kid on the block and their rebel ways to make the game more entertaining.

What if we told you there’s a new league out that make games faster, more fun and give you, the fan, a behind the scenes look? Well that’s exactly what the XFL is doing for football.

Giving you what you didn’t know you needed,

The Last Night’s Game Team

1. You’re thinking “haven’t I seen this before?” and the answer is yes. Vince McMahon (WWE – World Wrestling Entertainment) founded the XFL in 2001 and the league only played one season. The focus wasn’t football but entertainment, violence and cheerleaders. McMahon is fronting the cash for the league himself and he’s expecting to lose $375 million over the first three seasons to get the league back off the ground. (In case you're wondering, according to Forbes he is worth $2.1 billion). WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

FYI - The ‘X’ in XFL doesn’t actually stand for anything.

2. Now the league, which features former NFL (National Football League) and college football players, is back and the focus is on giving fans unprecedented access to the game during the broadcast. You'll see on the field interviews with players during the game (who are usually out of breath and known to drop f-bombs). On the broadcast you can listen in to the plays being called down to the players on the field. You can also spy on the referees and their communication with their replay team on questioned calls which is interesting and sometimes hilarious. INVESTING FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT

3. They’ve embraced their ability to think outside the box on the field, but also to the benefit of their sponsors. The players celebrate their wins by chugging Bud Light Seltzer. GATORADE SHOWERS ARE FOR BABIES

4. Did you know in the NFL (National Football League) the only offensive player with communication in their helmet is the quarterback? (One defensive player also receives coach communication). In an effort to speed up the game, the majority of the players on the field in the XFL can hear the plays being relayed from their coaches. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

5. And if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. That’s what the XFL says about betting on their games. Even though they’ve benefitted from fantasy sports, other professional sports leagues have fought the expansion of betting. The XFL is encouraging it, even asking their broadcasters to bring it up during the game. They consulted bookmakers on the new rules and are “leaning in” to sports betting to give the fans what they want. (For our sports betting 101, click here). GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT

Note - We’re two weeks into the season and all the signs say the league will be around for a while, unlike the AAF (Alliance of American Football) that folded mid-season. You can see the eight XFL teams battle it out every weekend for the next eight weeks, with two weeks of playoffs after that.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME 1/26/18 LAST NIGHT'S GAME 1/26/18

Come Here Often?

After a long week, Friday is here. Whoop it up this weekend while you show off your sports curious conversation skills.

Delivered for your enjoyment,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - It's the second to last Tailgate Treat this season and this one is guaranteed to make you hungry. Want us to feature your favorite party recipe in our Friday Super Bowl edition? Submit it here.

Olympics

When you’ve had it up to here. The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) is laying the smackdown on U.S.A. Gymnastics (USAG). They gave the entire USAG board six days to resign or the federation will be decertified. The USOC stated that “Our position comes from a clear sense that the USAG culture needs fundamental rebuilding.” This comes on the heels of the sentencing of former USAG/Michigan State doctor Larry Nassar to 40-175 years for multiple sex crimes.

NFL (National Football League)

When you get a seat at the big kids' table. The best in the NFL will play this Sunday in the Pro Bowl (the NFL’s All-Star Game). While some players choose to opt out of playing in the game after a long season to avoid injury and players from the two Super Bowl teams (Patriots and Eagles) are ineligible to play, it's still a good game because there’s cash on the line. The players on the winning team take home a $64,000 check and the losers $32,000.

Overtime

Last night CBS hosted the Most Valuable Performer show, a talent show featuring NFL players. The winner was Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker who sang opera. He brought down the house with his rendition of Ave Maria, winning $50,000 for the charity of his choice, the Baltimore School For Arts. Unlike most of us, he could actually quit his day job. WATCH

Sideline stat

A cool $1 million is on the line on Sunday. The NHL (National Hockey League) All-Star game isn’t one game but a three-on-three player tournament with the winning team splitting a $1 million prize.

Coaches’ Corner

Yesterday, Vince McMahon (yes that McMahon from WWE – Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment) announced he’s bringing back the XFL (Xtreme Football League). The XFL was around for one season in 2001 and for all intents and purposes, it was a joke. The league will be relaunched in 2020 and McMahon stressed that no one will be allowed to play if they have a criminal record, even a DUI - a switch from how the XFL was run before. As expected, Twitter had an absolute field day suggesting potential team names. If you’d like to know why this matters to you, let us explain.

We like to keep these emails short and sweet for you but there’s always so much more happening in the world of sports. Keep up with us on Twitter to continue the conversation.