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The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition

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It’s finally Friday and we’re revved up for this weekend’s Daytona 500. Boxer Manny Pacquiao had a rough week and find out why the NBA’s Steve Novak is feeling a bit like Taylor Swift with yet another breakup.

Shake it off,

The Last Night’s Game Team

Boxing

  • Total knockout. Nike announced they have cut ties with boxer Manny Pacquiao over comments he made that same-sex couples are “worse than animals.” Pacquiao later apologized for his comments while wearing his Nike gear. Nike called his comments “abhorrent” and said farewell. Pacquiao is running for a Senate seat in Philippines (he's currently a member of the House of Representatives) and is scheduled to retire after his next fight against Timothy Bradley on April 9th. His last fight was a loss to Floyd Mayweather in May 2015.

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)

  • Gentlemen start your engines. The starting lineup for this year's Daytona 500 race has been determined. The most notable is, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who is starting third place. This year’s running marks the 15th anniversary of the death of his father, driver Dale Earnhardt, at the same track. For the full starting grid click here. You can catch the Daytona 500 live on Sunday at Noon (EST) on FOX. 

NBA (National Basketball Association)

  • Yawn. The NBA trade deadline was Thursday at 3 pm (EST). On most accounts it was uneventful. View the ESPN trade tracker here. 
  • Go team? NBA veteran Steve Novak has been traded numerous times over the past few years.  His most recent trade warranted this photo on Twitter of his son’s confused team spirit with the caption “Knicks hoop, Thunder jersey, and Jazz shorts...and you wonder why the lil homie is confused! #TradeDeadline.“ Novak was traded from Oklahoma City Thunder to Denver Nuggets. 

NFL (National Football League)

  • Horsing around. After a 12-year career Carolina Panthers defensive end Jared Allen announced his retirement with a video of his ride off into the sunset. Cue Mother Nature.

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

  • Howdy partner. Two fighters with the nickname “Cowboy” battle in the main event to see who keeps the nickname. The fight features Donal “Cowboy” Cerrone vs Alex “Cowboy” Oliviera at welterweight (170 pounds) live Sunday night on Fox Sports One at 9 pm (EST).

Overtime

  • University of Miami Hurricanes head coach, Mark Richt, has offered a scholarship to eighth grade quarterback Harrison Bailey. Bailey would be part of the 2020 recruiting class and is already 6’3” and 175 pounds. Apparently early scholarship offers are not as far fetched as we think with LeBron James’ son reportedly received scholarship offers at 10-years-old. 

Sideline Stat

  • Major League Baseball’s (MLB) spring training has begun with pitchers and catchers reporting for duty this week. The boys of summer are back.

Coaches’ Corner

  • What is the trade deadline? The trade deadline is the last day where teams can make a trade to improve their roster for the last half of the season and hopefully the playoffs. Teams are not allowed to make any trades with other teams after the trade deadline. Period. 

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

It’s a one-track mind this weekend in sports with the the Super Bowl on Sunday. We’re your one-stop shop with everything from the anthem singer to the line so you can place your bets. We also included our favorite hummus recipe for your party.

Yep, we’re that good,

The LNG Team

Super Bowl 50

Game time

  • 3:30 pm (PST)/6:30 (EST)
  • (Pregame shows start at 9 am (EST) on NFL Network and 2 pm (EST) on CBS)

Line

National Anthem

  • Lady Gaga

Halftime

  • Coldplay and Beyoncé

Key players to watch

  • This game is really all about the quarterbacks but other key players (who were all selected for, but did not play in, the Pro Bowl) include:

Panthers - linebacker Luke Kuechly, running backs Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert Denver - cornerbacks Chris Harris and Aqib Talib, and linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware

By the Numbers

  • The game is being played at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, CA - 50 miles from San Francisco
  • According to CNN, the face value of the cheapest ticket is $850. (USD)
  • Americans buy an estimated 8.6 televisions for the game.  
  • The age difference between the two starting quarterbacks, Peyton Manning (39) and Cam Newton (26) is the largest between starting quarterbacks in Super Bowl History. The difference is 13 years and 48 days.
  • During the game, Americans are estimated to consume:

NBA (National Basketball Association)  

  • Kick ‘em where it counts. San Antonio Spurs veteran Manu Ginobili will undergo what is delicately being described as “testicle surgery,” after taking a knee to that region. He’ll be out at least four weeks. You think?

NHL (National Hockey League)  

  • Penalty box. Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman has been suspended by NHL for 20 games for making contact with an official. Wideman stands to lose $564,516.20 in salary. (That’s 564 pairs of Christian Louboutin heels). For the record, Wideman was diagnosed with concussion from hit he took right before he struck the official. Wideman is appealing the ruling.

NFL (National Football League)

  • Guilty by association. Denver Broncos rookie safety Ryan Murphy sent back to Denver after being detained in part of a prostitution sting. Murphy was not charged and released on the scene. Indications are that it was Murphy’s brother, who was detained. Talk about the wrong place at the wrong time.
  • And the award goes to. The NFL MVP will be announced during the Honors Awards Ceremony on Saturday at 9 pm (EST) on CBS.  

Overtime

  • If you’re looking for some additional game excitement, Carolina Panthers have a Spanish broadcast team that makes the games as exciting as a soccer game 

Sideline Stat

  • Carolina Panthers super fan and Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry scored 51 points in their win against Wizards (final score 134-121). He tied his career high and the franchise record with 11-three pointers.

Coaches’ corner

  • Carolina Panthers left tackle (which is a position on the offensive line, next to the center) is Michael Oher. Oher was the inspiration for the movie “The Blind Side,” starring Sandra Bullock.  
 

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