The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition - Sack 'em Sunday

It’s the first weekend of NFL football. Whether you’re cheering for the Bears or Eagles or simply here for the beer, we have everything you need to know to show them who’s boss. Oh and don’t forget to set your fantasy football team.

I’ll take a cold one,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS – It’s our new football Friday tradition and today’s tailgate treat is courtesy of super fan Lindsay. Here's her recipe for slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches with slaw.

---

NFL (National Football League)

• Rematch. Last night marked the first game of the NFL season and it happened to be a rematch of last season's Super Bowl. The Denver Broncos and their new quarterback Trevor Siemian proved they still have what it takes to win without Peyton Manning, taking home a win against the Carolina Panthers.  
• You asked and we delivered the answers to those stubborn football questions that stump you. Click here for our football FAQ. 

NCAA Football (College)

• He’s got wheels. ESPN’s College GameDay is heading to Bristol Motor Speedway for Saturday’s broadcast…of a NASCAR race? No, the NASCAR track has been transformed into a football field to host Tennessee vs Virginia Tech. Crews had 19 days to turn the track infield into a quality football field. At the game they’re expecting to host the biggest college football crowd ever - 150,000 people.
• When is your team playing? Find out here.  

Soccer

• On Saturday, two crosstown rivals battle in the English Premier League - Manchester City vs Manchester United. This is slated to be the most expensive game in soccer history with player values topping £685 million ($912 million USD). 

NBA (National Basketball Association)

• Welcome. 2016 NBA Hall of Fame class will be inducted today. This year’s class is led by Shaquille O’Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson.

Olympics

• The sentencing. The penalties for the swimmers involved in the infamous gas station incident in Rio have been decided. Ryan Lochte has been suspended for 10 months and the other three swimmers have been suspended for four months. It may not sound like a long time considering the Summer Olympics are four years away but here is what they won’t be able to do:
  • Not allowed to attend the White House visit with Team U.S.A.
  • They will not receive their monthly stipend
  • No access to Olympic training centers
  • Lochte will forfeit his $100,000 bonus money from winning gold

Tennis

• So long Serena. Serena Williams was hoping to win her 23rd career Grand Slam Championship at the U.S. Open. Those dreams were crushed when Williams was defeated by Karolina Pliskova in the semifinals. Pliskova also knocked out Serena’s sister Venus, becoming just the fourth person to defeat both sisters in the same Grand Slam event.  Pliskova will face Angelique Kerber in the finals.

Overtime

• Many said it was a long shot when former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow tried out in front of MLB (Major League Baseball) scouts, but it seems that his hard work has paid off. Tebow signed a minor league deal to play for the New York Mets. Don’t expect him on the Mets roster yet, he’ll start his career off in their instructional league in September.

Sideline stat

• This will be the first time since 1997 that the NFL has a kickoff weekend without Tom Brady or Peyton Manning playing. Manning retired after last season and Brady is suspended for four games for “deflategate.”

Coaches’ corner

• There’s a lot of talk about quarterbacks and wide receivers but there are many players who make up a football team. Today’s unsung hero goes to the long snapper. You may only hear about this position when something goes wrong on a field goal, extra point or punt. This is a specialized player comes in to hike the ball for any kind of kick that requires longer distance snaps. Check out all the backward action here. 
  

The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition - Tailgate Treat

With an action packed weekend of sports and Labor Day BBQ’s ahead, we have all you need to know to celebrate the unofficial last weekend of the summer.

Pass the sunscreen please,

The Last Night’s Game Team

Ps - Every Friday during football season we’ll feature a favorite tailgate recipe to try over the weekend. Today’s is one that’ll be nice to your waistline - roasted red pepper hummus. Have a recipe you’d like us to feature? Submit it here.

---

NCAA Football (College)

• Controversial choice. Penn State is set to honor former head coach Joe Paterno on the 50-year anniversary of his coaching debut - September 17. Paterno's storied career ended because of his part in a vile scandal involving Jerry Sandusky. Paterno, who passed away in 2012, was the winningest coach in FBS (division one) history.
• Inspired for sure. Heading into the fourth quarter the Tennessee Volunteers (#9) were down against an unranked Appalachian State. Known for pulling off upset games, Appalachian State couldn’t hold on and the Vols took home the win. No doubt the team was inspired by the late, great Pat Summitt. The team is honoring the former Vols coach with a sticker on their helmets this season. Summitt, who passed away earlier this year, is the winningest coach in all of division one college basketball, men or women’s.
• For the full weekend schedule, click here. 

NFL (National Football League)

• The need for speed. Reminiscent of when Goose and Maverick staged a tower flyby in Top Gun, four pilots buzzed the Carolina Panthers practice field. The pilots are under investigation for being awesome. Okay, not really but they are under investigation.  
• Funny guy. Peyton Manning is staying busy in retirement. Manning is a roaster in “The Roast of Rob Lowe” on Comedy Central. You can see him burn Lowe on Monday, September 5th at 10 pm.

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)

• Always a silver lining. The qualifying race leading into Sunday’s big race has been cancelled due to Hurricane Hermine. The good news is that the forecast looks clear for the race on Sunday, where the field will be set by points (since there was no qualifying). The even better news is that during the race NBC will be celebrating the 1975-1984 era of racing with old school race cars and the announcers’ will dress accordingly. Bring on the mullets, big mustaches and short shorts.

Overtime

• NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley recently had hip replacement surgery and was ordered not to travel. Barkley ignored those orders when he heard that NBA sideline reporter Craig Sager’s wife came down with the flu and could not be in the hospital during Sager’s third bone marrow transplant in his battle with leukemia. Barkley, not one to care what anyone thinks, flew to Houston to show support for the ailing Sager.

Sideline stat

• Sunday’s F1 race comes to us from the famed Monza racetrack in Italy, where the competition for the top driver has become a two-man race between leader Lewis Hamilton and teammate Nico Rosberg (who trails in the standings by nine points). Another driver to watch - Like most 18-year-old drivers, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has come under fire for his driving style after a collision on the first lap of last week’s race.

Coaches' corner

• Why are there so many coaches on the sideline during a football game? While it may look like a lot of people in polo shirts standing around watching a game, they all serve a purpose. All teams have a head coach and a coach for offense, defense and special teams. Some have one for every position on the field.  

You’ll also see graduate assistants, trainers, analysts and strength coaches who all have a role in helping the team win. If you think there are a lot of people on the field, there are also coaches in the press box coordinating the game from above.

The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition - Gridiron from the Land Down Under

It’s almost been a week since the Olympics ended and while we’re still mourning the loss of the most patriotic excuse to sit on the couch for hours at a time. There is a ray of hope as another valid excuse is around the corner. Football season.

College football kicks off tonight. Hold onto your hats, here we go.

Calling the plays,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS – After learning five things about fantasy football on Wednesday have you decided to take the plunge and start your own fantasy football team? If so, make sure to check out our simple fantasy football 101 before drafting your team.

---

NFL (National Football League)

• Filed under 'R' for Raiders. The Oakland Raiders have filed a trademark application for the name “Las Vegas Raiders,” which is another step toward their move to Las Vegas from Oakland.

Soccer

• A model athlete. Not only does he look like a male supermodel (look out Derek Zoolander) but he’s a really talented athlete. Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo was named the UEFA best player in Europe, joining Lionel Messi as only player win that distinction twice.
• If you can’t say something nice. U.S.A. women’s goalie Hope Solo’s national team contract has been terminated along with a six-month suspension from U.S. women's soccer team (i.e. would not be eligible for selection to the team but can renegotiate in six months). Solo has a history of getting into trouble but the straw that broke the camel’s back was calling Sweden “cowards” after they beat team U.S.A. in the Olympics.

NASCAR (National Association For Stock Car Auto Racing)

• Vroom. The boys are racing at Michigan International Speedway this weekend. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is out at least two more weeks with concussion-like symptoms. His previous stand in, former driver Jeff Gordon, had already made commitments this weekend so Alex Bowman will be filling in.

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

• No such luck. President Dana White announced that Ronda Rousey will not fight on the much anticipated New York fight card in November. This is a highly touted event because New York was the last state in the U.S.A. to legalize MMA fighting. Rousey has not fought since losing her title last November.

F1 (Formula One Racing)

• Back to work. Back with a nice golden tan from their summer break, the drivers of F1 will be racing in Belgium this Sunday. To recap, Lewis Hamilton is in the lead in the standings, followed closely by teammate Nico Rosberg.

Overtime

• The Arizona Coyotes made history, hiring Dawn Braidas the first ever full-time woman NHL (hockey) coach. She was part-time last year and will now be the team’s full-time skating coach. 

Sideline stat

• College football kicks off today with Cal and Hawaii playing their season opener tonight in Sydney, Australia. This is the first American football game, aka "gridiron" to the Aussies, in Australia since 1987. Why Australia you ask? Sbnation.com highlights the chance for the teams to re-introduce the sport to the country (only 7,600 fans attended the 1987 game), make some money, open up the doors to new recruits and for TV rights (see making money).  

Coaches’ Corner

• Ryan Lochte may have a new coach. No, it's not swimming but dancing. Ryan Lochte is reportedly the newest member of Dancing with the Stars which will debut on September 12. We hear he does a great tango around the truth.