The Rundown: Soccer, Football and Earthquakes! Oh my!

It’s Friday!  

Mic drop,

The Last Night’s Game Team  

PS - Now that your Thanksgiving leftovers have been demolished, here's an easy Tailgate Treat to fill bellies at a football game or holiday party. 

NCAA Football (College)

  • Almost there. This weekend is when the College Football Conference Championships take place. This means conference teams play for the winning title and hopefully a better postseason bowl game. There are too many big games for us to cover so you can find out the scoop on each game here.  

NFL (National Football League)

  • I put a spell on you. New England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski is out for the season as he will undergo back surgery today. Fans believe his injury is due to the “Madden Curse” which refers to the Madden Football video game. In the history of the video game, a significant number of players who were featured on the cover of the game have suffered season ending injuries. Although this is Gronkowski’s third back surgery by the ripe old age of 27.

NBA (National Basketball Association)

  • All hail King James. LeBron James has been named Sports Illustrated's "2016 Sportsperson of the Year.” He joins Tiger Woods as the only athlete to receive this honor twice. James was named not only for bringing the City of Cleveland its first major professional sports team championship in 52 years with the Cavaliers, but for his outstanding efforts in the community.

Soccer

  • Futbol fun. The biggest rivalry in soccer takes place on Saturday between Spain’s top two teams - Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. These two teams are led by the biggest stars in soccer - Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) and Lionel Messi (Barcelona). The game, known as “El Classico,” is being played for the 114th year. Madrid currently holds a big lead over Barcelona in league standings. Want more? Click here.  

MLB (Major League Baseball)

  • Welcome home. Major League Baseball agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association to avoid a lockout (i.e. a strike). One of the main points in the agreement removed awarding World Series home-field advantage to the winning league in the All-Star Game. Now that will be decided by the team in the World Series with the best record.

Overtime

  • There’s a new trend in football - tents on the sideline and no they aren’t for camping. During the Monday night game Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (NFL) mysteriously went inside the sideline tent. The tent is designed so team trainers can treat players’ injuries without TV cameras, fans or other teams seeing what’s wrong. That’s strategery. (SNL version of Bush…anyone)? The tent was introduced by University of Alabama who began using it at the beginning of the season and the idea spread like wildfire. Check it out. 

Sideline stat

  • Geologists measured the ground vibrations during last week’s Ohio State – Michigan football game. The two teams' fans we’re so rowdy and created so much seismic activity during the double overtime game that it registered as a 5.79 earthquake. 

Coaches’ Corner

  • Major League Baseball players have participated in a strike before. The last lockout in baseball was the 1994 season. Yes, the whole season was cancelled.

The Rundown: Weekend Preview - Bah Humbug Black Friday

Happy Friday after Thanksgiving, or as it’s known in many households as “the day I swear I’ll never eat again.”

This weekend is full as well – full of college football rivalries. Like a black Friday sale, anything can happen in a rivalry game.

Flat screen TV with every dishwasher? We’re camping out,

The Last Night’s Game Team

NCAA Football (College)

  • Upset the whole apple cart. Normally the Apple Cup doesn't matter. (We say that about it in our diet too). This year’s Washington rivalry series is the first time since 1981 that this game has implications for the national championship. The victor between Washington (#5) and Washington State (#23) will claim the PAC-12 North (Pacific Conference) title and a spot in the PAC-12 championship.  If Washington wins, it could bring them one step closer to a final four playoff berth.
  • A gift to you. ESPN College GameDay is heading to Columbus, OH to cover the long-standing hatred between Michigan (#4) and Ohio State (#2). The outcome of this year’s game will have such a significant impact on the college football playoffs that GameDay has been extended from three hours to five hours. The team that loses this game will lose their chance to play for a spot in the national championship.
  • Banjo battle. The fierce in-state rivals, Auburn (#11) vs #1 Alabama (#1) will play in the “Iron Bowl” on Saturday. (Yes Auburn is in Alabama). Alabama has already secured a spot in the SEC championship (Southeastern Conference) and has all but a lock on a final four spot in the playoffs, but Auburn would love nothing more than to spoil the party.

NFL (National Football League)

  • Round up. While you were eating turkey, the Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Redskins for their franchise record 10th straight win. Lead by two stellar rookies, Dax Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys remain on fire.

F1 Racing (Formula One)

  • Let's go fast. The F1 season will be decided on Sunday during the final race of the season. Teammates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are competing to win the overall Drivers’ Championship. Rosberg sits in first place and Hamilton in second. For Hamilton to win the overall championship, he needs to win and have Rosberg finish outside the top three positions, which is like wishing for a black Friday sale with no pushing or shoving.

Overtime

  • The 15th Annual National Dog Show was yesterday and the winner was a greyhound named Gia. The commentary was as flavorful as your pecan pie using lines like “fast on her feet, gentle on the eyes and with a glowing personality to boot” and “she has a head like a snake and can really gallop.” Somewhere the actors from Best in Show are beaming with pride.  

Sideline stat

  • 4 minutes 35 seconds. That’s how long it took Aretha Franklin to soulfully belt out the national anthem at the Detroit Lions – Minnesota Vikings game yesterday. Listen and see the funny Twitter reactions here.

Coaches’ corner

The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition – Hotline Bling

Who doesn’t love the holiday season? It offers so many delightful things like a plethora of sports, family and Grandma’s apple pie. It also has its awkward moments such as election talk and rapper Drake wearing a shirt with your face on it.

Started from the bottom now we're here, 

The Last Night’s Game Team

 

PS - Speaking of apple pie, today’s tailgate treat is like your grandma’s apple pie but in a glass, with alcohol. We’re warming hearts and bellies everywhere. Recipe

NCAA Football (College)

  • About last night. The University of Louisville was sitting pretty at #5 in the college football rankings and their quarterback Lamar Jackson was the front runner in the Heisman Trophy race. Then last night happened. They were blown out by the University of Houston. Jackson all but had the Heisman locked up going into the game, but after his sub-par performance the field is wide open. Find out who’s still in contention for the Heisman. 
  • All aboard. ESPN’s College GameDay heads to an unlikely destination on Saturday - Kalamazoo, MI. There they will cover the undefeated Western Michigan Broncos as they take on the Buffalo Bulls. Western Michigan’s coach, 35-year-old P.J. Fleck, is one of the top emerging coaches in the nation. His “Row the Boat” mantra has taken his team from one of the worst in college football to an undefeated one this season.  

NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing)

  • Shake and bake. Sunday’s race is the final race of the season therefore the “Sprint Cup Champion” will be crowned. One of the four drivers in contention for the title, Jimmie Johnson, is looking to tie legends Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and Richard Petty with his seventh championship. 

MLB (MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL)

  • Forever young. MLB announced its 2016 season MVPs yesterday. Kris Bryant from the Chicago Cubs and Mike Trout of the Los Angles Angels took home the prestigious award. Both of the MVPs are 25 years old or younger. Ahh remember those days?

Overtime

  • Canadian rapper Drake is the global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors (NBA – National Basketball Association). During the season the team hosts a “Drake Night.” Drake took advantage of his namesake evening to share his affinity for ESPN reporter Doris Burke. He wore a shirt with her face on it that said “Women Crush Everyday” and then invited her over for dinner, alone. No word from Rihanna if she will chaperone.

Sideline stat

  • This is the last year Sprint will be the main sponsor of NASCAR, a partnership that began in 2008. Sprint paid between $50-$75 million a year for the right. NASCAR has yet to name a replacement and is seeking $100 million per year for 10 years. Will they take a check? 

Coaches’ corner

  • The Stanford University band has been banned from traveling to away games since May 2015 due to various violations (offensive acts, hazing and violations of alcohol and controlled substances to name a few). There was hope they would be eligible to travel to rival Cal this weekend to support their team with music, but alas the ban remains as not all issues have been resolved. This one time at band camp….

 

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