The Rundown: Getting (Irish) Jiggy With It
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. May the luck of the Irish be with you as you slay the sports conversation over the weekend.
While drinking green beer of course,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NCAA March Madness Tournament
- Did you call it? As we reported in our five things to know about March Madness, the most likely bracket upset is a #12 beating a #5 team. It happened yesterday when Middle Tennessee State (#12) beat Minnesota (#5).
- Celebrities love basketball too. Famous fans of Northwestern, like Julia Louis-Dreyfus whose son plays on the team, saw them win their first ever tournament game. Icon Bill Murray cheered on his son as he (assistant) coached Xavier in their win to advance.
- Today’s schedule is full of non-stop basketball action to enjoy while you pretend to work.
- How’s your bracket doing in our Last Night’s Game Challenge? Find out here.
World Baseball Classic
- Batter up. Team U.S.A. will play an unbeaten Puerto Rico team tonight in San Diego in the second round of the World Baseball Classic.
Overtime
- Good guy alert. Hall of Fame basketball player Shaquille ‘Shaq’ O’Neal furnished the family home of a 5-year-old girl who was a victim of a dog attack that left another child dead. Shaq has been close with the family since the attack.
Sideline stat
- We’ve all battled weight issues but likely never had an incentive like this. Running back Eddie Lacey has been plagued by weight issues, which he partially blames on Chinese food. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks (National Football League) and his one year contract includes $385,000 in weight loss related bonuses. When does the juice cleanse begin?
Coaches’ corner
- There’s been talk about the Los Angeles Lakers intentionally tanking their season, but what does that mean? In the NBA Draft (National Basketball Association), the worse your team was the season before, the better chance you have at a top pick in the draft. Fundamentally it should help the bad teams become better.
Tanking means a team is intentionally making roster moves to ensure they continue to stink this year in hopes of receiving a better draft pick next season.
The Rundown: Natural Selection
The big weekend is here. It’s time for Selection Sunday, which is when we find out the teams that make up the 68 teams in the March Madness bracket.
Try to contain yourselves,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – There’s still time to submit your questions as part of our March Madness 101 as well as join the Last Night’s Game Bracket Challenge. We promise you a good time. (You can also submit your questions in the comment section below).
World Baseball Classic
- Quest for glory. Team U.S.A. begins their quest for baseball world domination in Miami today against Columbia. Would you like to know more about World Baseball Classic? Round the bases of knowledge with our five things to know. (Click here for the full schedule).
NCAA Basketball (College)
- Plug the leak. Last year the March Madness bracket was leaked online before the exclusive selection show could reveal all of the matchups. Extra precautions are being taken this year for members of the selection committee. They’ll follow strict guidelines like a trial jury such as having all meals delivered by room service and security stationed on the committee members’ floor to ward off uninvited guests.
- Aborted takeoff. On Wednesday, the Michigan Wolverines’ plane slid off the runway on their way to the Big 10 basketball tournament. The team made it to the game but their uniforms did not. The team was forced to play in their practice jerseys because their game uniforms were stuck on the plane and are now considered evidence in the crash.
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
- Going all in. Heading into the big weekend in Las Vegas, NASCAR announced they will be adding one additional race to the Vegas track in 2018. The Vegas events will take place in March and September.
Overtime
- The Iditarod is one of the most grueling races in the world. The dog sled race is nearly 1,000 miles in the Alaskan wilderness. Yesterday one team of dogs showed up to the stage’s finish line without their musher, who fell asleep and fell off the sled. Good dogs.
Sideline stat
- National League MVP Kris Bryant, who plays for the Chicago Cubs, set a record with his new contract but it’s not nearly as much as you think. He signed a 1-year/$1.05 million deal, which makes him the highest-paid player in a second year of service time in MLB (Major League Baseball) history.
Coaches’ corner
- We talked about NFL (National Football League) free agency on Wednesday and some big moves were made yesterday. The most notable news includes Chicago Bears releasing their quarterback Jay Cutler (husband of shoe designer Kristin Cavallari) and the likely trade of Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. For all the news, click here.
The Rundown: Best Enjoyed With Friends
We haven’t been this excited about Friday since last Friday. It’s a great weekend to put your newfound sports knowledge to the test.
Show them what you’ve got,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLS (Major League Soccer)
- Here we go. The MLS season begins today and runs through December. (MLS is the league David Beckham played for when he played in the U.S.). Here are a few MLS pointers for your Friday night happy hour.
- There are two new teams this season. Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC bringing the total to 22 teams in the league.
- Unlike most professional sports, MLS teams are only allowed four charter flights in a season. That means you’ll see them standing in line with their A-17 boarding pass just like you and me.
- Many of the teams have “FC” in their name which stands for football club. Yes, the U.S. is the only place that doesn’t call the game of soccer “football.”
NFL (National Football League)
- Take a knee. Controversial quarterback Colin Kaepernick has opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers, becoming a free agent. Kaepernick also announced that he will now stand for the national anthem, citing major progress in the issues he took a knee for.
Overtime
- Northwestern has never made the NCAA March Madness tournament but a last second win over Michigan all but guaranteed their first tournament appearance. Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ son plays for Northwestern and her reaction to the dramatic win is priceless.
Sideline stat
- Get your sequins and spray tans because it’s time for another season of Dancing with the Stars. Season 24 premieres on March 20th and will feature some of America’s favorite faces in sports.
- Olympic gold medal gymnast, Simone Biles
- Retired Chicago Cubs catcher and the first baseball player ever on the show, David Ross
- Free agent football player, Rashad Jennings
- Former Olympic ice skater, Nancy Kerrigan
Coaches’ corner
- What is a free agent in sports? A free agent means that the player is on the market and available, they do not have ties to a team. Free agent is the sports word for “being in between jobs.”