It's Called Balance

This weekend is filled with firsts and frustrations in sports. The good news is, it also involves beer.

You win some, you lose some,

The Last Night’s Game Team  

---

MLB (Major League Baseball) 

• A.K.A. MLB announced its plans for Players Weekend (Aug. 25 – 27). As part of the inaugural weekend, players will have their nicknames on the back of their jerseys instead of their last names. Even the New York Yankees are on board with the nicknames and they've never featured players' names on their uniforms. Be prepared to root for Sweet Lettuce, Dr. Chill and Corn Boy.

PGA (Professional Golfers Association)

• Save the best for last. It’s time for the PGA Championship in Charlotte, NC, the last major of the season. (There are four major tournaments in a season). Keep an eye on Jordan Spieth who is one win away from winning his career grand slam, which is when a player wins all four majors during their career.

Overtime

• The NBA owners (National Basketball Association) are considering rules designed to cut back on teams benching healthy players for regular season games. This is to please the league’s fans and partners because no one wants to go to a game where LeBron James isn’t playing.  Is the league overstepping their authority or improving the experience? Tell us on Twitter!

Sideline stat

• Five f-bombs. Yep that’s what typically mild-mannered NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) driver Danica Patrick had to say about fellow driver Kyle Busch. Busch caused her to spin out in a race last week and finish in 22nd place. Her frustration is something other drivers have felt too. She ended her rant by saying, “Now I know why people hate him!” Touché.

Coaches’ corner

• To us football and beer go together like peanut butter and jelly, but not in college football. Yesterday, the Air Force Academy announced it will allow alcohol sales during football games, the first service academy to do so.

The NCAA (the governing body for college football) has no specific rule against selling alcohol at games, but it is not as prominent as you may think. During the 2016 season, only a quarter of the schools sold alcohol in their entire stadium. In fact, the SEC (Southeastern Conference) has banned alcohol sales at games.

Old Guys Rule

As we dance into another weekend, we’re celebrating the start of football season, the fountain of youth and of course “The Ocho.”

Doing our touchdown dance,

The Last Night’s Game Team

---

NFL (National Football League)

• Standing in the Hall of Fame. The NFL will induct the newest members of its Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend. The list of worthy inductees includes Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who has been instrumental in getting the NFL to where it is today.
• The road less traveled. Also being honored is former quarterback Kurt Warner, who had an indirect path to the NFL. The Super Bowl winner has an incredible story that includes working at a grocery store to fund his family and his dream of playing in the NFL. Warner has chosen his wife to be his presenter. She’s only the second wife ever to present her husband at the famed induction ceremony.

WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association)

• Co-ed. EA SPORTS announced yesterday that WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) players will be featured on the video game NBA Live 18. The game, which will be released in September, is the first video game to feature the WNBA’s full roster of teams and players.

Overtime

• Inspired by the movie Dodgeball, ESPNU will become ESPN8: “The Ocho” on Tuesday, August 8th. The network will only be live for one day but will stick to its mantra of showcasing seldom seen sports such as ultimate trampoline dodgeball, the Firefighters World Challenge and the 2017 Championship of Bags (i.e. the backyard game cornhole).

Sideline stat

• Celebrating his 40th birthday yesterday, quarterback Tom Brady (NFL) proved that 40 is the new 30. He’s the oldest non-kicker in professional football and he's not slowing down thanks to yoga and his mostly vegan diet.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ James Harrison has also tapped into the fountain of youth. The 39-year-old credits his career longevity to spending $300,000 a year in care for his body with massage therapists, acupuncturists and chiropractors.  

Coaches’ corner

• There was big soccer news yesterday. Superstar Neymar left Barcelona to sign with Paris Saint - Germain (PSG). The signing triggered a €222m transfer fee, the largest ever. What’s a transfer fee? PSG must pay Barcelona for the rights to acquire Neymar. Essentially, Barcelona owns Neymar and this is a fee to transfer him to PSG. This fee does not include his hefty salary.

The Rundown: Sunshine and Summertime

Summer days are upon us and that means setting up poolside, frozen drinks and naps on the couch while watching sports. Although the true talent is doing all three at the same time.

Have we met?

The Last Night’s Game Team  

---

NFL (National Football League)

• Coincidence? Two days after a study was released that CTE was present in 99% of the brains of former NFL players, the Baltimore Ravens' John Urschel, 26, announced his retirement. Don’t worry, he has a backup plan. He’s currently a Ph.D. candidate in mathematics at MIT. You may also recognize his mathlete abilities from a headphone commercial where he schools fellow player JJ Watt. That’s a noggin full of knowledge to protect.

Soccer 

• Because you’re worth it. “El Classico” is a rivalry game between some of soccer’s most popular teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid. The teams will bring their rivalry from Spain to Miami on Saturday night. No word if Real Madrid’s biggest star, Cristiano Ronaldo, will be playing but the Miami Dolphins owner has a private plane on standby just in case.
• Victory! The U.S. Men’s National Team beat Jamaica in the Gold Cup finals on Wednesday night. This is puts them one step closer to their bid for the World Cup.

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

• Battle for the belt. Similar to a black Friday sale, a coveted belt is on the line. Champion Daniel Cormier will take on longtime rival, former champion Jon Jones this weekend. In 2014, they couldn’t wait to get to the octagon and resorted to blows in a Vegas hotel lobby.  

Overtime

• What would a Friday be without puppies? Animal Planet announced it will be airing the Dog Bowl event as part of Road to Puppy Bowl XIV. The Puppy Bowl, featuring dogs from shelters, is synonymous with the Super Bowl. The shelters that the network works with wanted to showcase adoptable older dogs that often get overlooked in favor of a puppy. Age before beauty b#tches.

Sideline stat

• Texas Rangers’ (MLB – Major League Baseball) Adrian Beltre is only four hits shy of 3,000 career hits, a feat only 31 players in baseball have ever accomplished. He looks to join the exclusive club this weekend in his home stadium.

Coaches’ corner

• It is customary in baseball to tap your teammate on the head or slap their helmet when they do something good. (Because why not)? Adrian Beltre hates this tradition but something tells us him teammates will forego his wrath and do it anyway when he reaches his historic milestone (see above). It's all about tradition right?