Fly The Flag
You’re in for a treat because it’s Friday and you’re going to be the one in the know all weekend long.
You’re in for a treat because it’s Friday and you’re going to be the one in the know all weekend long.
We’re Olympic ready,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Winter Olympics
When karma catches up with you. With a last ditch effort, Russia tried and failed to overturn the ban on their athletes in the Winter Olympics. Russia is banned from competing over doping allegations, but some athletes were invited to compete after proving they were clean.
When luck is not on your side. Team U.S.A.'s athletes vote for who is going to carry the flag in the Opening Ceremony. This year's vote was a tie between speed skater Shani Davis and luge slider Erin Hamlin, both competing in their fifth Olympics. The winner, Hamlin, was chosen by a coin toss. After losing, Davis sent a controversial tweet calling the coin toss "dishonorable." Guess he's not much of a gambler.
If your dad ever said nothing good happens after midnight. While you were sleeping, the Olympic Opening Ceremonies happened without you. You can catch the replay at 8 pm EST tonight on NBC and here are the Olympic events to watch this weekend.
Overtime
What do you get when you cross Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers quarterback), actor Bill Murray and actor Josh Duhamel? A good looking, funny guy with one heck of a throwing arm? Unfortunately no, but they're all golfing in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The golf tournament, which is this weekend, is where professional golfers and amateurs mix and the who’s who of celebrities and athletes hit the links together.
Sideline stat
MLB (Major League Baseball) spring training is set to begin next week, but in a rare turn of events, a majority of free agents (players who aren’t committed to teams) remain unsigned. The MLB Players Association will put on their own spring training for unsigned free agents in hopes they will be picked up by a team.
Coaches’ corner
The NBA (National Basketball Association) trade deadline was yesterday and it left the league in shock because the Cleveland Cavaliers basically traded away their entire team, minus LeBron James. The team, which has been in the NBA finals the past three years, has been pretty terrible this season. Was this the doing of King James? Only time will tell
After you follow Last Night's Game on Instagram, go follow these Olympic athletes for a behind the scenes look at the Winter Olympics.
That Breakthrough Moment
In case you missed it, the Super Bowl is this Sunday. The spectacle where pop culture, kitchen fare and sports collide.
In case you missed it, the Super Bowl is this Sunday. The spectacle where pop culture, kitchen fare and sports collide.
Be there or be square,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS - It’s our last Tailgate Treat of the season and we’re bringing you the best recipes state by state for the Super Bowl. What’s the most popular recipe in your state? Find out here.
NFL (National Football League)
That #FridayFeeling of impressing your co-workers. It’s inevitable, the Super Bowl is coming. You could choose not to watch it or simply watch it for the commercials. Either way impress everyone over the next few days with your knowledge around the game. How much does the halftime performer make? What food is the most popular? Have the Eagles ever won a Super Bowl? We have it all in our Five Things To Know About The Super Bowl.
When you can't help but Say Something. Justin Timberlake may be performing during the NFL's halftime show but that didn't stop him from ruffling some feathers with a statement he made in a press conference. Amid all the concussion controversy that surrounds the league, he told a reporter that his son would "never play football."
Overtime
On Sunday before the Super Bowl, you can tune into the Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl. The real winners, besides the viewers of course, are the puppies because all of them are adoptable shelter dogs. (Hint: they all get adopted). This year’s game will feature 90 puppies from a record 58 shelters and rescue groups from 24 states and Puerto Rico. The cheerleaders? Obviously, baby barnyard animals. Also helping out the referee? Shirley the rescue sloth. 15 FUN FACTS ABOUT THE PUPPY BOWL
Sideline stat
Experts predict over $4.76 billion will be wagered on the Super Bowl this year but only three percent of it will be legally bet in Nevada. The rest of the money will be bet with offshore sportsbooks and local bookmakers. (Nevada is currently the only state where you can bet on a single game). SPORTS BETTING 101
Coaches’ Corner
The biggest tradition in the storied Duke basketball program is “Krzyzewskiville," where students camp out before games to secure their game ticket. (The camp name is an homage to their coach). Since this year's flu has been so widespread and deadly, the school has closed the camp. Party poopers.
Vegas readers! Catch us this morning on The Morning Blend (ABC 13) between 9-10 am (PST) to play Super Bowl trivia alongside Shawn and JJ.
Come Here Often?
After a long week, Friday is here. Whoop it up this weekend while you show off your sports curious conversation skills.
After a long week, Friday is here. Whoop it up this weekend while you show off your sports curious conversation skills.
Delivered for your enjoyment,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS - It's the second to last Tailgate Treat this season and this one is guaranteed to make you hungry. Want us to feature your favorite party recipe in our Friday Super Bowl edition? Submit it here.
Olympics
When you’ve had it up to here. The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) is laying the smackdown on U.S.A. Gymnastics (USAG). They gave the entire USAG board six days to resign or the federation will be decertified. The USOC stated that “Our position comes from a clear sense that the USAG culture needs fundamental rebuilding.” This comes on the heels of the sentencing of former USAG/Michigan State doctor Larry Nassar to 40-175 years for multiple sex crimes.
NFL (National Football League)
When you get a seat at the big kids' table. The best in the NFL will play this Sunday in the Pro Bowl (the NFL’s All-Star Game). While some players choose to opt out of playing in the game after a long season to avoid injury and players from the two Super Bowl teams (Patriots and Eagles) are ineligible to play, it's still a good game because there’s cash on the line. The players on the winning team take home a $64,000 check and the losers $32,000.
Overtime
Last night CBS hosted the Most Valuable Performer show, a talent show featuring NFL players. The winner was Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker who sang opera. He brought down the house with his rendition of Ave Maria, winning $50,000 for the charity of his choice, the Baltimore School For Arts. Unlike most of us, he could actually quit his day job. WATCH
Sideline stat
A cool $1 million is on the line on Sunday. The NHL (National Hockey League) All-Star game isn’t one game but a three-on-three player tournament with the winning team splitting a $1 million prize.
Coaches’ Corner
Yesterday, Vince McMahon (yes that McMahon from WWE – Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment) announced he’s bringing back the XFL (Xtreme Football League). The XFL was around for one season in 2001 and for all intents and purposes, it was a joke. The league will be relaunched in 2020 and McMahon stressed that no one will be allowed to play if they have a criminal record, even a DUI - a switch from how the XFL was run before. As expected, Twitter had an absolute field day suggesting potential team names. If you’d like to know why this matters to you, let us explain.
We like to keep these emails short and sweet for you but there’s always so much more happening in the world of sports. Keep up with us on Twitter to continue the conversation.
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