Baby One More Time
It’s Friday. Let’s talk.
It’s Friday. Let’s talk.
Short and sweet,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
When you accomplish your goal, just to start at the bottom. From walk-on player, to Heisman Trophy winner, to number one pick in last night's NFL draft, former University of Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield has taken a non-traditional path to get to this point. That determination will help as he takes the first step in his professional career – playing for the worst team in football, the Cleveland Browns. The team did not win a game last season so any improvement is a bonus. MORE ON MAYFIELD
F1 Racing (Formula One)
If Britney is your spirit animal. F1 (Formula One) races are more than fast cars on a track, it’s a party. The U.S Grand Prix, the only F1 race in the U.S., announced its big headliners for the post-race concerts. Bruno Mars and Britney Spears will take the stage in October when the international phenomenon of F1 racing arrives in Austin, TX. FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT F1 RACING
Overtime
From the “we can’t make this up” file. We’re knee deep in the NHL (National Hockey League) playoffs and the league has asked the Boston Bruins’ Brad Marchand to stop licking opposing players. Marchand’s response to reporters who questioned him about the licking of his opponent? “He’s cute.” Speechless. THE DIRTY DETAILS
Sideline stat
The 28th pick of the NFL draft belonged to the Pittsburgh Steelers and it was extra special. Ryan Shazier, the Steelers player who suffered a severe spinal injury in a game last year, impressed everyone by walking to the podium to deliver the team’s pick, Terrell Edmunds. Edmunds brother, Tremaine, was drafted earlier in the night to the Buffalo Bills, making them the first brothers ever drafted in the same round at the same draft. THE HEART WARMING MOMENT
Coaches’ corner
When you're a professional golfer, if you don’t play, you don’t get paid. That was a concern for LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) player Stacy Lewis when she found out she was pregnant. Showing their unwavering support, her major sponsor KPMG told her “they wanted to treat her like any other female in their organization that has a baby” and fulfill their sponsorship contract with her no matter how many tournaments she played in. DOING THE RIGHT THING
What to watch
The best is yet to come. Round one of the NFL draft may have been exciting but the fun isn’t over. What is there to look forward to? "Celebrity” draft pick announcers including a parrot, the football team from Stoneman Douglas High School and the gold medal winning U.S. Men’s Curling Team as well as free pizza for a year for one player. FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DRAFT
Poppin' Bottles
Celebrate your sports savviness and the fact that it's Friday by breaking open the bubbly.
Celebrate your sports savviness and the fact that it's Friday by breaking open the bubbly.
It’s never too early,
The Last Night’s Game team
NFL (National Football League)
When you’ve weighed all your options. The schedule for the 2018-2019 NFL season has been released. The schedule isn’t just thrown together, it’s a carefully thought out process that involves mapping out holidays, Beyoncé concerts and shared parking facilities. And you thought it was hard to find a time to have a drink with a few friends. SCHEDULE
When there's never enough time in the day. The NFL is giving its fans the gift of time. Fans can rejoice because the start time for primetime games (i.e. night games) have been moved up this season. Okay, so it’s not a lot of time saved but Sunday night games will start 10 minutes earlier than last season and Monday night football, 15 minutes earlier. MORE
Overtime
Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived last month in Los Angeles to play for the L.A. Galaxy (MLS - Major League Soccer) with his giant ego in tow. Ibrahimovic was a star player for Manchester United and greeted L.A. with a newspaper ad saying "Los Angeles, You're welcome." Now settling into LaLa Land, you might assume he'd like to meet up with fellow celebrities? Think again. When asked who he'd like to meet the most he said, “Me. I don’t want to meet nobody, they want to meet me.” Well then. READ
Sideline stat
The annual Time's 100 Most Influential list is out and while it’s full of big names, there are quite a few athletes that have landed on this list. The list recognizes activism and achievements of those in influential roles. On the list - Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors – NBA – National Basketball League), J.J. Watt (Houston Texans - NFL), Roger Federer (Tennis) and Olympians Adam Rippon and Chloe Kim. LIST
Coaches’ corner
Yesterday, the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars (both NFL teams) released their new uniforms for the upcoming season. The Jaguars took their big announcement a step further and revealed they're also opening the first dog park in an NFL stadium this season. Who says cats and dogs can't get along?
What to watch for
Sunday is Earth Day and here are five intriguing ways the sports industry is leading the charge in going green to share with your friends over a sustainable, organic mimosa at brunch. (Hint: one team even went vegan). READ
Your Lucky Charm
It may be Friday the 13th but small talk should not be something out of a horror movie.
It may be Friday the 13th but small talk should not be something out of a horror movie.
Just call us your lucky charm,
The Last Night’s Game
NFL (National Football League)
When you think twice before you post. A former Miami Dolphins cheerleader has filed a lawsuit against the team, claiming gender and religious discrimination. Kristan Ann Ware said team officials questioned her posting photos of her baptism on social media and told her not to discuss her decision to abstain from sex before marriage. Ware alleges the team brought her emotional distress and that the players are held to a different standard. This suit is on the heels of one brought forward by a New Orleans Saints cheerleader who said she was fired because of a social media post.
MLB (Major League Baseball)
When you show some respect. This Sunday, in its annual celebration the league will honor the man who broke the color barrier in baseball, Jackie Robinson. One facet of the celebration? All players and coaches will wear Robinson’s retired jersey number, 42, on Sunday. MORE
Overtime
Dancing With The Stars is mixing it up this season with an all athlete slate of dancers. Olympic skaters Tonya Harding and Adam Rippon and basketball legend Kareem-Abdul Jabbar are a few of the names released this morning. In 25 seasons, 10 athletes have taken home mirrorball trophy. The show starts Monday, April 30.
Sideline stat
Something you thought you’d never hear – “They’re too tall to play basketball.” The Korean Basketball League is implementing height restrictions on foreign players starting next season. The import players can no longer be taller than 6’6.” There go our chances at a basketball career.
Coaches’ corner
The NBA (National Basketball Association) playoffs begin Saturday and for the first time since 1960, teams from Los Angeles, Chicago or New York will not be vying for the championship title. Expect the TV ratings to suffer with teams from three of the nation’s biggest TV markets absent. Want to know what to expect in the playoffs? Read more
