Pack Your Bags

Hitting the road to start your weekend full of sports conversation.

Pounding the pavement,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS- This week’s tailgate treat is road trip friendly so you can chow down on your way to the party. YUM

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Calling in reinforcements. The Washington State flag "'Ol Crimson" has been in the background of ESPN’s College GameDay broadcasts for 15 years, but the show has never visited the campus. So, when the crew arrived on campus for this weekend’s show, the city declared a state of emergency to accommodate the expected influx of fans. This is the first time a city has issued an emergency declaration in anticipation of the show's visit. THE ROCK’S NEXT MOVIE – GAMEDAY STATE OF EMERGENCY

OVERTIME

LeBron James played in his first game as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA - National Basketball Association) last night. (They lost). Who better to wish him luck but the one, the only, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The 71-year-old actor and former governor of California posted a good luck message that he recorded while pumping iron. He closed it with "Hasta la vista, baby." OF COURSE

SIDELINE STAT

Wade Miley’s Milwaukee Brewers are down in the playoff series against the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB – Major League Baseball). Miley started game five and is going to start in game six tonight. He will be the first pitcher in 88 years to start back-to-back games. The winner of this series faces the Red Sox in the World Series. THERE’S NO “I” IN TEAM 

COACHES’ CORNER

The big controversy in sports this week is the fan interference call on a Houston Astros (MLB) home run. The decision to not call it a home run, cost the Astros the game and the momentum in the series. (They lost the series to the Boston Red Sox last night). There was an uproar from fans over the call, including model Kate Upton whose husband plays for the Astros, last year's World Series winners.

But what is fan interference? The rule states that “when a spectator clearly prevents a fielder from catching a fly ball by reaching onto the field of play, the batter shall be ruled out.” But in this case the spectator did not reach into the field of play, which according to the rules means the player should not have been called out. HEY UMP, I’VE SEEN BETTER EYES ON A POTATO

What to watch

Wake up Sunday morning and say cheerio to the Tennessee Titans – San Diego Chargers (NFL – National Football League) game live from London. This is one of the handful of international games NFL teams will play in this season. ENGLISH BREAKFAST TEA FOR ME

2 Legit 2 Quit

Keep the sports talk flowing right into the weekend with today’s weekend preview edition.

Can’t stop, won’t stop,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - Spice up the parking lot with today's tailgate treat. BACON CHEDDAR JALAPENOS

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MLB (Major League Baseball)

No participation medals here. We’re cruising into the next round of the playoffs and there are some great games ahead. First, the Milwaukee Brewers are taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Did you know that tennis legend Billie Jean King and her partner are part of the Dodgers ownership group? EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BASEBALL  

Two of the best teams in history to meet in the playoffs, the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox, will battle it out for a spot in the next round. The winner of each of these two series will head to the World Series. THE BATTLE OF THE BEST?

Overtime

With the NBA (National Basketball Association) season starting next week, Minnesota Timberwolves star Jimmy Butler has not been happy with his team. But who's to blame? Actor Mark Wahlberg. According to some, Butler's ego became such a distraction when he became friends with Wahlberg when he played for the Chicago Bulls that the Bulls decided to trade him to Minnesota last year. MARKY MARK'S FUNKY BUNCH

Sideline stat

The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team didn’t have what it takes to qualify for this summer's World Cup. The U.S. Women’s National Team on the other hand is just one win away from qualifying for the Women’s 2019 World Cup in France. SHOWING THEM HOW IT’S DONE

Coaches’ corner

The Seattle Seahawks and the Oakland Raiders (NFL – National Football League) are saying sayonara to the States and traveling across the pond to play a game in London this weekend. Raiders coach Jon Gruden is not a fan of the travel; in fact, he dreads it. The last time he flew that far he was out of commission for a month with vertigo. This game is one of the handful of games that NFL teams are playing internationally this season. FISH & CHIPS CURE EVERYTHING

Around The World

It’s the weekend and time to take off into the high-flying excitement of infinite sports knowledge.

Soaring above the rest,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - Time for this week's tailgating favorite. Break out your meds because this one is good for the soul, but maybe not for the cholesterol levels. BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

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MLB (Major League Baseball)

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The playoffs are underway and there will be a special pint-sized guest at the Cleveland Indians vs. Houston Astros game- little Astros fan Chloe. She was scolded by another fan for cheering too loudly at a game and the video went viral. The Astros took notice and Chloe is not only going to the game but had a chance to meet her baseball heroes earlier this week. SMALL BUT MIGHTY  

Overtime

Soul Plane has nothing on Mark Cuban.  As part of the NBA’s efforts to reach its global fans, the Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers are playing two games in China. Don’t fret, the Mavs didn’t have to fly coach, they flew in style on a first class private plane complete with a buffet, bar and plenty of room to stretch those long legs out. HIGH ALTITUDE BALLIN’

Sideline stat

They say actions are greater than words and in this case a Chicago Cubs (MLB) fan had to live up to both. Back in May he tweeted out that he would send a 1,000-word apology letter to Milwaukee Brewers fans if their team finished above his Cubs in the division. Well, the Cubs missed out on a spot in the playoffs when they lost in a winner-take-all game to the Brewers. INSERT FOOT IN MOUTH

Coaches’ Corner

This weekend is the biggest fight of the year for UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Taking the octagon is Khabib Nurmagomedov, an undefeated Russian fighter who practices by wrestling live bears. He’ll fight Conor McGregor, who boxed Floyd Mayweather last year and is #4 on the Forbes list of highest paid athletes. McGregor also has a new addition in his life, Proper 12 whiskey, his company which is a sponsor of the fight. BOTTOMS UP

What to watch

The NHL (National Hockey League) is also going global with a game between the Edmonton Oilers and the New Jersey Devils on Sunday in Sweden. No word on if the teams’ transportation rivaled the Mavericks (above).  THIS PLANE IS ALREADY TAKEN