‘Tis The Season

There are only four panicked days of shopping left until Christmas but the gift of conversation is the gift that keeps on giving. 

Even better than the jelly of the month club,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - This Friday’s Tailgate Treat works for trucks and tailgates or snow angels and mistletoe. JACK OF ALL TRADES

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NBA (National Basketball Association)

The NBA announced that the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings will play in two preseason games in Mumbai in 2019. It’s the first time any NBA team has played in India. IT’S NO CRICKET

Overtime

Maroon 5 added another big act to perform with them at the Super Bowl. No, it’s not Spongebob as some fans may have hoped but rapper Travis Scott. Although rumor has it that Jay-Z is trying to talk Scott out of performing because of the league’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick. WILL KYLIE BE THERE?

Sideline stat

Earlier this year Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes revealed his love for ketchup, even on his steak. Heinz him offered free ketchup for life as an incentive to throw 57 touchdown passes to break the NFL single-season record for touchdown passes. This week he kicked Heinz where it counts and signed a deal with Hunt’s Ketchup. RIGHT IN THE 57

Coaches’ corner

If you’re looking to up your game in the workout department during the holidays, former driver Danica Patrick has just the thing for you. She shared her 12 Days of Christmas workout and it’s certainty not for the faint of heart. WE PREFER CHRISTMAS COOKIE CURLS

Buck The Trend

Shake up the conversation this weekend.

Avoid the typical,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS – With so much football this weekend, tailgating will be in full effect. Show off your skills with today’s tailgate treat. No cooking required. SPICE UP YOUR LIFE

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PGA (Professional Golfers Association)

Big changes for the PGA with new rules for 2019. Most notable? A golfer only has three minutes to find a lost ball. WE DON’T STAND A CHANCE

Overtime

What’s in your stadium food? No, we’re not talking about a little extra sodium. ESPN’s Outside the Lines took a look into food safety reports for all 111 North American pro sports venues and it’s not pretty. Hopefully you like your popcorn with a side of “thousands of accumulated mouse feces,” bad personal hygiene and "filth, flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated flies" in food and/or non-food areas. The list breaks down the reports for each stadium. WOULD YOU LIKE FRIES WITH THAT?

Sideline stat

The Phoenix City Council was set to vote yesterday on $150 million in funding for the Phoenix Suns (NBA – National Basketball Association) stadium renovations. Residents (i.e. taxpayers) were not happy about it, turning up in droves. One Phoenician went as far as to call out Suns owner Robert Sarver’s lack of spending on the team stating, “He’s so tight, he squeaks when he walks.” Rumors are now circulating that Sarver might move the team to Las Vegas or Seattle if the funds for the renovation are not approved. SQUEAK SQUEAK

Coaches’ corner

Seattle Mariners (MLB – Major League Baseball) general manager Jerry Dipoto is committed to his job. (The GM is the one who makes the deals so the head coach has players on his team). While in the hospital for blood clots he was working the phones and made a big trade for a first baseman. NO DAYS OFF

What to watch

Get ready to make an indent in your couch because college football bowl game season starts tomorrow. Here are the five things you need to know about the 40 upcoming games. (Hint – it involves custom cowboy hats). YEEHAW

Reindeer Games

Raise your hand if you’re up to your eyeballs in holiday parties and have had enough small talk. (Hands go up everywhere).

Break the ice,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS- It’s cold but nonetheless, fans are still posting up in parking lots for a pregame party. Warm up your tailgate with this boozy campfire treat. SAUCY S’MORES

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Every year the weekend between Selection Sunday and start of the first college football bowl games is reserved for the storied Army – Navy game. The game will have notable fans in the stands including the crew from ESPN’s College GameDay and President Trump. In anticipation of the big rivalry game, both teams saved their best uniforms, inspired by stories of bravery and sacrifice, for their last game. MILITARY GRADE UNIFORMS

OVERTIME

The NFL (National Football League) has a punt problem – it’s the second most dangerous play in the game because of the likeliness of concussions. (The first is a kickoff, a problem they addressed offseason). The league is turning to the analytics community to crowdsource ideas on how to improve the punt and make it safer. TACKLING THE PROBLEM 

SIDELINE STAT

The three best college football players in the nation will descend on New York City on Saturday in hopes of being named the next Heisman Trophy winner. Did you know that a man once bought O.J. Simpson’s Heisman Trophy for $255,000 to impress his girlfriend? There are more ice breakers where that came from in this week’s Five Things To Know About The Heisman Trophy. SCORE 

COACHES’ CORNER

This week, U.S.A. Gymnastics filed for bankruptcy, presumably to protect the organization from lawsuits filed against them because of disgraced team doctor, Larry Nassar. It’s been a rough year for U.S.A. Gymnastics, with two of their interim presidents resigning and the U.S. Olympic Committee taking the steps to revoke their certification. GOLD MEDAL GAFFE

WHAT TO WATCH

Tomorrow is the biggest game in MLS (Major League Soccer), where Atlanta United will take on Portland Timbers for the MLS Cup. The championship game is a home game for Atlanta, taking place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is home to the Atlanta Falcons (NFL).

Here’s something you might not expect. Atlanta United has the 17th highest game day attendance in the world for the 2017-18 season, ahead of soccer powerhouse AC Milan. Their fans will have a chance to enjoy the stadium’s Chick-fil-A stand because there’s finally a game in the stadium that isn’t on a Sunday. GAME NOTES