And The Winner Is….
Why you should buy this tennis star earmuffs for the holidays, who bought a slice of history and how much football is too much football?
You! Here’s everything you need in today’s email to crush the weekend.
Life conquered in four minutes,
The Last Night’s Game Team
College Football/NFL (National Football League)
Today kicks off college football bowl game season. The big playoff games aren’t until the end of the month but don’t worry, there’s plenty of football to keep you entertained. (Want more about why the heck you should care about bowl game season? (Here’s a quick guide). Also, since it’s no longer the college football regular season, we’ll have NFL games on both Saturday and Sunday now. FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE
Overtime
There’s not much that intimidates boxer Mike Tyson (he bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear for heaven’s sake). Enter Serena Williams. The boxing legend gave the tennis star boxing lessons and he said he would not want to get into the ring with her, that she has “some power.” YOU SHOULD SEE HER WITH A RACKET
Sideline stat
The historic documents from 1892 that outlined a plan to revive the Olympics were sold at an auction this week for $8.8 million. The 14-page document was written by the future International Olympic Committee founder Pierre de Coubertin who presented the argument at an annual meeting. This sale dwarfs the record for most money spent on a sports item at auction, which was $5.4 million for a Babe Ruth New York Yankees (MLB – Major League Baseball) jersey sold earlier this year. THANK GOODNESS SOMEONE DIDN’T GO ALL MARIE KONDO THOSE PAPERS
Coaches’ corner
The Basketball Hall of Fame announced its list of nominees for the 2020 class. If you can believe it, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett have been retired long enough to be eligible for the ballot. Finalist will be announced in February. TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE THE ONES NOT RETIRED
WHAT TO WATCH
Heisman trophy winner Joe Burrow raised awareness of the poverty levels in the Athens, Ohio area in his Heisman acceptance speech, inspiring $500,000 in donations (and counting) to the Athens area food bank. To thank him for his efforts and recognize his accomplishments, his Athens high school is naming their football stadium after him. HONORABLE MENTION
Ho, Ho, Ho
Oh this weekend was ugly, when there’s no such thing as a free beer and a sweet, surreal moment.
Ho, ho, holy crap it’s Monday again.
Make it happen,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE)
It was a somber weekend for a few in the NFL. First, the Oakland Raiders played their last game in Oakland. They’re moving to their new home in Las Vegas starting next season. Instead of going out on a high note by the bay, they had an ugly loss.
In what could be the last game of Eli Manning’s career, New York Giants fans sent the two-time Super Bowl MVP off with a standing ovation. UGLY CRY
Overtime
Family can get you in trouble, especially when they’re on your payroll. Golfer Patrick Reed has spent his career as the bad boy, so it doesn’t seem like huge stretch that his caddie got into a fight this weekend. At the Presidents Cup, his caddie, who also happens to be his brother-in-law, found himself in an altercation with a fan. The fan was heckling Reed over his alleged cheating scandal at his last tournament. The caddie was banned but also perpetuated the black cloud hanging over Reed’s career. SMDH
Sideline stat
There’s no such thing as a free beer. Just ask Baltimore Ravens (NFL) player Marcus Peters who was fined $14,037 for shotgunning a fan’s beer in the stands at the end of the game. He jumped into the stands after he broke up a pass to seal his team’s win. Bud Light offered to match his fine with a donation to a charity of his choice. BEER FOR GOOD
Coaches’ corner
The Newton High School team won their state football title this weekend – exactly seven years to the day when 26 people, 20 of them children, lost their lives in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. (The high school is in Sandy Hook, CT). The team hasn’t won a title since 1992. SURREAL MOMENT
What to watch
Bronny James is only in high school but he has quite the presence on the national stage. This weekend he hit the game winning shot against his dad, LeBron James’ alma mater. Dad was there to celebrate his son in person. (Also on the high school team, Zion Wade, son of former NBA player Dwyane Wade). APPLE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE
Friday, We Adore You
What do the Heisman, golfers and ducks, dog fighting rings & Lizzo have in common?
All of the holiday week Friday feels, on a Friday the 13th.
Who’s ready for a nap?
The Last Night’s Game Team
College Football
This weekend one college football player will be crowned king. On Saturday, the Heisman Trophy will be awarded to the best in college football. The finalists are Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts, Ohio State defensive end Chase Young and Louisiana State (LSU) quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow (whose nickname is Burreaux) is the front-runner. He took a risk and left Ohio State for LSU and it looks like it has paid off as his team is also the No. 1 ranked team in the country. RISKY BUSINESS
Overtime
Lizzo was a fixture courtside at the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA - National Basketball Association) game this week where she was trolling for a new Minnesota man while showing off her dance moves. Now she’s taking her courtside talents to center court. The Houston Rockets dancers invited the Houston area native to dance alongside them at a game. Lizzo responded in a way only she can do by saying “I’ll be there w/ bells on my booty.” YEEHAW
Sideline stat
More than 500,000 people have signed a petition to remove former NFL (National Football League) quarterback Michael Vick from January’s Pro Bowl (the NFL’s all-star game). Vick is one of the four “legends captains” for the game. While he was a talented player, his career was tainted by his involvement in a dog fighting ring for which he served 18 months in jail. (It’s worth noting that post-prison he worked with the Humane Society of the United States as an animal rights activist to end dogfighting). NEW BEGINNINGS?
Coaches’ corner
This weekend in college football is reserved for two of the most historic rivals, Army vs. Navy. (No other teams will play this weekend). This is the 120th time these two teams have met. The uniforms both teams wear are always a big deal. This year’s Navy uniforms are a throwback to the team’s glory years of the 1960s. Army’s uniforms honor the 1st Cavalry Division. During the Vietnam war, they used the first large-scale helicopters. A GAME OF RESPECT
What to watch
We’re in the midst of the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia. The golf tournament pits a team of U.S. players against a team of international players. While the U.S. team is wearing red, white and blue, you’ll also see them wearing yellow duck pins. The pins are in memory of Jarrod Lyle, the Australian PGA (Professional Golfers Association) Tour pro who died last year after losing his battle with Leukemia. QUACK FOR A CAUSE