Trust Me
Sports takes the catwalk at NYCFW, a new football league starts this weekend and the man behind the mask is…
Because life is hard enough, let us make small talk easy for you.
Work the room,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
If you want proof that the legacy of Kobe Bryant is more than basketball, look no further than New York Fashion Week. Nike honored Bryant during their show where six children wore Bryant jerseys on the catwalk. Bryant, Gianna and all of the crash victims will be remembered at a public memorial service on February 24 in the “House that Kobe Built,” the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The date is significant because the two is for Gianna's jersey number and 24 for Kobe's number. Official details have not yet been released but with limited seating it is safe to say entry is will be restricted. REMEMBERING LEGENDS
Overtime
FOX’s “The Masked Singer” is back for another season and everyone is convinced that former NFL (National Football League) player and forever party boy Rob Gronkowski is the “White Tiger.” If so, he has pipes and can shotgun beer like no other. MAN OF MANY TALENTS
Sideline stat
Saturday brings us one of the longest rivalries in college basketball, Duke vs. North Carolina. The schools are only 10 miles apart and have battled on the court for over 100 years. You’d think they would roll out some amazing jerseys for the 100th year but simply put, they’re basic. (Or maybe minimalist is a nicer way to say it)? Regardless, the history between these two teams is evenly split with each team winning 50 games and both scoring exactly 7,746 points in the last century against each other. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?
Coaches’ corner
We know you needed to fill the void in your life now that the NFL (National Football League) season is over, so we bring you….more football. The new (but old) XFL starts this weekend. This is a reboot of the previously defunct league. The games promise to be more exciting than your traditional football game with big rules changes that will speed up the game so you can watch it and get on with your life. (Want more on the XFL? Catch our Instagram story today for the sports curious question of the Week). HOORAY FOOTBALL
PS - You can submit your sports curious question here or via DM on our Instagram.
What to watch
We have two things for you…first, the team at Bad Lip Reading is at it again, but this time they’re mocking the NFL season. LAUGH TILL YOU CRY Next, something a little outside of the circle (pun intended). This weekend is the World Hoop Dancing competition in Phoenix. The athleticism shown by these top American Indian and Canadian First Nations hoop dancers is more than impressive, especially to those of us who can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. OOZING TALENT
The Epitome Of Sunday Funday
Super Bowl Sunday is here and so is the Puppy Bowl. Plus tennis action and the NBA's confusing changes and tribute to Kobe.
Break out your favorite appetizer and call your friends because it’s time for puppies, praise and pigskin.
We have the cheese dip!
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
Super Bowl Sunday is this weekend and who isn't excited? Vegas odds think this is going to be a close game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. So there may be great football in store for us on Sunday in addition to Jennifer Lopez’s heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant, Chrissy Teigen’s edited commercial and Demi Lovato’s national anthem.
We’ve summarized everything you need to know for the Super Bowl, all in three minutes because you have better things to do, like take over the world. LET’S DO THIS
Overtime
Because puppies make everyone’s day better, the Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl returns on Sunday for its 16th season with the cutest adoptable dogs battling it out for the Lombarky Trophy. (A tribute to the Super Bowl trophy - the Lombardi Trophy). Whoever writes the bios for these “athletes” deserves a trophy too. These sporty pups include one who is "studying to be a bark-itect" and our favorite, one who "looking for the Ross to her Rachel." ADORABLE AND ADOPTABLE
Sideline Stat
You may have heard rumors about the NBA (National Basketball Association) tweaking the all-star game to spice things up. Well, the rumors are true and the new format is definitely confusing but it will include a tribute to Kobe to determine the winner. The NBA All-Star game will be in Chicago on February 16. SPELL IT OUT FOR ME
Coaches’ corner
After re-scheduling their game earlier this week, the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) first home game since the helicopter crash that killed Kobe and Gianna Bryant along with seven others, is tonight. We don’t know the details yet but a tribute to all the victims is planned. Los Angeles loves Kobe and that’s obvious by the soaring ticket prices for tonight’s game. StubHub announced that it will be donating the proceeds from the ticket sales for this game to the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation. Bryant played the entirety of his 20-year career with the Lakers. HOME
What to watch
American Sofia Kenin ousted the No. 1 seeded player in the Australian Open (tennis) to head to her first ever major final. If that’s not remarkable enough, with that feat, she became the youngest player to defeat a No. 1 player in a major 17 years. It also earned her a shout out from American tennis legend Andy Roddick. She’ll play at 3:30 am EST on Saturday for her first ever Grand Slam (i.e. major) win. GAME ON
Shaken, Not Stirred
Why football players aren’t showing up for work, who’s diversifying their assets and Olympians are finally getting paid. Sort of.
You’re almost there. Happy hour is around the corner.
Let’s give them something to talk about,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
The NFL Pro Bowl (aka the NFL All-Star Game) is this Sunday in Orlando, FL and there’s a good chance you won’t recognize many of the names on the field. Why? Players often avoid the game as it’s an additional risk of injury. You also won’t see any members of the San Francisco 49ers or the Kansas City Chiefs in the game because players from teams that are in the Super Bowl are ineligible. CALLING IN SICK
PS – Amped for the Super Bowl and its commercials? We’re releasing next week’s Super Bowl podcast early, which will cover commercials and the halftime show of course. So make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss anything. (Email subscribers - You’ll get your Super Bowl 5 Things to know delivered to your inbox on Wednesday per usual).
Overtime
Arizona Cardinals (NFL) receiver Larry Fitzgerald did something only one of his colleagues has done before - buy into an NBA (National Basketball Association) team. He joins the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers as the only other active NFL player to be a partial owner of an NBA team with his purchase of a minority stake the Phoenix Suns. (Rodgers owns a share of the Milwaukee Bucks). DIVERSIFY YOUR ASSETS
Sideline stat
But wait, there’s more all-star coverage. This weekend is also the NHL (National Hockey League) All-Star Game in St. Louis. Instead of playing a standard run-of-the-mill all-star game, the NHL shakes things up with a 3-on-3 tournament with all-stars from each division playing for $1 million. And unlike the NFL Pro Bowl, hockey players will be suspended for a game if they don’t show up to the all-star game that they were selected for. CAN’T WIN (A COOL MILLION) IF YOU DON’T PLAY
Coaches’ corner
A significant number of Olympic athletes are also college athletes. And as you might recall, the NCAA (governing body of college sports) has very strict guidelines about college athletes receiving money and gifts. Well, the NCAA announced yesterday that it will allow college athlete Olympians to receive compensation for necessities like training and travel expenses. GOLD ISN’T CHEAP
What to watch
The Australian Open. Tennis’ first major of the season is keeping us on the edge of our seats. Serena Williams faced another setback in her quest for her record-tying 24th Grand Slam win. She lost to China's Qiang Wang last night, her earliest exit in the tournament in 14 years. Between homework time, 15-year-old phenom Coco Gauff upset Naomi Osaka. THIS IS GETTING GOOD