Par For The Course

Weekend small talk solved.

Sports + pop culture = conversation gold,

The Last Night’s Game Team

---

PGA (Professional Golfers Association)

A tradition unlike any other, the Masters tee’d off yesterday with favorite Rory McIllroy “accidentally” hitting his dad with a ball and the 40-year-old Justin Rose defying expectations. But the reason the Masters is so popular isn’t the golf; there is so much to it besides the actual sport. Why don’t you challenge the biggest golf fan in your friend circle by taking the limited-time Masters trivia in our story or perusing our Why Everyone Loves The Masters (And Why You Should Too)? SLOW GOLF CLAP

Overtime

Hands down, this is the best feel-good story of the week. Shaquille O'Neal has plenty of rings from his storied NBA (National Basketball Association) career, and he paid that karma forward at a local Atlanta area jeweler. He overheard a man talking about how much he owed on his engagement ring, so Shaq decided to pay off the debt for him. He said, “whenever I leave the house I just try to do a good deed," which is why Shaq is known for his random acts of kindness. KINDNESS, PASS IT ON.

Sideline stat

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. That’s right, Bad Bunny’s premiere at WrestleMania 37 is this weekend. The reggaetón star and YouTube personality/boxer Logan Paul will both make their debut in front of 25,000 fans in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' home stadium (NFL – National Football League). This is the first live event for the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) in a year.

WrestleMania isn’t just tiny speedos and lace-up boots. From 2006-2019, the WWE’s massive one-day event, think their Super Bowl, has generated more than $1.3 billion in cumulative economic impact for the cities that have hosted the event. OFF THE ROPES

Coaches’ corner

The NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) is giving us a pre-season tournament that starts this weekend with a repeat of the last season’s championship game between Houston and Chicago. You’ve heard so much about the NWSL lately because it’s the league that the Hollywood elite and sports world have been flocking to with names like Jennifer Garner, Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria and Naomi Osaka buying into teams. A new face in the league is Trinity Rodman. The daughter of Dennis Rodman (former NBA player) credits her mom for her soccer success and drive. GAME ON

Leave The Door Open

Happy Friday! Enjoying this newsletter? Well, don’t keep it to yourself! Share Last Night’s Game with your friends.

Good karma coming your way,

The Last Night’s Game Team

---

College Basketball

We’ve made it to the final weekend in the March Madness tournament. The Final Four is set in both the men’s and women’s bracket. The women’s Final Four is tonight, and the head coaches for Arizona (Adia Barnes) and South Carolina (Dawn Staley) will make history. This is the first time there have been two Black female head coaches leading their teams in the Final Four. The teams include South Carolina (No. 1), Stanford (No. 1), UConn (No. 1) and Arizona (No. 3). Stanford and UConn are the favorites. HERE’S HOW YOU CAN WATCH

The women’s championship game is this Sunday and men’s Monday night. (More on the men’s tourney under Coaches’ Corner below).

Overtime

Jalen Suggs of the undefeated Gonzaga men’s team and Paige Bueckers of the UConn women’s team go way back. Suggs and Bueckers grew up playing basketball together. The two freshman superstars are now playing in their respective Final Fours. Suggs credits his part of his success to Bueckers and her pep talks. This week, Bueckers was named The Associated Press women's basketball player of the year. She’s the first freshman ever to earn this title. IT’S A SMALL WORLD

Sideline stat

The greatest game on grass, the Masters, starts next week at Augusta National Golf Course. But this weekend, the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur will take place on the greens of the famed golf course. This is a significant moment because this is only the second time in history that a women’s golf tournament has been played at Augusta. The legendary course is known for its lack of diversity, only allowing women members in 2012. Former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice was one of the first women to receive the famed green jacket bestowed upon members. Still, there are only six women members at Augusta. HITTING THE LINKS

Coaches’ corner

The men’s Final Four will take place on Saturday with Houston (No. 2) vs. Baylor (No. 1), followed by UCLA (No. 11) and Gonzaga (No. 1). UCLA is clearly the underdog, and Gonzaga hopes to continue its undefeated streak against the Bruins. THE END GOAL IS IN SIGHT

What to watch

MLB (Major League Baseball) Opening Day is behind us and by all accounts, yesterday was a success. Keep an eye out on the possibility of moving the league’s July all-star game out of Atlanta. Calls have come to move the game because of the new voting rights laws passed in that state. STAY TUNED

Good To The Last Drop

Whether you’re starting your morning off with coffee, tea or a mimosa, one thing is for sure. You’ll have plenty to share after reading this (and having another cup).

Be the smartest person in the room,

The Last Night’s Game Team

---

College Basketball

Here we go again; it’s time for more basketball. But now it’s down to the Sweet 16 in both the women’s and men’s March Madness tournament. Here are two things to get excited about:

• If you’ve decided to cheer for a different men’s team after reading underdog sensation Oral Roberts’ (No. 15) student code of conduct, how about cheering for an underdog father-son duo and donuts? Syracuse (No. 11) star Buddy Boeheim and his dad, head coach Jim Boeheim, will take on the University of Houston (No. 2). The two were the faces of a ‘Glazed & Confused’ fundraiser that had the NCAA saying “not today.” BLOCKED SHOT

• The showdown on the women’s court that everyone’s been waiting for features standout player Paige Bueckers from UConn (No. 1) pitted against Caitlin Clark of Iowa (No. 5). Saturday’s game between these two could be better than the national championship game. UConn’s head coach, Geno Auriemma, will be back on the sidelines after being out with COVID. HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS

Overtime

COVID may have put the hold on the NWHL (National Women’s Hockey League) playoffs, but the league will crown a champion on Saturday. The icing on the cake is that the all-female broadcast team will cover the Isobel Cup semifinals and championship final on NBCSN. Although no fans will be in attendance to cheer them on, the four teams in it to win it are the Boston Pride, Connecticut Whale, Toronto Six and Minnesota Whitecaps. THE PUCK DROPS HERE

Sideline stat

New England Patriots (NFL – National Football League) reserve defensive player Justin Herron is being called a hero after stopping a midday sexual assault of a 71-year-old retired teacher in a park in Tempe, AZ. The is 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds Herron and a friend, Murry Rogers, intervened after the suspect pushed the woman to the ground. The two men held the suspect until police arrived. Rogers and Herron were honored by the Tempe, AZ Police Department with "Outstanding Service" awards. GOOD GUY ALERT

Coaches’ corner

The long-awaited start to the F1 (Formula One) season is upon us. Why care about a sport that you may have never heard of? It's fast and furious and they race in some beautiful places all over the world that'll give you vacation vibes.

The world’s fastest drivers will start their engines on Sunday morning (U.S time) in Bahrain to start the season. They’ll all be trying to catch the seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. He’s driving change at home with his Instagram famous dog Roscoe adopting a vegan diet. More importantly, he’s striving for change in the sport. He and his Mercedes team have launched a joint charitable foundation to support greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport. EAT MY DUST