It Speaks To Me
The NBA player who stepped up in response to anti-Asian messages, Silicon Valley seeps into sports and once again, Michael Jordan is leading the fan vote.
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Rockstar,
The Last Night’s Game
NBA (National Basketball Association)
Though Utah Jazz player Jordan Clarkson is in the middle of the NBA Playoffs, that doesn’t mean he’s lost touch with reality. After hearing the news that the Filipino food truck, Yum Yum, was vandalized, he stepped up to pay for a re-wrap of their truck. As a Filipino American, Clarkson was especially outraged by the anti-Asian phrases spray-painted on the food truck. THE GOOD GUY ALWAYS WINS
Overtime
Of course, the baseball team on the doorstep of Silicon Valley is the first MLB (MLB – Major League Baseball) team to accept bitcoin and dogecoin. The Oakland A’s are taking the cryptocurrencies for payment for tickets and suites. FIRST TO MARKET
Sideline stat
The NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) All-Star race is Sunday night, but it's not for bragging rights only. The winner will take home $1 million. Also on the line is an additional $100,000 for the crew with the fastest pit stop. Who is eligible for the big race? Teams that have won so far this season, drivers who are past All-Star winners or past overall Cup Series champions. The last spot will go to the team with the most fan votes, and Michael Jordan’s team with driver Bubba Wallace is currently in the lead. VROOM
Coaches’ corner
Yesterday the Oklahoma Sooners took home the championship in the Women’s College World Series. Now it’s the men’s turn to step into the spotlight. The super regionals are sure to bring excitement with bench-clearing worthy bad blood between teams and a 100% capacity crowd. The teams are fighting for a spot in the finals which begin on June 19. STEP UP TO THE PLATE
What to watch
We've reached the end of the French Open, the only major in tennis played on clay courts. On the women's side, No. 33 Barbora Krejčíková (pronounced crey-CHEE-koh-va) will face No. 32 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (pronounced pav-loo-CHEN-koh-va) in Saturday's women's final. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will play this afternoon for the chance to play the winner of the Alexander Zverev - Stefanos Tsitsipas matchup in the finals on Sunday. OUI
Sun Goes Down
The Calm app is putting their money where their (tennis) Zen is, Lakers are out of the playoffs and a Floyd Mayweather-Logan Paul fight preview.
Make a connection on a long summer night with a little sports chatter that can easily be turned into a conversation about travel (hello French Open), tech (thanks Calm app) or YouTube videos (gracias Logan Paul).
Did someone say travel?
The Last Night’s Game Team
Tennis
The Calm app is putting their money where their Zen is. After the uproar about Naomi Osaka missing press conferences and then subsequently dropping out of the tournament to take care of her mental health, the Calm app is stepping in. They announced that they would pay the fines for players who decide to skip their press conferences at the French Open. (Osaka’s fines were $15,000). Keep an eye on Serena Williams (No. 7) as she plays in the third round this morning against a fellow American in an unranked Danielle Rose Collins. SMOOTH MOVE
Overtime
You know you were curious how much it would cost you to see YouTube star Logan Paul go head to head in the ring with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather. For the price of $49.99, you can watch one of the best in boxing (likely) knockout his opponent in Miami. As you might recall, these two have been drumming up the buzz around the fight with Paul and his brother hiring round-the-clock security to protect them from Mayweather’s entourage. The fight is non-sanctioned, aka an exhibition fight, so there won’t be judges, but knockouts will be allowed. THE PRICE IS RIGHT TO GET PUNCHED IN THE FACE
Sideline stat
For the first time in his career, LeBron James is out of the playoffs in the first round. The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers were knocked out of the playoffs last night by the Phoenix Suns (NBA - National Basketball Association). Even after dropping 46 points on them, James still met up with Devin Booker, Kendall Jenner's boyfriend, postgame to give him his signed jersey. (Jersey exchanges are tradition). ONWARD AND UPWARD
Coaches’ corner
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) starts its season today. They are currently the only outdoor professional lacrosse league in the country after buying their competitor, the 20-year-old Major League Lacrosse. The PLL has disrupted the traditional sports business model with a tour-based league (i.e., no home cities) and no team owners (more money to pay players). They’re also providing a vesting schedule to give players equity in the league. (Want to know more about lacrosse? Check out our lacrosse 101). NEW(ISH) KID ON CAMPUS
What to watch…
...Michelle Wie West as she makes her comeback after being absent from competitive golf for two years. In those two years, she’s added wife (married to the NBA’s Jerry West’s son) and mom to her list of accomplishments, all while overcoming major injuries. Wie West will be joining her fellow LPGA (Ladies Professional Golfers Association) players in the U.S. Open this weekend. WELCOME BACK
Won’t Back Down
Naughty NBA fans, Osaka opts out of press conferences, Indy 500 preview and college sports history will be made this weekend.
Whether your weekend is poolside, at a BBQ or home on your couch, here’s what you need to know to be the life of the party (or at least small talk with the best of them).
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The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
The NBA has allowed for packed arenas for the playoffs, and it seems to have backfired. Apparently, fans forgot how to act out in public. Three different teams had incidents on their home courts, and the misbehaving fans have been banned from the arenas. One Philadelphia 76ers fan dumped popcorn on Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards as he was leaving the court with an injury. In yet another incident, a fan spit on Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. The Utah Jazz has banned three fans after a verbal assault of an opposing player’s family. THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS
Overtime
The French Open, the second major tournament in tennis (out of four) and the only one on clay courts, begins this weekend. While we’re all keeping an eye on Serena Williams as she fights for that record-tying 24th Grand Slam title, Naomi Osaka is the one in the spotlight. The highest-paid female athlete in the world will be playing but will not be doing any press conferences, citing her mental health and that of other players. She signed off on her Instagram note about skipping interviews by saying, “I hope the considerable amount I get fined for this will go to a mental health charity.” TAKING A STAND
Sideline stat
As if Alex Rodriguez hasn’t had enough drama in his relationships so far this year, it looks like his purchase of the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA – National Basketball Association) could be in jeopardy. The second-largest current owner of the Timberwolves filed a complaint against the sale. The complaint said there was no provision in the $1.5 billion sale to Rodriguez and his business partner that said the team had to stay in Minnesota, violating the franchise's partnership agreement. A ROUGH START
Coaches’ corner
The University of Oklahoma and Washington will make history this Saturday as the first collegiate softball game to air on national television. Game two of the NCAA Super Regional between the two teams will be on ABC. The winner of this series will play in the College Softball World Series. BATTER UP
What to watch
Memorial Day weekend’s favorite sporting event, the Indy 500, takes place on Sunday. Keep an eye on the Paretta Autosport team with driver Simona de Silvestro. The mostly women team is the first female driver/owner duo in IndyCar Series history to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. For more on the milk-chugging, face-paced race, check out Why The Indy 500 is worth watching. READ