Oh, It’s On
Be 4th of July ready. Barstool Sports takes NIL to a new level, the 2nd highest-paid athlete in the world needs a job and 75 hot dogs in 10 mins - GO!
This Friday, we’re bringing you everything you need to be set up for small talk success poolside or at your Fourth Of July barbeque.
Going all out,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
After no fans last year (and an awkwardly quiet competition), the crowd might be just what the competitors need to defeat the 13-time hot dog eating champion, Joey Chestnut. Although, a Chestnut defeat is unlikely as he’s the obvious favorite after beating his own record last year by eating 75 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes The women’s champion Miki Sudo won’t be there to defend her championship as she’s pregnant with her first child, so the door is wide open for a new winner. We talk more about a “Roman Incident” and other hot dog eating traditions that would make our founding fathers so proud in this week’s podcast. DON’T SIT IN THE SPLASH ZONE
Overtime
You haven’t been able to turn on the news over the past few days without hearing about NIL (name, image and likeness) for college athletes. The NCAA announced that as of yesterday, July 1, college athletes could profit from their NIL.
A few athletes took advantage of this change from the word go. Twin women’s basketball players from Fresno State, Haley and Hanna Cavinder, who have over three million followers on TikTok already signed a deal with Boost Mobile. Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler said that he’d use this opportunity to donate a portion of what he makes to charity. One athlete, Addie Halverson, a volleyball player from Jacksonville State, reached out to Barstool Sports to see what it would take to be a "Barstool Athlete," and they've now set up a whole program to support these athletes. MONEY IN THE BANK
Sideline stat
Chris Paul has played in the NBA (National Basketball Association) for 16 years and never made it to the NBA finals until now. He and his Phoenix Suns punched their ticket to the finals Wednesday night. In his postgame interview, he talked about how he writes the words “can’t give up now” on his shoes every game. The inspiration came from a Mary Mary song. Paul, who you’ll recognize from his State Farm commercials, took a risk with the Suns - a team that hasn’t made it to the finals since 1993. AT LAST
Coaches’ corner
Though COVID restrictions are still tight in Canada, the Quebec government is allowing 3,500 fans to attend tonight’s game as the Montreal Canadiens take on the sending champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the quest for their first Stanley Cup since 1993. In case you're wondering, the Lightning are up 2-0 in the series. BE THERE OR BE SQUARE
We Choose You
The sporty affair that'll make your jaw drop, break out the spandex - it's Le Tour time and the soccer player who stepped up for 1.7M children.
Thanks for waking up with us three times a week. We hope we make your day a little brighter and the small talk a little easier.
Thank you for being a friend,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – Remember, if you have any feedback, questions or something you want to learn about, reply to this email and let us know.
Tour de France
If you’re looking for motivation to jump on the Peloton this weekend, turn on the Tour De France, which starts on Saturday. Here's a fun fact about the tour. Until the 1960s, it was common for participants to drink alcohol to numb the pain. Despite its 'healing power,' alcohol was later banned because it's a stimulant. This 21-day race with only two days of rest will make your 30-minute HIIT class looks like a breeze. SADDLE UP
Overtime
This week, retired Chicago Cubs (MLB - Major League Baseball) player and former World Series MVP Ben Zobrist filed a lawsuit against Byron Yawn, his former pastor who was allegedly having an affair with Zobrist’s wife, Julianna. Yawn provided the couple with marital counseling and worked with Zobrist on his depression and anxiety while carrying on the alleged affair. Unbeknownst to Zobrist, he hired Yawn to be the executive director of his foundation, which is where the lawsuit comes into play. There won’t be a happy ending for anyone, but this story is far from over. SO MANY SECRETS
Sideline stat
Manchester United (European soccer) star Marcus Rashford spent the pandemic concerned with how the children in his country would eat. He rallied Parliament to provide support for children who received free lunch. After failing the first time, he raised millions of dollars for the cause and then on his second try, he successfully secured a $556 million grant to provide meals into 2021, impacting the lives of 1.7 million children in the UK. Rashford will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2021 ESPYS on July 10. Rashford was also recently named to Time's Top 100 List for his advocacy work on homelessness and child hunger. GOOD GUY ALERT
Coaches’ corner
It’s been a day or two since Ted Lasso (aka Jason Sudekis) and Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) announced the Olympic roster for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. But if you need a smile this Friday morning, it’s worth checking out. EXPERT OPINION
Fight For Your Right
Golf’s 2-hour beer lines, why Jimmy Kimmel is making history in college football and tennis superstars sayonara to England.
Small talk shouldn't be hard that's why we bring you the best of the best.
All for you,
The Last Night’s Game
Tennis
It’s been a rough summer to be a tennis fan with the most popular athletes dropping out of tournaments left and right. Yesterday, Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka, two of the world’s greatest players, announced they would not play in Wimbledon. But two-time Wimbledon champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Rafael Nadal made a shocking announcement that he will not be participating in the Olympics this summer either. Osaka will still play in the Olympics for Japan. SUMMER BUMMER
Overtime
Jimmy Kimmel is making history, but not with his TV ratings. He will become the first human to have a college football bowl game named after him. The Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl will debut on December 18. FUNNY GUY FOOTBALL
Sideline stat
The boys of summer are back in Omaha. After the Men’s College World Series was cancelled last year, eight teams will return to the tournament's home stadium to fight for the title in this double-elimination tournament. Stanford, NC State, Vanderbilt, Arizona, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas and Mississippi State will take the field in the tournament that provides Omaha with an economic impactof $70 million. BUY ME SOME PEANUTS AND CRACKERJACKS
Coaches’ corner
This weekend is the third of four major golf tournaments in the PGA (Professional Golfers Association) Tour. The U.S. Open has been criticized for its obscenely long beer lines (2+ hours), so watching it on TV is the perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day. As you ponder whether or not the Brooks Koepka - Bryson DeChambeau rivalry is all for a cut of the PGA incentives fund, also remember there’s no better way to celebrate Father’s Day than with a midday nap with championship golf on in the background. ZZZ…I WAS WATCHING THAT