The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up - The Edge of Glory
Sometimes we wish we could predict the future simply for the sake of our fantasy football teams. While we can’t predict the future, we can tell you that the newly selected Super Bowl halftime show performer will be entertaining.
Born this way,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
- Who’s the new guy? New England Patriots beat Miami Dolphins, but replacement quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury that could keep him out for awhile. With Tom Brady’s suspension lasting another two weeks, Patriots rookie Jacoby Brissett will now take on the task of leading the Patriots.
NCAA Football (College)
- The prodigal son returns. Tom Brady is making the most of his four game suspension from the Patriots. This week he traveled to his alma mater Michigan to serve as the honorary captain. Brady and Michigan head coach, Jim Harbaugh, even played a spirited game of catch before the game.
- Bummer sooner. Oklahoma Sooners and Notre Dame Fighting Irish may be on the outside looking in at the college football playoffs because both ranked teams suffered their second loss of the season at home this weekend. The Fighting Irish lost to Michigan State and the Sooners lost to Ohio State.
Did your team win? Find out here.
F1 (Formula One Racing)
- Light it up. Nico Rosberg won the Singapore Grand Prix, his first ever win under the lights. (Singapore is a night track). Rosberg also took the overall points lead from his teammate Lewis Hamilton with six races to go in the season.
- Oh the irony. Singapore is known as a “fine city” because they don’t hesitate to penalize anyone who breaks their rules. One Ferrari team member, who happened to also be an ex-Philip Morris staffer, found that out the hard way. He was fined $730 USD for throwing his cigarette butt on the ground while in the country.
Hockey
- Tough loss. In a shocking victory, Team Europe upset Team U.S.A in the World Cup of Hockey. To advance Team U.S.A. must beat favored Team Canada on Tuesday, or hope for a miracle. Same same but different.
NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing)
- Cowabunga. Martin Truex Jr won the first “Chase for the Cup” race this weekend at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400. (Yes that’s the real name – we can’t make this stuff up).
Overtime
- After rumors that Adele turned down the opportunity, the all important halftime performance for this season’s Super Bowl has been announced. Lady Gaga has accepted the challenge of entertaining the nation in February. We have no doubt she’ll put together a memorable performance.
Sideline stat
- Los Angeles Rams beat Seattle Seahawks 9-3 as football returned to L.A. The Rams scored in the game with three field goals which means they still have not scored a touchdown as the L.A. Rams since 1994 (that’s when the team left L.A).
Coaches’ Corner
- What is this NASCAR “The Chase for the Cup?" The “Chase” is an elimination-style playoff to crown the best driver in NASCAR. It starts with 16 drivers in 10 races. It’s quite an in depth points system so if you’re interested in hearing more click here to learn from the experts. We just play ones on TV.
The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up - Monday Magic
The first Sunday of NFL football lived up to expectations. Unless you were ESPN and then your Sunday was a hot mess.
Exit stage left,
The Last Night’s Game
College football
- Wait what? In one of the most bizarre endings in recent history, Central Michigan Chippewas defeated heavily favored Oklahoma State Cowboys with a Hail Mary on the last play of the game. Although the play should have never happened as the Cowboys committed a penalty on the previous play and the game should have been over. The referees erroneously gave the ball to Central Michigan and they took advantage.
- Call in the HR team. The referees who worked the Oklahoma State – Central Michigan game have all been suspended for two games for their giant error and will be unable to work any bowl games.
- Holy people. In front of record breaking college crowd of 156,000, Tennessee Volunteers topped Virginia Tech Hokies. The game was held in the infield of the Bristol Motor Speedway.
NFL (National Football League)
- Man down. The ESPN Fantasy Football app crashed yesterday only an hour into the first Sunday of NFL. Fans were not happy but their reactions on Twitter provided some levity to the situation. The cause of the crash is unknown but Putin and Tom Brady are still suspects. (Okay not really).
- Go for two. In a thrilling back and forth game in New Orleans, Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw the longest touchdown pass in Saints history – 98 yards. With seconds to go in the game the Raiders scored a touchdown to pull within one point. Instead of kicking the extra point to tie and go into overtime, Raiders went all in with a two-point conversion attempt for the win. They did just that. Winner winner chicken dinner for the Raiders.
Tennis
- On top of the world. Angelique Kerber won her first U.S. Open, which makes her the new #1 ranked player in the world since Serena Williams lost earlier in the tournament.
- Oldie but goodie. Stan Wawrinka upset Novak Djokovic (#1) in the men’s final of the U.S. Open, becoming the oldest person (31) to win since 1970.
Overtime
- Put on your dancing shoes. Dancing with the Stars begins tonight on ABC with Laurie Hernandez (Team U.S.A. gymnast), James Hinchcliffe (IndyCar driver), Calvin Johnson (retired NFL player) and Ryan Lochte (Team U.S.A. swimmer) all competing to win.
In other entertainment news, Olympic gymnasts Aly Raisman and Simone Biles teamed up with Olivia Munn (Packers QB Aaron Rodgers' girlfriend) on Lip Sync Battle Live. It was a fierce battle between a group of celebrity competitors but in the end Michael Phelps won with his rendition of "Lose Yourself" by Eminem.
Sideline stat
- In a game that resembled a basketball score, Arizona State University beat Texas Tech 68-55. ASU running back Kalen Ballage scored eight touchdowns, tying an NCAA record.
Coaches’ Corner
- What is a Hail Mary pass? It’s not the same as your favorite breakfast cocktail, a bloody mary. A Hail Mary is a long forward pass in football, used when there’s really no other option and time is running out to pull off a win. See a video here.
The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up Edition - Labor Day Love
This season's opening weekend of college football was touted as the best ever and unlike Crystal Pepsi, it lived up to the hype. Saturday gave us a mind-blowing (or mind-numbing for some) 21 hours straight of football.
We have the highlights to start your Labor Day. Now you can bring something great to the BBQ besides wine.
Expanding your minds,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NCAA Football (College)
- A game for the ages. Last night’s game between Notre Dame and Texas is already candidate for game of the year. The back and forth battle gave us all we could ask for, eventually being won in double overtime by Texas in front of 102,000 fans.
- Sportsmanship at its finest. In July, Nebraska punter Sam Foltz and Michigan State punter Mike Sadler were killed in a car accident on their way home from a kicking camp in Wisconsin. On the first punt of Saturday’s game, a very emotional Nebraska team sent out 10 of 11 players for the play. In honor of Foltz, they were missing the punter and they received a delay of game penalty. In a classy show of sportsmanship, their opponent Fresno State declined the penalty and let Nebraska punt without a penalty.
- We’re not done yet. There’s still one more game tonight where Florida State (#4) will open their season against Ole Miss (#11).
- Did your team win? Find out here.
MLB (Major League Baseball)
- Welcome back. Los Angeles Dodgers’ star pitcher Clayton Kershaw went on the disabled list with back issues in June and the teams’ season outlook was bleak. Since then, the Dodgers have overcome a huge deficit and are now leading the division by two games over the San Francisco Giants. Kershaw is set to start on Friday and Dodgers fans everywhere are doing their happy dance.
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
- Waving the flag. Martin Truex Jr. took home his first checked flag in Darlington yesterday. Before the race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. discussed his health during a press conference. Earlier his team announced that he would not return to racing this season due to his concussion-like symptoms. During the press conference Earnhardt said, “I definitely don’t belong in a race car today by any stretch of the imagination."
Tennis
- In U.S. Open news, Rafael Nadal lost in the fourth round to Lucas Pouille. For the first time since 2004, Nadal did not reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam Tournament in a calendar year.
Overtime
- Lauren Holiday, two-time gold medalist and member of the winning U.S.A. Women’s World Cup team (soccer), has been diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. She and her husband New Orleans Pelicans (basketball) guard Jrue Holiday are expecting a baby next month. He announced yesterday that he will take indefinite leave from his team to be with his family. Doctors will have to wait until six weeks after the birth of Baby Holiday to perform Lauren's surgery, which means Jrue will miss the start of the NBA season.
Sideline stat
- The two-man battle for the overall points lead between F1 (Formula One) drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg became a little more interesting on Sunday. Hamilton’s car failed to move as the race started and Rosberg took advantage and brought home the win. Hamilton battled back to finish second. Rosberg cut the points lead to two points as the teams head east for the Singapore Grand Prix.
Coaches’ Corner
- What’s a delay of game penalty? Delay of game means the offense failed to snap the ball before the play clock expired. Teams are given 40 seconds between plays to set up their guys and if they can’t get their acts together in the allotted time, they receive a five-yard penalty.