The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up - The Streak Is Over

Was your weekend as wild as the Ryder Cup? Fans gone wild was the name of the game on the course in Minnesota. Did Team U.S.A. channel their inner Simone Biles or Michael Phelps to bring home a United States win? We have that and so much more in today’s Rundown.

But first - coffee,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Ryder Cup

• Big. Huge. Team U.S.A. defeated Team Europe for the first time since 2008 to win the Ryder Cup. The home-field advantage proved to be just that with U.S.A. fans draped in stars and stripes, taunting Team Europe like it was a high school basketball game. Team U.S.A.’s win was by the largest margin since 1981.

MLB (Major League Baseball)

• Every game counts. It took all 162 games to determine the two wild card spots in both leagues. The Toronto Blue Jays will host Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday in a one-game playoff for a spot in the postseason. The New York Mets will host the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday in the playoff game for the National League spot. If you've ever wanted to watch exciting baseball, these games are some of the best you’ll see with so much on the line. 
• It’s time. See the post season schedule here. Stay tuned for Wednesday's five things to know about the MLB playoffs which are guaranteed to make you sports savvy.  

NCAA Football (College)

• As good as advertised. Clemson (#3) vs Louisville (#5) had the potential to be one of the best games of the season and it lived up to the hype. The energy of the fans helped propel Clemson to a halftime lead, but Louisville took the lead over in the fourth quarter. Then Clemson scored the game winning touchdown with seconds left in the game. How’d Heisman front-runner, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson play? Click here.
• Did your team win? See here.  

NFL (National Football League)

• Can’t hold us. Coming into the weekend there were five undefeated teams in the NFL. Two teams no longer hold that title with Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots both suffering their first loss. The Minnesota Vikings play tonight and they’ll try to hold off New York Giants to remain undefeated.
• Was your team victorious? Check here. 

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)

• It’s mine…all mine! Going into the final race with the field of 16 in the Chase for the Cup (elimination-style NASCAR playoffs), Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick were the only drivers guaranteed to advance due to previous wins. Truex Jr. was showing off on Sunday when he won again. The field now shrinks to 12 drivers for the next race. Check here to see if your favorite driver made the cut.   

F1 Racing (Formula One)

• Can I get you something to drink? Red Bull’s Daniel Riccardo won the Malaysian Grand Prix - his first win since 2014. Riccardo celebrated by drinking champagne out of his shoe after he had been wearing it for a few hours in the hot and humid Malaysian climate. Ew. We could think of better ways to celebrate.

Overtime

• Arguably the best Boston Red Sox player to ever wear the jersey, David Ortiz played in his last regular season game at Fenway Park on Sunday. The Red Sox pulled out all the stops - naming a street and a bridge after him and they will retire his number next season. Ortiz had such a big impact on baseball that Saturday Night Live spoofed him on “Weekend Update.” 

Sideline stat

• Pittsburgh Steelers’ (NFL) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had as many touchdowns as incomplete passes (five) in last night’s blowout of the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Coaches’ corner

• What does it mean to retire a number in sports? Unlike the mourning period you go through when retiring a cell phone number, this is a positive thing. When a team retires a player’s number, such as Ortiz’s #34, no member of the team (in his case the Red Sox) will ever be able to wear that number again. Teams do this to honor the outstanding career of that player. 

The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up - A Tough Weekend in Sports

It was a tough weekend in sports. There were some big wins but also some big losses that will leave a gaping hole in the sports world.

Happy trails,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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PGA (Professional Golfer’s Association)

• A trailblazer. Legendary golfer and creator of your favorite lunchtime beverage, Arnold Palmer, passed away Sunday at the age of 87. Dominant on and off the course, Palmer was known as the “father of modern-day sports marketing” by starting what we now know as endorsements, including this great ESPN commercial. Thank you Mr. Palmer.     

MLB (Major League Baseball)

• Tragic loss. Early Sunday morning Miami Marlins’ young superstar pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident. At only 24, Fernandez had the potential to end up in the hall of fame. Fernandez, a soon-to-be father, defected from Cuba four times before successfully making it at the age of 15. The Marlins cancelled yesterday’s game.
• Thanks for the memories. Sunday was Los Angeles Dodgers’ longtime broadcaster, Vin Scully’s last home game after 67 years with the team. He couldn’t have scripted it any better if he tried. Dodgers won the game on a walk-off home run and clinched the NL (National League) West Division, securing a spot in the playoffs.

NCAA Football (College)

• See ya. LSU Tigers (Louisiana State University) fired head coach of 12 years, Les Miles. Miles had a winning career record with LSU but some say this play was 10 months in the making. Tigers lost their season opener to unranked Wisconsin and then to unranked Auburn on Saturday. 
• Remember this name. University of Louisville sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson is leading the pack in the race for the Heisman Trophy. He alone scored seven touchdowns on Saturday. He has 25 touchdowns in four games. Unreal.
• Did your team win? Check all the scores here.

NFL (National Football League)

• Victorious. We’ve wrapped up week three and there are a handful of undefeated teams in the league. The Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings are all without a loss.  
• A little help here? Conversely, there are three teams who haven’t won a game - Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears. 
• Catch the scores from the weekend here. 

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)

• Next! Kevin Harvick won yesterday’s race in New Hampshire. Harvick earned himself a spot in the next round of the “Chase for the Cup” (NASCAR playoffs), joining Martin Truex Jr.

Overtime

• Kevin Garnett announced his retirement after 21 seasons in the NBA (National Basketball Association). Garnett was drafted straight out of high school and made the most money of any player in NBA history, over $330 million. The MVP spent his career playing for Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves, who he helped put on the map.

Sideline stat

• Rory McIlroy was three shots behind the leader with three holes to go in yesterday’s final round of the PGA season. Rory caught up and forced a playoff round, where he won after four holes. McIlroy not only won the tour but the FedEx Cup and its $10 million prize. Take that to the bank.   

Coaches’ Corner

• Can you be drafted to the NBA out of high school? Once upon a time this was true, but not any longer. Kevin Garnett was the leader of the influx of high schoolers drafted (Kobe Bryant and LeBron James among them), prompting the league to add the "one year out of high school" requirement that effectively requires players to play at least one year of college basketball. This is so scouts can see players perform against higher competition before they are considered draft picks.

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

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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.