The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up Edition - Getting You Up To Speed

If you thought your weekend was rough, be glad you weren’t playing college football or fighting in the octagon where mayhem ensued. Don’t worry, your Monday will be better.

Deep breath,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - Want to share us with your friends? Use the handy dandy share button at the bottom. 

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UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

• Kind of a big deal. Conor McGregor once again lives up to the hype surrounding his fights.  He knocked out Eddie Alvarez in the second round on Saturday night to be crowned the lightweight champion. McGregor became the first fighter to simultaneously hold two different championship belts (lightweight and featherweight). The fight drew a record $17.7 million in ticket sales for the first ever UFC event in New York.   

NCAA Basketball (College)

• There goes the neighborhood. College basketball season began over the weekend. To celebrate the start of the college basketball season, ESPN will show 24 hours of live men’s and women’s college basketball starting tonight. We’re calling in sick with basketball fever. Games begin at 6 pm EST. Want the full schedule? It’s right here.

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)

• It’s getting good. In the Chase for the Cup, Joey Logano won the race in Phoenix securing his spot in the final round of four which takes place Sunday. The other drivers in the final round are Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards.

Soccer

• Adios amigos. Team U.S.A men’s soccer team lost on Friday to Mexico in World Cup qualifying game. They will play an important game against Costa Rica on Tuesday. 

Overtime

• This weekend the NFL (National Football League) observed Veteran’s Day by honoring veterans in its “Salute to Service.” The Carolina Panthers took it a step further by putting decals on their helmets representing the initials of a fallen soldier that they were playing for. The team provided each of the players with the story of their solider to understand their sacrifice. The players signed the helmets and sent messages to the families of the fallen soldiers.  

Sideline stat

• It was a tough weekend to be a top 10 ranked college football team with three of the top four teams losing (Clemson #2, Michigan #3, Washington #4). There are only two undefeated teams left in college football – Alabama (#1) and Western Michigan (#21).

Coaches’ corner

• In the most dramatic ending since The Bachelorette finale, the Denver Broncos blocked the New Orleans Saints extra point and ran it back to score and win the game. In the NFL, the defense can return a blocked extra point, which happens after a touchdown, for two points. Like The Bachelorette, there are many ways to score in football.

The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up – Extra Sleep Included

Normally falling back isn’t a good thing, but man that extra hour of sleep is like winning the lottery. Speaking of winning, we have the winners (Saturday Night Live viewers) and the losers (Cleveland Browns) from the weekend to start your Monday off on the right foot.

We have two left feet,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS – Need something besides politics to talk about in the voting line tomorrow? Here’s our Blueprint for Sports Talk Success – November Edition.  

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NFL (National Football League)

• Dancing to the top. The Oakland Raiders beat the Denver Broncos to take sole possession of first place in the hotly contested AFC West (American Football Conference West). It’s kind of a big deal since the Raiders have not won the division since 2002 (also the last time they made the playoffs). Raiders punter Marquette King celebrated with his non-punter like dance move. Beyoncé would be proud. 
• Did your team win? Find out here. 

NCAA Football (College)

• If you’re not going to say something nice. The University of Cincinnati is having a rough football season, with fans and sports writers alike calling for a coaching change.  This weekend a fan started heckling head coach Tommy Tuberville, harassing him about his poor coaching. Maturely, Tuberville yelled back, saying “Hey go to hell, get a job." Take that college student. Burn.
• For a full scoreboard of this weekend’s winners and losers, click here. 

NBA (National Basketball Association)

• There’s an app for that. The Cleveland Cavaliers are just like us as they get stuck in traffic too. On the way to the game, their team bus was held up by VP Biden’s motorcade. The players were forced to ditch the bus and call an Uber car to get to the game. Their late arrival obviously messed with their pregame rhythm as they only beat the 76ers by one to remain undefeated.

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)

• Rain dance. Carl Edwards punched his spot in the final round of “The Chase for the Cup” (NASCAR’s elimination-style playoffs). He was declared the winner when the race was called due to rain with 41 laps left. Edwards joins Jimmie Johnson in the final round. The race next week in Arizona will determine the drivers who will claim the last two spots. 

Overtime

• Denver Broncos’ Brandon Marshall has taken a knee during the national anthem for the last eight games to raise awareness of police brutality. On Sunday, Marshall announced he will no longer kneel after seeing productive discussions and progress. Marshall has been a part of that progress by working closely with the Denver Broncos and the Denver Police Department to discuss sensitive issues such as the department’s use of force policy.

Sideline stat

• The Cleveland Browns (NFL) continue their downward spiral toward a winless season. They lost 35-10 to the Dallas Cowboys for a season record of 0-9.

Coaches’ corner

• Maybe Lorne Michaels has a future as a head coach? Members of the World Series Champions Chicago Cubs appeared on Saturday Night Live this weekend. They starred as dancers at Granny’s bachelorette party and as special guests on the “Weekend Update” segment, both good for a Monday morning laugh.

The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up - Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! We hope you’re enjoying candy for breakfast to kick off the day. We’re not judging because in our book M&M’s make a nutritious breakfast.

Trick or Treat,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - Give your friends the treat of Last Night's Game. Share us! 

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MLB (MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL)

• Not so fast. Going into last night’s game the Chicago Cubs were on the verge of losing the World Series. They kept their season alive by winning game five at Wrigley Field.

• Down with the DH. The series shifts back to Cleveland Tuesday night, where the DH (designated hitter) will again be a factor because they’re playing by American League rules. Cubs' red hot hitter Kyle Schwarber will be in the lineup as a DH. 

NCAA FOOTBALL (COLLEGE)

• Upsets. The undefeated Baylor Bears (#8), West Virginia Mountaineers (#10), Boise State Broncos (#13) and Tennessee Volunteers (#18) all lost to unranked teams this weekend and that is not good for those ranking numbers behind their names.

• Let us judge you. The first official weekly “college football rankings” will be released Tuesday. The rankings you’ve seen before this are based on a poll put forth by the AP (Associated Press). These new rankings will be determined by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. These rankings matter because they determine playoff eligibility. 

NFL (NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE)

• What are the chances? The Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins gave the British fans something American fans rarely see. Not Prince Harry but a game that ended in a tie. The game, which was played in London, is the second game to end in a tie this season. There haven’t been two tie games in an NFL season in 19 years.

NBA (NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION)

• Bring it on. During the off-season Kevin Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors. That left the team in the hands of Russell Westbrook, who has killed it so far this season. He’s had two triple-doubles to lead the Thunder to a 3-0 start. What’s a triple–double? Find out in our coaches’ corner.  

NASCAR (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STOCK CAR AUTO RACING)

• I’ll take that. Jimmie Johnson secured his place in the final four of “The Chase for the Cup” with a win this weekend. Only two races remain for drivers to win to advance to the last and final race that will determine the season’s winner.  

OVERTIME

• It was a no good, very bad day in Cleveland yesterday. Not only did the Indians lose their World Series game but the Cleveland Browns lost. The Browns are halfway to joining an elite club of teams to go winless during an NFL season, sitting at 0-8. Their fans couldn’t even win when unfurling a banner. They misspelled “Go Dawg Pound” – “GPODAWUND.” Maybe they should all go home and start the day over.

SIDELINE STAT

• 621,000 – the number of subscribers ESPN lost in one month according to Nielsen. It's the worst month in the company's history and represents a revenue loss of $52 million. It’s not only ESPN, the decline of cable subscribers is hurting every cable network, sports or not.

COACHES’ CORNER

• How many baseballs are used in a typical MLB game? The average life of a baseball is seven pitches, with over 90 balls used in a game. Unlike your little league game, umpires will take the ball out of the game if it’s scuffed or dirty because it impacts the way the ball functions. Discarded baseballs are often used for batting practice or shipped down to the minor leagues.