The Rundown: Monday Mash-up
We’re helping you avoid awkward silences one day at a time. If only sports could help you avoid all of life’s awkward moments.
It’s not you, it’s me,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
- His legend lives on. This Saturday and every April 15th MLB celebrates “Jackie Robinson Day.” Every year players and coaches on every team wear Robinson’s iconic #42 in honor of MLB's first African American player. The #42 is the only number to be retired by all MLB teams.
- Somebunny’s funny. Hanley Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox took his Easter celebration to a whole new level, creating bunny whiskers out of his eye black for the game.
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- Tough loss. Boston Celtics player Isiah Thomas lost his sister in a car accident the day before his team's first game in the playoffs. It was an emotional start to the game for Thomas but he managed to pull it together and led his team in points. Despite his efforts, the Chicago Bulls (#8) upset his Celtics (#1) to take the series lead.
NFL (National Football League)
- What to watch for. Just when you were finally getting over football season, it’s back again. Everyone in the sports world is teeming with excitement because the regular season NFL schedule will be released this week. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook for up-to-the-minute updates.
Overtime
- In a playoff game this weekend, Columbus Blue Jackets Zach Werenski took a puck to the face. Once the bleeding stopped and even though he could barely see, he returned to the ice. Playoff hockey translates to an unbelievable amount of toughness and injuries that aren’t too flattering (see pic here). Sadly, even Werenski’s determination couldn’t bring his team a win.
Sideline stat
- This weekend Ohio State Buckeye super fan Jacob Jarvis, who is wheelchair bound from muscular dystrophy, had his dream come true. In a spring game in front of 82,000 Buckeye fans, Jarvis scored a touchdown to end the game. Simply awesome.
Coaches’ corner
- Today is known as Patriot’s Day in Massachusetts, commemorating the battles of Lexington and Concord, which began of the American Revolutionary War. The day is marked by the running of the Boston Marathon and the Boston Red Sox (baseball) play an early game. The early game is so baseball fans can catch the end of the marathon after the game.
The Rundown: Watercooler Worthy
While Monday might be the pits, at least you now have something to talk about at the watercooler.
Today is already looking up,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PGA (Professional Golfers' Association)
- How it all went down. If you thought watching golf was simply an excuse to nap on Sunday, The Masters proved you wrong. Yesterday’s Masters win came down to a playoff between Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose. Garcia finally overcame his demons to win The Masters after 74 starts in majors. (There are four “major” golf tournaments a year – The Masters is one of them).
- And the crowd goes wild. American golfer Matt Kuchar did the unthinkable and made a hole-in-one yesterday at The Masters. He then gave the ball from his record achievement to a little golf fan. There have only been 18 holes-in-one in Masters history.
College Hockey National Championship
- This is &#$%king awesome. University of Denver beat Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday to win the "Frozen Four," the college hockey national championship. Caught up in the excitement of the win, Denver’s goalie dropped a word that rhymes with puck in the post-game interview. Oops.
NFL (National Football League)
- Flexing their muscles. The NFL is investigating players who participated in an arm wrestling tournament at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The investigation isn’t for an excessive use of force but the fact that the players may be in violation of the league’s gambling policy. Players and other league personnel are prohibited from making promotional appearances at casinos or other gambling-related establishments.
Overtime
- Our dreams for a white wedding were dashed after learning that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and actress Olivia Munn have called it quits after three years of dating. Insert heartbroken emoji here.
Sideline stat
- Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook has had a season for the ages. He became just the second player in NBA (National Basketball Association) history to average a triple-double for a season. He also set the all-time record for triple-doubles in a season with 42. (See coaches’ corner below for an explanation of a triple-double). Thanks to his Herculean efforts, his team has secured a spot in the playoffs, which start April 15th.
Coaches’ corner
- What's a triple-double? A triple-double happens when a player records a double-digit number in three of these statistical categories in a game - points, total rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. Breaking it down - three categories (triple) in double-digits (double).
For example, Westbrook might have scored 21 points, recorded 10 steals with 11 rebounds in a game for a triple-double.
The Rundown: When One Door Closes Another Opens
Tonight marks the culmination of the college basketball season - the national championship game. We’ll also find out who will win a year of bragging rights as the winner of our bracket challenge.
The cure for your case of the Mondays,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Men’s NCAA March Madness Tournament
- No fairytale ending. Cinderella made it to the ball in the movies but not in March Madness. Number one ranked Gonzaga and North Carolina beat their lower seeded opponents of South Carolina and Oregon. Tonight, we will see two of the nation’s number one teams battle it out for the national championship. Here's how you can watch.
Women’s NCAA March Madness Tournament
- It had to happen at some point. Friday night we witnessed one of the biggest upsets in March Madness history. Mississippi State upset a previously unbeatable UConn (Connecticut) team in overtime of the semifinals. The UConn women’s team hasn’t lost since November 2014.
- Close but no cigar. Mississippi State was unable to carry that momentum into Sunday where they were defeated by the South Carolina Gamecocks, who won their first ever national championship.
NFL (National Football League)
- That’s going to leave a mark. The New England Patriots’ Super Bowl Trophy made an appearance in Maine and was being transported home when the vehicle transporting it hit a deer. The driver and the trophy were unharmed. No word on if the deer was an Atlanta Falcons fan. (Falcons lost to the Patriots in the Super Bowl).
Overtime
- The “Super Bowl of wrestling,” WrestleMania, was last night and WWE (and substitute Today Show co-host) John Cena proposed to his girlfriend of five years and star of Total Divas, Nikki Bella, after they won a tag team match in the ring. That’s how every girl dreams it will happen. (PS – WWE stands for World Wresting Entertainment and she said yes).
Sideline stat
- Pitchers aren’t known for their batting skills (they spend too much time practicing pitching) but San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner didn’t receive that memo. Yesterday during his team’s first game of the season, he became the first ever pitcher to hit two home runs on opening day. (FYI - today is opening day for teams that didn't play yesterday).
Coaches’ corner
- Golfer Lexi Thompson was on her way to her first major win of the year, but then she was given a penalty from the previous day’s play. A TV viewer emailed the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) about her improper ball placement. The LPGA reviewed it and assessed the delayed penalty. She ended up losing in a playoff. Golfers everywhere, including Tiger Woods, united on social media to defend her.