The Rundown: When I Met You In The Summer

Summer is here and it’s no more evident than in sports. From weddings to awaiting the announcement of the NBA (National Basketball Association) League MVP to figuring out why blondes have more fun, we have all you need to know to start a conversation with a tan stranger on a beach blanket.

Will you put sunscreen on my back?

The Last Night’s Game team

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College Baseball World Series

• Do I know you? The final series in the College Baseball World Series begins tonight.  The LSU Tigers (Louisiana State University) will face the University of Florida Gators in the best-of-three series to determine the national champion. These two teams are familiar foes as they play together in the SEC (Southeastern Conference) and shared a regular season title.
• Blondes have more fun. Baseball players are known for being superstitious and LSU player Kramer Robertson is no exception to the rule. He dyed his hair blonde after a previous loss in the tournament and they’re now playing in the finals. Much to the distain of his mother, Baylor University’s women’s basketball coach, he plans on keeping his good luck charm lightened locks. Whatever floats your boat.

MLB (Major League Baseball)

• What no puffy shirt? Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Cody Bellinger has continued his home run hot streak, hitting two more on Sunday (yes in one game). Even more impressive (or frightening) than his record-breaking home run streak? He doesn’t know who Jerry Seinfeld is. Apparently, he’s never met Kramer (above) either.  

Overtime

• Sports reporter extraordinaire and Dancing With The Stars host, Erin Andrews married hockey player Jarret Stoll this weekend in Montana. The two were introduced by a mutual friend, former NFL (National Football League) player and morning show host, Michael Strahan. See all the pics.   

Sideline stat

• Miami Marlins Ichiro Suzuki must have found the fountain of youth. He made history on Sunday, becoming the oldest player (43) to start a game in centerfield, breaking Ricky Henderson’s previous record.

Coaches’ corner

• Sports and music always seem to collide and that’s the case in the “Big 3,” a three-on-three basketball tournament started by rapper Ice Cube. The games have no time limit, the first team to 60 points wins. The players and coaches include former NBA (National Basketball Association) legends like Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Allen Iverson.

You can catch the games on Fox Sports 1 on Mondays for the next eight weeks.

The Rundown: Making Connections

Conquer your Monday with the same swagger and confidence as Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps, who will be racing a great white shark during Shark Week in July.

Now that’s what we’re talking about (at the watercooler),

The Last Night’s Game Team

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MLB (Major League Baseball)

• Making it look easy. Colorado Rockies standout third baseman Nolan Arenado achieved the tough feat of hitting for the cycle yesterday, completing it with a game winning walk-off home run. Arenado cut his face during the celebration, completing his postgame interviews in a lovely bloody jersey. (Click here for more on a walk-off and see below for more on hitting for the cycle).

WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association)

• Leading the pack. Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi made history yesterday. The Olympic and WNBA Champion is now the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history.

Overtime

• Former UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighter Tim Hague, 34, died yesterday just two days after a knockout loss in a boxing match. It's tough news for the boxing world that has been reveling in the buzz surrounding UFC Champion Conor McGregor’s switch over to boxing to fight Floyd Mayweather.

Sideline stat

• Golfer Brooks Koepka won his first major yesterday, the U.S. Open. He smoked his competition, winning by a massive margin (by U.S. Open standards) and collecting a record $2.16 million purse. Broadcaster Joe Buck did not take home a win yesterday, identifying Koepka's post-win kiss recipient as his ex-girlfriend and not his current one. That makes for an awkward moment. 

Coaches’ corner

• What does it mean to ‘hit for the cycle?’ When a baseball player hits for the cycle it means in one game (and in no particular order) they hit a single (a hit where they made it to first base), double, triple and a home run. 

The Rundown: Rise And Shine

This weekend in sports brought us face-plants and firsts. Here’s to hoping your weekend was the latter.

Happy Monday,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Tennis

• Très bon. Two winners were crowned this weekend in the French Open but they couldn’t be more different. Unseeded Jelena Ostapenko won her first grand slam. With her win she became the first unseeded woman to win the French Open since 1933 and the first Latvian player to win a Grand Slam singles title.

On the men’s side Rafael Nadal secured his 10th French Open title. It’s the first time any player has reached 10 titles at one Grand Slam event. (A Grand Slam is one of the four major tournaments in a tennis season).

NHL (National Hockey League)

• We are the champions. The Nashville Predators brought their A game with Faith Hill singing the national anthem before game six of the NHL Finals, but even the country music legend couldn’t save the Predators. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Predators last night to win the Stanley Cup. This is the second straight Stanley Cup win for the Penguins.

NBA (National Basketball Association)

• Golden ticket. On Friday night the home crowd and Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving led the team to a win to keep their hopes alive in the NBA Finals. This was the first loss for the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs but we’re sure the Warriors ownership doesn’t mind the series shifting back to their home court tonight because courtside seats are going for $41,000.

Overtime

• This weekend “The Freeze” became a viral sensation. The Freeze is a member of the Atlanta Braves’ (MLB - Major League Baseball) ground crew who races fans in between innings in a getup complete with swim goggles. The former college track star had a fan eating his dust quite literally. See the video. 

Sideline stat

• Forbes released its annual list of “The World’s Highest Paid Athletes” and yes it’s as depressing as you thought. Rounding out the top four spots with combined salary/winnings and endorsements are:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (soccer) - $93 million
2. LeBron James (basketball) – $86.2 million
3. Lionel Messi (soccer) - $80 million
4. Roger Federer (tennis) - $64 million

Guess we should’ve tried harder in our youth soccer league. Here's the entire list. 

Coaches’ corner

• Ryan Blaney won the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) race at Pocono yesterday. It’s the first win for Blaney, a third-generation racer. He won in an unprecedented fashion, without a radio to communicate with his team thanks to a malfunction.