More Fun Than A Barrel Of Monkeys

While the Olympics may be dominating your newsfeed, this weekend in sports brings us a whole lot more than downhill and spandex.

It’ll still be fun, we promise,

The Last Night’s Game Team 

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NBA (National Basketball Association)

There’s a first time for everything. This Sunday is the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles and for the first time the teams are not divided up by conference, but chosen by two captains (Steph Curry and LeBron James). The best in the league were narrowed down by a vote and then drafted old school P.E. class-style by the captains. On the line? $300,000 and $150,000 for the teams’ selected charities.

If you believe you can fly. Saturday night features a variety of all-star weekend skills challenges, including the slam dunk competition as well as the three-point shooting contest and the skills competition, which shows off the player’s versatility. Be prepared to be impressed.

College Football

A little feel good for your Friday. During the college football season, the Iowa Hawkeyes started a tradition where their fans wave to the kids at the neighboring children's hospital, which looks into the stadium, at the end of the first quarter. The team has taken it a step further during the off-season, drawing a giant hand in the snow on the field to "wave" to the kids at the hospital. 

Overtime

No one is having more fun in PyeongChang than the Swiss freestyle ski team. If their team announcement video didn’t convince you that the Swiss really do have more fun, then watch the video of skier Fabian Bösch taking an unconventional ride on escalator. More proof that Olympians are not human.

Sideline stat

NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) kicks off its season on Sunday with the Daytona 500. Some familiar faces will take the track including former NFL (National Football League) quarterback Peyton Manning, who will drive the pace car. The one to watch? Danica Patrick, who will drive in this race and one other this season before retiring. And yes, her boyfriend, Green Bay Packers quarterback (NFL) Aaron Rodgers will be there cheering her on.

Coaches’ corner

Ever wonder what the difference is between the slalom, giant slalom and downhill ski events? We did too. We break it down for you in less than one minute. WATCH

I'm On A Roll

It’s Monday and that means it’s a new week for you to conquer the conversation by sharing a little something about sports.

Rolls off the tongue,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Winter Olympics

If you’re ready to dominate your Monday. The U.S. Figure Skating Team picked up a bronze medal in the team skate event. Their score was boosted by Mirai Nagasu’s free skate in which she did something no American has ever done. She successfully landed a triple axel in the Olympics. What is a triple axel? 3.5 rotations in the air. No big deal.

Because breakfast beers are perfectly acceptable at the Olympics. Red Gerard, 17, became the first American to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics. Before the competition, he received early morning Snapchat videos from his family shotgunning beers on the way to watch him compete for gold. Too bad he’s not old enough to join them.

When there are never enough spirit fingers in your day. Overshadowing the athletes themselves are the North Korean cheerleaders. This handpicked crew of young women has more spirit than a remake of “Bring It On.” Their dances and cheers were on display at the Korea - Switzerland hockey game, where the joint Korean team was handily beaten by the Swiss team.

Overtime

The Westminster Dog Show begins today and so many people in the competition will be living out their doggie dreams including Hall of Fame NFL (National Football League) player Shannon Sharpe. He’ll be joining the long line of fantastic correspondents covering canines with names like Tickle Em Jock and Starfire’s Spank Me Hard Call Me Crazy. (Those are not names used to describe your former boyfriends, but in fact names of real dogs that have competed in the show).

Keep an eye on Sonnito, a Chihuahua that could be the first of its breed to claim the title of “best in show.”

Sideline stat

This weekend, a very emotional Paul Pierce became the 22nd player in Boston Celtics (NBA - National Basketball Association) history to have his jersey retired. Pierce wore #34 and was part of the team that brought the city of Boston a championship. (Unsure what it means to retire a jersey number? Here’s your answer).

Coaches’ corner

If you’re looking for a way to stay calm this Monday, look no further than Finnish snowboarding coach Antti Koskinen. You can find him in zen mode, knitting away while standing next to his athletes who are getting ready to take on the mountain. Who knew Grandma was a trendsetter?   

In tonight’s Olympic coverage, look out for Chloe Kim, another 17-year-old American snowboarding prodigy, on her quest for gold.

I've Had The Time Of My Life

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to avoid the discussion today around your favorite Super Bowl commercial, the historic win and JT’s halftime performance.

One for the record books,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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NFL (National Football League)

When the underdog proves its critics wrong. The Philadelphia Eagles embraced their underdog role throughout the entire postseason. Last night, in what some are calling the best Super Bowl ever, they beat the mighty New England Patriots 41-33, for the franchise’s first ever Super Bowl win.

When you capitalize on the opportunity presented to you. This season’s league MVP, Patriots Tom Brady was once a backup quarterback, and now he was beat by one. Nick Foles started the season as the Eagles backup quarterback but injury to the starter forced him into the spotlight. Last night, Foles was named the Super Bowl MVP.

When there’s so much to talk about and so little time. A few other notables:

• P!NK, who was battling the flu, appeared to spit out gum right before her anthem performance, but it was really a lozenge. She may be sick but she was still sassy with this great comeback for those trolling her on Twitter. Haters gonna hate.

• Her husband may have lost but Mrs. Tom Brady, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, congratulated every Eagles player she saw on the way out of the stadium.

• Philly native and actor/comedian Kevin Hart wasn't the MVP of the night. He was caught on camera arguing with security to let him on stage for the trophy presentation. Then on the NFL Network he dropped an F-bomb. He admitted "he had been drinking."

Overtime

Justin Timberlake’s halftime show (and his camo suit) are receiving mixed reviews, especially from Prince fans. His dance moves may have brought down the house but 13-year-old Ryan McKenna stole the show. He snapped a selfie with JT but didn’t know the words to the song to sing along and proceeded to hone in on his phone instead of the fact he was on national television. Social media of course had the best reactions.

Sideline stat

Let’s talk commercials. Companies spent $5 million for 30 seconds but which ads will lead the discussion around the water cooler this morning? Some include:

• New York Giants Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. in a delightful recreation of the final dance in Dirty Dancing

• Danny DeVito as an M&M turned human

• Amazon’s Alexa loses her voice and the stars who step in to help

 

Coaches’ corner

Dilly Dilly for Philly Philly! Back in August, Eagles’ Lane Johnson promised Philadelphia free beer if they won the Super Bowl and luckily for him Bud Light is on board to help him keep his promise. Here’s how to pick up your free beer at the victory parade.

Stay tuned! This week it’s going down in South Korea. Make sure to check out Wednesday’s Five Things To Know About The Winter Olympics for all the action.