Bring It On

Woo your clients, carry on a great conversation with your happy hour date and make heads turn in a board meeting when you show off your sports know how.

Take that Monday,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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College basketball

When Sunday Funday has a whole new meaning. The luck of the Irish continued last night as Notre Dame’s women’s basketball team won the national championship on a shot, literally made at the last second. Their win over Mississippi State came 17 years to the day after their last national championship.

When nothing good happens after midnight. The clock struck midnight for the Cinderella story Loyola-Chicago men’s basketball team. Sister Jean and her Ramblers lost to Michigan in the final four, setting up tonight’s big national championship game between Michigan and Villanova (9:19 pm EST). Remember how we told you to pick a team that sports the color blue to win your bracket? Once again, regardless of which team wins, the national champion will be blue.

Overtime

The “Babe Ruth of Japan,” Shohei Ohtani, made his MLB (Major League Baseball) pitching debut yesterday for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, picking up his first win. Even more impressive? The dad who was holding his child and caught a foul ball with his free hand. Sign him up. WATCH 

 

Sideline stat

The Vegas Golden Knights may have made history, clinching their spot in the NHL (National Hockey League) playoffs in their inaugural year as a team, but that wasn’t what was important to them on Saturday night. The team retired the #58, forever honoring the 58 victims that died in the October 1, 2017 shooting, which happened just days before the team started their season. (When a number is retired, no one on that team can ever wear that jersey number again).

Coaches’ corner

The most anticipated player to take the field in MLS (Major League Soccer) since David Beckham, scored two goals in his debut with the L.A. Galaxy (also Beckham’s former team). The 36-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed with the Galaxy from Manchester United and upon his arrival in the U.S., placed a rather ego driven newspaper ad. SEE IT

 

Stay Tuned

The greatest game on grass, the Master’s golf tournament, begins this week. Stay tuned for all the interesting and quirky traditions in our Five Things You Need To Know on Wednesday. Not into golf? It’s always a great sport to “watch” during your Sunday nap.

Click to shop now. (Did we mention it's on sale)?

Caffeinated Conversations

It’s Monday and we’re serving up the hot topics to talk about around a cup of coffee so you don’t even have to think.

Your Monday Motivation to make it happen,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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College Basketball

You’ll never forget your sweet sixteen. To say it’s been a wild weekend of upsets and bracket busting last second victories is an understatement. We saw two number one teams get bounced from the tournament, the underdog Nevada coach become so excited after their big win that he ripped off his shirt (awkward) and 98-year-old Sister Jean’s Loyola-Chicago team is still playing, thanks to her extra prayers and motivation. Her encouragement might end here as she has her team losing next weekend in the sweet sixteen in her own bracket.

Check your dumpster fire of a bracket here. (Ours is a hot mess too).

PGA (Professional Golfers Association)

When you wish the haters would just fade away. Rory McIlroy agrees with you. After winning this weekend’s tournament named after golf legend (and creator of the iconic non-alcoholic drink), Arnold Palmer, McIlroy spoke out saying he’d like to see a limit on alcohol sales to combat the hecklers on the course. He said it’s getting out of hand. Unlike Happy Gilmore, he’s trying to hit the haters where it hurts, in their livers.

Overtime

The movie “The Sandlot” turns 25 this year and the Milwaukee Brewers (MLB – Major League Baseball) decided to reenact their favorite scene of the movie, costumes and all. Besides the acting, the best part is the reveal of “The Beast.” You’re killing me smalls.

Sideline stat

Zero – the number of perfect brackets left after Friday night. UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) shocked the world as the first #16 seeded team to ever beat a #1 team, hence the lack of perfect brackets. Your bracket may not be a winner but because of the upset, everyone will receive free pizza for lunch at Little Caesars on April 2nd. If that’s not enough you can get your morning laugh catching up with the sassy UMBC twitter account that has fought off cynics all weekend. (For the record, UMBC lost last night in the second round).

Coaches’ corner

The Paralympics have come to a close but the last day was highlighted by a big win by the U.S. Sled Hockey Team that took home their third consecutive gold. Overall, it was the best performance for Team U.S.A. in 16 years, winning 36 medals, with 9 of those medals going to military veterans.

The Talk Of The Town

It’s undoubtedly the talk of the town and we’re not talking about the latest celebrity gossip.

Let the bracket bonanza begin,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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College Basketball

When nothing is as good as the original. The big Selection Sunday show that announced which men’s teams made it into the March Madness tournament took a different turn this year. The network announced all of the teams in the first 15 mins in alphabetical order instead of the previous format where the teams and their rankings were slowly announced throughout the show. Fans were not happy, including the Lawrence, Kansas Police Department that tweeted, “Please do not call 911 to complain about the format of the NCAA tournament selection show. We can’t do anything about it, no matter how bad it is.”

PS- The women’s bracket will be announced tonight. 

When you have nothing to lose. Over 70 million people filled out brackets for last year’s tournament, so why not join in on the fun? Play in our bracket challenge for a chance to win prizes (there are even prizes for last place). Questions are encouraged and novices are welcome. No pressure - pick by team color, mascot or use the random button and let the computer pick for you. Expect lots of upsets, which means your guess is as good as anyone’s. Here’s the bracket link. (password: sportscurious)

Have more questions? Check out our March Madness 101 or send us a note. 

Overtime

When you have a Bridesmaids moment in the middle of a soccer game. Captain of both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, Sergio Ramos, ran off the field in haste during his team’s win yesterday. When asked about Ramos’ immediate departure in a postgame press conference, his manager so delicately answered “He sh-- himself.” Well that's a crappy excuse. 

Sideline stat

Tiger Woods is back, finishing in second place in the Valspar Open this weekend. He may be looking a little older but he’s playing like a young Woods and the PGA (Professional Golfers Association) is loving it as their ratings and fan engagement soar.

Coaches’ corner

The March Madness tournament starts tomorrow with the two play-in games. What is a play-in game? They are two pre-tournament games where four teams that almost made it to the tournement play and the winners get into the actual tournament. The games for all other teams start on Thursday.  

What to watch

Serena Williams continues her comeback, facing her sister Venus in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA today.