Off And Running

The Boston Marathon is today and that’s clearly the Monday motivation you’ll need to make your morning coffee run, because going for an actual run might be a little ambitious.

Either way, you’ve got this,

The Last Night’s Game Team

---

Boston Marathon

If you need an excuse to miss work today. Today is Patriots Day in Boston and the celebration includes the Boston Marathon followed by an early Red Sox game (MLB - Major League Baseball). Did you know that the Boston Marathon was one of the five major sporting events to continue during the World Wars? Read more fun facts about the marathon.

If you’re a goal digger. Today marks the five year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. One runner with a heartwarming story in today’s race is Jennifer Phinney. While deployed in Iraq 11 years ago, she was told her tour was being extended by six months. She dealt with the disappointment by running a Boston Marathon shadow race. Since then, she has completed a multitude of marathons, including a six-hour finish when she was eight months pregnant. She will finally have her chance to run the real race this morning, 11 years after running the shadow race in Iraq.

Overtime

The wedding anticipated by fans everywhere is off. Wrestler turned actor, John Cena and his wrestler fiancée Nikki Bella have called off their wedding. Fans all over the world are heartbroken as their dreams of spandex-filled, body slamming nuptials are shattered. READ  

Sideline stat

It was not quite the birdie he was looking for. Golfer Kelly Kraft hit an actual bird on Friday on the 14th hole, causing him to miss the cut to make it into the next round in the tournament. In a statement, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) showed zero remorse for the golfer stating that, “if he would’ve practiced more, he would’ve made the cut. It’s not the bird’s fault.” Ouch. MORE  

Coaches’ Corner

In a no big deal moment, the gasman for NASCAR (National Association For Stock Car Auto Racing) driver Cole Custer caught on fire during a pit stop. The gasman is the one who fills up the car with fuel during the quick stop and is obviously equipped with fireproof gear. Regardless, he was remarkably calm as flames shot off his body. As one gasman said last season “If you’re worried about catching on fire, you’re not doing your job.” We can safely say this is not the motto in our office.

What to watch

The Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians (MLB) will be playing in Puerto Rico tomorrow and Wednesday. (Oh and we're still in the first round of the NHL [National Hockey League] and NBA [National Basketball Association] playoffs). 

Monday Mania

Rolling out of bed may have hurt a little this morning, but what doesn’t have to be painful today is the small talk.

Who’s ready for a nap?

The Last Night’s Game Team  

---

masters - (PGA - Professional Golfers Association)

If you’ve ever been green with envy. Patrick Reed, 27, won the Masters and took home the iconic green jacket yesterday. The Masters’ win was the first major win for Reed. He is a polarizing player, some love him some hate him, but it doesn’t matter because he’s laughing all the way to the bank with his $1.98 million winner’s check. WHY FANS HATE REED

When you realize you should just stop betting. Tiger Woods was the favorite to win the Masters according to the sports books but he didn’t quite get there. On the other hand, he did achieve a small victory. He finished the tournament for the first time since 2015 (he tied for 32nd place) and that equaled big numbers for TV and for sponsors. Always a silver lining.

Overtime

The spectacle in spandex and the Super Bowl of wrestling, WrestleMania 34, was last night. In her WWE (Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment) debut, Ronda Rousey beat the boss’s daughter and WWE exec, Stephanie McMahon. The best moment of the night? Wrestler Braun Strowman needed a tag team partner and in a made for TV moment, he plucked a boy named Nicholas from the crowd. Nicholas and Strowman then proceeded to win the tag team championship belt. Someone is going to have an awesome show and tell in school this week. BEST MOMENTS

Sideline stat

Minnesota Duluth won the college national championship in hockey this weekend, beating Notre Dame. The victory is bittersweet as the hockey world is mourning the bus crash of a Canadian junior hockey team that killed 15. Tributes poured in for the Humboldt Broncos and so did the money. The GoFundMe page has raised over $4 million so far to help the families with medical and expenses. MORE

Coaches’ corner

“Japan’s Babe Ruth,” Shohei Ohtani, was the most sought after player in the off-season and last night he showed why. He took a perfect game into the 7th inning for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (MLB – Major League Baseball). What is a perfect game? It’s when no member of the opposing team gets on base during the entire game.

Like Fight Club, we don’t talk about the perfect game…ever. Baseball fans are very superstitious so never mention a player is going for a perfect game until it’s over. That’s probably something Martha Stewart wished she knew before she tweeted this last season. And there you have it – you’re smarter than Martha Stewart. 

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

---

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)?