Give The People What They Want

Whether you're at the office or lying on a beach somewhere during this holiday week, today's conversation starters are a universal language.

Who needs Rosetta Stone?
The Last Night's Game Team

PS – We heard you! The Sports Curious podcast is now live on iTunes, with new content every week. Tune in to be in the know because you never get a second chance at a first impression. LISTEN

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NBA (National Basketball Association)

When Hollywood is calling your name. On Friday LeBron James said peace out to the Cleveland Cavaliers and last night he said hello to the wild west. He signed a deal for $154 million over four years with the third team of his career, the Los Angeles Lakers. His new locale has some calling him LA-bron. Also interesting about the deal? The coach of the Lakers, Luke Walton, was drafted the same year as James (2003). TWITTER WENT CRAZY

Overtime

In the wake of LeBron’s signing, Lakers ticket prices have skyrocketed and all Cleveland Cavaliers fans have to look forward to next season are free TUMS, which the company will giveaway to fans to calm their heartburn from the King James rejection. ALWAYS A SILVER LINING

Sideline stat

Wimbledon starts today and the main attractions are Serena Williams and her daughter Olympia, who took some time off to visit friend Duchess Meghan Markle this weekend. The Wimbledon seeding committee used their discretionary powers to seed Williams at #25, even though she’s not among the top players in the world after her maternity leave. Who to watch on the men’s side? A #1 seeded 36-year-old Roger Federer, who hasn’t been seeded that high in a decade. SCHEDULE

Coaches’ corner

While traditional powerhouse countries like Germany, Portugal, Argentina and Spain have been eliminated from the World Cup, host country Russia has advanced. In one of the two games yesterday that came down to penalty kicks, Russia became the lowest ranked team to ever advance with their win over Spain. BUT THEY DIDN’T PARTY LIKE THE CROATIAN FANS

What to watch

In a battle for the ages, Brazil and Mexico play each other this morning in the World Cup. We’ll find out if Brazil will advance to the next round under the leadership of Neymar, the last of the notable global soccer superstars still standing after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s teams were both eliminated.

For The Win!

It's a new week to bond over sports with your clients, coworkers and family.

Keep the conversation flowing, 

The Last Night's Game Team   

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COLLEGE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES

What to say to a newly engaged friend…The boys of college baseball love diamonds too. Oregon State defeated Mississippi State (and their rally banana) to reach the College World Series championship games. They'll face an Arkansas team that ousted the defending champions from Florida to reach their first finals in 39 years. (They’ve never won a College World Series title). The best-of-three championship series starts Monday. SCHEDULE

OVERTIME

Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world that prevented women from driving, until this weekend. Celebrating her country’s decision to overturn the law, Aseel Al-Hamad, the first female member of Saudi Arabian Motorsport Federation, took the wheel and fulfilled her dream to drive an F1 (Formula One) car before the French Grand Prix race yesterday. (F1 driver Lewis Hamilton took home the race’s checkered flag). FEEL THE POWER

SIDELINE STAT

We’re almost halfway through the World Cup and the teams will wrap up group play this week. Most of the teams that were favored are still in it, but there are plenty of teams who have already packed their bags, knowing they won’t advance to the next round. Could Lionel Messi and his Argentinian team be one of them? WHO’S IN AND WHO’S OUT?

COACHES’ CORNER

The empty feeling of being ditched by your ride is all too familiar to the San Diego Padres (MLB – Major League Baseball). Their team bus failed to show up to take them to play the San Francisco Giants. Thinking fast, their director of player and staff services flagged down an empty double-decker tour bus, negotiated a rate and then the team was on their way to the stadium in style, taking in the sights along the way. MAKING THINGS HAPPEN

WHAT TO WATCH

The ESPN Body Issue is out today featuring athletes in the nude (with their important bits strategically covered of course). PICS…Also, the NBA (National Basketball Association) Awards are tonight where the MVP and the highly contested battle for Rookie of the Year will be announced. PEOPLE ARE LOSING SLEEP OVER THIS

Taking The World By Storm

It’s Monday. Take the world by storm and show them how it’s done.

By impressing them with sports talk of course,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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World Cup

When you’re amped to start a new week. The first weekend in World Cup soccer had all the feels. From the historic tie for Iceland against Argentina that sent the country into happy hysterics while doing the Viking clap (aka the Thunderclap), to the celebration of the game winning goal for Mexico against defending champion Germany that mimicked an earthquake with fans causing seismic activity in Mexico City. In case you feel left out, don’t worry, there are still three weeks left. AND THE CROWD GOES WILD

Overtime

Unlike most interviews with Oprah, this one didn’t end up in tears or with the interviewee jumping on the couch. In her conversation with quarterback Tom Brady (NFL – National Football League), which aired yesterday on OWN Network, he opened up. Brady talked about retirement, how his children have changed his perspective on the game - especially when it comes to losing and why he respects players who kneel for the anthem but hates being called the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time). No word if they discussed their food empires over carrots and hummus. WATCH

Sideline stat

Coming off a prolonged absence after wrist surgery, golfer Brooks Koepka won his second straight U.S. Open. Not only is he the first back-to-back winner in 29 years but he was rewarded with a nice little winner’s check for $2.19 million. That’ll work.

Not having a great tournament? Birthday boy Phil Mickelson. All hell broke loose on the course after he hit his moving ball before it rolled down a hill. That’s against the rules and the USGA (United States Golf Association) threatened to disqualify him from the tournament. Although his golf partner Andrew “Beef” Johnson found it hilarious (Beef was also using an Arby’s bacon beef and cheddar golf towel during the tournament so there’s that), many golf purists had their panties in a bunch over his troubling move. AGHAST  

Coaches’ corner

It’s the 25th anniversary of the movie The Sandlot and the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB – Major League Baseball) honored the cult classic during “Sandlot Night." They recognized the actors from the movie, did a sweet t-shirt giveaway and showed the flick after the game. There have been no reports on how many times “you’re killing me smalls” was said throughout the celebration. FLASHBACK

What to watch

Confused on why a tie in World Cup soccer is a good thing? Stay tuned to our social media channels tomorrow afternoon for that answer in our Sports Curious Question of the Week. Have a burning sports question you’d like to know the answer to? Send us a note on social media (buttons below) or at theteam@lastnightsgame.com.