Good Vibes Only

The heartwarming stories from this weekend in sports.

Starting the day on a high note,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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NFL (NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE)

It’s never too late to be what you might have been. Josh Johnson isn’t a household name. He was drafted in 2008 but never won an NFL game as a starter. He hadn’t played in a NFL game since 2013 but kept working out and believing in himself. Then the call came two weeks ago. The Washington Redskins needed a quarterback and signed him in an emergency situation. Yesterday, Johnson took home his first NFL win and pushed his team closer to the playoffs. ALL THE FEELS

OVERTIME

A story about an unlikely friendship between a basketball star and a cat litter scientist is sweeping the nation. Former NBA (National Basketball Association) star and current TNT analyst Charles Barkley discussed his friendship with cat litter scientist Lin Wang on NPR’s “Only A Game.” The two met at a bar, struck up a conversation, and the rest is history. PURRFECT MATCH

SIDELINE STAT

The Chicago Bears (NFL) won their division yesterday, the first time they’ve done so since 2010. One of their players used this momentous occasion to propose to his girlfriend. DA BRIDE

WHAT TO WATCH

When the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB – Major League Baseball) lost in the World Series, some elementary students took it upon themselves to write the players inspirational letters. The players read the letters and responded to the students as part of the team’s holiday card. The look on the students’ faces is priceless. SHEER JOY

Monday Mashup

Weekend’s over but the fun continues in your inbox.

Fiesta!

The Last Night’s Game Team

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

On Saturday, Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray was named the Heisman Trophy winner. While he may officially be the best college football player in the country, football might not even be his best sport. He’ll play for the Oakland Athletics (MLB – Major League Baseball) after the football season is over, saying sayonara to football. WHAT CAN’T HE DO?

OVERTIME

LeBron James noticed that every year he played the Memphis Grizzlies (NBA - National Basketball Association) their assistant equipment manager always wore his shoes. For years she was on team LeBron, so this year he gave her a pair of his game worn shoes for her longtime support. SLAM DUNK

SIDELINE STAT

Atlanta United claimed their first MLS (Major League Soccer) Cup in only their second season, shutting out the Portland Timbers. While United took home the championship, seven-year-old Malea Emma brought down the house when she crushed the national anthem in front of a record crowd. THE VOICE OF AN ANGEL

COACHES’ CORNER

Yesterday’s NFL (National Football League) games kept fans on the edge of their seats right until the very end. There were three major upsets that all happened in the last seconds of the game. The Miami Dolphins took out the New England Patriots on a trick play, Dallas Cowboys handed the Philadelphia Eagles a loss on a miraculous catch and the Pittsburgh Steelers were handed a loss by the Oakland Raiders when their kicker slipped in a field goal attempt. THE EDGE OF GLORY

Calling In Reinforcements

A lot happened in the sports world over the weekend and after reading, we can assure you that you’ll be able to command the conversation.

Seriously sporty,

The Last Night’s Game Team 

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The top four teams in college football were selected yesterday and people are still arguing over the choices. Alabama (#1) will play Oklahoma (#4) and Clemson (#2) will take on Notre Dame (#3) on December 29 with the winners playing in the National Championship (think: the Super Bowl of college football) game on January 7. Neither Ohio State nor Georgia were chosen for the fourth spot and people are up in arms about it. 

The teams for all the bowl games have been selected. (Cheez-It Bowl anyone)? See which teams are playing in your neck of the woods. SCHEDULE

OVERTIME

After a slam dunk fueled feud between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mario Hezonja, Antetokounmpo (NBA - National Basketball Association) took the high road. Or not. He threatened to “punch him (Hezonja) in the nuts next time.” LOW BLOW

SIDELINE STAT

On Friday, our nation lost #41 - former president George H.W. Bush. He lived a magnificent life not only as president but as a lifelong baseball fanatic. In college, he was the captain of the Yale baseball team and led them to two College World Series (they never won). He kept his college baseball glove in his desk drawer and used it to throw out the first pitch in 1989 at a Baltimore Orioles (MLB - Major League Baseball) game. The 94-year-old also frequented Texas Rangers and Houston Astros games. FAREWELL 41

COACHES’ CORNER

Over the weekend, a video surfaced of a February incident involving Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt hitting and kicking a woman. The team released the troubled running back saying he was “not truthful” about the incident. Hunt granted an exclusive interview to ESPN in hopes to clear his name, stating that what he did was wrong. The NFL is investigating. NOT OKAY

WHAT TO WATCH

This weekend’s conference championships were as exciting as anticipated. In a case of changing of the guard, Alabama’s current quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took over for then starting quarterback Jalen Hurts in last year’s national championship game. Tagovailoa killed it and became the starter this year. In an ironic turn of events, on the same field they traded places last year, Hurts replaced Tagovailoa when he came out of Saturday’s game with an injury. Hurts gave his team the lead and eventually the win. AND HE MADE HIS COACH CRY