The Countdown Is On

Giving you a little something to discuss besides your New Year’s resolutions.

This will last past January,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

After dominant performances in the semifinals, familiar foes Alabama and Clemson will meet yet again in the College Football National Championship Game (January 7). This is the third time in four years these two teams have played for the championship trophy. WE GET IT, YOU’RE GOOD

OVERTIME

Winning the son of the year award, former college football player and WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) wrestler turned actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, surprised his mom for Christmas and bought her a new house.  MOM, DON’T GET YOUR HOPES UP

SIDELINE STAT

As if a hockey arena wasn’t cold enough, in 2008 the NHL (National Hockey League) started the Winter Classic, an outdoor hockey game on or around New Year’s Day. Tomorrow, the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins will face-off (and will freeze their faces off) on a rink built on the field of Notre Dame’s outdoor football stadium. GOING BACK TO THEIR ROOTS

COACHES’ CORNER

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (NBA – National Basketball Association) is a man of his word, playing Santa for nine-year-old Riley Morrison. Earlier this year, Morrison wrote Curry a letter asking why his smaller size basketball shoes weren’t listed for girls on the Under Armour site. He worked with Under Armour to correct the issue and promised her a pair. Curry kept his promise and Morrison found two pairs of shoes from Curry under her tree. TAKING THE COURT

WHAT TO WATCH

The NFL (National Football League) regular season has come to a close with the playoffs beginning next weekend. WHO’S IN, WHO’S OUT

He's Making A List...

Santa Claus is coming to town and he’s bringing the sports curious conversations for under the mistletoe.

Breath freshener not included,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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NBA (National Basketball Association)

NBA (National Basketball Association) teams that made the playoffs last season will debut their Nike “Earned Edition” uniforms tomorrow. While it’s an honor to play on Christmas Day in the NBA but not sure how special the uniforms are since the majority of the teams make the playoffs. PARTICIPATION JERSEY

Overtime

The Toronto Maple Leafs (National Hockey League) took their talents off the ice to participate in a performance of “The Nutcracker” with the The National Ballet of Canada. TWINKLE TOES

Football 

It’s tradition for the Army cadets to do a pushup for every point scored at a Army football game. Unfortunately for the cadets, Army had a record setting win over Houston in their bowl game and they had to do 385 pushups. OH MY PECS

Coaches’ corner

The Boston Red Sox – New York Yankees (MLB – Major League Baseball) rivalry never ends. One hall of fame voter refused to cast his ballot for a worthy former Yankees pitcher, Mariano Rivera. NOW THAT’S HOLDING A GRUDGE

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