Wednesday Wisdom
The most powerful women in sports. Plus, today’s watercooler topics.
March Madness sets records, Ramadan begins and Ted Lasso for President?
Let’s talk,
The Last Night's Game Team
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Wrapping up women’s history month
We can't be what we can't see, and these women are showing the next generation of female leaders that being a powerhouse in the sports world is attainable.
Like Jeanie Buss, who made a name for herself as the president and controlling owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. The daughter of Jerry Buss, the former Lakers owner, became the first female owner to lead a team to an NBA championship title.
But running the Lakers didn't come without hard work. At only 19, she served as the general manager of the Strings, a tennis team owned by her father. She bought the Los Angeles Blades, a roller hockey team, and was named Executive of the Year by the league. She isn't afraid to make bold moves. She fired the Lakers general manager in 2017 and pushed for her brother's resignation as VP of operations. She hired Magic Johnson as the team president and Rob Pelinka as the new GM. She's also the owner of WOW, Women Of Wrestling.
Check out the rest of our "Most Powerful Women In Sports" in this week's podcast. LISTEN OR READ THE TRANSCRIPT
Short and Sweet
Jason Sudeikis and the "Ted Lasso" cast meet with President Biden to discuss mental health.
Premier League and English Football League (soccer) match officials will pause play so players can break their fast during the holy period of Ramadan. Ramadan begins today and lasts 30 days.
ESPN announced that the first round of the women's tournament averaged 272,000 viewers, up 27% from last year. The men's tournament featured the most-watched first round in its history. When No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson beat No. 1 Purdue, over 11.5M eyeballs were fixated on the screen.
Japan won its third World Baseball Classic championship title last night, beating Team USA.
Photo: Instagram/wfinalfour
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Thought You Should Know
March Madness and the other sports happening besides basketball.
We're covering March Madness and the other sports that are happening besides basketball.
Happy Monday,
The Last Night's Game Team
College Basketball
So much action over the weekend that we narrowed it down to a few key points:
Two No. 1 ranked teams are out of the men's tournament, with Purdue losing to No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson. It's only the second time in history that a No. 16 has beaten a No. 1.
No. 1 Kansas goes down to Arkansas. After ripping off his shirt to celebrate, Arkansas coach Eric Musselman revealed that golfer John Daly is his secret weapon.
The Stanford women's team is the only No. 1 seeded team not to make it out of the weekend. This is the first time since 2007 that they have left the tournament in the second round.
Short and Sweet
Spencer Lee, a three-time national champion from Iowa who had been looking for his fourth national title, lost in the semifinals. Still, it's his mom's aggressive reaction that is going viral.
A grand slam by Trea Turner propelled Team USA, the defending champions, into the semifinals, and that's all the team needed to beat Cuba and head into the WBC (World Baseball Classic) championship game on Tuesday.
San Jose Sharks (NHL -National Hockey League) James Reimer chose not to wear the team's Pride Night jersey and sat out of warmups.
Brown University's Olivia Pichardo becomes the first woman to appear in a Division I baseball game.
Before We Go
Happening alongside the March Madness insanity is the Frozen Four, college hockey's tournament to crown a national champion. The women's tournament began on Friday, with Wisconsin winning the national championship. The Men's tournament starts on Friday. ICE QUEENS
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LEt’s Go Crazy
You can't avoid the conversation around March Madness, so why not join in? GOT YOU
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game changer
Check out our list of the most fashionable athletes. WERK IT
Wednesday Wisdom
The 5 things you need to know about March Madness. Plus, today’s watercooler topics.
Remember talking about sports doesn’t mean you have to know what’s happening on the court at all times. That’s why we exist, to make your life easier.
Let’s talk,
The Last Night's Game Team
Photo: Instagram/mfinalfour
College Basketball
You might care less about March Madness, but it will undoubtedly be the hot topic of conversation over the next few weeks. Here's how you can level the playing field and join the conversation. (Hint: you don't have to know anything about basketball).
Experts project hourly corporate losses of roughly $1.9B due to workers whose productivity is diverted by March Madness. When choosing your bracket in this single-elimination tournament, remember that the most likely upset is a No. 12 team over a No. 5. A No. 16 team has upset a No. 1 seeded team once in the tournament's history.
Where did the bracket come from? It began in a Staten Island bar in 1977 when 88 people joined a prize pool and completed their tournament predictions. The prize pool ballooned to $1.5M and 150,000 people in 2006. The pool was shut down in 2006 after scrutiny from the IRS.
Check out the rest of our "5 Things To Know About March Madness" in this week's podcast. LISTEN OR READ THE TRANSCRIPT
Short and Sweet
Everyone’s favorite soccer coach Ted Lasso is back with a new season today.
Nikki and Brie Bella, aka the “Bella Twins,” are leaving WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and changing their names.
The grandson of the Iditarod co-founder wins the famed Alaskan dog race.
A trademark application from the Saudi-backed LIV golf league has been denied by Miami Beach’s LIV nightclub.
Don’t forget to fill out your March Madness brackets in our bracket challenge before the tournament officially starts tomorrow.
Photo: Instagram/wfinalfour
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