The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition

It’s finally Friday and we’re revved up for this weekend’s Daytona 500. Boxer Manny Pacquiao had a rough week and find out why the NBA’s Steve Novak is feeling a bit like Taylor Swift with yet another breakup.

Shake it off,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Boxing

• Total knockout. Nike announced they have cut ties with boxer Manny Pacquiao over comments he made that same-sex couples are “worse than animals.” Pacquiao later apologized for his comments while wearing his Nike gear. Nike called his comments “abhorrent” and said farewell. Pacquiao is running for a Senate seat in Philippines (he's currently a member of the House of Representatives) and is scheduled to retire after his next fight against Timothy Bradley on April 9th. His last fight was a loss to Floyd Mayweather in May 2015.

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)

• Gentlemen start your engines. The starting lineup for this year's Daytona 500 race has been determined. The most notable is, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who is starting third place. This year’s running marks the 15th anniversary of the death of his father, driver Dale Earnhardt, at the same track. For the full starting grid click here. You can catch the Daytona 500 live on Sunday at Noon (EST) on FOX. 

NBA (National Basketball Association)

• Yawn. The NBA trade deadline was Thursday at 3 pm (EST). On most accounts it was uneventful. View the ESPN trade tracker here. 
• Go team? NBA veteran Steve Novak has been traded numerous times over the past few years.  His most recent trade warranted this photo on Twitter of his son’s confused team spirit with the caption “Knicks hoop, Thunder jersey, and Jazz shorts...and you wonder why the lil homie is confused! #TradeDeadline.“ Novak was traded from Oklahoma City Thunder to Denver Nuggets. 

NFL (National Football League)

• Horsing around. After a 12-year career Carolina Panthers defensive end Jared Allen announced his retirement with a video of his ride off into the sunset. Cue Mother Nature.

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

• Howdy partner. Two fighters with the nickname “Cowboy” battle in the main event to see who keeps the nickname. The fight features Donal “Cowboy” Cerrone vs Alex “Cowboy” Oliviera at welterweight (170 pounds) live Sunday night on Fox Sports One at 9 pm (EST).

Overtime

• University of Miami Hurricanes head coach, Mark Richt, has offered a scholarship to eighth grade quarterback Harrison Bailey. Bailey would be part of the 2020 recruiting class and is already 6’3” and 175 pounds. Apparently early scholarship offers are not as far fetched as we think with LeBron James’ son reportedly received scholarship offers at 10-years-old. 

Sideline Stat

• Major League Baseball’s (MLB) spring training has begun with pitchers and catchers reporting for duty this week. The boys of summer are back.

Coaches’ Corner

• What is the trade deadline? The trade deadline is the last day where teams can make a trade to improve their roster for the last half of the season and hopefully the playoffs. Teams are not allowed to make any trades with other teams after the trade deadline. Period. 

The Rundown: Five Things You Should Know About The Daytona 500

Grammy fever took to the field Monday night with the the bright lights and excitement carrying over to the the 58th annual running of the Daytona 500 is this weekend in Daytona, FL. We’ve consulted our experts to bring you riveting details of the race so you’re in the know. 

Shake and bake,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Five things you should know about the Daytona 500

1. The Daytona 500 kicks off the NASCAR season. 
2. This is the highest paying race of the season. (Last year's winner took home $1.5 million). 
3. Only nine pole position starters (i.e. best starting spot) have won the race. This year’s pole setter is 20-year-old Chase Elliott. Chase is the son of Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott who won Daytona 500 in 1985 and 1987. 
4. The field (i.e. all the car/drivers in the race) is made up of 40 drivers.
5. The race cannot end under a caution flag. The race will be extended to ensure the finish is in regulation.

Fasten your seatbelt and watch the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 21st at Noon (EST) on FOX. 

NCAA basketball (College)  

• Cruise on down the road. It’s rivalry week in college basketball with the big game happening tonight, Duke vs North Carolina (9 pm EST on ESPN). These rival schools are just eight miles apart via “Tobacco Road.” These teams hold the record for most meetings as ranked opponents in college basketball history (74 times).

NFL (National Football League)

• Big baller. The NFL published Commissioner Roger Goodell’s salary for 2014. Goodell made $34 million in 2014, which is down from $35 million in 2013 and $44 million in 2012. 

Overtime

• Taylor Swift may have taken home the big trophy at the Grammys, however Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was the real winner with the hottest date in the joint, singer Ciara.
• The boys proved fashion isn’t simply for the ladies. Grammy presenters and NFL stars Anquan Boldin and Von Miller channeled their inner fashionistas. Miller wore a jacket that would make Elton John proud.

Sideline Stat

• Banker Nathan Schoenfeld was reportedly giving his kids a bath on Monday when he received a message that the Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) needed him the next day as backup goalie due to an injury to their starter goalie. Schoenfeld had worked with the team in the past and played hockey at Arizona State University. He was never needed in the game but he rode the bench with pride.  

Coaches’ Corner

• In racing, what’s a caution flag? Racing flags provide an opportunity for NASCAR to communicate with the drivers via a flagman located at the start/finish line. The caution flag is yellow and it warns the drivers to slow down to a predetermined speed. The caution flag is usually out when there is an accident or debris on the track.

The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up Edition

Valentine’s Day weekend brought us Kobe Bryant, Ronda Rousey and painted on swimsuits. Yes, three things we never thought we’d mention in the same sentence.

The No. 24 car raced again and Vaughn Taylor shared that his bags fly free.

We’ve reached our cruising altitude,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Golf

• Defying the odds. Vaughn Taylor beat the Phil Mickelson at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am yesterday. This win surprised everyone including Taylor, who hadn’t brought home a PGA win in a decade and carried on his luggage on his flight to the tournament to save money on baggage fees.  

NBA All-Star Game (National Basketball Association) 

• In a battle of East vs West, the West reigned supreme in this year’s NBA All-Star Game, winning 196-173 in Toronto.
• This was the first ever All-Star Game outside of the U.S. The game also set a record for the highest scoring All-Star Game in NBA history. 
• This was Kobe Bryant’s last All-Star Game since he’s retiring at the end of the season.
• What no Biebs? Canada’s elite came out to catch the game with appearances by rapper Drake and Nelly Furtado, who sung her country’s national anthem.
• Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook took home his second game MVP title.
• In a battle of levitation, Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon was defeated by two-time slam dunk champ, Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gordon had a killer dunk through his legs and over the head of the Magic’s mascot, Stuff, which was one of the best dunks we’ve seen. Apparently the judges did not agree. (Full disclosure, our LNG team has no game and cannot dunk). 

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue

• Yellow polka dot bikini. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue made history this weekend by revealing not only one but three cover models. The cover models include plus-size model Ashley Graham, rookie Hailey Clauson and UFC fighter Ronda Rousey (in a painted on swimsuit, literally). 

Also included in the edition is 56-year-old Nicole Griffin, the oldest model to be featured in the annual publication. Griffin stars in a swimwear ad inside the magazine. 

Overtime

• There was big air at the Green Monster. Iconic Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, hosted Big Air at Fenway, a U.S. Grand Prix and part of the International Ski Federation's (FIS) World Cup tour. The athletes saw competitors fly down a 140-foot-tall ramp built on the field.

Sideline Stat

• In NASCAR news, 20-year-old Chase Elliot became the youngest driver to win the pole position for the Daytona 500. Taking over for recently retired driver Jeff Gordon, Chase drives Gordon’s No. 24 car. Chase is also the son of NASCAR Hall of Famer, Bill Elliott. The Daytona 500 is next Sunday. This race is one of the most iconic races in NASCAR.  

Coaches’ Corner

• What is pole position in racing? The pole position is the number one position to start the race. Drivers have to qualify beforehand by driving the track. Typically, the driver with the fastest time from qualifying is slotted into the pole position.