The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition

Selection Sunday is this Sunday so buckle your seat belts folks, this is going to be a wild few weeks of college basketball glory. Next week we will provide you with pointers on picking your bracket. If you’re intimidated by the pool your boss is putting together, don’t fret, the Inaugural Last Night’s Game Bracket Challenge will launch next week. It's a no pressure bracket, just good fun and maybe a prize or two. Who doesn’t like swag?

Winning!

The Last Night’s Game Team  

---

MLB (Major League Baseball)

• Buzz off. In a spring training game between Kansas City Royals vs Colorado Rockies, mother nature had plans to delay the game. The Kansas City Royals’ bench was swarmed with bees, but manager Ned Yost refused to let an exterminator kill them.  A hero showed up in a retired beekeeper who was in the stands. He put the bees in a trash bag, making sure they were all safe.

NCAA Basketball (College)

• Basketball bliss. It’s the most wonderful time of the year for some fans. “Selection Sunday” takes place this Sunday at 5:30 pm (EST) on CBS. This is when the NCAA selection committee will announce when and where the 68 teams that will participate in “March Madness” tournament to determine who the best team in the nation is. (You may know this bracket as the office pool everyone is obsessed with each year. Lots of basketball to be played here folks, lots of basketball).
• So you’re saying there’s a chance? There are playoffs in most divisions (minus Ivy League) where the winner receives an automatic bid into the tournament. Notable Conference Championship final games this weekend are:
  • ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference), Saturday at 9 pm (EST) on ESPN
  • Big East, Saturday at 5:30 pm (EST) on FOX  
  • Big 12, Saturday at 5 pm (EST) on ESPN
  • PAC 12 (Pacific Conference), Saturday at 10 pm (EST) Fox Sports 1
  • Big 10, Sunday at 3 pm (EST) on CBS
  • SEC (Southeastern Conference), Sunday at 1 pm (EST) on CBS

NHL (National Hockey League)

• Old habits die hard. 44-year-old Jaromir Jagr of the Florida Panthers made the ultimate sacrifice for Lent. He gave up his coffee habit. Jaromir's coffee consumption maxed out at 10 cups a day. Although a lack of caffeine it doesn’t seem to hurt his game. Last night he set the record for the oldest NHL player to score 50 goals in his career.

NFL (National Football League)

• At least we’ll have the memories. Free agency began on Wednesday. Free agency means the players whose contracts are up can sign with a different team. (I.e. the team that they we’re previously contracted with had until Wednesday to sign those players or lose them in the free market). The defending Super Bowl Champions, Denver Broncos had a rough first day. Here are some of the key departures that you may have heard of:
  • Quarterback Peyton Manning (retired)
  • Quarterback Brock Osweiler (signed with Houston Texans)
  • Defensive tackle Malik Jackson (signed with Jackson Jaguars)
  • Linebacker Danny Trevathan (Chicago Bears)
  • Running back C.J. Anderson (Miami Dolphins)

Overtime

• Another athlete freak injury, Milwaukee Bucks guard OJ Mayo broke his ankle Thursday going down the stairs in his house. He will miss the rest of the season.

Sideline Stat

• NASCAR heads to Phoenix for the “Good Sam 500" on Sunday at 3:30 pm (EST) on FOX.  
• It’s early in the season but the driver standings heading into the race are as follows:

1. Kyle Busch (#18 car)
2. Jimmie Johnson (#48 car)
3. Kevin Harvick (#4 car) 

Coaches’ Corner

• How are teams chosen to participate in the March Madness NCAA playoff tournament bracket?
  • Teams are selected by 10-person panel.
  • The bracket is broken down into four divisions - West, Midwest, South and East with 16 teams in each bracket. (If you're getting technical and doing the math, there are four teams that "play in" for a spot in the tourney).
  • Each conference guaranteed one team for 32 spots total. Most conferences decide their guaranteed spot with a conference playoff with the champion entering into the tournament (aka “The Big Dance).
  • 36 “at large teams” will be selected. These are teams that did not qualify by winning tournament but are considered 36 of the best teams in college basketball.
  • As a rule of thumb, teams ranked in the top 25 at the end of the season are all but guaranteed a spot in the tournament.  
  • If you’re dying for more information, you can read it here. 

The Rundown: Five Things To Know About Erin Andrews

This week is flying by like a bat at spring training. We’re channeling our inner Rickie Fowler excellence and Erin Andrews superwoman strength to make it to Friday.

For the win,

The Last Night’s Game Team

---

Five things to know about Erin Andrews

• Erin Andrews has been in the news lately for the horrific case of a stalker filming her nude in her hotel room. Her recent lawsuit against a Nashville Marriott and the man who filmed her, Michael Barrett, where the court awarded her $55 million in damages. This incident is just one piece of Andrews’ life therefore we wanted to share with you five things about Erin Andrews reporter, sports fan and super woman that she is.   

1. Andrews attended the University of Florida, where she was on the dance Gators team. Her younger sister, Kendra, is a professional dancer and actress.

2. Following in her journalist father’s Emmy Award winning footsteps, Andrews' career started in 2000 covering Tampa Lightning for Fox Sports, moved to ESPN in 2004 and then to FOX in 2012. Andrews has covered major sporting events such as the World Series, Daytona 500, Rose Bowl, College Baseball World Series and NFL Playoffs. Clearly a busy lady, she has also been the host of Dancing with the Stars since 2014 and has reported for Good Morning America.

3. Set up by Live with Kelly and Michael host and former Giants star, Michael Strahan, Andrews has been dating Jarret Stoll of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild for four years. The Canadian has won the Stanley Cup twice (i.e. NHL’s championship). Throwing a wrench in the fairy tale, Stoll was arrested for drug possession in April 2015. 

4. She was the spokesperson for Reebok ZigTech in 2011 until ESPN changed its endorsement guidelines stating that all reporters, anchors, columnist and analysts cannot enter into personal sponsorship agreements. Talk about peeing in her cheerios. (Insert sad face here).

5. It’s not just for men. Andrews has been a proponent of women as passionate sports fans. Through various partnerships she supported a StubHub initiative, Girls Night Out, which encouraged women to celebrate their love for sporting events. She also partnered with CoverGirl for their #Gameface contest, which encouraged women to upload their spirited game faces to social media.  

MLB (Major League Baseball)

• Watch where you text. Pittsburgh Pirates were playing the Atlanta Braves in a spring training game when the bat flew out of the batter’s hands and into the stands. Fan Shaun Cunningham realized the bat was flying at his son’s face who was texting his Mom when his dad instincts took over. Check out the photo of the close call.

NFL (National Football League)

• Thanks for the memories. Detroit Lions’ wide receiver Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, 30, announced his retirement after nine seasons. By retiring now he is leaving at least $67 million in contract money on the table. His career highlights include:
  • Highest average receiving yards per game in NFL history (86.1)
  • Most receiving yards in single season (1,964)
  • Since being drafted in 2007, Johnson leads all receivers in receiving yards, touchdowns and 100 yard games.
• Recent retirees are said to have set up the the Hall of Fame class of 2021 to be one of the best. (Players have to be retired for five years before they're eligible for a Hall of Fame nomination).
  • Quarterback Peyton Manning
  • Wide receiver Calvin Johnson
  • Defensive back Charles Woodson
  • Running back Marshawn Lynch

Tennis

• Time out. Professional Tennis player Maria Sharapova announced that she tested positive for banned substance “meldonium” during the Australian Open.  Sharapova has been taking the drug for 10 years, but the drug just became a banned substance by tennis on January 1st. She admits to not reading the memos about the drug hence the situation. Sharapova is the highest paid female athlete, earning $29 million last year.

Overtime

• Major League Baseball has announced that March 11th will be deemed “Snapchat Day,” allowing players to use phones to Snapchat fans during games. Don’t forget to add “lastnightsgame” on Snapchat for all your sports highlights.

Sideline Stat

• Professional golfer Rickie Fowler hit a hole-in-one on Monday to raise $1 million for Els for Autism foundation. Fowler was the 17th pro golfer to attempt the shot, reportedly borrowing a golf club and teeing off in sneakers.

Ernie Els, also a professional golfer, founded the foundation in 2009 after learning son had autism.

Coaches’ Corner

• The Dancing with the Stars lineup for season 22 has been announced and it includes athletes galore including:
  • Denver Broncos linebacker and Super Bowl MVP, Von Miller
  • Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown
  • Former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie
  • UFC fighter Paige VanZant

See who will take home the famed Mirror Ball trophy when the dancing starts March 21st on ABC.

The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up

It was an action packed weekend in sports but the big thing to know for your water cooler chat this morning is that Super Bowl Champion Peyton Manning will announce his retirement this afternoon. Yes, the delightful hum of the Nationwide jingle and the face of Papa John’s Pizza will call it a day.  

Thanks Peyton it’s been fun (to the tune of the Nationwide jingle…of course).

The Last Night’s Game Team

---

NFL (National Football League)

• Denver Broncos' Quarterback Peyton Manning will announce his retirement after 18 seasons today at 1 pm (EST). A few notable career highlights:
• Two Super Bowl appearances
• Five-time NFL MVP
• Leader in touchdown passes (539), passing yards (71,940) and wins (186)
• 14-time Pro Bowl selection (Pro Bowl is the NFL’s all-star game)
• Still possibly one of the funniest Saturday Night Live skits ever

NASCAR (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STOCK CAR AUTO RACING) 

• A windy win. From Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Brad Keselowski won the Kobalt 400, a race that saw rain and sand storm delays and wind gusts up to 40 MPH. 

PGA (Professional Golfers' Association) 

• Keep on keeping on. Adam Scott won the WGC Cadillac Tournament in Florida for his second straight win. A win seemed impossible as he trailed by six shots with just 13 holes to go. No withdrawals from belly putter here. 

RUGBY SEVENS

• 7-7-7. From Las Vegas, the HSBC Sevens World Series tournament took place this weekend.  Las Vegas is the fifth stop in the series of 10 stops around the world in 10 different countries.  (In case you were wondering, Team Fiji won, with Team USA finishing in fourth place). Rugby Sevens is set to make its debut in the Summer Olympics in Brazil.

UFC (ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP) 

• The odds were against them. The underdog Miesha Tate beat champion Holly Holm by submission (i.e. Holm said no more, I’m done) to win the championship. Tate’s win spoils the anticipated rematch between Holm and Ronda Rousey later this year. (Holm beat Rousey previously).
• Also an underdog, Nate Diaz took down arguably the biggest name in the UFC, Conor McGregor, in the second round to upset the previously undefeated fighter. McGregor’s original opponent dropped out two weeks before the fight due to injury and Diaz stepped in. When asked if he was surprised he won Diaz had to say this.

Overtime

• In 2014 a malnourished, stray dog showed up at the Milwaukee Brewers spring training facility in Phoenix. The team took the dog in and named him Hank. Hank became a fan favorite. Recent photos of Hank surfaced, showing him looking very different then when he arrived. On Friday, the Brewers had a veterinarian release a statement saying dental records and microchip confirm it is the same dog, not an imposter.

sideline stat

• The Iditarod dog-sled race began on Sunday. This year is a little different as Alaska has had a mild winter and race organizers had to bring in snow via train. The 85 teams will race the 1,000 miles to claim the title of the next Champion. The winner is expected to cross the finish line in eight days from now. 

Coaches’ Corner

• What is Rugby Sevens? In short, a Rugby Sevens game has only seven players on the field, instead of 15 in normal rugby. They also play seven-minute halves with a one-minute halftime break. So this is the sport for those who have no attention span and like lots of action and excitement.