The Rundown: 5 Things to Know About the NBA All-Star Game
It might be another weekend until the stars come out for the Oscars, but the NBA All-Stars take the stage this weekend. We encourage you to talk about sports today instead of oversharing about your fabulous Valentine’s Day night.
We don’t need to know,
The Last Night’s Game
Five things to know about the NBA All-Star Game
- The game, which is Sunday afternoon, was originally scheduled for Charlotte, NC, but was moved to New Orleans due to HB2, the Bathroom Bill. The NBA (National Basketball Association) said peace out to exclusion and yes to inclusion.
- Saturday night features some of the biggest excitement of the weekend, the skills competitions. The contest include the always competitive three-point competition, slam dunk contest and the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, an obstacle course of various basketball skills.
- The honor of being chosen as a starter for each all-star team (Eastern Conference vs Western Conference) is awarded through a 50% fan vote, 25% media vote and a 25% player vote.
- In the past, shoe fans have looked forward to Nike’s release of special all-star edition shoes. This year Nike’s players will instead wear shoes from their Black History Month collection.
- The all-star game winners will pad their pockets with an extra $50,000 for winning. The losers will receive a $25,000 bonus, $50,000 to the three-point competition winner and $100,000 to the slam dunk contest winner.
Overtime
- The Westminster Dog Show is underway and Monday brought us the champ that stole everyone’s hearts for her sass. During the competition, Mia the defiant beagle ignored her owner, stopped to check out the crowd and then did a smell check on her nether regions. She won't win best in show but we still love her anyway.
Sideline stat
- The UCONN (University of Connecticut) Huskies women’s basketball team pulled off a feat not accomplished by a team in modern history. The Huskies won their 100th game in a row. The team hasn't lost a game since November 2014.
Coaches’ Corner
- You may have thought that New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady’s crowning achievement in life was when he won his record fifth Super Bowl, married supermodel Gisele or had children. Well you’re wrong. The Atlanta Zoo announced they named a cockroach after him. The Atlanta Falcons lost to the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Bitter much?
The Rundown: Don't Say We Didn't Warn You
Rise and shine! Your pal Monday is back in full effect.
Coffee here we come,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day so give your sweetheart the gift that keeps on giving, a subscription to Last Night's Game. It's better than gas station chocolates or fake flowers.
NFL (National Football League)
- Premature jinx? The New England Patriots won their fifth Super Bowl last week. This week they filed to trademark the phrase “Blitz for Six” in anticipation of contending for their sixth Super Bowl next season.
PGA (Professional Golfers Association)
- Jordan Spieth won this weekend’s tournament at Pebble Beach. This is Spieth’s ninth career win on the PGA Tour, becoming the youngest golfer to reach that achievement since Tiger Woods. Spieth was in the news last week for calling professional autograph seekers “scum.” They’re really going to want his autograph now.
Overtime
- The German Fed Cup team is fed up. The USTA (U.S. Tennis Association) is asking for forgiveness because instead of using the current version of the German National Anthem prior to a competition this weekend, they used the Nazi-era version. It could be the biggest anthem scandal since Garth Brooks.
Sideline stat
- Former NFL player Tim Tebow and his foundation simultaneously hosted 375 proms in 11 countries and in all 50 states on Friday night for 75,000 special needs guests ages 14 and older. Good guys do exist.
Coaches’ corner
- Texas is considering its own version of the “bathroom bill” and the NFL reminded the state that, if passed it could have far-reaching implications on future Super Bowls. The NFL is serious about remaining inclusive. They moved the 1993 Super Bowl from Arizona when the state had not passed a law recognizing the birthday of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a holiday and wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to Texas.
What other league pulled a big game from a state due to a similar bill? Find out here.
The Rundown: Twinning
Talking sports is like being pregnant with twins in Hollywood, everyone is doing it. First Beyoncé, now George Clooney. Who’s next?
You go first,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION)
#FreeOakley. Charles Oakley played for the New York Knicks for a decade. On Wednesday, he attended a Knicks game on his own dime. During the game, some say he heckled the team’s owner, others say he did nothing. Either way the owner, who is disliked by fans, had Oakley forcibly removed from the arena while the fans chanted “Free Oakley.” Oakley now faces charges.
- At their wits end. The NBA is a trendsetter when it comes to embracing social media but they’ve had enough. Recent Twitter wars between teams and players have pushed them over the edge. They hit their “don’t make me pull this car over” level and now prohibit mocking and/or ridiculing of opponents or game officials by teams on social media.
OVERTIME
- The Pebble Beach Pro-Am (golf) draws big name celebrities and golfers. Unfortunately, this also draws professional autograph seekers who profit off of free autographs. Golfer Jordan Spieth had enough of these seekers when one used profanity in front of kids, calling them scum. Needless to say, they won't be making money off of Spieth anytime soon.
SIDELINE STAT
- The voice of the Olympics, Bob Costas, has 12 Olympics under his belt. Yesterday he announced that he is passing the proverbial Olympic torch to Mike Tirico, who previously worked for ESPN. Tirico will take the reins at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.
COACHES’ CORNER
- One of the biggest complaints about baseball is how long the games are. MLB (Major League Baseball) is addressing this by tackling the length of extra-inning games (overtime). They have introduced a new rule that states, when the game is in extra innings a runner will start on second base, instead of first, to encourage scoring. The new rule is being tested in a sampling of the minor leagues this season.