The Rundown: 5 Fascinating Things to Know About the Daytona 500
Unlike driving in a school zone, it’s time to speed into the NASCAR season. Even if watching cars drive around in an oval at 200 MPH isn’t your thing, read on because we feature more than just the five things. Besides you never know what sport your lunch meeting will be into.
Racing through the day,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Five Fascinating Things to Know About the Daytona 500
- The Daytona 500 kicks off the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) season which runs until November. The race is 500 miles long, hence the “500” after Daytona.
- The Daytona race originated on the beach in 1903. Although the race looked a little different than the babes of Baywatch cruising up and down the coast. Check out the photos here.
- After the race, the winning car goes on display at the Daytona museum. The driver nor their team are allowed to touch the car, clean it up, take parts off of it, etc. - it as it goes on display as is. The team will not be able to use car at all during the season.
- Concussions aren’t only in football. Last year Dale Earnhardt Jr. missed extended time due to the effects of a concussion, but he returns to the notorious track this weekend. Earnhardt’s father, driver Dale Earnhardt Sr., died in a crash on the same track 16 years ago.
- NASCAR’s new title sponsor is Monster Energy. The company’s VP of Sports Marketing stated, “Monster, we were built on girls, music and racing. We think that fits with NASCAR really good.’’ We wonder what driver Danica Patrick thinks about that?
Overtime
- Mark Zuckerberg, also known as “The Facebook Guy" to University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, was on campus to visit with the Alabama football team. Zuckerberg spoke their language by saying “Many of the same things go into building a good company and a winning football program -- a focus on recruiting, developing talent and setting high expectations.”
Sideline stat
- 8-1…the odds from a bookie that the goalkeeper from the Sutton United soccer team in England would eat a meat pie during the game. Once there was no chance he would go into the game, the 322-pound goalkeeper Wayne Shaw decided to take that bet and down a pie during the game. We guess a man’s got to eat. #piegate
Coaches’ Corner
- Baseball has been trying to speed up the game, which has a reputation for being slow. This season a new rule will help the cause. An intentional walk used to take four pitches obviously thrown outside of the strike zone to walk a hitter. The new rule states that a signal from the dugout is all it takes to walk the hitter, no pitches needed. Hurry up already!
The Rundown: Presidents' Day Edition
Today is not the day to hit the bank or the post office as it's President's Day. Or as many of us call it – Monday.
At least there’s less traffic,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- We believe he can fly. The slam dunk contest thrust relatively unknown Indiana Pacers’ Glenn Robinson III into the spotlight. Robinson jumped over three members of the Pacers’ team (a teammate, the mascot and a cheerleader) to successfully slam dunk the ball and the win. See it here.
- Reunited and it feels so good. All eyes were on disgruntled former teammates Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors) this weekend. Westbrook avoided questions about the feud by deflecting to the fashion on the runways at Fashion Week. The two made up on the court when Durant provided Westbrook with a perfect assist.
PGA (Professional Golfers Association)
- Life’s good. Golfer Dustin Johnson had a big week. Fiancé Paulina Gretzky (daughter of hockey great Wayne Gretzky) announced the couple is due with their second child and with a win at this weekend’s tournament, Johnson became the #1 ranked golfer in the world.
Overtime
- Countless showstoppers graced the court at the NBA All-Star Game (hello Beyonce) but Craig Sager’s young son Ryan stole the show. Ryan made the final basket, with the assistance of Hall of Famer Shaq, to solidify TNT’s $500,000 donation to the Sager Strong Foundation for cancer research. Craig Sager was a famed sports reporter who passed away from cancer in December.
Sideline stat
- In the NBA All-Star Game the West beat the East 192-182, the highest scoring game in NBA history. Hometown hero Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans (yes that’s a team) took home the MVP honors, breaking a 55-year-old scoring record. Davis received another huge surprise that night when he was traded. That makes for a night he won’t forget. Here’s more on the trade in case you’re interested.
Coaches’ corner
- The first race of the NASCAR season, the Daytona 500, is this weekend and for the second year in a row Chase Elliott will be starting in the pole position. Having pole position or pole means the driver is starting the race in the best position possible. See you on Wednesday for five things to know about the legendary Daytona 500.
The Rundown: Finally Friday
We have that Friday feeling. It’s like finding a $20 in a pocket of your old jeans.
Glorious,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PGA (Professional Golfers Association)
- Don’t call it a comeback. There were high hopes that in his return Tiger Woods would be competitive this year but the glass is looking half empty. He pulled out of his last golf tournament due to back spasms and cancelled a press conference for this weekend’s tournament for the same reason. We’re not doctors but if you can’t sit in a chair and talk to the press, that’s probably a sign that retirement could be around the corner.
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- Cha-ching. The NBA All-Star Game is this weekend which prompted Forbes to release their list of the highest paid NBA players (salaries + endorsements). Looks like we need to ask for a raise.
- LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers - $86 M
- Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors - $62.5 M
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, $47.1 M
- Third wheel? Western conference head coach Steve Kerr has four of his Golden State Warriors on the all-star team and plans to play them together. Will Russell Westbrook of the OKC Thunder be the odd man out on the court? Westbrook has strained relationship with Warriors’ Kevin Durant after Durant left the Thunder. Nothing like having to be civil with your ex’s hot new arm candy.
- What does Taco Bell have to do with being able to dribble a basketball? Find out in our five things to know about the NBA All-Star Game.
Overtime
- Ice Cube famously said, “today was a good day” and that was yesterday for Canadian tennis player Genie Bouchard. First she made good on a Super Bowl bet with a Twitter follower. She lost the bet and had to go on a date with him. Surprise surprise, there will be a second date. After that she revealed her spread in this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
Sideline stat
- In addition to the list of highest paid players, Forbes also released its annual valuations list of NBA franchises. Despite their recent losing seasons, the New York Knicks are #1 on the list, valued at $3.3 billion. The team at the bottom of the list? The New Orleans Pelicans, worth a mere $750 million.
Coaches’ Corner
- Sending you off into Friday with a story of a good deed. Last Friday the founder of Little Caesar’s Pizza and owner of the Detroit Red Wings (hockey) and Detroit Tigers (baseball), Mike Ilitch passed away. He was known in the Detroit community for his generosity. In his death, a 1994 story surfaced of how he paid the rent for Rosa Parks after she was robbed.