The Rundown: 5 Things to Know About Formula One Racing
The popularity of NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) in America has nothing on the global excitement around F1 (Formula One) racing. Since an American company now owns the majority of F1, and they are pushing for more races in the States, we thought you should be ahead of the curve when the season starts this weekend.
Taking home the checkered flag,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Five Things to Know About F1 (Formula One) Racing
- The races take place in some of the most picturesque places in the world including the scenic streets of Monaco, the desert of Abu Dhabi and under the lights in Singapore (the only night race). Even if you don’t like F1, it’s worth watching for the postcard worthy scenery. The only race in America is in Austin, TX. The season starts this Sunday in Melbourne, Australia.
- F1 cars are designed to be light and fast. Like a trip to Jenny Craig, the car and the drivers, with all of their gear, are weighed in at the end of each race to ensure they meet the car weight restrictions.
- One of the best part about being an F1 fan is that the races are done in two hours regardless of if the total number of laps have been completed or not.
- Last year’s champion Nico Rosberg went out on top when he retired days after winning his first championship at the age of 31.
- F1 has always had an international feel, but times are changing as U.S.A. based Liberty Media became the main stakeholder last year, buying in at a mere $4.4 billion.
- Bonus: Think you can distinguish F1 drivers from the bad guys in movies? Take this quiz.
World Baseball Classic
- Uniting the country. Team U.S.A. beat two-time champion Japan for a place in the World Baseball Classic finals. They will take on a tough Puerto Rico team tonight in Los Angeles. Break out your red, white and blue for good luck as U.S.A has never won the title.
Overtime
- The curious case of New England Patriots (football) quarterback Tom Brady’s missing Super Bowl jersey has been solved. The culprit? A Mexican media executive who snuck off with the jersey after the game. It was also uncovered that the same guy stole Brady’s jersey from the 2015 Super Bowl and a Denver Broncos helmet from the 2016 Super Bowl.
Sideline stat
- Billionaire Warren Buffett offered $1 million a year for life to any employee who could pick every game correctly through the March Madness Sweet 16 (48 games). A factory worker was one game short of perfect but he will still receive a $100,000 prize. There were more than 96,000 entrants from Berkshire Hathaway’s 367,000 employees.
Coaches’ Corner
- Just when you started going through withdrawals, bracket basketball is back. The Sweet 16 teams (final 16 teams left in the bracket) begin playing tomorrow through Friday. Here’s the schedule.
The Rundown: A Little Spring In Your Step
It's the first day of spring. The days will be longer and the conversation will heat up. Keep your cool with a little sports chatter.
Feelin’ hot, hot, hot,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NCAA March Madness Tournament
- Cheeseheads prevail. Defending national champion Villanova (#1) lost in the second round to Wisconsin (#8).
- Standing together. You might remember the Michigan Wolverines team that was in a plane accident on their way to the conference tournament a few weeks ago. Since then they’ve won six straight games including a big upset this weekend over Louisville (#2), securing a spot in the Sweet 16 (the final 16 teams left in the tournament).
- Busted. Our brackets are busted. Albeit it’s not about winning but having fun right? Feel free to check your bracket results here.
World Baseball Classic
- So you’re saying there’s a chance? This weekend the United States beat the Dominican Republic, the defending World Baseball Classic Champions. They now head to Los Angeles to face two-time defending champion Japan in the semifinals on Tuesday. (U.S.A has never won the Classic).
- Eyeing the competition. Netherlands and Puerto Rico will play in the other semifinal game on Monday.
Overtime
- Stand by your man never rang more true than to Lynn Marshall, the wife of Wichita State Shockers head coach Gregg Marshall. The March "Madness" took place during the Shockers’ game where she was supporting her team by using four-letter words. Arena security visited with Lynn on three occasions to talk to her about her shouting expletives at the court.
Sideline stat
- It was 93 degrees at the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) race in Phoenix yesterday. That meant it was more than 140 degrees inside the car for the drivers. Ryan Newman toasted the competition and broke his 127-race winless streak.
Coaches’ corner
- There were 18.8 million March Madness brackets filled out on ESPN.com. Of those there are only 18 that are still perfect (i.e. they've picked the correct winner for 48 games thus far).
The Rundown: Getting (Irish) Jiggy With It
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. May the luck of the Irish be with you as you slay the sports conversation over the weekend.
While drinking green beer of course,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NCAA March Madness Tournament
- Did you call it? As we reported in our five things to know about March Madness, the most likely bracket upset is a #12 beating a #5 team. It happened yesterday when Middle Tennessee State (#12) beat Minnesota (#5).
- Celebrities love basketball too. Famous fans of Northwestern, like Julia Louis-Dreyfus whose son plays on the team, saw them win their first ever tournament game. Icon Bill Murray cheered on his son as he (assistant) coached Xavier in their win to advance.
- Today’s schedule is full of non-stop basketball action to enjoy while you pretend to work.
- How’s your bracket doing in our Last Night’s Game Challenge? Find out here.
World Baseball Classic
- Batter up. Team U.S.A. will play an unbeaten Puerto Rico team tonight in San Diego in the second round of the World Baseball Classic.
Overtime
- Good guy alert. Hall of Fame basketball player Shaquille ‘Shaq’ O’Neal furnished the family home of a 5-year-old girl who was a victim of a dog attack that left another child dead. Shaq has been close with the family since the attack.
Sideline stat
- We’ve all battled weight issues but likely never had an incentive like this. Running back Eddie Lacey has been plagued by weight issues, which he partially blames on Chinese food. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks (National Football League) and his one year contract includes $385,000 in weight loss related bonuses. When does the juice cleanse begin?
Coaches’ corner
- There’s been talk about the Los Angeles Lakers intentionally tanking their season, but what does that mean? In the NBA Draft (National Basketball Association), the worse your team was the season before, the better chance you have at a top pick in the draft. Fundamentally it should help the bad teams become better.
Tanking means a team is intentionally making roster moves to ensure they continue to stink this year in hopes of receiving a better draft pick next season.