This One's For The Champions
Gamecocks are champs, Ryan Reynolds' tears of joy and tonight's big game.
It's funny how small talk works. Last Monday, all everyone could talk about was the slap heard worldwide. Today, you'd rather poke your eyeballs out than talk about it. Luckily for you (and us), sports are always a relevant way to start a conversation.
Let's get this started,
The Last Night's Game Team
March Madness
The South Carolina Gamecocks are women's basketball national champions. Aliyah Boston and her pink and purple hair led her team as they ran away with the game last night over the UConn Huskies.
Tonight the men take the main stage as the Kansas Jayhawks take on the North Carolina Tarheels. The Tarheels spoiled Duke and Coach K's last chance at a national championship on Saturday. They're led by first-year coach and former player Hubert Davis. Old guys rule in Kansas, which has benefitted from players staying longer in college (vs. heading to the NBA) due to name, image, likeness opportunities. MONDAY NIGHT MADNESS
Short and Sweet
Longtime Gamecocks fan Darius Rucker teased a free concert on campus if his team won the women's national championship; now, will he follow through?
The MLB (Major League Baseball) regular-season starts this week, and it could be a rough year to be an Oakland A's fan as five players in baseball have higher salaries than the entire A's roster.
Owner Ryan Reynolds saw his first Wrexham FC (fifth tier, English soccer league) win in person, which brought him to tears. Then he rushed the field and was still home in NYC in time for a late dinner.
Before We Go
Ahead of the iconic Masters golf tournament this week, 16-year-old Anna Davis won the Augusta National Women's Amateur in her debut entry. It wasn't long ago that Augusta wouldn't even allow women to play or be members, and Davis channeled her nerves to take home the trophy.
The Masters with its azaleas and pimento cheese sandwiches starts on Thursday. Tiger Woods will make a game time decision on whether or not he'll play. It would be his first PGA (Professional Golfers Association) tournament since his tragic car accident last spring. TEE IT UP
YUM YUM
Need dinner ideas or something for your basketball watch party? Find your new favorite recipes in our Tailgate Treats. YES PLEASE
BRACKETOLOGY
You might care less about March Madness, but it's undoubtedly going to be the hot topic today. Here's how you can level the playing field and join the conversation. (Hint: you don't have to know anything about basketball). GAME ON
Save Your Tears
Why canceled concerts and knee-high boots and speedos are all the rage. Plus will Tiger play in next week's Masters and this week's Tailgate Treat?
No need to cry when your alarm goes off this morning because it's Friday, and the weekend is calling your name.
Here for the party,
The Last Night's Game Team
March Madness
The Final Four starts today, and if you're like country superstar Eric Church, you're calling in sick to work to catch the excitement. Eric Church canceled his sold-out Saturday night concert to watch his beloved North Carolina Tarheels in person when they take on bitter rivals Duke in the men's Final Four. Also hitting the hardwood on Saturday are Villanova and Kansas. The men's championship game is on Monday.
In the women's tournament, the team from South Carolina received a boost heading into the final games; their head coach Dawn Staley was named coach of the year and Aliyah Boston, player of the year. Also playing in the Final Four today are Stanford (defending champs), UConn and Louisville. LET'S DO THIS
Short and Sweet
Is Tiger Woods playing in next week's Masters? The answer isn't no.
It may not be an NFL (National Football League) gig, but Colin Kaepernick's former coach names him an honorary captain.
When you're an NFL player who is so fast you almost qualify for the Olympics but also keep a diet of candy and coffee.
Women weren't allowed at Augusta (home of the Masters) for the longest time, but they're taking over on Saturday.
Before We Go
If you have never watched WrestleMania, you're in for a treat this weekend. The WWE's (World Wrestling Entertainment) Super Bowl occurs this Saturday and Sunday at AT&T Stadium. The stands will be packed, and the drama will be high as names like Ronda Rousey, Johnny Knoxville, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Logan Paul take to the ring. If knee-high boots, speedos and over-the-top moves aren't your thing, country singers Brantley GIlbert and Jessie James Decker will be opening the show with "America the Beautiful." OFF THE ROPES
COOKIE CHEERS
Whether you call them magic cookie or seven-layer bars, they're still darn good. CROWD PLEASER
MUST-SEE TV
From colorful characters to colorful hair, on-court performance aside, here’s why the Final Four is worth watching. TUNE IN
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Throwing punches, who’s punching their ticket to the next round and the end of the road for the Peacocks.
There will be no lack of conversation today between Will Smith at the Oscars, the drop of "Bridgerton" season two and March Madness.
Hold onto your hats,
The Last Night's Game Team
The Academy Awards
It's the story everyone is talking about this morning, last night's winner for Best Actor Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage. Smith won for his role as Richard Williams, father of Serena and Venus Williams, in "King Richard." But Rock made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith and Smith, who also played Muhammed Ali, walked on stage and slapped Rock.
In other Oscars news, Shaquille O'Neal and Stephen Curry took home an Oscar for their "The Queen of Basketball" documentary about Lucia Harris, the only woman to be drafted into the NBA (National Basketball Association) in 1977. PUT UP YOUR DUKES
Short and Sweet
Athletes who hit the red carpet at the Academy Awards
Peyton Manning wants Tom Brady to send back his retirement gifts.
Before We Go
The Cinderella story came to an end for St. Peter's University. The first No. 15 team to ever make it to the Elite Eight, the team lost to North Carolina. Duke, North Carolina, Villanova and Kansas are headed to the men's Final Four.
In the women's tournament, Stanford and South Carolina have secured a spot in the Final Four. UConn-NC State and Michigan-Lousiville are playing today for the last places in the Final Four. SLAM DUNK
CHEERS
A cocktail worthy of brunch, basketball or policing red carpet fashion. CROWD PLEASER
BRACKETOLOGY
You might care less about March Madness, but it's undoubtedly going to be the hot topic of conversation over the next week. Here's how you can level the playing field and join the conversation. (Hint: you don't have to know anything about basketball). GAME ON