Chasing Sunsets
It's NFL playoff time, a good guy alert, a new Netflix documentary that'll rock the tennis courts and this week's Tailgate Treat.
While Friday the 13th is bad luck in the US, it's Tuesday the 13th that they fear in Greece and Spanish-speaking countries. Friday the 17th is considered bad luck in Italy.
Regardless of the date, let's celebrate that it's Friday,
The Last Night's Game Team
NFL (national football League)
The road to the Super Bowl (and that Rihanna concert) starts now with the NFL playoffs. Unlike other leagues, where it seems like every team makes the playoffs, only 14 out of 32 teams make it to the postseason. Twelve of those lucky 14 teams will be playing this Wild Card weekend. EYE ON THE PRIZE
Short and Sweet
After seeing a news story about Ellie Hughes, 11, a Memphis Grizzlies (NBA - National Basketball Association) fan who had been collecting signatures on a basketball for six years, only to have it stolen by two adults, Ja Morant stepped in. The Grizzlies star gave her his signed jersey and shoes.
Damar Hamlin is continuing his healing journey at home after being discharged on Wednesday. If you're wondering, his GoFund Me page has raised over $8.7M for charity.
Ahead of next week's Australian Open, Netflix is releasing a new series, "Break Point," taking us behind the scenes. The series will follow tennis players during the season, including controversial player Nick Kyrgios who is expected to be heavily featured.
The San Antonio Spurs (NBA) are looking to break an NBA regular season attendance record when they face the Warriors at their previous stomping grounds, the Alamodome, tonight.
Before We Go
The transfer portal for college football was revamped in 2021, allowing athletes to play immediately at their new school vs. being benched for a season. It's created quite a mess for college football, with players leaving teams hanging after transferring multiple times. The NCAA voted yesterday to limit waivers for second-time transfers. GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER
PHOTO: Instagram.com/people
Tailgate treat
You voted on Instagram, and this week's Tailgate Treat is just what the doctor (and your stomach) ordered. GOOD FOR THE SOUL
GAME CHANGER
Football with The Rock, Rihanna and the Women’s World Cup means great times are ahead with our list of five sporting events we're looking forward to in 2023. SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT
About That
Break out the champagne - the national championship game is tonight, a boozy baseball robbery and is anyone left to play tennis in Australia?
We've got you if you're already tired of talking about Prince Harry's big revelations ahead of his book release tomorrow.
Full of surprises,
The Last Night's Game Team
College Football
TCU and defending national champions Georgia meet tonight in the college football national championship game. Heisman Trophy finalist quarterbacks are leading both teams, and neither was slated to be in this position. Georgia's Stetson Bennett was a walk-on when he joined the team (meaning he had to try out, he wasn't recruited). TCU quarterback Max Duggan wasn't even TCU's starter. He replaced the starter after he went down with an injury.
One key ingredient missing from tonight's national championship game is Uga, the Georgia Bulldogs mascot who is a fixture on the sidelines. The trip was deemed to be too much for the 9-year-old pup. Vocal quintet Pentatonix will perform the national anthem, and Kelsea Ballerini will play the pregame show. GOOD TIMES AHEAD
Short and Sweet
The Buffalo Bills (NFL - National Football League) Damar Hamlin is awake and alert, making his first social media post, inspiring his team to a win.
US skier Mikaela Shiffrin ties Lindsey Vonn in all-time World Cup wins.
A man passed out in the bushes outside the Milwaukee Brewers' (MLB - Major League Baseball) stadium after a game and, upon awakening, robbed the team's clubhouse.
Big names are dropping out of the Australian Open (tennis) before next week's tourney. The men's No. 1 ranked player Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn along with Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep and Venus Williams.
JJ Watt played his last career NFL game yesterday. His brothers, who play in the NFL, honored JJ by wearing his jersey number pregame.
Before We Go
Aaron Rodgers (NFL) may have played his last game with the Green Bay Packers after they were eliminated from the playoffs last night.
A silver lining for the off-season is that he has a new lady in his life. He's reportedly dating the daughter of the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA - National Basketball Association) majority owner. Rodgers is a minority owner of the Bucks. TIME FOR SOME R&R
Photo: Instagram/people
Photo: Skinny Taste
You Don't Say?
Damar Hamlin is responsive, Dana White's PowerSlap League in jeopardy, a life-changing donation and this week's Tailgate Treat.
How's that resolution going? Studies say that one in seven Americans never actually believe they'll see their resolution through in the first place. So if you've made it this far, you're on the right track.
Keep up the good work,
The Last Night's Game Team
NFL (national football League)
On Monday, Damar Hamlin's heart stopped on the football field. With quick thinking by Denny Kellington, the Bills trainer, excellent care and prayers, we finally received good news on Hamlin's condition. His team, the Buffalo Bills, reported that Hamlin is responsive, communicating through written messages. His first message was, "did we win (the football game)?" His doctors responded, "Yes, Damar, you won. You won the game of life." Hamlin's team will play the New England Patriots this weekend. THE NEWS WE HOPED TO HEAR
In case you're wondering, Hamlin's toy drive has now raised $7.7M in donations.
Short and Sweet
After video surfaced of UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) President Dana White hitting his wife on New Year's Eve, TBS pulled the programming for White's new Power Slap League that was set to debut this month.
There are countless postseason scenarios to wrap up the last week of the NFL regular season, but the most exciting could be the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans racing to be the worst team in the league.
With the college football national championship game on Monday, the only college football game this weekend is North Dakota State vs. South Dakota State. The two are playing for the FCS (i.e., a division below division I college football) championship title.
In the wake of Damar Hamlin's collapse, the New Orleans Saints (NFL) and New Orleans Pelicans (NBA - National Basketball Association) donate 67 AEDs to local recreation departments.
Before We Go
US Men's Soccer is such a mess that it deserves its own Netflix series. Enter the Reyna-Burhalter saga. For some reason, head coach Gregg Berhalter did not play one of the best players on the team during the World Cup, Gio Reyna. Coach Berhalter then broke code, revealing some behind-the-scenes information about Reyna.
Berhalter and Reyna's father were once teammates and friends but no longer after Berhalter spoke out about his son. So, the Reynas reportedly leaked details about a domestic violence incident where Berhalter kicked his future wife in a 1991 incident, which is now under investigation.
Coach Berhalter's contract expired at the end of the year, and they have a temporary head coach, Anthony Hudson. JUST NO
Today we featured stories containing accounts of domestic violence. If you or someone you know is a survivor of domestic abuse, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or https://www.thehotline.org/.
PHOTO: Instagram.com/people
Tailgate treat
You voted on Instagram, and this week's Tailgate Treat is a non-alcoholic Blackberry-Basil Mule that is delicious. WE SEE YOU DRY JANUARY
GAME CHANGER
Football with The Rock, Rihanna and the Women’s World Cup means great times are ahead with our list of five sporting events we're looking forward to in 2023. SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT