Wednesday Wisdom
Stir up a Pimm’s Cup - it’s time for Wimbledon. Plus, today's watercooler topics.
Wimbledon starts this week if you're looking for an excuse to wear white and enjoy high tea or strawberries and champagne.
Cheers,
The Last Night's Game Team
Photo: Instagram/rufusthehawk
Wimbledon
The oldest tennis tournament in the world is steeped in history, but that doesn't stop the common folk like us from enjoying a match, traditional Pimm's or donning our Wimbledon whites while avoiding bird poop.
The prestigious tournament has a strict dress code, requiring players to wear all white. (Rumor has it was that it was because it didn't show sweat like other colors). Now we all know that nothing ruins your summer whites like bird poop. Luckily you don't have to worry about that at Wimbledon. Rufus is a specially trained hawk that keeps those pooping pigeons away from the grounds. Like a good predator, Rufus flies above the grounds for one hour, around 9:00 am most mornings, before the gates open to keep the birds away.
For a look at all things Wimbledon, like why tennis balls are yellow, break open a bottle of bubbly and listen to this week's podcast for a behind-the-scenes look. LISTEN UP
Short and Sweet
Joey Chestnut won his 16th Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, eating 62 hot dogs and buns after a lightning delay that left fans furious.
The weather at Wimbledon is proving to be the toughest competitor, with rain showers delaying play yesterday and hot temps on the horizon.
The shotputter who had to run hurdles to save her team is enjoying her time in the limelight.
The U.S. Women's Open begins this week at Pebble Beach, and Amy Olson, who is seven months pregnant, is competing in the tournament for the first time.
Photo: Last Night’s Game
Up Your Game
Want more Wimbledon, including a recipe for Pimm's Cup? Check out our Guide to Wimbledon for everything you need. READ
game on
While Independence Day may be over, this week's Tailgate Treat, Honey Mustard Chicken BLT Sliders, has lasting power no matter the holiday. FAN FAVORITE
Monday Minute: Wimbledon Begins, Hot Dog Eating Contest + CBS ThinKs Golf < Rodeo
Freedom from small talk about the weather.
Photo: Instagram/originalnathans
It’s almost time to break out the birthday cake and fireworks for America. Tweet us and tell us what you’re up to for the 4th of July holiday.
For today’s Monday Minute podcast episode or our podcast exclusive Weekend Preview, subscribe to the podcast or our YouTube channel.
Keep up with us between podcasts by visiting lastnightsgame.com or following us on social media. Until next time, have a fantastic day.
Wimbledon
The third Grand Slam tournament of the season starts today, and the Australian Nick Kyrgios will not be playing in Wimbledon. The bad boy dropped out of the tournament with a knee injury.
Novak Djokovic and Iga Svintek are the favorites to win the men's and women's tournaments. Check out our Wimbledon podcast, which is out today, about everything you need about Wimbledon, including Pimm's Cup and Rufus the Hawk, and why they wear white.
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
Let's dive into Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, the gag-inducing event. Miki Sudo hopes to claim her ninth championship at 10:45 am Eastern Time on the fourth. Will Joey Chestnut beat his record of 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes? Find out at noon on the fourth on ESPN2.
PGA (Professional Golfers Association)
Rickie Fowler won his first PGA tournament since 2019, and no one had a chance to see it because CBS was running the golf tournament on a tape delay. So the TV viewers got to watch the rodeo instead. Fans were a little bit disappointed in that one.
The Tour de France that's happening right now. Make sure you check out our blog for all you need to know.
Photo: Unsplash
UP your game
From cocktails to castles, here’s what you need to know about the Tour de France that runs July 1 - 23. READ
Photo: Instagram/Wimbledon
GAME CHANGER
Want more Wimbledon, including a recipe for Pimm's Cup? Check out our Guide to Wimbledon for everything you need. READ
Wimbledon - What You Need To Know
Break out the bubbly to chat about why they wear white, how to avoid bird poop and that tennis balls weren’t always yellow.
Photo: Instagram/wimbledon
The oldest tennis tournament in the world is steeped in history, but that doesn't stop the common folk like us from enjoying a match, traditional Pimm's or donning our Wimbledon whites.
1. The prestigious tournament has a strict dress code, requiring players to wear all white. (Rumor has it was that it was because it didn't show sweat like other colors). Now we all know that nothing ruins your summer whites like bird poop. Luckily you don't have to worry about that at Wimbledon. Rufus is a specially trained hawk that keeps those pooping pigeons away from the grounds. Like a good predator, Rufus flies above the grounds for one hour, around 9:00 am most mornings, before the gates open to keep the birds away. EYES LIKE A HAWK
2. Last year, the tournament banned Russian and Belarusian athletes due to the invasion of Ukraine. This year the tournament has made some changes, including supporting Ukrainian players by paying for two rooms for Ukrainian tennis players and their teams during the grass-court season and donating one British pound (about $1.25) for each ticket sold at Wimbledon to relief efforts in Ukraine.
Russian and Belarusian players can compete but with a few stipulations, which include the banning of flags or signs of support for either of those countries and the war. Players will sign a declaration that they will not show support for Russia, Belarus or the war in Ukraine, and the tournament will not be broadcast in Russia or Belarus. RULES
3. The tennis balls are replaced every seven to nine games to ensure they’re in perfect shape. No wonder more than 53,000 tennis balls are used during the two-week tournament. But did you know tennis balls used to be white or black, not yellow? Changing them to yellow made it easier for the TV viewer to see the ball, but Wimbledon was a late adopter of the color change, waiting until the 80s. HOLY BALLS
4. Did you know that Wimbledon is Europe's largest single annual sporting event from a catering perspective? In previous years, spectators consumed over 276,000 glasses of Pimm’s to wash down 18,061 servings of fish and chips. The tournament has served 4,242 servings of sushi and 6,147 servings of pasta to their racket-wielding athletes. WHO’S HUNGRY?
5. Grunting is no longer left to gremlins and grumpy old men. Even the classiest of tennis players vocalize their play. While you may think this is new, Monica Seles and Jimmy Connors are known as the original creators of the tennis grunt. The loudest one on the court? Russia's Maria Sharapova at 105 decibels – the equivalent of standing next to an accelerating motorcycle. THAT'S NOT AWKWARD AT ALL
Noted: Wimbledon will run from Monday, July 3 - Sunday, July 16.