Craig Sager

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: The 5 Most Talked About Sports Moments of 2016

It wouldn’t be the end of the year without a host of lists to celebrate the year that was. We’re bringing you the most talked about sports moments of 2016. Chatting to your NYE date has never been easier.

 

Break out the bubbly,

The Last Night’s Game

The five most talked about sports moments of 2016

  1. Cubs win! The Chicago Cubs (MLB - Major League Baseball) ended their 108-year championship losing streak by coming from behind in the World Series to defeat the Cleveland Indians. Chicago went wild with an estimated five million fans attending the victory parade.
  2. Summer Olympics in Brazil. The Zika scare. Ryan Lotche’s late night antics (and maybe his hideous blue hair?) landed him in hot water. Michael Phelps retired with 28 career Olympic medals, 23 of them gold. Swimmer Katie Ledecky became the most decorated female of the Rio Olympics.  The U.S.A. women’s gymnastics team, The Final Five led by Simone Biles, dominated the competition.
  3. Championship Cavs. The Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA (National Basketball Association) championship, ending the City of Cleveland’s 52-year professional championship drought. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and their Cavs were down three games to one but managed to take home the title over the Golden State Warriors.
  4. Take a knee. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (NFL - National Football League) started taking a knee during the national anthem to demonstrate police brutality and racial oppression. No matter how you feel, the protest propelled the conversation and motivated action around the nation.
  5. Legends retire. Everyone’s favorite quarterback and five-time MVP Peyton Manning called it quits after winning the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos (his second Super Bowl victory). Although post retirement he's still starring in primetime, but in advertisements. 

Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers were terrible in his final season of basketball but the 18-time all-star still went out on top with five NBA Championships. He and his wife welcomed their third baby girl during his retirement. Better than 73-year-old Mick Jagger who’s still working and having babies.  

Overtime

  • Northwestern University will wear stickers on their helmets to honor Craig Sager, an alum of the school. Sager, who lost his battle with cancer on Dec. 15th, was one of the most respected sideline reporters in sports and was known for his colorful outfits.

Sideline stat

Coaches’ corner

  • The sports world lost so many sports icons this year including "The Greatest" boxer Muhammed Ali (74), sports reporter Craig Sager (65), women's basketball coach Pat Summitt (64), Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez (24) and the storied golfer and namesake of your favorite refreshment Arnold Palmer (87).

The Rundown: Bowled Over

If you’re part of the polar vortex sweeping the country this weekend it’s a great excuse to sit in front of the fire and thaw out while warming your mind (and maybe your heart?) with sports.

Fire up those brain cells,

The Last Night’s Game Team

 

PS – You’re not likely to tailgate in the snow, but if you are we have the perfect recipe in this week’s tailgate treat to keep you all warm and snuggly. 

NCAA Football (College)

  • Solved that problem. University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh’s name has surfaced as a possible candidate for the vacant Los Angeles Rams head coaching job. Harbaugh said it’s all rumors made up by enemies to hurt recruiting. He then insulted said enemies by calling them “jive turkeys.” Later he sang the national anthem at rapper Lil’ Dicky’s concert. Now that’s a renaissance man.
  • It’s bowl game time. The University of Texas San Antonio Roadrunners are bowl eligible for the first time in school history. They play the University of New Mexico Lobos at home this weekend in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. Movin’ on up. 
  • Everybody’s doing it. Bowl game season starts on Saturday. Don’t forget to join our Last Night’s Game’s ESPN Bowl Mania Group to win prizes or to simply have a good time. It’s like a March Madness bracket for college football. (Once you click the link above, select "play now for free." Password: sports curious). 

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

  • Your lucky day. UFC will broadcast Saturday night’s fight live and free of charge. The main event is between Paige VanZant (PVZ) and Michelle Waterson. PVZ, as her friends call her, is a Sacramento resident. She may also look familiar because she was the runner-up on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars. 

Overtime

  • Famed basketball sideline reporter Craig Sager, 65, was elected to Broadcast Hall of Fame on Tuesday. On Thursday he lost his battle with cancer. While he was known for his colorful attire and his time on the NBA (National Basketball Association) sidelines, Sager was actually the first person to interview Hank Aaron (legendary baseball player) on the field after he broke the all-time home run record. He will be missed. #SagerStrong 

Sideline stat

  • The NFL’s (National Football League) Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will play in frigid temperatures in Chicago on Sunday. The expected high temp is zero degrees with 15 mph winds. This game could go down as the coldest game in the Bears’ history.

Coaches’ corner

  • The radio announcer for Wake Forest football received his stocking full of coal early this year - he was fired. An internal investigation uncovered that Tommy Elrod had been giving opponents Wake Forest's game plans since 2014. No word on why the alum and former Wake Forest coach deceived the team in the #WakeyLeaks scandal but three teams thus far have admitted to receiving the information. He’s on the naughty list for sure.

 

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