The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition – Hotline Bling

Who doesn’t love the holiday season? It offers so many delightful things like a plethora of sports, family and Grandma’s apple pie. It also has its awkward moments such as election talk and rapper Drake wearing a shirt with your face on it.

Started from the bottom now we're here, 

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - Speaking of apple pie, today’s tailgate treat is like your grandma’s apple pie but in a glass, with alcohol. We’re warming hearts and bellies everywhere. Recipe

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NCAA Football (College)

• About last night. The University of Louisville was sitting pretty at #5 in the college football rankings and their quarterback Lamar Jackson was the front runner in the Heisman Trophy race. Then last night happened. They were blown out by the University of Houston. Jackson all but had the Heisman locked up going into the game, but after his sub-par performance the field is wide open. Find out who’s still in contention for the Heisman. 
• All aboard. ESPN’s College GameDay heads to an unlikely destination on Saturday - Kalamazoo, MI. There they will cover the undefeated Western Michigan Broncos as they take on the Buffalo Bulls. Western Michigan’s coach, 35-year-old P.J. Fleck, is one of the top emerging coaches in the nation. His “Row the Boat” mantra has taken his team from one of the worst in college football to an undefeated one this season.  

NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing)

• Shake and bake. Sunday’s race is the final race of the season therefore the “Sprint Cup Champion” will be crowned. One of the four drivers in contention for the title, Jimmie Johnson, is looking to tie legends Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and Richard Petty with his seventh championship. 

MLB (MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL)

• Forever young. MLB announced its 2016 season MVPs yesterday. Kris Bryant from the Chicago Cubs and Mike Trout of the Los Angles Angels took home the prestigious award. Both of the MVPs are 25 years old or younger. Ahh remember those days?

Overtime

• Canadian rapper Drake is the global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors (NBA – National Basketball Association). During the season the team hosts a “Drake Night.” Drake took advantage of his namesake evening to share his affinity for ESPN reporter Doris Burke. He wore a shirt with her face on it that said “Women Crush Everyday” and then invited her over for dinner, alone. No word from Rihanna if she will chaperone.

Sideline stat

• This is the last year Sprint will be the main sponsor of NASCAR, a partnership that began in 2008. Sprint paid between $50-$75 million a year for the right. NASCAR has yet to name a replacement and is seeking $100 million per year for 10 years. Will they take a check? 

Coaches’ corner

• The Stanford University band has been banned from traveling to away games since May 2015 due to various violations (offensive acts, hazing and violations of alcohol and controlled substances to name a few). There was hope they would be eligible to travel to rival Cal this weekend to support their team with music, but alas the ban remains as not all issues have been resolved. This one time at band camp….

The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up - Monday with Matthew

Hurricane Matthew dominated the weekend, bringing soggy game day conditions to many. Making the weekend brighter in New England, Tom Brady returned to the field and to his usual greatness sans tan lines from his Italian holiday.

Everyone wins,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - Like us? Share us! It's that simple. 

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NFL (National Football League)

• Then there was one. With a win over Houston Texans, the Minnesota Vikings are the only remaining undefeated team left in the league.
• Like new. This weekend the winless Cleveland Browns were the sacrificial lambs for Tom Brady’s return from his four game “deflategate” suspension. Brady didn’t miss a beat and picked up right where he left off – dominating.  
• For the complete NFL Scoreboard, click here.

MLB (Major League Baseball)

• Moving on. In front of their home crowd, Toronto Blue Jays swept the Texas Rangers to win the ALDS (American League Division Series). The Rangers held the best record in the American League. In case you were wondering, no cans of beer were harmed during this series because the Blue Jays started serving beer out of cups. The outfielders thank you. (What are we talking about? Click here).  
• Need a miracle. Both the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants are at risk of being swept in their respective series if they don’t pull off a win in their games tonight. The Giants play the Chicago Cubs and Red Sox will take on the Cleveland Indians. Here's the schedule, 

NCAA Football (College)

• Downpour defeat. An unranked Naval Academy pulled off their biggest upset in 32 years, beating an undefeated University of Houston (#6) at home in the pouring rain. Your Last Night's Game team was there, ponchos and all and it was brilliant.
• Check the rest of the scores here.

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)

• A force to be reckoned with. Hurricane Matthew delayed the race in Charlotte to Sunday afternoon. Although not even a hurricane could keep Jimmie Johnson from clinching a spot in the next round of the playoffs, breaking his 24 race winless streak. 

WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association)

• High achievers. The Los Angeles Sparks upset the Minnesota Lynx in a close game at home in the first game of the finals. Game two is on Tuesday.

Overtime

• Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Ann Arbor, Michigan (home of University of Michigan) ran a promotion this weekend that included a percentage off your bill equal to Michigan’s margin of victory, with 50% off as the cap. Michigan won 78-0 on Saturday vs. Rutgers University. They probably won’t be running that deal again anytime soon.

Sideline stat

• Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott is off to a record-breaking start in his first season on the field. He’s winning and setting records including number of pass attempts straight without an interception (155) - a rookie record. He’s aiming upset to Tom Brady’s record of 162.

Coaches’ corner

• What does it meant to sweep? When a team sweeps a series, it means the other team did not win one game. Fans love to bring brooms to the game to taunt the other team when a sweep is on the horizon. Now if we could only get them to sweep up our houses… 

The Rundown: Weekend Wrap Up

Grace was not the key word of the weekend in sports as bizarre injuries ran amok.

Caffeine in hand this morning and we’re buzzing like bees at a Cubs spring training game. 

Sweeter than honey,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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MLB (Major League Baseball)

• Freak accident. Milwaukee Brewers Reliever Will Smith (no not THAT Will Smith) tore a ligament in his knee while attempting to take off his cleats after a game. He expected to miss "significant time.” 

• Buzz off. A swarm of bees were the cause of a delay in the Mariners vs. Cubs spring training game on Sunday. Cubs’ outfielder Jason Heyward was surrounded by a swarm and stung several times. 

NBA (National Basketball Association)

• Was the crime worth the time? Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin has been medically cleared to resume basketball activities after a quad injury and broken hand have kept him out since Christmas Day. Since he has been cleared from his injuries he must now serve his suspension for punching a team equipment manager outside a restaurant in January. Griffin will be back on the court on April 3rd. Clippers clinched a playoff spot with a win last night.  

NCAA Basketball (College)

• Not so fast. Going into to Saturday all four #1 seeds were still in the NCAA tournament. The picture looked a little different by Sunday night. Oregon (#1) lost to Oklahoma (#2) and Kansas (#1) lost to Villanova (#2).

But wait there’s more! Syracuse (#10) beat Virginia (#1) to secure their place in the Final Four. North Carolina, who beat Notre Dame (#6) on Sunday, is the only #1 ranked team to make it to the Final Four. The Final Four is this weekend.

• Orange fever. Both Syracuse’s men and women’s basketball teams secured a spot in their respective Final Four tournaments for 2016. The men won the National Championship in 2003 and this is the first ever trip for the ladies.  

PGA (Professional Golfer’s Association)

• At the top. Jason Day surpassed Jordan Spieth to claim the spot as #1 ranked golfer in the world after winning the Dell Match Play Tournament in Austin, Texas. Day is not a newcomer to the spotlight as he was ranked #1 last year but he had a humble beginning. Growing up Day was so poor that his first golf club was one his father pulled from the town dump.

Overtime

• In the spirit of Easter, the Houston Cougars changed up a drill during spring practice by dressing up in bunny costumes. No bunnies (or football players) were harmed in the making of this video.

Sideline stat

• University of Connecticut women's basketball team won their Elite Eight game, handing Mississippi State a 98-38 loss. The UConn ladies will play Texas (#2) tonight. So far they have outscored their tournament opponents 296-138. 

Coaches’ Corner

• Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey injured himself in the game vs. Wisconsin last week. No it wasn’t from his rebound skills but from stepping awkwardly on the grip pad (which the players’ use so their shoes have a better grip on the court). He reportedly pulled a calf muscle. Apparently the luck of the Irish wasn’t shining on Brey or his team. They lost to North Carolina last night.