The Rundown: Five Things to Know About the Masters
The Masters is upon us. Today’s five things to know will get you ready for the excitement that is golf. Finally, a reason to wear our argyle socks and vest while watching Happy Gilmore on repeat.
Golf clap,
The Last Night’s Game Team
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Five things to know about the Masters
The Masters, starts on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.
- The famed green jacket became a tradition in 1949. Members of the club decided on green so fans in attendance at the tournament could spot them in case they had questions. The tournament winner receives an esteemed green jacket and the tournament winner from last year is the one to ceremoniously help him put it on.
- It doesn’t matter who you are - journalist or a patron, there is a strict no cell phone policy at Augusta National. Don’t even try it as getting caught will land you a lifetime ban from the tournament.
- Despite the prestige of the course, the food is cheap with everything under $3 and beer for $5. We’ll drink to that.
- Becoming a member of Augusta National Golf Course is somewhat of a mystery. There is no listed criteria for membership and the members list is not public. Ron Townsend was named the first African American member in 1990 and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice became first woman member in 2012. Way to keep up with the times.
- CBS (longtime broadcast partner of the tournament) pumps in bird noises during the telecast to make it seem even more like a “natural paradise.” (Apparently they’ve admitted to doing this for other tournaments as well). At least nothing will swoop down and steal your $3 popcorn.
You can watch all of the Masters’ coverage on CBS or cbssports.com.
NCAA Basketball (College)
- What a game! In what is said to be one of the best national championship games in history, Villanova Wildcats beat North Carolina Tar Heels (77-74) to win the title on Monday. The lead changed often during the game but it all came down to the last few seconds when Tar Heels' Marcus Paige hit a miraculous three-point shot to tie the game at 74-74 with 4.7 seconds left. Then the Wildcats drove length of the floor, gave the ball to Kris Jenkins who hit the game winning three-pointer to win the game with less than a second left.
This was Villanova’s first national championship since 1985 and Villanova senior Ryan Arcidiacono was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
- The greatest. There were Tar Heel alum everywhere at this game with the most famous, Michael Jordan, behind the bench. While you may have seen the crying memes of Jordan all over social media, his actual reaction to the final shot was a nod then looked at his friend and said “good shot.”
- One for the record books. Last night the UConn women did something no women's team has done before, win their fourth consecutive national championship, beating Syracuse 82-51. UConn’s Breanna Stewart brought home her fourth Final Four Most Outstanding Player award, becoming the first to win the award four years in a row.
On top of the world. A shout out of congratulations to our inaugural Last Night’s Game Bracket Challenge winner, Dave. Thanks for playing!
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- Good morning class. The NBA has announced the inductees to the 2016 Hall of Fame. The 10 inductees are lead by:
- Shaquille 'Shaq' O’Neal – played for Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics
- Allen Iverson - played for Philadelphia 76ers
- Yao Ming - played for Houston Rockets
- Tom Izzo - head coach of Michigan State
Inductees will be honored in a ceremony on September 9th.
Overtime
- John Oliver, host of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight” issued a challenge to baseball fans. Last week a Yankees executive made a comment that some of their premium ticket holders felt uncomfortable sitting next to fans who paid less because they bought their seats on a ticket resale website. (The team implemented a new policy this season to ban print-at-home tickets in hopes that it will combat this predicament.) So Oliver, who called the Yankees “elitist,” created a contest to put riffraff in premium seats. The winners were two guys dressed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Cowabunga dude!
Sideline stat
- Boston Red Sox' designated hitter David Ortiz hit a home run in the first game of his last season before retirement. Ortiz has been in the league since 1997 and will retire at the end of this season.
Coaches’ Corner
- Now you can coach from anywhere. The NFL has announced that the Thursday night football games will be streamed live through Twitter.
The Rundown: Weekend Preview Edition
Unlike the infamous Taco Liberty Bell joke or secretly recording your teammate, there are no April Fool’s Day pranks here; just good old fashioned sports.
The NCAA Final Four is this weekend and we still have three people in the running for the top spot in the Last Night’s Game Bracket Challenge.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
- Batter up. The MLB regular season starts on Sunday with opening day games across the country. Check out Wednesday’s Five Things to Know About MLB to prepare you for the excitement of the big leagues. You can find the opening day schedule here.
- #CapsOn. MLB is encouraging fans to wear their favorite team’s hat in honor of opening day. Finally, a cause where we don’t have to worry about a bad hair day or even have hair for that matter.
NBA (National Basketball Association)
- Breaking bro code. Lakers’ rookie D’Angelo Russell found himself in a bad situation after a private video that he recorded of teammate Nick 'Swaggy P’ Young found its way to a gossip blog. The video highlights Young’s alleged exploits with women who are not his fiancée, rapper/singer Iggy Azalea. Queue locker room tension, fans booing Russell at games and being shunned by his teammates. Amidst the scandal, Azalea just released a new single entitled ‘Team.’
NCAA Basketball (College)
- Saturday Night Live. Spend your Saturday night wrapped up in March (cough, April) Madness. The Final Four is on Saturday night, live from Houston, TX.
Villanova (#2) vs Oklahoma (#3), Saturday at 6:09 pm (EST) on TBS
- Spread: Villanova -2 (favored by two points)
- Key Players: Oklahoma senior Buddy Hield (runner-up for national player of the year) and Villanova senior Ryan Arcidiacono.
Syracuse (#10) vs North Carolina (#1), Saturday at 8:49 pm (EST) on TBS
- Spread: North Carolina -10 (favored by 10 points)
- Key Players: North Carolina senior Brice Johnson and Syracuse senior Michael Gbinije.
- Orange you glad you made a bet? A bet on Syracuse at the beginning of the tournament could score you $100,000 if they win the tournament. The Westgate SuperBook had the odds of Syracuse winning at 1,000-1 and four people took that bet. Come on Orangemen!
- The greatest. Michigan State's Denzel Valentine won the title of AP Player of the Year. The AP (Associated Press) hands out the award every year to the best on the court and Valentine is the first ever honoree from Michigan State.
Overtime
- In case you needed an excuse to break out your lace-up boots and an awkwardly small speedo, here’s your chance. The Super Bowl of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), Wrestlemania 32, is this Sunday at 8 pm (EST) on the WWE network.
AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, will be bursting at the seams with fans who are there to check out all the action including the main event of Roman Reigns vs. Triple H. Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey appeared at Wrestlemania 31 with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and rumors are swirling that she is going to make a surprise appearance this year as well.
Sideline Stat
Five of the most prominent players on the Women’s U.S. National Soccer Team have filed a suit against the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) for alleged wage discrimination. The suit points out that as part of their collective bargaining agreement the female players make 40% less than the men, despite their dominate success including a 2015 World Cup win. (Something the men haven’t done). USSF said the men’s team brings in twice the attendance and revenue of the women’s team. Stay tuned for the ongoing debate and to read more about the story, click here.
Coaches’ Corner
- Former snowboard instructor, yogi and Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is giving world leaders a run for their money when it comes to the title of fittest world leader. Following in this father’s footsteps, the yogi’s social media accounts are full of sporting and outdoor activity photos, including this one of him mastering the mayurasana (or peacock pose).