Last Night's Game

Sliding into your podcast queue just before the season starts. It's the 75th anniversary of the NBA, and there's a chance the Milwaukee Bucks will repeat this season but honestly, the field is wide open. But we're not here to talk standings and odds. Let's talk about the more exciting side of the NBA Season. Fashion first, always. Leaguewide, teams will wear 123 different uniforms this season, with each team receiving four jersey editions: Association, Icon, City and Statement. Three OG NBA franchises – New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors (then Philadelphia) and Boston Celtics will wear a fifth Classic edition uniform. (The original shorty-shorts are not included). On those wide varieties of jerseys, you'll see the jersey sponsorships patches. The patches, which are now commonplace across the league, started in 2017 and have generated more than $150 million in operating revenue. Ever wonder where all of the money goes from the fines handed out to the players and coaches? To charity. Half of the money goes to the NBA for distribution to its official charitable partners. The other half goes to the NBPA's (National Basketball Players Association) non-profit, the NBPA Foundation. Some years the donations to the NBPA Foundation have totaled between $2.5 - $3 million. The funds go to furthering the sport and assistance to individuals, communities and organizations, sometimes globally. Old guys rule, for now. Many of the familiar faces in the league, like LeBron James (36), Chris Paul (36) and Dwight Howard (35), are the oldest players in the league. Look for young players like Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans) and Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons) to step into the spotlight this season. The Los Angeles Lakers, which James and Howard both play for, is the oldest team in the league with an average age of 30.4. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the youngest, with an average age of 23.4. Look out men, the women are taking the court, and technically, they're in charge. Danielle Scott, the daughter of a college basketball official, becomes the sixth full-time female referee this season. That's the most women the NBA has ever had on staff at one time. You can't talk about the season and not speak about COVID. The NBA is the last major professional sports league to emerge from COVID protocols and resume a regularly scheduled season, but city-imposed mandates will impact the game. In New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles, out-of-town teams are exempt from the vaccination mandates, but the home teams are not. You've likely heard about Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets) and how he can't even practice with his team until he's vaccinated. Irving's story may be the loudest but isn’t the norm as the league is 95% vaccinated. Bonus: Here are the nuts and bolts of the season. Thirty teams will play 82 games – 41 at home and 41 away. At the end of the season, the top six teams in each of the two conferences will claim a place in the playoffs. The seventh through 10th ranked seeds will compete in a play-in tournament for each conference's two remaining playoff spots. Yes, more than half of the league makes it to the playoffs. LINKS: Shop the store: lastnightsgame.com use promo code SPORTSCURIOUS

We're joined once again by Lincee, Kourtney, Lisa and our comic relief, Scott to talk about why plaid has a different meaning at Disney, favorite fall recipes and of course, a preview of Michelle Young's season as "The Bachelorette." Make sure you pick your Bachelorette bracket at: https://lastnightsgame.com/therundown/2021/fill-out-your-bachelorette-bracket Here's more on the 5 athletes vying for Michelle's heart: https://lastnightsgame.com/podcast/2021-bachelorette-michelle

These athletes have played tough opponents in their sporting careers, but will they be a match for Clint Eastwood’s grandson when it comes to “Bachelorette” Michelle Young’s heart? Go ahead, make my day. PS – There’s a spoiler alert included in the last bio so skip that if you want to be surprised. Bryan Witzman Michelle has said that her favorite restaurants are food trucks, so maybe that’s something she’ll have in common with former NFL (National Football League) player and self-described amateur chef Bryan Witzmann. Witzmann, who is 6’7” to Michelle’s 5’9,” played football in college and played for nine different NFL teams, most notably the Kansas City Chiefs. Joe Coleman Will Joe Coleman be the Mr. to Michelle’s Mrs.? Both from Minneapolis, he was named Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball in high school, and she was a finalist for Minnesota’s Miss Basketball award. Rumor has it that the two may have known each other from playing college basketball. Olumide Onajide Former Rutgers basketball player Olumide Onajide could be just what Michelle is looking for, the “superman to her superwoman,” as her bio says. He works as a field systems analyst, model and writes a fitness column. Alec Thompson If she’s looking for a man with heart, Alec Thompson might be it. The Special Olympics volunteer is a civil engineer living in South Carolina. (Michelle is in Minnesota). Thompson might know a thing or two about structure and discipline that a former school teacher like Michelle would appreciate as he played football during his time at the Virginia Military Institute. Clayton Echard Will orthopedic sales rep Clayton Echard be that “confident but not cocky” dream man Michelle is looking for? The former University of Missouri football player and former freestyle rapper (wait, what?) loves spending time outdoors. And SPOILER, he is rumored to be the next “Bachelor.” If you haven’t already, make sure to select your picks in our Bachelorette Bracket in partnership with I Hate Green Beans. If you want a brilliant recap of the latest episode, make sure to check out Lincee and Some Guy In Austin on the “I Hate Green Beans” podcast recap episode that’s sure to have you laughing. Bracket link: https://lastnightsgame.com/therundown/2021/fill-out-your-bachelorette-bracket Shop the store: lastnightsgame.com use promo code SPORTSCURIOUS

After a 162-game season (oof), it all comes down to this. 1. Should you need a little direction on which team to cheer for, how about selecting by their biggest celebrity fan? Here are the matchups so you can pick accordingly: AL (American League) Wild Card (Oct. 5): Boston Red Sox (Stephen King) vs. New York Yankees (Billy Crystal) * Red Sox were eliminated Tuesday night by the Yankees NL (National League) Wild Card (Oct. 6): Los Angeles Dodgers (Mila Kunis + Ashton Kutcher) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (Jon Hamm) AL Division Series (starts Oct. 7): Chicago White Sox (Barack Obama) vs. Houston Astros (Dan Rather) ALDS (Oct. 7): Tampa Bay Rays (Hulk Hogan) vs. winner of Red Sox/Yankees NLDS (Oct. 8): Atlanta Braves (Ludacris) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (Colin Kaepernick) NL Division Series (starts Oct. 8): San Francisco Giants (Metallica) vs. winner of Dodgers/Cardinals 2. A few of these playoff teams have strong traditions to tune into when you watch the game. The Astros have the train that goes back and forth after every home team home run. The Brewers have Bernie Brewer, the beloved mascot of the Milwaukee Brewers, who slides down a giant yellow slide above the outfield after every Brewers' home run. And the karaoke trend that you love goes sporty at a Red Sox game where fans sing "Sweet Caroline" just before the bottom of the eighth inning of every home game. 3. It's all about the Benjamins, and not everyone is spending it all to reach the playoffs. The Yankees have the second-highest payroll in baseball and the Rays have the fourth lowest in the league. Despite the over $135 million differential in salaries, the Rays still have the best record in the American League, which earns them home field advantage. 4. If you pick your team to cheer for based on their title drought, the playoffs are kind of a mixed bag. The Dodgers are the defending champions, and the Astros won a few years ago. Then there are the Rays, who haven't won in 23 years or the Brewers, who haven't taken home a championship in 53 years. The Rays are hoping to follow in the footsteps of the city's other professional sports teams that have won titles this year – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL – National Football League) and Lightning (NHL – National Hockey League). 5. If you want to talk shop with the best of them, here's one for you. MLB changed the composition of the baseball this season to reduce the number of home runs. That change has resulted in a record number of pitchers throwing no-hitters this season. Will that continue into the playoffs? Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS Fantasy football 101: lastnightsgame.com/sports-101/2020…sy-football-101 College football traditions that we love: https://lastnightsgame.com/podcast/2020-collegefootballtradtions

If you're going to a game (or simply have friends who are football fans), from the NFL to college, here's what you need to know. LAMBEAU LEAP The Lambeau Leap, which started as a spontaneous jump into the crowd by former Green Bay Packers (NFL – National Football League) player Leroy Butler in 1993, has turned into a tradition at Lambeau Field, home of the Packers. Minus during COVID, the scoring player jumps up the wall and into the crowd after almost every touchdown. SMILE AND WAVE Iowa Hawkeye fans have started a tradition, the Iowa Wave. When the first quarter ends, fans wave to the patients at Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital that overlooks the stadium. 12 The Seattle Seahawks (NFL) have long given love to the 12th man (or woman), the fans, who are loud and provide the Seahawks with serious home field advantage. But they're not the only football team to give love to the 12s. At Texas A&M, the 12th man student section stands the entire game in support of their team. Texas A&M trademarked "12th man," and the Seahawks made a deal to pay the university $140,000 to use the limited rights of the phrase for five years. TP + TREES Remember when toilet papering a house was something you did to your worse enemy? Not at Auburn University. After a win, fans toilet paper the oaks on Toomer's Corner on campus. This tradition, which started in 1972, was stopped for three years after an Alabama fan poisoned the trees, but now it's back. No word if poor college students clean the toilet paper up afterward to stock their bathrooms, especially after COVID. SEISMIC SANDMAN As you might expect, a bone-chilling tradition that creates seismic activity starts with Metallica. The Virginia Tech football team takes the field to "Enter Sandman," and the noise from the fans registers as seismic activity. The team considered songs from Guns N' Roses and Alan Parsons Project before settling on Metallica. Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS Fantasy football 101: lastnightsgame.com/sports-101/2020…sy-football-101

With the Olympics over, you thought you could retire your American flag attire, but not so fast. The ultimate golf rivalry, the Ryder Cup, is upon us. You might think there's nothing angsty about watching golf, but you'd be wrong again. At the Ryder Cup, you can cut the tension, drama and disdain with a knife. Transcript 1. The Ryder Cup, played every other year, pits the 12 best US golfers against the 12 best golfers in Europe. The contest alternates between both sides of the pond, with this year's tourney taking place in Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan at Whistling Straits. The course design replicates courses in Ireland.   2. Team Europe beat the US three years ago when the teams last played. (They skipped a year thanks to COVID). The US holds the overall advantage, though, with 26 wins to Europe's 14. The US Team has a significant advantage this year in Wisconsin - the fans. Over 45,000 fans are expected each day, and they're likely to be rowdy and possibly a game changer. 3. Unlike the Olympics, the golfers will not receive any compensation if they win. The teams are playing for the bragging rights and the exposure to a much larger audience. If the US. wins, the team will receive $200,000. The players then decide on the charities that will receive half of the money. The PGA (Professional Golfers Association) of America decides where the other half goes. And what happens if there's a tie when it's all said and done? The team holding the Ryder Cup retains it (Europe).   4. Keep an eye on Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. The two have had a long-standing beef with each other, done in the most golf etiquette way possible. The two rivals haven't come to blows, but there has been plenty of public eye-rolling, mean tweeting and overall complaining about each other. Either way, the two will have to keep it together as they play for the same team in this tournament. (The PGA's $40M social media incentive that was implemented last season could have something to do with the feud as well).   5. Picking the teams is a mix between your grade school gym class and actual rankings. The U.S. team, led by Steve Stricker, will be made up of the top six players in the points rankings and six players of the captain's choosing. The European captain, Padraig Harrington, doesn't get as much flexibility. His team will consist of the first four players from the European Points List, the leading five players from the World Points List, and three captain's choices.

You don't think celebs are simply good looks and character acting? Some of them have skills that far exceed our expectations (and abilities) when it comes to athleticism. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE Justin Timberlake is known for his dance moves, but he’s also an avid golfer. He started playing when he was 12, and rumor has it, he has a 6 handicap. (The lower, the better). Timberlake is also a partial owner of the Memphis Grizzlies (NBA – National Basketball Association) and has a stake in the Music City Grand Prix ownership group. GEENA DAVIS She may have played the sensitive catcher in “A League Of Their Own,” but maybe Geena Davis should’ve tried out for the role of Katniss? The six-foot-tall Academy Award-winning actress nearly qualified for the Olympics in archery. After being inspired by the 1996 Summer Olympics, she began practicing five hours a day, six days a week. After two years, she came in 24 out of 300 competitors in an Olympic qualifier. ADAM SANDLER Adam Sandler is a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court. While he’s best known for playing a golfer in “Happy Gilmore,” it’s his basketball skills that have some NBA players talking. The 55-year-old actor has been known to delight in a pickup basketball game or two when filming. MARIA MENOUNOS A-list celebrities and athletes alike line up to play in the Super Bowl’s “Madden Bowl,” a knock-out tournament that pits celebs against each other in a game of Madden NFL. Well, the former Access Hollywood host Maria Menounos showed them all who was boss. In 2011, she became the first woman ever to win the championship title for the Madden Bowl. JUSTIN BIEBER We all know Justin Bieber is Canadian, and just because he’s Canadian doesn’t mean he’s great at hockey, except when he is. In 2012, he was offered an ECHL (East Coast Hockey League) contract with Bakersfield for his great puck handling skills. You might remember back in early 2020 when All-Star NHL (National Hockey League) goalie Jordan Binnington challenged Bieber to a shootout after seeing a video on the pop star’s Instagram. Bieber has also been known to pick up a game or two with a few of his NHL friends. Honorable mentions go out to Steve Carrell (hockey), Terry Cruz (football) and Nelly (softball and football). Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS Fantasy football 101: lastnightsgame.com/sports-101/2020…sy-football-101 College football traditions that we love: https://lastnightsgame.com/podcast/2020-collegefootballtradtions

While the men of the NFL (National Football League) are back this week, the women are the big discussion point of this season. (Okay, and you too, COVID). 1. The NFL will have a record 12 women coaches this season, and six are women of color. Included in the 12 are Maral Javadifar and Lori Locust, who were the first women to win Super Bowl as coaches with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The growth of women in the NFL is credited to a few programs that include the "Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship" and the league's annual Women's Careers in Football Forum. The two aim to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches. 2. COVID protocols for unvaccinated and vaccinated players are very different this season. So different that some coaches have had to backtrack on comments that insinuated that they kept vaccinated players over those who were not. If vaccinated players test positive, they can return to the team as soon as 48 hours after testing positive (provided they have two negative tests 24 hours apart). Unvaccinated players must isolate for a minimum of 10 days, even if they're asymptomatic. 3. Last year was the first season in 14 seasons that the NFL did not play a game in London. And while it might be tough for you to get to London this fall, the city will be hosting two NFL games in October. The Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets will play on Sunday, October 10, and the Jacksonville Jaguars will take on the Miami Dolphins the following weekend, on October 17. The teams will play at the home of Tottenham Hotspur (soccer). 4. Despite concerns about the toll a season takes on a player's body, money talks. During the off-season, team owners voted to expand the regular season from 16 to 17 games starting this season. This season there will also be a change with how players get paid. Players will receive at least 48% of all league revenue. That figure could increase depending on the upcoming TV negotiations. 5. If you find the idea of the broadcast team talking stats and not strategy or providing interesting insights to the game, now you're in luck. Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks and brothers Peyton and Eli Manning will provide a simulcast of Monday Night Football. Basically, it'll be the two of them sitting around and watching the game. And if you've ever followed them on social media or even Peyton's SNL hosting gig, they're pretty funny. It's two dudes, a football game and a microphone. Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS Fantasy football 101: lastnightsgame.com/sports-101/2020…sy-football-101 College football traditions that we love: https://lastnightsgame.com/podcast/2020-collegefootballtradtions

Few things bring together our country like the Olympics and now college football season. To some, we are rolling into the most wonderful time of the year. Some might argue it’s like the holidays with the get-togethers, sometimes awkward small talk and tailgates with lots of food. 1. COVID COVID is the one to watch. Entire teams like Ole Miss, Boston College and Arizona are fully vaccinated, but the COVID protocols are different between conferences and schools. Most schools will welcome back stadiums at full capacity, tailgates and other gameday traditions but will require fans to show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test. All of the Power 5 conferences (SEC, The Big Ten, ACC, PAC-12 and Big 12) have declared that if one team can't play a game because of COVID-19, they will forfeit the game, and it will not be rescheduled. In all the conferences besides the SEC, it will be declared a no-contest if both teams can't play because of COVID-19. In the SEC, it will go down as a loss. 2. NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS The Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) era begins after compensation for NIL for all college athletes became a reality this summer. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has never played a game for Alabama but is making seven figures in NIL endorsements. How will that impact players' future in the NFL? Time will tell but, in the NBA Draft, 88 early entry candidates (players who still have eligibility) withdrew from the 2021 draft after the announcement of NIL. 3. SUPER SENIORS "Super seniors" will be a buzzword, and no, we're not talking about Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jane Fonda. Due to COVID, the NCAA awarded players with an extra year of eligibility, some of who will be in their fifth or even sixth football season. 4. TAILGATES You can't talk football without talking about tailgating. The tradition was essentially put on hold during the 2020 season so expect this year's parking lot parties to be full-on. Unsurprisingly, the average tailgater is a male between 25-44 years old who spends over $500 a year on tailgating food by attending or hosting 6-10 parties a season. Even more intriguing, according to tailgating.com, they also use separate coolers for their food and beverages. 5. WHO TO WATCH You might be tired of hearing these names, but Alabama, who won it all last year, tops the list even after losing a few star players to the NFL. Keep an eye out on THE Ohio State (Ohio State is very passionate about the 'THE') and always Clemson. Then there's Oklahoma, which is the only team at the top of the list without a CFP national title to their name. (The NCAA implemented the current CFP structure in 2014). A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA All eyes are on Louisiana with the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Exactly 16 years after Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, Ida is forcing residents to evacuate, causing massive flooding and leaving millions without power. Tulane moved their home opener against Oklahoma due to storm damage. The game will now be played in OU's home stadium in Norman, Oklahoma, with all of the ticket proceeds going to Tulane. Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS Fantasy football 101: lastnightsgame.com/sports-101/2020…sy-football-101 College football traditions that we love: https://lastnightsgame.com/podcast/2020-collegefootballtradtions

We're not done with Tokyo as the Paralympic Games begin today. In case you're wondering, they're called the Paralympics. The name comes from the Greek preposition "para" (beside or alongside) and the word "Olympic." The Paralympic Games exist side-by-side with the Olympic Games. These athletes have amazing stories to share, so here's a little bit more about what you can expect as you tune in over the next two weeks. 1. The Summer Paralympics debuted in 1960 in Rome. Tokyo is the first city to host the Paralympic Games twice. (The games take place in the same location as the Summer Olympics). For the first time, US Paralympic athletes will receive the same medal bonus as their Olympian counterparts. Now Paralympians earn $37,500 for a gold medal, $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze, increasing their payout by as much as 400 percent. 2. Around 4,400 athletes from 162 national Paralympic committees will compete in 539 medal events across 22 sports. The team from Afghanistan will not be in attendance after their flights were cancelled due to the unrest in their country. The country's flag still flew in the Opening Ceremonies as an "an act of solidarity." 3. Ten different impairments determine if an athlete is eligible to compete in the Paralympics: impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, muscle tension, uncoordinated movement, involuntary movements, vision impairment and intellectual impairment. You might see track and field stars like David Brown from the US, run alongside a guide while wearing an eye mask. The mask is to ensure that none have a visual advantage, like light perception. 4. Fans will not be allowed at the games due to COVID protocols, except for Tokyo's finest. More than 130,000 school children will be allowed to attend various events, even though many are too young to be vaccinated. According to the Associated Press, organizers say that it's good for the children to see athletes with disabilities competing at the highest level. It "could change attitudes in a relatively conservative society like Japan." 5. There are so many athletes to highlight, and we'll do so in our Instagram stories throughout the games, which end Sept. 5. A few to watch for are swimmer Jessica Long, who trains with Michael Phelps. She's the second most decorated Paralympian in US history and starred in her own Super Bowl commercial. Then there's sprinter Hunter Woodhall. You might know him from TikTok or from cheering on his long jumper girlfriend, Tara Davis, who competed in the Summer Olympics. PS: If you want to know more, the Paralympics' official Instagram account has posted some awesome educational posts alongside the coverage of the games. It's an excellent account to follow for all of the action and to learn a little bit along the way. Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS Fantasy football 101: lastnightsgame.com/sports-101/2020…sy-football-101