Last Night's Game

Here’s how to talk shop and take home a win. Athletic ability (or football knowledge) is not required. 1. The “sport” of fantasy football was originally developed in 1962, but modern fantasy football started in 1999 when Yahoo! offered an online league. Now players can create teams using ESPN or other sports apps and make some dough with online betting sites like DraftKings, although sports betting sites are still illegal in a few states. 2. It’s a male-dominated sport, with men making up over 80% of the 60 million participants. But don’t look now because women are whipping up teams of their own. Just because some men want to debate the 1982 Super Bowl champions doesn’t mean that means that’s required to enjoy a fantasy football league. Women have to remember their mother-in-law’s birthday and the neighbor’s cat’s name, so there is no need to use those brain cells up with useless football factoids. There are whole leagues and even businesses dedicated to helping female football fans join in on the fun. 3. Fantasy football is usually fun, but some leagues aren’t for the faint of heart. They take it very seriously, and there’s a punishment for coming in last. The penalties include spending 24 hours at a Waffle House (seriously), buying drinks for the entire next football season, doing standup at a local open mic night or waxing of the nether regions (by a professional, of course, because what are we animals)? 4. Picking a team name is the best part but remember no one is intimidated by the “Unicorn Underdogs.” Luckily for you, there are massive lists of names out there for inspiration. Some of our favorites? Blitz Creek, Sacks and the City, Game of Throws, Drinkers with a Kicking Problem, Teddy Throwsevelt and Real Housewife Who Fantasizes. 5. Our biggest pointer for first-time fantasy football players is: don’t forget to set your lineups once a week. You have up until your first player’s game starts to adjust. Remember, some teams play on Thursday night. With the average person spending $556 on entry fees, materials and prizes, you want to put your best foot(ball) forward. Who is the commish, why do I care about bye weeks and what's the recipe for success? Check out our fantasy football 101 for the answers to all your questions. Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS Fantasy football 101: https://lastnightsgame.com/sports-101/2020/6/29/fantasy-football-101

We’ve taken out the obvious choice for sports cities in Los Angeles, New York, Boston and Chicago and given you a few new places to add to your must-see travel list. DENVER With over 300 days of sunshine, Denver is an obvious choice. Sure they have the Broncos (NFL – National Football League), Nuggets (NBA – National Basketball Association), Avalanche (NHL – National Hockey League) and Rockies (MLB – Major League Baseball) but did you know they have over 150 breweries in the metro area? You can take in a concert at the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre if you’re not into sports or venture into the mountains for some hiking, skiing or our favorite, après-ski. SEATTLE If the Pike’s Place Market area, the original Starbucks or taking in the views from the top of the Space Needle isn’t enough to drive you to check out Seattle, how about a little sports action? Seattle is the home to the newest NHL team, the Seattle Kraken, that will begin their inaugural season this fall. If hockey isn’t your thing, they have the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Storm (WNBA - Women's National Basketball Association), Sounders (MLS – Major League Soccer), OL Reign (NWSL – National Women’s Soccer League) and the Mariners (MLB). The Mariners have the longest playoff drought in baseball, so maybe you can bring them some good luck (or at least enjoy the outdoors with a cold beer and some popcorn). NASHVILLE If Nashville is on your travel list, you’re not the only one. The music city ranks high on the list of most-desired domestic destinations in 2021. If you like football, food and music – you’re in luck. You can catch a Tennessee Titans (NFL) game and then wander over to the Country Music Hall of Fame or to Lower Broadway to take in some of the best live music you’ve ever heard. The city is booming, with over 22 new restaurants opening thus far in 2021, which will be great to grab a bite before a Predators (NHL) or SC (MLS) game. LAS VEGAS The newest blossoming sports city also happens to be the entertainment capital of the world. So if you’re not into catching a Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) or Aces (WNBA) game or checking out the Las Vegas Raiders (NFL) in their brand new stadium, there are plenty of options of things to do. While we all know the Las Vegas Strip is what keeps people coming back to Vegas, did you know that there’s excellent hiking at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and a world-class Mob Museum with a speakeasy in the basement? Oh, and they have 280 non-stop passenger flights scheduled to 152 destinations in nine countries, so it’s easy to get there. TAMPA BAY While you may think of the beaches, Tampa Bay has cemented its status as an elite sports city over the past few years. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by Tom Brady, won the Super Bowl (NFL) in 2021. Not to be outdone, the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) won back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships. The Rays (MLB) were World Series runners-up in 2020, and the Toronto Raptors (NBA) called Tampa home during COVID because they were prohibited from traveling in and out of Canada.

COVID was a non-starter, the Olympics were over budget by 400% and then there are Snoop Dogg and Kevin Hart. GOOD - You can't talk about this Olympics without talking about COVID. The pandemic delayed the games a year, and while there were fears of a total outbreak, it seems like the precautions worked. A few high-profile athletes like John Rahm (golf) and Coco Gauff (tennis) tested positive, but overall, COVID was a non-event. - Americans Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky continued to dominate in the pool. He won five gold medals, and she made history, winning her sixth individual gold. There is no word on Dressel's future, but Ledecky has already promised that she'll be back for 2024 in Paris. - Snoop Dogg and Kevin Hart's commentary on the Olympics was the unsung hero of the Games. They've covered everything from Tonga's shirtless flag bearer to Tom Daley's gold medal-winning synchronized dive. Although our favorite moment has to be their take on the dressage routine by Mopsie, the "rave horse." BAD (TURNED POSITIVE) - Being a good sport is in the DNA of the Olympics, and we have to look no further than the track and field competition. First, Isaiah Jewett (USA)and Mijel Amous (Botswana) collided during the 800-meter race, falling. The two picked each other up and finished the race together. - In the high jump, after tying Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qatar) and Gianmarco Tamberi (Italy), were offered a chance to have a jump off to determine a gold medal winner or share the gold. The two agreed to share the gold. The exclamation mark was Tamberi leaping into Barshim's arms to celebrate their co-victory. - It seemed like a death sentence for US Women's Gymnastics (and NBC's ratings) when Simone Biles dropped out of the team all-around and subsequent events. But not so fast. With Biles out, her teammates Suni Lee (gold – all-around), Jade Carey (gold – floor) and MyKayla Skinner (silver – vault) all medaled in individual events. Every member of the US Gymnastics team went home with a medal, including Biles, who earned a silver (team all-around) and bronze (beam). UGLY - The biggest gut-punch was to the city of Tokyo. It’s estimated that the city spent around $35 billion to put on the Olympics - a far cry from the initial $7.3 billion budget. With the games being delayed a year and no Olympic tourists, it’ll be tough for them to recoup their costs. According to a University of Oxford study, each Olympic Games since 1960 has overrun its budget by 172 percent on average. This Olympics is over by 400 percent. - It may all work itself out by the end, but the overall TV ratings have been down for the Olympics. Some cite the time difference, confusion on where to catch the coverage and prominent name athletes exiting competition early. The ratings, which are down 42% from Rio 2016, may cause NBC to make right with some advertisers. They sold more than $1.25 billion in commercials and are paying $1.1 billion for broadcast rights. (Keep in mind that doesn't include production costs, salaries, etc). Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS 7 must-read books for the summer: lastnightsgame.com/-summer-book-list-2021

What would you do with your most prized possession? You’ll never guess. 1. Team USA Women’s Soccer player Christie Rampone keeps her medals in her pots and pans. Her rationale? Who’s going to look there? 2. Honorable mentions go to a school locker (Bob Suter), their agent's house (Shaun White), in the nightstand (Lindsey Vonn) and the nail polish drawer (Caitlyn Jenner). Then there's the always popular sock drawer, where a slew of Olympic athletes store their medals, including Apolo Ohno, Natalie Coughlin, Mary Lou Retton and Sue Bird. 3. Sprinter Carl Lewis put his 1987 medal in his father’s casket at his funeral. He told his mom that he was going to go back and get another one. And he did. 4. Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko sold his medal from the 1996 Olympics for a reported $1 million, with the proceeds going to a children's charity he started with his brother. Other athletes have had no choice but to sell their medals to pay their bills. "Miracle On Ice" hockey player Mark Wells sold his medal to pay for back surgery. 5. USA men’s basketball won a disappointing bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic games in Atlanta. Unhappy with the teams’ performance, Carmelo Anthony gave his bronze medal to a family member who auctioned it off for $14,000. Did you know? This year's Olympic medals are made of recycled metals from small electronic devices like mobile phones. But the medal isn't the only prize. American medal winners receive a bonus for their win. The scale is $37,000 for gold, $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze. Thanks to the "Victory Tax," US Olympians earning less than $1 million/year won't have to pay tax on this prize money. Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS 7 must-read books for the summer: lastnightsgame.com/-summer-book-list-2021

Each athlete at the Olympic games comes with a story of perseverance, determination and, in many cases, heartbreak. While we would love to highlight each of the more than 620 athletes competing on Team U.S.A., here are a few that we would like to celebrate. 1. Quanesha Burks is from a town of 14,000 people but had her sights set on college. When Burks wasn't training during high school, she worked at McDonald's to help her grandmother pay off her car insurance. Because of her hard work ethic and athletic ability, Burks received a scholarship to college, and while it was a bit of a broken road to get here, she is now a full-time professional long jumper. What did she eat to celebrate making the U.S. Olympic team? A McDonald's medium fries with no salt and a side of sweet and sour sauce. 2. The Bruce Tramps can unite over something more than his summer concert series. Jessica, the daughter of the boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, will compete on the U.S. Olympic Equestrian team as part of the jumping squad. Springsteen began riding at the age of four and is now ranked third on the U.S. rider list. Tokyo will be her first Olympic appearance. (For the record, Springsteen fans are called Bruce Tramps as in "tramps like us.") 3. There are so many stellar women to watch, from Sue Bird (basketball) to Simone Biles (gymnastics) to Katie Ledecky (swimming).  We couldn't be more excited to see these women and those of the U.S.W.N.T. (soccer) dominate in their sport while cheering each other along. Did you know that women have won more than 50% of Team U.S.A.'s medals at the last two Summer Olympics? Biles said, "I've been here for so long, so to be a mentor for them has meant everything to me, and to share these accomplishments and these goals." 4. Filling the giant flippers of Michael Phelps is Caeleb Dressel. Dressel became a household name in Rio, where he won two medals in the swimming relays. As the experienced veteran on the men's team, the swim team co-captain has a chance to become the fourth swimmer in history to win seven medals in a single Olympic Games. Dressel stayed sane during his time off in 2020 by hiking the Appalachian Trail with his wife. As he revealed on his podcast "The Ben and Caeleb Show," the trail taught him more about life than the Olympics. 5. Allyson Felix, the most decorated athlete in the world, teamed up with Athleta to help moms fund childcare when they're competing. Except for nursing infants, athlete's children cannot attend the games. Felix and Athleta gave out six- $10,000 grants to female Olympians to help with childcare while they're in Tokyo. It wasn't until late June that Tokyo Organizers decided to let athlete moms who are nursing bring their child to Tokyo after athletes from all over the world said not being able to do so was forcing them to choose between being a mother and an athlete. Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS 7 must-read books for the summer: lastnightsgame.com/-summer-book-list-2021

The Olympics are filled with thousands of stories, with over 11,000 athletes competing. It was hard to narrow it down, but here are five storylines worth following during the Tokyo Olympics. 1. Wondering why it seems like the Olympic coverage appears to be overly female-friendly? The abundance of media coverage is seemingly because they’re the names we’re most likely to hear announced on the podium. Women have won more than 50% of Team U.S.A.’s medals at the last two Summer Olympics. 2. Keep an eye on Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim, golfers from South Korea. The two PGA (Professional Golfers Association) golfers dropped out of the British Open earlier this month to focus on their preparation for the Olympics. An Olympic medal for these two athletes (or any other South Korean athlete) would not only make their country proud but would provide the Olympian with an exemption from mandatory two-year service in the South Korean military. This exemption is something that not even the members of international sensation K-pop group BTS are able to achieve. 3. With the topic of transgender children in sports being hotly debated in the U.S., Laurel Hubbard, a weightlifter from New Zealand, will represent her country and proudly carry the title of the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics. After failed efforts from neighboring countries to ban her from the Commonwealth Games, Hubbard pushed on, with support from her fellow New Zealanders, and landed a spot on the Olympic team. 4. They were, and then they weren’t. The Japanese government was prepared to allow fans, Japan residents only, at Olympic competitions. Then earlier this month, they changed their mind, declaring a state of emergency due to COVID and will no longer allow fans at any of the Summer Olympic competitions in Tokyo. This ban on fans includes family and friends of the athletes competing as foreign fans were banned back in March. 5. There are five sports taking place in the Olympics for the first time. Look for your favorite men’s and women’s athletes to compete in surfing, sport climbing, skateboarding (park & street), karate (kumite & kata) and softball/baseball. While softball/baseball was voted out of the Olympics in 2006, they’re back and will bring the most new athletes to the Games, with 144 men and 90 women participating in the sport. Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS 7 must-read books for the summer: lastnightsgame.com/-summer-book-list-2021

The ESPYs are like the Golden Globes – you get the best of both worlds. It’s the one night of the year where athletes and celebrities gather to celebrate the achievements in the world of sports while giving us the summer red carpet we’ve all been missing. 1. Typically, the awards show takes place on a Wednesday in July after the MLB (Major League Baseball) All-Star Game, referred to as “Black Wednesday,” the one day a year where there are no live sports. This year, with leagues playing COVID adjusted schedules, there is no dark day to hold the event. So that means there will likely be no Olympians, MLB (Major League Baseball) or WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) players or members of the Phoenix Suns or Milwaukee Bucks who are playing in the NBA (National Basketball Association) Finals in attendance. There’s a chance the Stanley Cup Finals (NHL - National Hockey League) will be over by then, but it’s not a sure bet.  2. Just because there will be no Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird sighting on the red carpet, it doesn’t mean you’ll be disappointed. The fashion game will undoubtedly be impressive when Lindsey Vonn, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, Russell Wilson and Ciara and LeBron James (likely promoting Space Jam 2) step into the spotlight.    3. Unlike the Oscars, where you’ve never heard of most of the movies, the fans get a say who receives some of the awards like the best athlete in women’s sports, best game and best team.    4. ESPN can put together a video package that’ll pull at your heartstrings while leaving you inspired, and the awards at the ESPYs are no different. Here’s a quick summary of each of the major awards: Chris Nikic, the first person with Down syndrome to complete a full IRONMAN triathlon, will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Four-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic medalist Maya Moore will receive the Arthur Ashe Award Courage Award. She is being recognized for her work to free Jonathan Irons, who she felt was wrongly convicted of a crime. She stepped away from her career to work to free him. (Ultimately, he was released). Manchester United (European soccer) star Marcus Rashford rallied Parliament during COVID to support children who received free lunch pre-pandemic, securing a $556 million grant to provide meals into 2021. For his work that impacted 1.7 million children, he will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service. 5. Actor Anthony Mackie, known for his many movie roles but especially in the Marvel series, will add ESPY host to his lengthy resume. Mackie is expected to poke fun at some of the best athletes on the planet in his opening monologue, which could be scarier than any script he’s encountered. Unlike most red carpet events, this one will take place at The Rooftop at Pier 17 at the Seaport in New York City.  Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS 7 must-read books for the summer: lastnightsgame.com/-summer-book-list-2021

Nothing says “Happy Birthday America” like sitting on your couch watching people down 75 hot dogs in 10 minutes in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. In a tradition unlike any other, our nation will celebrate its birthday with the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Like our country, the contest’s roots run deep. According to Nathan’s, legend has it that on July 4, 1916, four immigrants gathered at the very first Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand on Coney Island and made eating contest history. As the story goes, they were competing to see who was the most patriotic. The winner was determined with a hot dog eating contest. Let’s talk about what everyone is thinking about – vomiting. An eater who has "a Roman incident" or “reversal of fortune,” as it is so delightfully called, will be disqualified if the result of that incident touches the plate or table. After the contest is over, eaters can dispose of the food however they’d like, although some contests have a post-binge wait period. This isn't college; the competitors don't show up just for the food. The winner out of the dog-downing competitors will take home $10,000. Want to bet on it? That can be done. You can also bet on if PETA will interrupt the contest or not or if there will be a “reversal of fortune.” One thing that’s a sure winner, Nathan’s will continue their annual tradition of donating 100,000 hot dogs to the Food Bank of New York. After no fans last year (and an awkwardly quiet competition), the crowd might be just what 13-time champion Joey Chestnut needs to beat his record of 75 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. He is one of 18 men to compete for the mustard belt. Chestnut also holds the record for the most hard-boiled eggs eaten in 10 minutes at 151. Don’t worry, this sport isn’t only for the boys. Miki Sudo has won for seven straight years on the women's side, but she will not attend this year as she’s pregnant with her first child. So while the men’s competition is pretty much a lock for Joey Chestnutt, the women’s side is wide open for any of the 10 competitors to win. Only two women, Sudo and Sonya Thomas. have won the competition since it started in 2011. You can catch the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at 11 am EST on July 4 on ESPN. The contest will occur amidst stifling humidity and a massive crowd at Maimonides Park, which is steps away from Nathan’s flagship store on Surf and Stillwell Avenues. Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS 7 must-read books for the summer: lastnightsgame.com/-summer-book-list-2021

The oldest tennis tournament in the world may be 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. There’s a strict dress code at the prestigious tournament, 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 (9:00 am) most mornings before the gates open to keep the birds away.  2. Did you know that Wimbledon is the largest single annual sporting event in Europe 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. Although this year, those numbers might be a little lower as fan capacity is limited to 50% occupancy until the men’s and women’s finals, when the stadium will be at 100% capacity. The tournament has served 4,242 servings of sushi and 6,147 of pasta to their racket-wielding athletes. 3. The tennis balls are replaced every seven to nine games to ensure they’re kept in perfect shape. It’s no wonder more than 53,000 tennis balls are used during the two-week tournament. But did you know that tennis balls used to be white or black, not yellow? They were changed to yellow to make it easier for the TV viewer to see the ball, but Wimbledon was a late adopter to the color change, waiting until the 80s.   4. Grunting is something no longer left to gremlins and grumpy old men. Even the classiest of tennis players vocalize their play. While you may think this is a new thing, 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.  5. The biggest news about Wimbledon is who isn’t going to be there. Naomi Osaka and Rafael Nadal have both dropped out of the tournament. But instead of looking at the glass half empty, let’s talk about how Serena Williams will be there to go for her record-tying 24 Grand Slam win. Or the two of the biggest names in men’s tennis, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, will take the court. Djokovic has won the first two Grand Slam tournaments (aka majors) this year. (Wimbledon is the third major of the year). Bonus: Last year’s tournament was cancelled but don’t feel too bad. The All-England Lawn Tennis Club had been paying pandemic insurance for 17 years, and it finally paid off with a rumored payout of $141 million. Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS 7 must-read books for the summer: lastnightsgame.com/-summer-book-list-2021

These sons and daughters are following in their fathers’ footsteps while making their own name. Her dad, two-time Hall of Famer Rick Flair, is considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, and Charlotte Flair is living up to his legacy. The college volleyball player turned WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) star has been a trailblazer for women in WWE, with nine championships to her name. “The Queen” was also the first WWE star to grace the pages of ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue. You can’t have a list of famous fathers and their kids without mentioning the ultimate trio – the Manning crew. Dad, Archie Manning, was an NFL (National Football League) quarterback for 15 years. His quarterback sons Peyton and Eli have both won two Super Bowls. Their third brother Cooper is ‘only’ a partner in a law firm and a TV personality. Cooper’s son, Arch, is keeping the family name alive as an impressive high school football prospect. You’ll not likely be able to miss the 6’6” Vashti Cunningham in next month’s Summer Olympics. The high jumper is the daughter of Hall of Fame quarterback turned pastor Randall Cunningham. This will be the second Olympics for Vashti, who competed in Rio. She has long discussed how her dad is her rock as she competes at the highest levels. Laila Ali had big shoes to fill when she followed in her dad’s footsteps. Her father was the one and only - the “World’s Greatest” boxer Muhammed Ali. A boxing champion herself, she's also a television personality and fitness guru who has appeared on shows such as American Gladiator and Dancing With The Stars. But she doesn’t stop there. Laila has her own line of seasonings (including the G.O.A.T seasoning), a skincare line and her own clothing line at Nordstrom. The future of baseball lies in the hands of the 22-year-old offspring of two baseball (MLB - Major League Baseball) legends. Vladimir Guerrero Jr, the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, follows in his father’s footsteps, leading the league in home runs and all-star voting. Then there’s San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr (son of former MLB player Fernando Tatis). At a young age, he has already been on the cover of the “MLB The Show” video game, landed his own Gatorade commercial and is the leading vote-getter amongst shortstops for the all-star game. Links: Website: www.lastnightsgame.com Shop at: www.lastnightsgame.com promo code SPORTSCURIOUS 7 must-read books for the summer: https://lastnightsgame.com/-summer-book-list-2021