You don’t love professional sports, but your livelihood and/or personal happiness depends upon your being able to converse intelligently about it. It’s a common dilemma with a simple solution: you need to learn a new language. You need to learn how to talk sports. And we’re here to help! The TWIST is our weekly Dandelion Chandelier guide to what’s happened on the field, on the court and on the ice. Every weekend you’ll find the three (and only three) things you need to know this coming week to speak cogently about professional sports with the boss, the gang at the office, your barber, your barista, your secret crush, or your in-laws. Do the TWIST every week and we promise you’ll know how to talk about sports like a champion.
This week’s edition of TWIST: This Week in Sports Talk begins with Serena Williams. As we shared in a prior TWIST, persistent rumors have swirled about whether or not she would be returning to the court for the first time since becoming a mom at this month’s Australian Open. While Williams previously told Vogue that she had an “outrageous plan” to defend her Australian Open title, and Australian officials said that her visa was in order and that they were expecting her, now the news has come that she won’t be there. Ugh! We miss you, Serena! But we totally understand.
We can’t start the New Year without some good news, and there’s plenty of it: the Buffalo Bills secured their first playoff berth in 17 seasons thanks to the Bengals’ last-minute victory over the Ravens. In gratitude, the team’s fans have been donating money in $17 increments to the charitable foundation created by Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and his wife. Dalton reported Wednesday on Twitter that 10,000 donors had contributed nearly $250,000 to his foundation, which benefits seriously ill and physically challenged kids and their families. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ rookie running back Leonard Fournette bought all of his offensive lineman Rolex watches for helping him rush for over 1,000 in his rookie season. Best of all, paralyzed Pittsburg Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier – who suffered a ferocious injury and was feared to be permanently unable to walk – is this week reportedly regaining feeling in his legs. Please keep him in your prayers.
Meanwhile, for Those Who Do Not Follow Professional Sports, here’s what you need to know this week (and not a single thing more).
3 for the week of January 7, 2018:
1. Its NFL Wild Card weekend! Must know: Passionate NFL fans believe that the next two weekends are the best of the year. There are four wild-card games this weekend, played one at a time – so hard core types can watch all of them in full (no NFL Red Zone this weekend.) Ditto next weekend, when the divisional playoff games will be held. These are match-ups between the best teams in the league. “Football widows,” you’ve been warned. Definitely make other plans, as your partners will be a football trance. Nice to know: The four games this weekend are the AFC Kansas City Chiefs-Tennessee Titans and the NFC LA Rams-Atlanta Falcons on Saturday; and the AFC Jacksonville Jaguars-Buffalo Bills and the NFC Panthers-New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Extra credit: The top teams in their respective leagues — the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles — have a “bye” week to rest up before next weekend, and they also get home field advantage in all their postseason games up to the Super Bowl. The race to be named MVP of the regular season has narrowed to two names: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley.
2. In-fighting in Patriots Nation. Must know: A report from ESPN’s Seth Wickersham this week conjectures that the legendary New England Patriots dynasty is about to implode after 17 seasons, seven Super Bowl appearances, and five wins. Nice to know: Apparently, team owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick, and star quarterback Tom Brady are all fighting and someone (probably Belichick) may soon quit. Our Sports Desk reports that some experts are saying “balderdash!” (Well, actually they’re probably not using that exact word, but they’re saying things to that effect.) Others are reportedly saying “we knew it all along.” If you want more details on what’s behind the in-fighting, this article on SB Nation explains it all quite well: click here. Extra credit: New York Giants fans are hoping these rumors of an imminent Patriot implosion are true; they’re advocating that Giants ownership make a play to bring Belichick back to Big Blue as head coach.
3. The College Football Playoff (CFP) national championship is this Monday. Must know: The Alabama Crimson Tide meet the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday night. Nice to know: As with the Super Bowl, there will be lots of friendly wagering, both on the outcome of the game, and over “prop” bets (like who will score first). Joining in on the fun would be a perfect way for you to demonstrate your sports literacy. FYI, Alabama is the favorite to win. Extra credit: The college football players who are projected to be the top two NFL quarterback picks have officially declared their intentions to join the NFL draft. Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold are the two hot prospects. In addition, the youngest Heisman trophy winner ever, quarterback Lamar Jackson, has declared as well – he’s projected to be picked up late in the first or early in the second round.
If you’re looking for extra street cred, casually mention that you noticed that Jon “Chuckie” Gruden, an ESPN football analyst, this week signed a 10 year, $100 million contract to return to coaching for Raider Nation. He might be getting a percentage ownership of the team, too.
That’s it. You’re good to go. See you next week.
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