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The biggest US sports event ever? 🤯

The biggest US sports event ever? 🤯

February 17, 2024

The biggest US sports event ever? 🤯

Hello and welcome to RestDays! We're all about that sweat life...until it's time for a nap.

The rule is simple:

Grab a seat, get comfortable, and let’s dive into today’s first issue:

Epic plays seal Super Bowl 2024: A memorable showdown
Injury halts Joel Embiid’s run for MVP glory
Court kings converge: NBA All-Star game sparks fan frenzy
Inter Miami's 2024 MLS forecast: glory or gloom?
Hola NFL! Spain scores its very first gridiron debut

Epic plays seal Super Bowl 2024: A memorable showdown

The Super Bowl just wrapped up, and boy, did it serve drama with a side of football!

The Kansas City Chiefs snagged a victory from the San Francisco 49ers in what turned into an OT nail-biter. While the Chiefs had been cramming the new overtime rules like it was finals week, some 49ers were out here like, "Wait, there were new rules?". Yep, 49ers' Arik Armstead was just as shocked as your aunt finding out about the finale of her favorite soap opera.

The Chiefs pushed the game into OT with a clutch field goal by Harrison Butker. And just when the 49ers thought a return field goal might save the day, Patrick Mahomes and Mecole Hardman were like, "Not on our watch," sealing the deal with a touchdown. This OT showdown was only the Super Bowl's second dance-off since that jaw-dropping Patriots comeback in 2017.

But wait, there's more: this year's Super Bowl pulled in a crowd of 123.4 million viewers, nearly breaking the TV like the '69 Moon landing did. And with a whopping 202.4 million people catching at least a snippet across all platforms, it's clear this wasn't just a game; it was THE game.

Amidst all this, Taylor Swift watching from the stands added that pop culture cherry on top. Dating Travis Kelce, she's now the NFL's unofficial ambassador. Her "casual" twelve appearances more than just confirm the cameras' love for her. So, whether fans were there for the touchdowns, the new rules, or just a glimpse of T-Swift, this Super Bowl was a rollercoaster that even the best theme parks couldn't match.

Link to full article

Injury halts Joel Embiid’s run for MVP glory

This week, the NBA's MVP Ladder got a serious shuffle.

Joel Embiid, our reigning MVP, had to unfortunately step away from the spotlight due to a left meniscus procedure. Ouch! That means he's hitting the bench for at least four weeks. This twist in the plot effectively counts him out of the MVP race since he won't meet the NBA's 65-game play minimum for postseason awards. Talk about a plot twist nobody saw coming.

Before this unexpected exit, Embiid was lighting up the scoreboard with an average of 35.3 points per game. The man was on a mission to join Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain in the exclusive club of scoring machines, potentially becoming the second player ever to average at least one point per minute played. But alas, sports can be as unpredictable as a season finale cliffhanger.

With Embiid sidelined, the Sixers have been feeling the absence, going 1-5 without their star center. But as they say in showbiz, the show must go on.

Enter stage left: Luka Doncic. The Dallas Mavericks' main man has seized the opportunity, propelling his team to three consecutive wins for the first time since the dawn of 2023. Talk about making an entrance!

So, who's leading the charge in the MVP race now?

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Jokic helped the Nuggets to their eighth win in 10 outings Thursday with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists against the Lakers on the road. Despite squandering a 15-point lead in the second half, Denver closed on a 10-2 run in the final 2:18 for the win.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Shai scored 28 points in combining with Jalen Williams (26 points) and Chet Holmgren (22 points) for 76 of his team’s 117 points in a loss to Utah that snapped a three-game winning streak.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Antetokounmpo was limited to fewer than 20 points for just the fifth time this season Thursday as the shorthanded Bucks suffered their worst home loss of the season to Minnesota.

Link to full article

Court kings converge: NBA All-Star game sparks fan frenzy

It's going to be a slam dunk of a Sunday. 🔥

The NBA All-Star Game is rolling into Indianapolis on February 18th. We're talking about the first All-Star bash in Indy since '85, making it a throwback event that even your cool uncle can't stop talking about.

On the court, we've got a lineup that reads like a who's who of basketball royalty, with ten starters divided between the Eastern and Western Conferences. Each side is bringing a mix of two guards and three frontcourt players to the party.

Let's break down the team rosters:

Eastern Conference is bringing the heat with:

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) leading the charge as captain
Jayson Tatum (Celtics) and Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) running the show
Damian Lillard, now bringing his talents to the Bucks

Western Conference counters with:

The King LeBron (Lakers) as the captain setting sail
Kevin Durant (Suns) and Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) bringing the power
Luka Doncic (Mavericks) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) completing the dream team

Link to full article

Inter Miami's 2024 MLS forecast: glory or gloom?

Before the preseason kicked off, everyone was betting that Inter Miami, with their star-studded summer signings like Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets (yeah, the Barcelona legends), would’ve been like assembling the Avengers in soccer form, with Messi as their Captain America, ready to lead the Herons to glory in the MLS.

But then, preseason happened, and it turned out more like a blooper reel than a highlight tape. Winning just one game against the Hong Kong Team—with Messi and Suarez on the injury bench—had folks scratching their heads, wondering if they had overestimated the team's might.

Now, the big question hanging in the air: Could Messi actually miss the playoffs in his debut full season? Say it ain't so!

Sure, Miami's roster is dripping with talent enough to keep the ship steady when Messi's off doing his superstar duties for Argentina or catching a breather. Yet, those preseason stumbles have thrown a bit of shade on their playoff sunshine.

This preseason was their awkward first date, and now they're hoping to smooth things over with a second chance. Chances are, once it hits its stride and Messi, Suarez, and Busquets shake off their niggles, Inter Miami might just start their climb up the Eastern Conference table, eyeing a spot somewhere cozy between fourth and seventh.

Remember, it's not how you start; it's where you finish. And with their soccer supergroup, the Herons could very well turn their tune-up turmoil into a mid-season symphony, hitting all the right notes just in time for the playoff dance.

Link to the full article

Hola NFL! Spain scores its very first gridiron debut

🇪🇸 The NFL is taking its talents to Spain! Madrid will play host to an NFL game in 2025, transforming the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium into a battleground for American football, and adding Spain to the league's global playbook.

Spain's gearing up to join the exclusive club of countries outside the U.S. that have hosted an NFL game, tagging along with England, Mexico, Germany, and Brazil.

Who gets to play in this historic game? The Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins might be the chosen ones, thanks to their marketing rights in Spain. According to Jonathan Jones from CBS Sports, one of these teams might just be the lucky "host" for this Madrid extravaganza.

This isn't the NFL's first show abroad. England's been enjoying American football since 2007, and Germany's catching the bug with its third game in 2024. Brazil's getting in on the action too, hosting its very first game next season in São Paulo, with the Philadelphia Eagles playing host.

Mexico's taking a little time-out, with Estadio Azteca under the knife for renovations, but there's chatter about a grand return in 2025. So, pack your bags, NFL fans; the league is on the way into some new territory!

Link to the full article

News off the field

Shaq's Jersey gets the ultimate high-five
The Orlando Magic hang Shaq's jersey up high, and it's not coming down. Talk about squad goals!
Henry Cejudo: hanging up the gloves on a loss?
Cejudo says it's curtains for his MMA career if he can't tackle Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298. It's do or die, folks!
Who's bagging the next Champions League?
Will Man City, Bayern, Arsenal, or Madrid take the crown in the 2023/24 Champions League? The stats are speaking, but who’s listening?
Rafael Nadal: Qatar open's missing maestro
The former world No. 1 is taking a rain check on the Qatar Open. Just a blip or a sign of stormy weather ahead?
Kylian Mbappé's Madrid move
Real Madrid's wallet is wide open for Mbappé, making him the club's top earner. Will this dream move turn into reality?

This Week’s Meal Power-Up

This protein bagel is the perfect meal to jumpstart your day. It's your classic lox bagel turned up a notch with a protein-packed twist. Perfect for those mornings when you want to feel full and energized without compromising on flavor.

Ingredients:

1 High-Protein bagel
2 Tbsp reduced-fat cream cheese
3 oz smoked salmon
Red onion, finely sliced
Capers, just a handful

How it’s done:

Toast your bagel to your liking. Aim for that golden-brown sweet spot.
Spread the cream cheese evenly over the toasted bagel halves.
Drape the smoked salmon over the cream cheese. This is where the flavor really kicks in.
Add sliced red onion and capers on top for that extra bite and a pop of flavor.

And there you have it—a breakfast bagel loaded with nutrients to start your day right.

614 calories, 82g protein, 28g carbs (4g fiber), 21g fat.

Enjoy!