Carrie Underwood still has her Sunday Night Football fastball, awkward Jim Harbaugh & Baywatch Livvy Dunne!
'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday–Friday on OutKick.com.
First weekend of August. We've made it. The NFL is BACK. My Red Sox haven't lost a game since the Biden Administration. Carrie Underwood and Cris Collinsworth were both on my TV last night.
It's not possible to have it any better than us today. The momentum is through the roof right now. I can feel it in my bones.
I think we're in for a special weekend. Let's roll.
Welcome to a Friday Nightcaps — the one where Carrie returns for Year 14 and has NFL fans ready to run through a brick wall.
What else? I've got the return of Collinsworth memes (my favorite fall tradition), Jim Harbaugh with an all-time response on Colin Cowherd's show, and does this look like the face of a woman who wants transgenders in women's sports?
Yes, it does! You'll see.
Grab some Zucchini for National Sneak Some Zucchini Into Your Neighbor's Porch Day — seriously — and settle in for a Friday 'Cap!
There really is a day for everything, isn't there? What a day! Who knew?
For those who want more info — how could you not? — SSZIYPD "offers gardeners a way to rid themselves of extra produce. For some, this day offers a way to rid their garden of an overproducing squash plant."
That, of course, is according to Google, which also tells me that this holiday was started by Tom Roy at wellcat.com after doing years of news & talk radio.
No idea who Tom Roy from wellcat.com is, but I'm all in. I'd gladly take a zucchini on my front porch today. I'm not expecting one, but what a delight it would be!
OK, that's enough produce talk. Let's get this class started with Carrie Underwood and NBC teasing the new anthem for the upcoming NFL season during last night's THRILLING Hall of Fame game:
There's been a lot of chatter about folks not happy that Carrie Underwood is back for a 14th year on Sunday Night Football.
That's nonsense. As OutKick's unofficial Carrie Underwood—SNF reporter, I can assure you this is fake news. Yes, I'm aware Fox had a story on this yesterday.
That did not come from this department. It's a big house, folks.
Anyway, Carrie is back, the vibe has shifted back to a more rock 'n' roll theme this season, and all is well once again.
"This season, we’ve drawn inspiration from Carrie’s deep, well-documented love of rock music — a perfect fit since our Sunday Night Football anthem was born from pure rock ‘n’ roll: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ ‘I Hate Myself for Loving You,’" said Tripp Dixon, creative director for the SNF opening theme.
"We’ve worked to match these two rock frequencies of past and present as they come together in Carrie’s high-energy performance. The greatest players and teams in the NFL will take it from there."
Amen, Tripp. And yes, Carrie can still very much sling the fastball at 43. Elite stuff.
Speaking of ... let's welcome back another member of Sunday Night Football — Cris Collinsworth!
More importantly, the return of Collinsworth memes:
Lordy. How great was Tirico last night, by the way? Is he the best announcer in the game right now?
I think I'd go:
You could probably throw Ian Eagle, Joe Davis, and even Al Michaels in there, even though Al doesn't quite have the zip on his fastball that Carrie still has on hers.
Of course, as a miserable Dolphins fan, I've grown used to Andrew Catalon. We get him about 12 times a year. Still better than dramatic Jim Nantz!
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
OK, let's rapid-fire this Friday class into a big weekend. First up? Just an all-time moment here between Colin Cowherd and Jim Harbaugh earlier this week:
Amazing. I have no earthly idea what Jim is trying to say, but I very much enjoyed the journey from Point A to Point B.
"Evolvement ... is that a word? Is that a word, Colin?"
Colin:
Good stuff. What a wild little ride.
Next? Speaking of wild rides ...
These girls are just insane.
That was Golden State's Gabby Williams back in May, saying she would welcome a transgender player on her team. With a straight face!
And then, of course, she plays the predictable, "it's not really an issue" card. Folks, I've said it before and I'll say it again now:
If you meet someone from the "it never happens" crowd, you will know right away that you have a fraud on your hands. It's the easiest way to weed one out. It's straight out of the left's playbook.
AB Hernandez has been dominating high school athletes all year long. Becky Pepper-Jackson won a girls' state championship in West Virginia in May.
You had volleyball player Blaire Fleming at SJSU. You had the Imane Khelif situation two summers ago in the Olympics. There was the high school trans pitcher in Minnesota who had a fastball that would make Nolan Ryan do a double-take.
Just this week, it came out that the brother of Olympian Alysa Liu is a transgender athlete in California, competing in track and field and girls’ varsity basketball.
But no, it's not a problem! Okeedokee, Gabby! Enjoy the sandbox.
OK, that's it for today — and this week. Good work, everyone. First week of August in the books. Let's stay hot this weekend.
Football is back. And so is Baywatch!
Take us home, Livvy.
Is it a problem? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.