Sports Conversation Starters for Your Week - NEW Format!

Welcome to a new week and new version of conversation starters!

My goal with this weekly post has always been to: a) keep you "in the know" with some of the biggest sports headlines that you might have missed and b) give you something more interesting and productive than the weather to talk about in small talk. 

Here's the thing - there are plenty of places you can find sports headlines and the title of this email is Sports Conversation Starters.

So that's what we're going to focus on, questions you can use to spark a conversation. Some of them will be strictly sports related, others will be sports adjacent that encourage you to think outside the box scores and spark bigger conversations. 

This format is still in its early stages, so please reach out with feedback about readability and usefulness.  

And with that, let's start talking sporty!

NFL

The NFL will release the full regular season schedule Thursday. 

Talk Sporty Convo Starter: At what point in the year do you start paying attention to the NFL schedule, is it now or closer to the start of the season?

NBA

The defending NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder have yet to lose a game in the playoffs. They're one win away from sweeping the LA Lakers. That game takes place Monday. 

Talk Sporty Convo Starter: Does seven straight playoff wins mean the Thunder is the most dominate team remaining?

NHL

The Carolina Hurricanes are a perfect 8-0 through the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs. They are the first team in to sweep two 7-game series in playoffs since 1969. Their efficiency means it could be May 18 before they know their opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Talk Sporty Convo Starter: Is it a benefit to have several days off or do you think Carolina will find it challenging to ramp back up? 

PGA Championship

The PGA Championship takes place this week outside of Philadelphia. It's the second of four golf majors played every year. It's unique because it's played at rotating venues - 75 different courses over 108 years. 

Talk Sporty Convo Starter: What do you like about seeing how golfers respond to different environments?

The Preakness

There will not be a Triple Crown winner this year because Kentucky Derby champ Golden Tempo is not part of the field for the Preakness on Saturday. Crude Velocity is listed as the early favorite.

Talk Sporty Convo Starter: It was disappointing for some fans to learn Golden Tempo wouldn't race this weekend. When was the last time you made a decision people found unpopular?

College Softball

UCLA senior Megan Grant owns the record for most home runs in a single season after blasting homer No. 38. The previous record had stood for 31 years. She's earned the nickname Chef Megan for how she "cooks" at the plate. 

Talk Sporty Convo Starter: Do you think there's more or less pressure felt when chasing a record that's stood for three decades?