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5 Polarizing People in Las Vegas Sports Right Now

Believe it or not, the Las Vegas sports scene is filled with some very controversial figures.

#5 Kyle Busch

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You can’t talk about controversy without mentioning Kyle Busch. Sure, his wild streak has gotten him in trouble multiple times throughout his NASCAR career, but it has also become his most endearing quality. In fact, between his “say it like it is” attitude towards the media and his burning desire to win, he is a man that divides the NASCAR fanbase right down the middle. Busch is also a two-time Cup Series champion, giving him the hardware to back up his big mouth.

In the end, Busch has just been involved in too many chaotic moments in sports history not to make this list. Whether it’s his fight against Joey Logano at Las Vegas, his intensity after coming up short during a race, or just how he rubs fans the wrong way, he is the definition of controversy. He might even be the most controversial driver of this entire generation, which puts him in the same league as the likes of Darrell Waltrip, Bill Elliott, and the late great Dale Earnhardt.

#4 Jon Gruden

Why is Jon Gruden still the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders?

No, seriously, after four years of little growth, a defense that couldn’t get teams off the field last season, and a 7-9 record last season, fans are asking- why do the Raiders need Gruden? Keep in mind that Gruden is responsible for costing his team a first-round pick by not following covid-19 procedure. He has been on a downward spiral for a very long time now, and it’s only getting worse.

#3 Kurt Busch

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We’ve talked about one Busch brother, now let’s talk about the other. Although he hasn’t done anything lately to warrant a spot on this list, his career is etched in burned bridges, fiery tirades, and some of the worst actions a driver can take. Kurt Busch, who is in the final year of his contract with Chip Ganassi Racing, has even put crew members at risk, like when he confronted Tony Stewart during a yellow flag pit stop. Busch pulled right up to Stewart’s box after an on-track incident, forcing a tire changer to jump on Stewarts’ hood.

If nothing else, Kurt Busch was NASCAR’s resident bad boy for a long time. Of course, Busch eventually underwent anger management and worked on himself emotionally. In fact, that’s why he belongs on this list. He is, above all else, a story of redemption.

#2 Marcus Mariota

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Should Marcus Mariota be a starter in the NFL?

Unfortunately for the former Heisman winner, that is the question that has followed him after he left the Tennesee Titans at the end of the 2019 season to be Derek Carr’s backup in Las Vegas. While Mariota did get playing time after Derek Carr went down with a grown injury and even put on a heck of a show in the process, the Raiders decided to stick with Carr. This only spurred fans into a further debate about whether Mariota should start or not, which still continues today.

In the end, Mariota was forced to renegotiate his deal to stay in Las Vegas and continue his fight for the starting job. Interestingly enough, this has only solidified the battle between him and Carr, making this a very noteworthy season for fans.

#1 Derek Carr

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It’s no secret that Derek Carr is a good Quarterback, but the jury is still out on whether he is a franchise player that can carry the team on his back. Sure, he has flashes of brilliance where he is able to find one of his special weapons in the endzone or capitalize off a balanced offense alongside Joshua Jacobs, but they don’t happen that often.

With that being said and the ongoing debate between whether Carr or Marcus Mariota should be QB, it’s pretty safe to say that Derek Carr is the most polarizing person in Las Vegas sport. Think about it! Who else constantly gets cut into after a bad game by Raider Nation?

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