Another week in the books for Las Vegas sports, and boy, was it a wild one. Kyle Busch reveals his retirement plans, A’ja Wilson wins an ESPY, and an update on Joshua Jacobs’s contract negotiations. All this and so much more last week in Las Vegas sports (July 10 – 16)!
#5 A’ja Wilson wins ESPY for best WNBA player
A’ja Wilson is one of the biggest stars in Las Vegas, so her winning an ESPY for best WNBA player is no surprise. The 22-year-old forward was instrumental in the Aces winning their first championship and might be the driving force behind another. Her stats this season certainly indicate that is the case.
Wilson recently signed a two-year extension with the Aces to keep her on the team until 2025. While winning an ESPY has to be a fun experience for the young star, nothing is going to taste sweeter than a second straight title
#4 New poll shows Las Vegas Raiders fans worried about Jimmy Garoppollo’s injury
Time is running out before Jimmy Garoppollo has to pass his physical for the 2023/2024 season, and fans are pretty worried. The Las Vegas Raiders signed him to a three-year $72 million contract to be their starter, but there was a catch. Doctors discovered an undisclosed foot injury during a physical, prompting the Raiders to rework the deal.
Silver and Black Pride asked fans what they were most worried about, and a whopping 49% of respondents claimed it was the ongoing Jimmy Garoppollo situation. Another 35% of respondents stated that Joshua Jacobs’ contract is their biggest worry, which is also a major problem.
If Garoppolo cannot pass his physical, the Raiders have the right to release him with no recourse. That will force Las Vegas to rely on Brian Hoyer, Aidan O’Connell, and Chase Garbers. The Raiders could also try for a trade or sign someone in the free-agent market, but they are running out of time.
#3 Oakland Athletics begin their move to Las Vegas
According to ESPN, the Oakland Athletics have officially begun relocating to Las Vegas. The team is currently working on their application to move to Sin City but has not finished it as of this writing. The news comes after Nevada approved a $380 million bill that will help fund their new stadium.
Despite the good news, there are still a lot of unknowns in the Athletics’ future. For example, their lease on their old stadium is up in 2024, giving them nowhere to play until their new location is ready. That means they must have an interim stadium for up to four years before playing in front of a Vegas crowd.
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#2 Kyle Busch reveals he thought his career was over after the 2022 season
Kyle Busch has given interviewers some gems over the years, and his latest with Fox Sports is no different. Not only does the two-time champion and Las Vegas native admit he thought his career was over due to not having a ride, he even told NASCAR CEO Brian France that it was nice knowing him and that he wouldn’t be racing next year.
It was [Loudon] weekend last year. When discussing his conversation with Jim France, Busch explained, “I told Jim France, I said, ‘Nice knowing you. I’m not going to be here next year.’ And so he was like, ‘Wait, what? What does that mean?’ He then found out. Maybe he had something to do with it [here at RCR], I don’t know.”
While Kyle Busch is enjoying great success this season, he also revealed some possible retirement plans. This is one of the few times Busch has made such claims, meaning the sport could lose another star.
“I don’t know,” Busch said when asked about his retirement plans. “I would really like to run a year of trucks before Brexton is old enough and then turn the truck over to him when he’s old enough. But we’ll see how all that plays out. Got to have sponsors first.”
#1 Joshua Jacobs and the Las Vegas Raiders still very far away from a deal
Joshua Jacobs is a crucial part of the Las Vegas Raiders organization. Unfortunately for Raiders fans, the organization and the 2023 NFL leading rusher are no closer to a deal with training camp approaching. There are also rumors that Jacobs is willing to sit out week one to make his point.
NFL Network reporter Mike Garofolo revealed the news on Twitter, creating great panic in Raider Nation. In fact, if Jimmy Garoppollo and Jacobs are both unable to play in week one, that’s going to affect the team severely. This scenario pretty much guarantees a loss.
It all comes down to whether the Raiders will pay Jacobs more. They have expressed interest in the franchise tagging him, but the young running back is not happy about that. He wants a long-term deal that keeps him with the Raiders. The Raiders seem not to feel the same way, though.
Next: Are The Las Vegas Raiders worth rooting for in 2023?
