President Joe Biden snubs the Aces, Kyle Busch gets the greatest compliment of his career, and Tom Hanks rants about the Athletics. All this and more last week in Las Vegas sports (June 12 – 18).
#5 Kyle Busch paid a big compliment by NASCAR Legend
Kyle Busch is a unique personality in NASCAR. The Las Vegas native is a guy with talent, determination, and the skill to find victory lane. Of course, his temper is sometimes a problem, but that just made him entertaining.
NASCAR Legend Mike Joy joined the Cup Connection show, and while the broadcaster stopped short of calling Busch the GOAT, he did have quite the compliment.
“He may not be the best driver of all time but I think he’s going to be remembered as the best driver of his time. He’s there and he’s a threat to win almost every week, “Mike Joy said in an interview. “Kyle has not won as many races in his first 15 or 16 starts as he did with Joe Gibbs Racing but boy has he really lit up RCR”
#4 Joe Biden irritates the Las Vegas Aces by not celebrating their championship
The Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA Championship back in September of 2022, and everyone is still celebrating. This is due to the Aces being the first sports team ever to bring a championship to Sin City. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to draw the attention of President Joe Biden.
Fast forward to 2023, and the Golden Knights have just been invited to the White House and congratulated by President Biden. The President even called the Knights’ win the city’s first major sports title. The Aces were not happy about that wording, and A’ja Wilson took to Twitter to let people know. The Aces also revealed on Twitter that they didn’t receive an invitation to visit the White House.
Twitter not letting me quote tweet potus tweet but …BFFR 😐😐 when is our White House visit cause … pic.twitter.com/o9uc88Qg6U
— A'ja Wilson (@_ajawilson22) June 14, 2023
#3 Las Vegas Golden Knights win the first championship in organization history
The Las Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers 9-3 to win their first Stanley Cup last week. They are now the second team in Las Vegas history to win a championship, and it comes only one year after they missed the playoffs.
The final game turned into a wild one with Mark Stone, Reily Smith, Michael Amadio, Ivan Barbashev, and several others scoring goals. Adin Hill tended the net and only allowed three of 35 shots past him the whole evening.
“Vegas has become a market just like all the other major ones now, slowly but surely,” Coach Bruce Cassidy said Friday after helping the Golden Knights to their first championship. “You gotta build some history to do that. And to build history you gotta win championships. So good for the Aces and good for us to get championships.”
#2 Tom Hanks gives wild comment on the Athletics’ move to Las Vegas
Tom Hank was asked during a speaking event about the Athletics’ possible move to Las Vegas, and the actor did not hold back. He really summarized what many fans are thinking of the team. He also lambasted the city of Oakland for letting three teams leave.
“We’ve lost the Raiders, the Warriors moved to San Francisco, and now they’re going to take the A’s out of Oakland. Damn them all to hell,” Hanks said.
#1 Analyst predicts Jimmy Garopppollo won’t last long with the Las Vegas Raiders
The Jimmy Garoppollo saga is getting interesting, and serious doubts exist about him starting. The Raiders have bet the farm on a guy who might not even be able to pass a physical to play in 2023. If he does somehow pass, however, others doubt that Garoppollo’s time in Las Vegas will last.
“While Garoppolo is expected to be the Week 1 starter, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be or stay healthy this season. That could leave Las Vegas relying on Brian Hoyer or rookie Aidan O’Connell and perhaps stumbling into a top 2024 draft pick,” Kristopher Knox of Bleacherreport wrote.
Next: Breaking down the first eight games of The Raider’s 2023 season
