From Las Vegas native Kyle Busch getting personal to victory for the Las Vegas Raiders, here’s everything that happened last week in Las Vegas Sports (Oct 17 – 23).
#5 Kyle Busch opens up
USA Network has a reality show called “Race for the Championship,” which follows the weekly lives of NASCAR drivers. Producers got access to Las Vegas native Kyle Busch during his intense contract negotiations with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Busch opened up about the experience and seemed to be shell-shocked.
“Something that is so disappointing to me, and so hurtful about this whole situation with JGR, is they were like family,” the two-time Cup champion said in the emotional Episode 8 interview. “For 15 years, Joe had my back in the stupidest of moments… Like, he was there for me and it’s gone. It just flipped and gone and it’s like nothing I’ve ever been a part of.”
#4 Derek Carr admits he originally wanted to be a Houston Texan
Derek Carr has been in the NFL for nine years now, but his first heartbreak apparently came during the 2014 draft. While Carr would go on to be drafted by the then Oakland Raiders, he admitted last week that he originally wanted to be a Houston Texan.
“When I was getting drafted, I wanted to go there,” Carr said when discussing the moment he wasn’t drafted by the Houston Texans in 2014. “They didn’t pick me first [overall], but 33rd? I was like, ‘Maybe 33rd?’ They didn’t want me so I was kind of a little heartbroken over that. But it is what it is. I have the utmost respect for that organization”
The admission comes at an interesting point in Carr’s career and leaves fans to wonder what could have been. Fast forward to 2022 and Carr isn’t working out at quarterback. He hasn’t even won a playoff game in his nine years with the Raiders.
Related: Timeline of a championship. How the Las Vegas Aces marched to the WNBA Finals
#3 The Las Vegas Golden Knight start the season 4-2
The Las Vegas Golden Knights were a bit of an unknown heading into the 2022 season, but they are slowly removing any doubt. The Golden Knights proved themselves with a 4-2 start to the season, including victories over the Blackhawks, the Jets, the Kings, and the Kracken. Their two losses were to the Colorado Avalance and the Calgary Flames.
Las Vegas is currently leading the Pacific division and have a total of eight points in four games. As for player stats, Jonathan Marchessault leads the charge with four goals and one assist in 2022. He is followed up by Jack Eichel with three goals and two assists. Alex Pietrangelo leads the team in assists, totaling four in five games.
The biggest question heading into 2022 was the goalie rotation, which has worked out quite well so far. In fact, Adin Hill and Logan Thompson have only allowed a combined ten goals this season.
#2 Pro wrestler takes shot at John Cena during Las Vegas Radio interview
Former WWE Superstar Heath Slater, who now goes by Heath did an interview last week and decided to take a veiled shot at John Cena. During the interview with Adrian Hernandendez of 1140 AM Las Vegas, Heath discussed the controversial finish to the 2010 SummerSlam main event.
The original finish called for Wade Barrett to DDT Cena into the concrete and roll him into the ring for a victory, but Cena changed everything. While the gruesome DDT on the concrete happened, it wouldn’t affect Cena all that much. He even dodged a 450 splash for Justin Gabriel moments later and made him tap out. Cena then did the same to Wade Barret in what stands as one of the worst burials in WWE history.
“SummerSlam was amazing, main eventing and everything. Getting in the ring with Bret Hart was fantastic. But SummerSlam should’ve went differently,” Heath said in an interview with Adrian Hernandez of 1140 AM Las Vegas. “Because we had WWE by the throat, but they never let us clench it, you know what I mean? They never let it be like ‘Holy crap! These guys are legit taking over!’ We were there. We had it. But then Superman had to go in there and change everything.”
#1 Las Vegas Raiders defeat Houston Texans with help from Josh Jacobs
The Las Vegas Raiders moved to 2-4 last week after defeating the Houston Texans, 38-20 Sunday afternoon. The victory comes after a disappointing 30-29 loss against the Chiefs on Monday Night football. Joshua Jacobs led the effort for the Raiders, rushing for 143 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. The Texans just had no answer to the Raiders’ rush protection and let Jacobs plow past them.
Derek Carr went 21 of 27 for 241 yards and one touchdown to Mack Hollins in the first half. As for Davantae Adams, he caught nine balls for 85 yards but no touchdowns in Sunday’s game. The defensive effort was led by Duron Harmon, who had five solo tackles, one assisted tackle, and an interception for a touchdown.
While the jury is still out on whether Josh McDaniels or Derek Carr should be leading this team, they are showing some improvements. Jacobs getting three touchdowns in one game only furthers the case for his contract extension. Then there’s the defense, which seems to be improving steadily. They might still be in this thing!
And that ladies and gentlemen is everything that happened last week in Las Vegas sports (Oct 17 – 23)!
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