Author: Michael

New Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is ready to take off this year.
Garoppolo partnered with USAA ahead of his inaugural season with the Raiders and had the unique experience of jumping in an F-16 fighter jet to test the skies.
Jimmy G was a guest on the aircraft, alongside teammate Maj. Taylor Wight — an experienced airman with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds in Las Vegas, Nevada.

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Gets Shafted At The Oscars

‘Jimmy 9 G’s’ Soars Over Las Vegas
Maj. Wight took Garoppolo on the flight of a lifetime.

Josh Donaldson was the canary in the coal mine to the Yankees’ 2023 season.
When the Yankees traded for Donaldson from the Twins in March 2022, they happily assumed the $50 million over two years on his contract, even at 36 and 37 years old. After all, Donaldson’s exit velocity in 2021 (94.1 mph) was higher than in ’15, when he won the American League MVP award (92.5).
But what happened to Donaldson—the Yankees released him Tuesday as the franchise’s third-worst hitter ever—is a lesson in why teams better be careful with exit velocity and age.

The Colts will start the season with Jonathan Taylor on the physically unable to perform list, insinuating that the team will not trade the running back ahead of franchise’s Week 1 matchup on Sept. 10 against the Jaguars, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
With Taylor on the list, he will miss the first four games of the regular season, which include matchups against Jacksonville, the Texans, Ravens and the Rams. Taylor will be eligible to return for the Colts’ AFC South clash against the Titans in Week 5.
The Colts had until 4 p.m.

Whether or not he pans out, Indianapolis is betting big on QB Anthony Richardson. The franchise doesn’t seem to be doing the same for his top weapon.

University of San Diego is disciplining ‘approximately half the football team’ because of an ongoing investigation into hazing allegations, according to multiple reports.
According to San Diego president James T. Harris III, the school launched an investigation into hazing activities, after first-year head coach Brandon Moore informed the school of the alleged violations. On Aug. 18, Moore reported the allegations and within hours, the school had suspended all football activities.
San Diego plays in the Pioneer Football League, which is NCAA I-AA division.

The University of San Diego has placed “varying degrees of disciplinary action” on about half of the school’s team after a preseason hazing incident was discovered, President James T. Harris III announced Tuesday in a letter to the staff of the university, per The San Diego Union-Tribute.
The specific players have not been named. Harris noted some players earned “indefinite game suspensions.” 
San Diego police are investigating the incident, in addition to an outside firm “immediately start[ing] an independent review.

One can only hope the Colts will have an addendum to their media schedule at some point this week featuring another press conference by owner Jim Irsay. One can only assume that Irsay will continue to let the people who work for him clean up this mess.
As predicted, the Colts failed to find a trade partner for Jonathan Taylor by their self-imposed Tuesday deadline, and he has reverted to the physically unable to perform list.

The Angels made a series of roster moves on Tuesday, parting ways with multiple veteran players in a stunning salary dump. 
Less than one month after being among MLB’s biggest buyers at the trade deadline, Anaheim is parting ways with three of its recent acquisitions, as well as two other veterans.
Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López, and Randal Grichuk, all of whom joined the Angels within the past month, were waived Tuesday. Additionally, Hunter Renfroe and Matt Moore were also placed on waivers by the team, in what was a significant salary shedding move from the organization.

Justice is on the way for the two fans who ran onto Coors Field and physically brought down Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña, Jr.
Denver police identified and arrested locals Jefferson Gonzales-Merida and Carlos Rivelo-Paiz for the Monday night incident. Both men face charges of trespassing and disturbing the peace.

Wild scene in Denver as two fans ran on the field and tried to hug Acuna. This could have been really bad. pic.twitter.

The Colorado Avalanche are holding an auction to clear out some old jerseys and other gear and to benefit owner Stan Kroenke’s Kroenke Sports Charities.
However, two pieces stand out as particularly unusual.
Buried among sweaters from Avs stalwarts like Nathan Mackinnon and Mikko Rantanen as well as 2022 Cup heroes like Nazem Kadri are a pair of Claude Giroux sweaters.
Yes, two Claude Giroux home Avalanche sweaters.
If that sounds bizarre, that’s because it is. However, it goes to show just how close the Avs were to trading for the now-Ottawa Senator during the 2021-2022 season.