Othani 50/50
Shohei Ohtani reached baseball immortality with his recent feat of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single MLB season, an achievement that no other ballplayer has reached. The Dodgers ballplayer has already blown past this record with his 53 home runs and 55 stolen bases, and this team has yet to reach the postseason.
Those close to Ohtani believe this is only the beginning. Nez Balelo, long-time agent for Ohtani, told Sports Illustrated, “I feel like we’re just getting started. Think about some of the accomplishments he’s already reached. And only now has he finally gotten on the big stage with a very supportive team and a good group of players that support him and he supports them. And the result is he is having this historical year. So why wouldn’t we think we are only at the beginning?”
Many fans across Major League Baseball look to Ohtani with excitement to see what his next feat will be. The next Dodgers game will take place at Dodger Stadium against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 10:10 p.m.
Caitlin Clark ROTY
In a unanimous vote, the Associated Press named Caitlin Clark Rookie of the Year in the WNBA. The sudden rise of the Indiana Fever star put Clark on a pedestal with an expectation for greatness, and she certainly delivered.
Clark broke the WNBA single-season assists record with 337 during her entire rookie season, breaking another record with 19 assists in one game. She also was the first rookie in the history of the WNBA to record a triple double, as well as holding the record for most three-pointers made by a basketball player in their rookie season.
Clark told the Associated Press, “This is a tremendous honor to be named The Associated Press Rookie of the Year,” she said. “This recognition wouldn’t be possible without an incredible group of teammates and coaches, and we are looking forward to continuing an exciting regular season in the postseason.”
Clark’s dominance on the basketball court has attracted many new fans to the sport. Many people attribute the league’s sudden rise in popularity to Clark for her exceptional playing despite animosity from other basketball players both in and out of the WNBA.
Eli Manning Nominated for Pro-Football HOF
Eli Manning, former quarterback of the New York Giants, received a nomination for the Pro-Football Hall of Fame last Wednesday. Manning was initially drafted in 2004 by the Chargers, who then later traded him to the New York Giants where he would spend the entirety of his career.
Manning is most known for his two Super Bowl wins, both against the New England Patriots and their renowned quarterback Tom Brady. In Super Bowl XLII, Manning led an upset victory against the undefeated Patriots by throwing a last-minute touchdown to Plaxico Buress. Manning also won a Super Bowl against the patriots in the 2012 season.
The former Giants quarterback is also known for his infamous “Helmet Catch” play, in which he throws a 32-yard pass to Giants receiver David Tyree in the final minutes of Super Bowl XLII. This play initiated the game-winning drive, setting the path to their first Super Bowl victory in the 21st Century.
Other notable players have been nominated for the Hall of Fame alongside Eli Manning.
Ryan Pepiot’s immaculate inning, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher
Ryan Pepiot, pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, threw an immaculate inning last Wednesday evening. Despite rumors of a potential arm injury, Pepiot insisted he felt fine before the game. Pepiot dominated over the Red Sox, only allowing one run during his entire six inning stretch.
Delivering mostly fastballs, Pepiot found the most success in the fifth inning, where he would deliver just nine pitches to strike out three consecutive batters – Connor Wong, Wilyer Abreu and Triston Casas.
When asked about his performance, Pepiot said, “I think we just had a good game plan going into it. Just attacked the zone,” he continued, “[I] knew there were some guys that were pretty aggressive, so [I] tried to utilize that and just use the fastball at the top of the zone and [let] everything else work on top of it.”
This feat has only been achieved by three other Rays pitchers, and 117 pitchers previously in all of Major League Baseball. Pepiot joins Michael Kopech, the only other pitcher to throw an immaculate inning in the 2024 season.
Derwin James Suspension
Derwin James, a safety for the Los Angeles Chargers, has been suspended for one game by the NFL for “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, including during Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers,” according to ESPN.
After a hit against Pat Freiermuth, tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where James lowered his head to make contact, James faced an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from the officials. According to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero, James will appeal the suspension. James defended his hit against Freiermuth, telling ESPN, “I’m trying to get the guy to the ground. I don’t feel like I hit him in the head or neck, but we’ll look at it.”
NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan released a statement condemning James’ thorough record of receiving unsportsmanlike conduct penalties over the course of his career.
Runyan said in his statement, “The video of the play shows that you lowered your head and made forcible contact to Steelers tight end, Pat Freiermuth. You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided.” Runyan continued, “Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated. Substantial penalties are warranted when players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player.”
If the suspension stands, Derwin James will miss their upcoming game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 30.
bkeatin1@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @jon.soohoo, Instagram
