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LOS ANGELES — The Las Vegas Aces tip off Sport 1 of the WNBA Finals in opposition to the Connecticut Solar Sunday at 12 p.m. PT in southern Nevada. Some 85 minutes later, and 280 miles away, the Las Vegas Raiders kick off the season on the Los Angeles Chargers.
Mark Davis, who owns each Las Vegas franchises, is in Southern California as he selected to attend his soccer staff’s season opener. However not with out first placing collectively an inventory of execs and cons, he informed ESPN Saturday night time.
“As I’ve mentioned earlier than, I really feel like a single guardian with two youngsters and every one among them have one thing completely different to do on the identical day on the identical time, and it’s a must to decide,” Davis mentioned with amusing. “After pondering it via, with Josh (McDaniels) teaching his first sport right here with the Raiders, and the Aces taking part in at residence, it simply made it simpler for me to make that call to return to the Raider sport. As a result of (the Aces) have the house crowd in Las Vegas they usually’re rabid (followers) and I do not know that I will be missed as a lot.
“So, it simply made sense to try this. But when we get right into a fourth sport subsequent Sunday and need to play in Connecticut, I will be on the Aces sport as a result of it will likely be a deciding sport.”
The Raiders play host to the Arizona Cardinals on what could be Sport 4 of the WNBA Finals. Davis acknowledged he couldn’t keep in mind the final Raiders sport he missed.
“What I’ve additionally mentioned is the Aces should not a pastime; it is the actual deal to me,” Davis added. “I am totally in on that, totally purchased in. They’re skilled athletes and hopefully we will deliver a championship to Las Vegas. You’ve got seen that occur as soon as with Jerry Tarkanian and (the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels males’s basketball staff in 1990) so possibly this shall be one other one.”
Davis, who was besieged by selfie-seeking followers within the foyer of the staff lodge and granted every picture want, additionally spoke on how he didn’t like Sport 1 of the WNBA Finals going up in opposition to the NFL’s kickoff weekend.
“It is powerful for me to grasp the why and the way,” he mentioned. “I do not know who made that call, whether or not it is the networks that made the choice, or the league, or each collectively. However they should rethink it, clearly. To deliver the primary sport of the WNBA Finals…to go up in opposition to the opening sport of the Nationwide Soccer League, simply is mindless. Hopefully folks will hear this and possibly they’re going to put two TVs on of their bars. Actually, I’d hope folks will … have one of many TVs exhibiting the WNBA sport whereas they’re exhibiting soccer.
“It simply would not make sense to me (as a result of) we’re making an attempt to get eyeballs on this (WNBA) league and that is the way you get media contracts. And that is in all probability one of many largest issues that we’re after proper now could be to attempt to get a media contract that may no less than make it potential for these girls to get some extra money, or the groups no less than to have the ability to function. So, it simply makes it more durable. It makes the argument more durable as a result of they’re going to say, ‘Effectively, take a look at your Finals (rankings), they did not get many eyeballs.’ They’re going to use that to barter. But it surely’s not going to cease us. We’ll get there.”
In terms of the Raiders, nonetheless, Davis mentioned doesn’t know “sufficient” concerning the staff on the eve of the opener for the reason that star gamers — quarterback Derek Carr, vast receivers Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow, tight finish Darren Waller, left sort out Kolton Miller, defensive ends Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones and linebacker Denzel Perryman — didn’t play within the preseason.
The Raiders, below McDaniels, went 4-0 in exhibition video games.
“I’ve seen preseason, I’ve seen some follow, however we have not seen, actually, the ‘ones’ go but,” Davis mentioned. “That shall be attention-grabbing to see.
“It is actually thrilling. We have our weapons on offense. We actually do have an ideal offensive staff now and we’ll see how the protection is. The protection will be actually thrilling. We’ll see.”