Month: October 2021

Game 1 of the 2021 World Series kicked off at Minute Maid Park in Houston on Tuesday, with the Atlanta Braves defeating the Houston Astros 6-2 to take a 1-0 series lead.

The Braves took an early lead over the Astros scoring five runs off Houston starter Framber Valdez. The Astros’ left-hander was knocked out of the game in just the third inning after a disappointing outing. Atlanta starter Charlie Morton took a ball off the bat of Yuli Gurriel to the shin the second inning, breaking his fibula. Morton actually stayed in the game until the next inning and left after striking out Jose Altuve. The Braves announced that he will miss the rest of the series. After Morton’s exit, the Braves bullpen kept the Astros lineup mostly at bay for the rest of the game.

Game 2 is set for Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:09 p.m. ET.

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The Chicago Blackhawks announced in a Tuesday press conference that Stan Bowman is out as the team’s general manager, after the team released the findings of an independent investigation into how coaching staff handled sexual assault allegations.

The investigation focused on accusations that Bowman and other executives declined to report allegations of assistant coach Bradley Aldrich sexually assaulting a Blackhawk player to the Chicago police in May 2010. The former player, identified as John Doe, filed a lawsuit against the franchise in May 2021 for an alleged non-consensual sexual encounter with Aldrich, in which Aldrich threatened Doe he “would never play in the NHL ‘or walk’ again” if he did not “act like he enjoyed the sexual encounter.”  After Doe reported the alleged assault to a team counselor, there was a meeting among Blackhawk executives, including Bowman and then-President John McDonough, to discuss Aldrich’s “unwanted sexual advance.” Bowman remembered that McDonough, who left the team in 2020, said “he would handle the situation,” eventually resulting in Aldrich resigning to avoid a formal investigation, and no legal authorities were informed of the incident between him and Doe.

In a statement released Tuesday, Bowman acknowledged he knew of “potential inappropriate behavior,” but blamed McDonough for not “handling the matter promptly.”  The Blackhawks admitted responsibility for the situation, saying in a statement: “It is clear the organization and its executives at that time did not live up to our own standards or values in handling these disturbing incidents. We deeply regret the harm caused to John Doe and the other individuals who were affected and the failure to promptly respond. As an organization, we extend our profound apologies to the individuals who suffered from these experiences.”

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Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst announced Monday that the Packers have placed wide receiver Davante Adams on the COVID-19 list. Players are put on the list if they have either tested positive for COVID-19 or were in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. It’s unclear is Adams tested positive or was in close contact with someone who did; howeer, this puts the star wide receiver’s status up in the air for the team’s Thursday night game against the undefeated Cardinals. Thursday Night Football is scheduled for a 8:20 p.m. kickoff in Arizona.

Earlier on Monday, Packers coach Matt LaFleur told reporters that the team is in advanced COVID-19 protocols due to a potential outbreak stemming from defensive coordinator Joe Barry’s positive COVID-19 test. All of Green Bay’s meetings are now virtual, players are required to wear masks and daily testing is mandatory regardless of vaccination status. Green Bay’s latest COVID-19 issues and the shortened week means the team could be without Adams against the top-seeded Cardinals.  Adams leads the team in receiving yards (744) and catches (52).

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The New York Jets have acquired veteran quarterback Joe Flacco in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to the NFL Network. The move returns Flacco to the Jets, where he spent last season mostly as a backup QB. The 36-year-old Flacco signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia this offseason but has not appeared in a game. He played in five games last year with New York, including four starts. Flacco completed 55.2% of his passes for 864 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions, with the Jets losing all four starts.

The acquisition of Flacco comes after rookie QB Zack Wilson suffered a sprained PCL in his right knee on Sunday, that is expected to sideline him for two to four weeks. The only other quarterback on the active roster is Mike White, a fourth-year player who made his NFL debut on Sunday in relief of Wilson in what turned into a 54-13 loss to the Patriots.

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