Today, November 3, 2021, there are mainly three major stories in the world of sports. Why? Because yesterday, November 2nd, two major events took place that rocked the professional leagues they come from. Major League Baseball crowned their 2021 World Series Champions at the end of Game 6, while an NFL star was charged with DUI resulting in death.
(The third story is just a repeat of yesterday’s old news, which is that no one likes Kaepernick and he’s never getting a job with NFL after the ridiculous implication he made that millionaire athletes were akin to African slaves.)
Sadly, shifting to a more somber tone is the second and most prevalent story of the day. It happened hours upon hours before the World Series Game 6 closer on November 2nd, 2021.
All day long yesterday, those of us who follow sports or get alerts about them were pinged with updates as to the car wreck that involved Las Vegas Raiders’ WR Henry Ruggs III. According to Fox News “The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released a statement confirming that Ruggs, 22, was driving the Chevrolet Corvette that was involved in a crash near the intersection of South Rainbow Boulevard and South Spring Valley Parkway just before 3:40 a.m.”
A Toyota Rav4 was found burning when police came onto the scene. Once the fire was extinguished, police discovered a deceased individual within the vehicle. The woman has not yet been named, but it has been reported that she was only 23 years old.
Rainbow is still closed in both directions while fatal investigators get a better look with daylight. Waiting for @LVMPD to release info on injuries or fatalities. @8NewsNow https://t.co/cS6w8Rrvb5 pic.twitter.com/SsO85v66VM
— Hector Mejia (@hectormejianews) November 2, 2021
Officers said that Ruggs III stuck around and “showed signs of impairment.” The athlete was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, while his girlfriend who was a passenger in the vehicle sustained more serious injuries. Ruggs III was charged almost immediately with a DUI resulting in death.
His attorney, responding to TMZ’s breaking report and journalists, stated, “On behalf of our client Henry Ruggs III, we are conducting our own investigation as of this writing and ask everyone to reserve judgment until all the facts are gathered.”
People obviously reached out to the Raiders organization to see what the team and the powers that be thought and the following statement was released via tweet.
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 2, 2021
However, several hours later the Raiders dropped another tweet.
The Las Vegas Raiders have released WR Henry Ruggs III.
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 3, 2021
Our reporting tonight on the deadly crash involving now ex-Raider Henry Ruggs: https://t.co/SjxKUHj2ro
— Drew Andre (@DrewJandre) November 3, 2021
After hours of news coverage it was added in a report early this morning that Ruggs was also charged with reckless driving in addition to the DUI resulting in death. Both charges are considered felonies and in Nevada a person charged with DUI causing death cannot get probation. “The charge carries a sentence of two to 20 years in state prison. The reckless driving charge can carry a one- to six-year prison term.”
The now former wide receiver could spend a significant amount of time in prison due to his actions on the 2nd of November and may never play football again. Then again… many have thought that before when professional athletes kill while under the influence and serve minimal time and are welcomed back into the league as one tweeter pointed out on Twitter.
Sadly, the NFL has faced this Henry Ruggs issue before.
In 2009 Donte Stallworth pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter. He could have been sent to prison for 15 years but only received 30 days. He was suspended by the NFL for the following year but ultimately played 3 more seasons. pic.twitter.com/8FMawHzknT
— Dan Lust
(@SportsLawLust) November 2, 2021
Only time will tell.
This story syndicated with permission from For the Love of News