Popeyes makes Watson strong
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was kicked in the eye last week against the Oakland Raiders, and it still looks pretty nasty, bloodshot and swollen. Despite that, he threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in London.
And what does he credit for the success?
“It was the Popeyes spicy chicken sandwiches I ate this week that helped the eye,” he said afterward.
Popeyes’ chicken sandwiches became so popular this summer that the fastfood chain couldn’t keep up with demand. Popeyes announced that the sandwich would be “back for good” starting Sunday, which was coincidentally National Sandwich Day.
So how did Watson get his hands on the sandwich before everyone else? He’s not talking, but here’s guessing we will be seeing a lot of “Deshaun Watson for Popeyes” commercials in the future.
The wrong Bristol
Former NFL star Randy Moss had to be in Bristol, Conn., on Sunday morning to fulfill his analyst role on “Sunday NFL Countdown.” On Saturday night, his son Montigo was playing the final game of his high school career for Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia.
No problem. Just charter a flight after the game and arrive in Bristol in plenty of time. And that’s just what Moss did. Except for the “arrive in Bristol in plenty of time” part.
You see, he told his pilot he needed to be in Bristol. But he left out “Connecticut.” His pilot took him to Bristol, Tenn.
“Sunday Night Countdown” host Sam Ponder asked Moss about it at the start of the show.
“I want to give a shoutout to the people of Bristol, Tenn.!” Moss said. “I had to come up here, I had an 8 o’clock meeting, and the pilot tells me, ‘We have about an hour-and-five, hour-and-10-minute flight.’ Cool. I laid back, put my hat over my eyes, lay the visor down. Once we land, I’m looking for the Sheraton, the hotel that connects at Bradley [International Airport in Connecticut].
“I said, ‘Hey! Where are we?’ He said, ‘We’re in Bristol.’ I said, ‘Bristol?’ Bristol, Tenn.! I was supposed to be in Bristol, Conn. Team, I’m just glad I’m here.”
The pilot got the plane back in the air quickly, and Moss arrived in time. To make matters worse, Fork Union lost 48-22, but Montigo Moss had 10 catches and a touchdown.
Favorite moment
What is your all-time favorite local sports moment? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com and tell me what it is and why, and it could appear in a future daily sports newsletter or Morning Briefing.
This moment comes from Phil DeSanctis of Mount Washington:
“It has been 45 years since my wife and two daughters [and I] visited my mom and dad in my hometown of Greensburg, Pa., which is 30 miles east of Pittsburgh, home of the Pirates. We had been there two days when my dad said the Dodgers were in town and asked if we’d like to see the game. The next day, we bought tickets two rows from the field. We arrived early to see batting practice.
“While we were enjoying our hot dogs, the gate opened to the steps leading to the broadcast booth. Vin Scully came walking through . ... As he walked by, I yelled, ‘Vinnie, I’m from L.A.!” He looked up and came over to say hello! He sat down in between my dad and I and talked to us for about a half-hour . ...
“My dad was so happy. He couldn’t wait to tell all his friends that he met and talked to Vin Scully!”