Jimmy Rollins Sells His Hole-in-One Prize Boat to a Pearl Jam Member — But Here’s the Twist No One Saw Coming
Jimmy Rollins, the former Phillies star and current TBS baseball analyst, clearly isn’t the type of person who’s into boats—at least not while he’s based in California. Despite winning a stunning MasterCraft X24 speedboat, worth about $325,000, for acing a hole-in-one during the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe in July, he ended up parting ways with the prize.
Initially, Rollins planned to keep this gorgeous speedboat, which he earned by sinking the 12th hole on the golf course. But, in a surprising turn, he decided to sell it to Mike McCready, the guitarist from the legendary band Pearl Jam. Rollins shared with The Inquirer, “I sold it to him with zero hours and it hadn’t even touched water,” joking that’s likely changed by now.
So what’s the backstory here? Well, Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam’s lead singer and a huge fan of wakeboarding, was on a mission to help McCready find the perfect boat. MasterCraft, knowing Rollins was ready to sell, connected the dots, making this deal happen. “They told me, and I thought, ‘That’s a pretty damn cool story,’” Rollins admitted.
Rollins does have boating history; he once owned a boat in his waterfront home in South Tampa, which he sold back in 2019. Since relocating to California, though, he realized that maintaining a boat just wasn’t practical. “When you’re right out your back door, a boat’s easy. But to drive an hour just to have an hour on the water? Plus, it’s a wakeboard boat, designed for lakes, not the open sea,” he explained.
Meanwhile, on TBS, Rollins appears on a surprisingly Philadelphia-heavy MLB studio show, joined by former Phillies pitcher Pedro Martinez, Philly native Adam Lefkoe, and three-time All-Star Curtis Granderson. While Rollins openly supports his old team, the Phillies, he’s been candid about their struggles, especially criticizing Nick Castellanos’ baserunning during Game 2 of the current National League Divisional Series, and pessimistic about overturning a 0-2 series deficit. “That’s a mountain that feels impossible to climb,” he remarked.
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky’s Social Media Ban by NFL Sparks Debate
On a different sports front, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, known for his meticulous play analyses and also being married to a passionate Eagles fan, recently ran into trouble with the NFL. While Orlovsky has regularly broken down plays on social media—like Jalen Hurts’ clever shovel pass to Dallas Goedert against Tampa Bay—he now says he’s been explicitly told by the NFL that he’s “no longer allowed to post video” during games.
Responding to a fan, Orlovsky expressed his frustration, calling the NFL’s decision “stinks.” The puzzling part? Other analysts, including Brian Baldinger and former Eagles quarterback Chase Daniel, continue sharing game video breakdowns without public issue. What’s behind this selective clampdown? That question remains unanswered.
Despite this, Orlovsky is set to return this week for a Monday Night Football doubleheader, calling the Buffalo Bills vs. Atlanta Falcons game with Chris Fowler and ex-Eagles exec Louis Riddick. Meanwhile, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will cover the Chicago Bears vs. Washington Commanders matchup.
Other Noteworthy Developments in Sports Media
Kate Scott, the Sixers’ announcer, has landed the role as the lead play-by-play commentator for USA Network’s WNBA broadcasts. Conveniently, the Sixers’ season wraps on April 12, just ahead of the WNBA season launch, allowing Scott to potentially call early NBA playoff games on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
The NFL may be quietly sidelining the Pro Bowl indefinitely. The revamped Pro Bowl Games have yet to be scheduled this year, and Sports Media Watch’s Jon Lewis reports no official statements from the NFL concerning this staple of the football calendar. What does this say about the value the league places on this all-star event?
A turning point for North Carolina’s basketball program has emerged, as Hulu cancels a documentary about Bill Belichick’s brief tenure as the head coach. Despite some lighthearted jabs at the off-court drama surrounding his personal life, the serious concern is the program’s instability. Former Eagles executive Mike Lombardi’s role as UNC’s general manager hasn’t stemmed the chaos, with a scathing investigation from WRAL calling the situation “a complete disaster.”
Here’s the Question for You: Is Jimmy Rollins’ decision to sell his one-of-a-kind boat fair, or does it symbolize a larger shift in celebrity sports culture? And what do you think about the NFL’s selective social media restrictions? Feel free to share your thoughts and disagreements below—sports aren’t just about the games, but the conversations they spark.
