Bleacher Report - Articles by Rico Vegas

Yankees Sweep Sox: Ho Hum

Rico Vegas — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:06:32 -0400

So the Yankees just completed a sweep of the the Red Sox putting them squarely in the driver's seat to win their division and surely marking them as early World Series favorites. Outside of die-hard Yankee fans, does anyone really care? What casual fans are rooting for the Yanks to win it all? I'm guessing none.

If the Yankees do win the World Series, I would defy anyone to come up with a less compelling story in all of sports. It's simply the price you pay for acquiring the cream of the free agent crop year after year.

Yes, I know, that buying players does not always equate to a championship. There are too many good players to go around for anyone team to 'own' them all, but, it sure makes it a lot easier to be in the hunt year after year when you have an unlimited payroll.

If you don't believe that, just ask any Pittsburgh Pirate fans.

Sports fans generally like the underdog. We still relish the USA winning gold in hockey at Lake Placid. So, for all you Yankee fans, enjoy your 'bought' championships and remember no one but you cares one bit about your beloved Yanks.

Baseball Hall of Fame Candidates Should Have Just One Shot to Gain Entry

Rico Vegas — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:45:01 -0500

The burning question in baseball circles today seems to be whether or not Jim Rice will be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in this, his 15th and final year of eligibility.

Is this a joke or what?

The man was not deemed good enough for the past 14 years, and now all of a sudden he has a chance to be included. I say hogwash.

Let's get rid of the backward revision of a player's history and have a one-shot entry into any HOF.

To make it fair, there should be no limits on the number of people allowed entry in any given year. If you are worthy in year one, then you're in; if not, no amount of time is going to make you a more worthy player.

Why is Guy Carbonneau so Perplexed?

Rico Vegas — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:52:34 -0500

Is it just me or does Guy Carbonneau always look like he is trying to remember if he turned the stove off when he left his home.

Enquiring minds want to know.

Eliminate The Overtime Coin Toss

Rico Vegas — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:27:25 -0500

I am sure there are a lot of rumblings in Indianapolis about their OT loss to San Diego. It doesn't seem fair that Peyton Manning never got to see the field in OT.

While it is fairly certain that the NFL is in no great hurry to change the OT format, I have a simple change that may—or may not—be more fair.

This would possibly have the game decided on the field, and not merely by a coin toss.

My suggestion is to have the OT merely be a continuation of regulation play. Just as the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters do not mandate a coin toss, the OT would be the same.

Whoever has the ball at the end of the game would keep possession. This would seem to me to be more equitable and would—by extension—keep teams from 'playing' for OT.

And, it would certainly make tied games much more exciting in the final seconds of regulation.

Brett Favre: Just Another Selfish Athlete?

Rico Vegas — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:08:31 -0500

That Brett Favre will be a first ballot Hall of Famer is a given.

However, watching Brett in the final weeks of the 2008-09 NFL season, one surely has to wonder how much of his reputation has been tarnished. While it is unfair to blame all of the Jets collapse on Favre, he certainly is due his fair share.

To put it bluntly, he was awful during the stretch run of the Jets. This time of year—and this kind of weather—was supposed to be the reason the Jets acquired him in the offseason.

After a good start to the season and that wonderful flourish (beating the Titans and the Pats) in the middle, Jets players, management, fans, and even the media were giddy. Who could blame them? But, when it came to crunch time, they could not count on the one person they had invested so much in: an aging, self-admitted sore-armed QB.

The messiah could not lead them to the promised land.

Was the decision to trade for Favre a bad move?

Or, was Brett's decision to come out of retirement for one more grasp at the gold ring the real bad move?

Me personally, I think Brett should have gone home and spent more time with his hunting dogs, rather then to try and squeeze one more year out of a broken down body. Surely he had to know what the Packer management knew: that his better days—not even his best days—were a thing of the past.

Yet, Favre either couldn't or wouldn't see the writing on the wall.

Great athletes are nothing if not a mass of monumental ego. In fact, this is probably the one trait required to achieve any level of greatness. But, this ego is often the reason they cannot walk away with their dignity intact.

Favre will go on with his life, the Jets will move on, but in the end this season was nothing more than a giant tease, and ultimate let down for all of the faithful Jets fans.

Brett, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Dallas Cowboys Are America's Joke

Rico Vegas — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:53:55 -0500

OK, everyone who was rooting for the Eagles can now relax and take a deep breath.

Another year has gone by, and America's Team is not going to be the Super Bowl champs. The only question that remains is who (besides die-hard) Cowboy fans really cares.

I think there may be more than a few football fans out there who are having a moment of real glee knowing that Jerry Jones and all of his money cannot buy a championship that would be his ultimate ego fix.

Sadly, many rich sports team owners are certain they know more than anyone else when it comes to running a team. Hell, how hard can it be? Jerry Jones may well be the prime example of this type of hubris.

But if you are a 'Boys fan, do not despair. I'm sure the boss will go out and get some more malcontent, prima donna types that will surely turn this storied franchise around.

Dick Jauron Should Remain As Buffalo Bills' Coach

Rico Vegas — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:15:38 -0500

Consistency! Coaches beg for it from their players, and players strive to achieve this ultimate characteristic. Well, my friends, the Buffalo Bills have achieved the nirvana of consistency under head coach Dick Jauron.

Yes, three years of coaching and three years of a 7-9 record. Without doing any research, this may very well be an NFL record. So, I ask you, how can we let this man go?

Remember, if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then it only stands to reason, ugly is also in the eye of the beholder.

Do You Want an NCAA Playoff?

Rico Vegas — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:46:04 -0500

I won't go into all the pros and cons of a playoff for BCS division football; I'm sure most have heard them all. What I am proposing is a sure-fire way to have a playoff in the coming years (those who are happy with the existing system, read no further).

OK, here it is plain and simple:

Boycott watching the big game on TV. I know the Okie fans and the Gator fans will not do this, but, if the remainder of the country does, I'm guessing the ratings will rival the box office results for Paris Hilton's next movie and I'll bet the NCAA bigwigs will get the message real quick.

And as an added bonus, feel free to boycott viewing any of the countless other meaningless bowl games unless it really makes you proud that your school wins the Humanitarian Bowl. Now that's bragging rights in my book!

USA Olympic Goalies

Rico Vegas — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:25:35 -0500

I am fairly certain that a year ago Ryan Miller and Rick DiPietro would have been at the top of most lists to tend the nets for the US in the upcoming Vancouver Olympics in 2010.

Now, I am not so sure.

Tim Thomas of the Bruins has had two superlative seasons, and through hard work and determination, has turned into one of the NHL's top netminders.

Craig Anderson has opened eyes, and been nothing short of a savior for Florida.

Scott Clemmensen has been a revelation in New Jersey and has allowed thousands of Devil fans to breathe a lot easier since Marty went down.

And let's not forget Brett Johnson of the Caps. Brett has been a solid performer in the nation's capital, and cannot be dismissed from any consideration.

As of this writing, all of the above have better stats than Miller. And with DiPietro still sidelined, they have placed themselves squarely into the goalie mix.

If it's true that competition brings out the best, then it looks like the US will be very solid in the nets come next winter.