EL BARRIO, EL FALLS – It is amazing how despite not caring for the NFL or Winter Olympics, you are forced to mention them when you write a weekly sports article. Especially this time of the year, because there is not much to talk about. Sure, I could talk about Rugby or the upcoming MLS season but half our readership (all 10 of you) goes to sleep when I do. So, I have to stick with sports you know. With that, let’s get to my patent-pending formula of a Song of the Week followed by Sports Stuff. In today’s mix: USA’s Low Medal Count, Jason Vargas To Mets & Frank Reich To Colts…
Song of the Week: This week’s Song of the Week comes courtesy of [Bobby] Valetnine’s Day. There are plenty of love songs but I chose something better than a normal love song. It’s about a couple struggling to make it work, that I felt was more real. To make a relationship work is a lot of effort and there are times where you are not in sync with your partner… you pass each other like two ships in the night. Which coincidentally, is the name of this song. Take a listen to Ships in the Night by Mat Kearney as our Song of the Week.
USA’s Low Medal Count: We are halfway through the Winter Olympics and the USA medal count is pathetic. In 7 days they have amassed 8 medals (5 Gold, 1 Silver, 3 Bronze) as of press time. We got blanked on Day 7, so it is 8 in 6 days. They are tied with O.A.R. – and no, that is not the band. That is the Olympic Athletes from Russia. Somehow in the Olympics a nation can be suspended for cheating but those athletes that participated in it can participate. To be fair, it is likely these are the athletes that tested clean. Anyway, this wasn’t a great class and people need to accept it. Does it suck being behind the Canal-skating Dutch? Aye. However, we have to admit that without the Cold War, there is not much motivation to help these athletes get to their best. Sometimes you just get a generation that is 4 years to young. Hopefully, in 4 years time it will be a much more seasoned and ready USA side.
Jason Vargas To Mets: The Mets are supposedly 7 deep in aces with an expected dual between them to see which 5 start the season, going into Spring Training. So in a move that initially sounded crazy, they signed Jason Vargas from the Royals. What makes this a smart move? The Mets had 7 starters last season to start and by the middle of it JG Clancy was taking the ball 2 twice a week. (Google him)… The rotation was in shambles, devastated by injuries. Some of the blame goes in the Civil War battlefield medics that man the medical staff. Jacob deGrom was the only starter to finish the season. To that end, Vargas is a solid, innings-eating, middle of the rotation pitcher. He is the skinny version of Bartolo “Big Sexy” Colon.
To wit, the Metropolitans really regretted not having an innings eating guy like Colon last year, so they got another guy. I like this signing. It allows some of the guys to not be rushed back or maybe used for middle relief until they are ready. Try Harvey as a closer? That seems to fit his ego… Side Note, Mets fans: Colon is in Texas battling with Jonathan Niese to make the Rangers, as they are both on minor league contracts. Anyway… let’s all welcome Jason “Slim Sexy” Vargas to the New York Mets.
Frank Reich to the Colts: After leading the largest comeback in NFL playoff history, Frank Reich established himself as one of the best back-up QBs in football in the 90s. If it was now, he would be starting somewhere else, as poor as the league is in QBs. After retiring, Reich began a coaching career. Back-ups actually tend to be more successful than stars that try coaching or management – see my article last week about Derek Jeter or John Elway. Along his journey, Reich went to San Diego and helped Phillip Rivers improve. We know he was in Philly, highlighted by winning the Super Bowl with Nick Foles after Carson Wentz went down. Then fate stepped in for the one of the most likeable guys in the league. After one of the least likable guys in the league, Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniel, backed out of his deal to become Indy’s head coach, the Colts settled on the Offensive Coordinator of the Super Bowl Champs. Not a bad fall back, if you think about it.
Leave your thoughts below and come back tomorrow for another gem of a column by Cheesy Bruin. You can also find us on Twitter – @JunoirBlaber, @MeetTheMatts & @Matt_McCarthy00, Instagram – @MeetTheMatts – and Facebook – Meet The Matts.
