For just about forever, it was taboo to mix sports and Las Vegas. The gambling side, obviously, but not for pro teams playing there. That was then. Fast forward to today, and the mix is real. I want to be part of the action.
The big four leagues didn’t want to be in Vegas because of the potential for betting scandals and distractions for players. It was high risk. It’s called “Sin City,” after all
What changed? The lure of money is what. With the high moral ground vacated, now Vegas has the NFL, NHL, and WNBA in place. MLB is coming in two years. The NBA is exploring.
Moreover, it didn’t take long for Vegas franchises to begin collecting league championships: the NHL’s Golden Knights and the WNBA Aces. MLB’s A’s are building what looks to be a contender, and history says the NFL’s Raiders will join the party.
College sports? UNLV has a revitalized reputation, working to grab another NCAA basketball championship as Jerry Tarkanian and his Runnin’ Rebels did in the early 1990s. The football Rebels are getting better in the Mountain West these days, and possibly moving to the PAC-12 if the dollars and sense align.
All of what I’ve just described drew me to start writing about Vegas sports. It sure beats writing about my hometown New York sports, which, quite frankly, became a chore. I needed a challenge, and I may have one in writing about Vegas sports.
The problem, though, is that I live in Northern Jersey. It’s tough to be part of the action, so I embrace the challenge of commenting from afar. My hope is that writing about Vegas teams will lead to opportunity as an independent journalist.
Aces win the WNBA championship (photo courtesy NBC Sports)
Besides that (as important as it is), I’m curious to see how Vegas will grow as a Major League city. Yes, it’s a great sports town, but it’s also full of transplants who root for their teams from cities where they once lived. Vegas needs people to be proud of its teams, just like we’ve seen with Florida-based NHL teams, who’ve made it big in the Sunshine State.
Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup. (photo courtesy of Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY and PBS)
I understand fans love a winner, and that’what helped pro hockey in Florida grow quickly. Vegas already has winners in the Golden Knights and Aces, and the Raiders will need to follow suit. I think they will because we’re talking “Raiders” here.
I want to visit the city, and I’d love to relocate there and be part of the local fanbase. It’s not just about the sports, either. As America’s entertainment capital, nobody does hype better than Vegas.
As I do with my commentaries about NY sports, I’ll write about Vegas sports with fairness, thoughtfulness, and even humor. I’m not into serving up clickbait; I strive to make readers say, “You know, I never thought about it that way.”
It’s going to take work, but I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I’m game. Let’s ride together, Vegas!
