The Huntdown Name: Benny Ricardo Claim to Fame, Minnesota: Your 1983 Minnesota Vikings placekicker. I believe he was the Purple's first soccer-style kicker, unless someone has film confirming that Mike Mercer (1961) and/or Jim Christopherson (1962) did so before straight-ahead practitioners Fred Cox and Rick Danmeier took the reins. Claim to Fame, Everywhere Else: The San Diego State product lived the nomadic existence of your typical NFL placekicker, playing for the Bills, Lions, and Saints before finishing his career with the Chargers in 1984. Where He Is Now: Unless we find out that Chuck Nelson is a master gardener/ninja-for-hire, Ricardo has crafted the most interesting post-NFL career of any former Vikings kicker. As many other players have done, he got into broadcasting, and has done Spanish language commentary for the Vikings, Monday Night Football and the Super Bowl. Unlike many other players, Ricardo has not limited himself to football, and lends his vocal talents to both boxing and MMA matches. Unlike almost all other players, Ricardo is also a stand-up comic. I was able to make it all the way to the dyslexia joke; see how far you can make it! Is He on Twitter: He is not. Does He Write Press Releases for MMA Matches: Yes. Glorious Randomness: Ricardo is married to Monique Noel, Playboy's Miss May 1989. As her IMDb profile notes, she appeared in Road House (credited as "Barfly") and believes in reincarnation.
