>Resolutions for 2009

Unlike most people in the world, I don't like to make resolutions at the new year that I know I just won't keep. So instead, I like to make resolutions for others. So, in no particular order, here are my ten (sports related) resolutions for others as we get ready to ring in 2009:

A legit prospect for the Lions
Like everyone else, I feel for the Detroit Lions of 2008, aka the worst team in NFL history. They need a whole new team, but that trend needs to start with one great franchise player. Sadly, I don't see them getting that man with the first pick in the Draft. God willing, some player looking to make a big mark takes a chance and signs on to be the face of this crummy program.

Ring number 18 in Boston
Sure Christmas day was a hurter, but hardly a setback. Boston is still the best team in the league and nobody has proven that they can beat them consistently, which is what it will take in the playoffs. Sure, 73-9 would be a nice new record, but I want the big three to end up with three rings, so it has to continue sometime. Why not in 2009?

Dewitt Scott; IPFW's first NBA player
The Mad Ants had their first player worked out by an NBA team in their second season recently. And while his name wasn't Dewitt Scott, I hope the former Mastodon keeps putting up decent numbers and gets a chance either this season or if he decides to return to the D-League for 2009-2010. As it looks less and less like former IPFW standout David Simon will get to the league, Witt may be the schools best chance in the near future.

Brett Favre retires...for good
Get it over with already!

The Yankees still lose
I hate rich snobs, therefore I hate the Yankees. Here's hoping that hundreds of millions in free agency doesn't land them squat. Go Sox.

Stephon Marbury returns and wins a title
If anyone deserves good karma, its Marbury for all the crap he has put up with in 2008. While the Knicks keep fumbling around, I hope someone with half a brain is able to land this talent and take him to the promised land.

Someone gets off Sean Avery's back
Oh no, someone didn't like a Sean Avery comment! Is bad press better than no press for the faultering NHL? If anyone gets ragged on more than Marbury, its this poor guy. At least he is a character for your faceless league. Go ahead, be a non-hockey person and name 5 current NHL players that haven't been in the league 10-plus years...yeah, didn't think so. Wake up NHL, embrace him, don't discourage him.

A college football playoff
Do I really need to say more? I know Texas, Texas Tech, Alabama and Utah are with me.

IPFW goes dancing
The program is showing that they can kinda hang this year, even in several defeats. Usually teams that can "kinda hang" during the regular season make good Cinderellas come March.

Coach K gets #4
This has been on my resolution list since 2002 rolled around, Coach K is due and he has the right crop to win now. Waiting until next year is overrated and I am ready for this to happen. Not many people are with me, but honestly there are also way too many haters out there when it comes to Duke basketball. For all of you, focus your attention on the upside of a Duke title: it keeps Tyler Hansbrough's crybaby hands off a title for his college career so he can go flourish as a 12th man in the NBA.

>The Nonsensical Big XII

I really don't think that the Big XII tries too hard anymore.

Forget for a second their twisted logic in who they are sending to the Big XII title game from the southern division...no wait, don't forget that. They sent the team (Oklahoma) that beat the team (Texas Tech) that beat Texas, instead of sending Texas who beat Oklahoma. And why? Because the conference's fifth tie breaker is who is ranked higher in the BCS standings.

And let's be honest, the BCS is pretty reliable....right?

Now, the league has released their All-Conference teams in which Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was named 2nd Team All-Big XII behind Oklahoma's Sam Bradford. Texas Tech's Graham Harrell, while getting votes, wasn't good enough to make the cut. It's arguable whether Bradford or McCoy should be first team as the two are about to slug it out again for the Heisman very soon. But, if McCoy was only the second best quarterback in the league, then how exactly was he also named the Big XII Player of the Year?

ESPN.com says 'go figure'....showing even more that the entire world is giving up on the Big XII a little more everyday.

Nonsense.

>The Knicks' fantasy world

Someone please tell me- exactly what world do the New York Knicks' front office, coaching staff and roster live in where they believe that Stephon Marbury is the bad guy.

I agree, he's done some things that can make him A bad guy, but that doesn't make him THE bad guy.

He is not the bad guy in his current crazy situation with the Knicks. He, outside of his character, was ok with coming into this season in a backup role. Whether Marbury liked it or not, he was willing to come off the bench behind new guard Chris Duhon until coach Mike D'Antoni let him know that he wasn't in the new coach's "plans."

And then he was on the bench.
No playing time, not in uniform.
To trade, no release, no buyout.
Just sitting...on the bench.

And then when D'Antoni and his lead croonie, general manger Donnie Walsh, made too many moves too quickly and left the team shorthanded, Marbury agreed to but chose not to play. And how can you blame him? They only wanted him when they had no other options. He did the same last week in a loss to Detroit and got suspended for his decision.

Wait, isn't that what being de-activated (which he has been all season) pretty much is?

And now, teammates like Quentin Richardson are chastising him, saying Marbury wasn't a good teammate. But Marbury was basically told he wasn't a Knick, wasn't going to be a Knick...so why represent the Knicks?

And even after an attempt to reach a buyout today, no progress was made. Well, maybe it was made in their world of fantasy.