My Wish List For SportsI used to do a ‘Night Before Christmas’ poem for the radio station, and it was a lot of fun.
The premise was that Santa used to come sliding down my street the week before his big trip to ask my advice about whether certain people in sports had been naughty or nice, and any recommendations I may have for what they need for Christmas.
It was a way to have a little fun with sports people during the holidays.
But the long drive back from Lake Central Friday offered me the chance to think about some people in the sporting world who might have need of something special under their tree or in their sticking next week.
So…
Dear Santa,
I know you are busy and we haven’t talked for a while, but I have some ideas for sports-affiliated people who you may be visiting next week.
I am thinking that, even though they continue to be naughty, you should swing through Foxboro and visit the New England Patriots. Their video people were caught filming the Bengals sidelines a couple of weeks before they played Cincinnati in the regular season Sunday, prompting the NFL to launch an investigation.
They claimed everything from “we didn’t know the rules” to “those video people didn’t do it for us football operations people” to “it’s no big deal.”
I recommend you buy them an Alex Undercover Spy Case Detective Gear Set Kids Spy Kit. They sell for $15.99 on Amazon.
I should also mention that the Bears and Colts will both miss the playoffs this year. Injuries crushed the Colts in mid-season, so could you please replenish their supply of bandages, braces and crutches? They’d appreciate that. For the Bears, who have a quarterback with a serious confidence issue, could you please deliver the book “Think Like a Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable (Sports for the Soul) (Volume 1)” by Darrin Donnelly.
But, Santa, if you would be so kind, could you drop off brand new large-screen TVs to both the Bears and Colts so they enjoy watching the playoffs with the rest of us.
For the Cubs, I would like to recommend winter coats and canned food items. I do this because I keep hearing everyone say the Cubs have no money for getting new and better players. I inquired to the team about taking up a collection to help, but they didn’t respond well to that.
For the youth leagues of Indiana and all of America, I ask you deliver peace and good will toward the officials who work in them. Their numbers are dwindling, and conflict with those outside the fields and courts is having a lot to do with that.
And while we are at it, can you send us something that will get kids out and playing again? The number of teams that don’t have enough players to field freshman and junior varsity teams around here is alarming. Why? In many cases, kids (really, it’s their parents) don’t see the value of being on the team when they don’t start, aren’t the best player or aren’t trending toward colleges’ attention.
Santa, I would like to offer up the concept of you giving Notre Dame an offensive coordinator who believes in running the ball occasionally. Diversity brings joy I have heard it said.
Some have already received their special gifts, like Jim Kessler getting word that he will be inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame this spring. Very cool and very deserving.
And Warsaw football fans finally got that sectional football championship they had been asking for. If you had any part in getting Bart Curtis to coach here, Santa, thanks.
As for me, Santa, I’m good.
I have a smokin’-hot wife and kids that love it when I am home but strongly supports me being gone doing games in the winter and fall.
I have great coaches to work with and great co-workers in the athletic office at Warsaw.
I couldn’t ask for too much more…unless you have an extra really big TV after you are done visiting the Bears and Colts on Christmas Eve. Then, maybe, keep me in mind.
