In a year that saw many black NFL players have a true impact on America by simply kneeling during a song played before a game, anything is possible in sports in 2018.
Here are some thoughts and wishes for players, teams, owners and fans in the coming 12 months.
May Marcell Ozuna find happiness in St. Louis and success on the field. He’ll be far from Miami in miles and cultural difference. The city where he now plays continues to struggle with racial injustice and political incompetence. Hitting a baseball and catching it can sometimes take a backseat to the realities of the world around you.
May Cardinals fans accept the team’s Hispanic flair. Pitcher Carlos Martinez and Ozuna are the embodiment of what many white players and fans don’t like about the style of play demonstrated during the World Baseball Classic. Jose Martinez is slated to be the Opening Day first baseman and veteran Yadier Molina will be behind the plate. This team will be “Bravo Brave El Birdo,” as Orlando Cepeda used to say.
May Jose Oquendo and Willie McGee be allowed to truly guide players. McGee spoke at a recent fundraiser in the fall and he told the gathering, “I hope they let me do what I want to do” as a Cardinals coach. The “they” obviously includes manager Mike Matheny and the front office. Oquendo returns as third base coach, and neither he or McGee will tolerate the mental errors that plagued the Cardinals last year – unless they are told to tone it down.
May Dexter Fowler avoid injury and fans’ ire. If he gets off to a slow start – and the Cardinals do as well – everything will be his fault. By the end of last season, it was stab-in-the-back city at the stadium, and many daggers were pointed at Fowler. A move to left field is in the works, but his centerfield days aren’t over.
May the Cardinals recognize their diversity. I mentioned the Hispanic players and the lone black Cardinal, Fowler. For many games, Kolten Wong will be at second base and Tommy Pham will be in centerfield. Enos Slaughter is somewhere making a mad dash for some Rolaids.
May the Cardinals trade for Chris Archer. Adding the game’s best, young black pitcher to the Redbird lineup would be phenomenal. He was 10-12 with a 4.07 ERA last year with undermanned Tampa. Don’t let that fool you. He’s a potential 20-game winner and we need another one of those in St. Louis.
May Ezekiel Elliott have learned a painful lesson. Look, the guy got a crappy deal from Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL. I still think he is going to pursue legal action against both, plus his accuser. However, if his unwarranted six-game suspension – and loss of salary and future earning power – slows down his lifestyle and makes him a more responsible, some good could come from all that has happened since July 2016.
May Jerry Jones have learned a painful lesson. Hopefully, Jones will learn that his edict that black players must stand for a song and not kneel created more chaos within the Dallas Cowboys organization. There is a smoldering fire of unhappiness amongst black players that he must deal with this offseason. Black free agents will possibly avoid Dallas, too.
May defense attorney Scott Rosenblum not be as busy in 2018. At least not handling the cases of black athletes and entertainers.
May Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards catch fire. Beal’s team was just 19-15 as the week began, but led the Southeast Division. The Wiz need to repeat the strong second half they recorded in 2017. Beal’s 25 points led the Wizards to a 111-103 victory over the host Boston Celtics on Christmas Day and he’s averaging 23.1 points and 3.5 assists per game.
May Jayson Tatum continue his solid rookie season. The Celtics made the steal of the 2017 draft when they acquired the multi-talented Tatum after his one season at Duke. The Chaminade product is averaging 14 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. ESPN ranks him as the NBA’s second-best rookie behind the Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons.
May the Wizards, 76ers battle in playoffs – then in preseason game here. Both would be fun to watch from a St. Louis perspective.
May Cuonzo Martin come to understand Missouri fans. Following the loss to Illinois last Saturday, the “he’s not a good coach,” “he can just recruit,” “he never was as good as the hype,” comments started pouring in on Martin. A strong run in the SEC should shut up most detractors. I look for Missouri to reach the SEC Tournament final in St. Louis.
May Michael Porter Jr. make a wise decision. Speculation is growing that the uber-talented freshman will return and play for the Tigers this season after undergoing back surgery on Nov. 21. If he’s 100 percent healthy (NOT 85 or 900, that’s great. If not, then it is not the move to make.
May the St. Louis Blues acquire Evander Kane. The dynamic player-of-color has been the best part of the Buffalo Sabre’s disappointing season and is listed by USA TODAY as likely to be traded. He scored 28 goals last year, and has already registered 15 goals and 18 assists this season.
May the Blues, Darlene Green find peace. She’s not the bad gal, Blues. As comptroller, she’s one of few city politicians that actually does her job – guarding the city’s credit rating and its financial future. She’s not trying to harm the Blues, she’s trying to save the city from itself.
May St. Louis drop the spurned lover complex. The L.A. Rams are headed to the playoffs. Instead of following the impressive turnaround under first-year coach Sean McVay, the MVP-caliber season of running back Todd Gurley and dramatic maturation of quarterback Jared Goff, the local sports media treats us to stories about TV ratings and rantings about owner Stan Kroenke.
May Missouri have covered against Texas in the Texas Bowl. The Tigers were giving three points on Wednesday night. It’s nice to start the new year with a little extra cash in one’s pocket, right?
Happy New Year!
Alvin A. Reid was honored as the 2017 “Best Sports Columnist – Weeklies” in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. He is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook, is a weekly contributor to “The Charlie Tuna Show” on KFNS and can also be heard on Frank Cusumano’s “The Press Box.” His Twitter handle is @aareid1.
