With a new year begun, here are a few things I want to transpire during the next 12 months.
May outfielder Jordan Walker and shortstop Masyn Winn of the St. Louis Cardinals become one of Major League Baseball’s most dynamic Black duos.
May Marcus Stroman surprise the National League Central and sign with the Cardinals to bolster its pitching staff.
May Jayson Tatum finally get over the hump and lead the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals championship in June.
May Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns shake the nagging injuries that have kept him out of the lineup much of the NBA season and help lead his team to the NBA Finals.
May Tatum and Beal convince the NBA to let them host an exhibition game in St. Louis next fall before the regular season begins.
May Michael Penix, left-handed quarterback of the undefeated Washington Huskies, lead his team to a national championship victory over the undefeated Michigan Wolverines on Monday, January 8. May Penix also be drafted in the top 10 of the NFL Draft in April.
May Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro quarterback, add to his growing legend by guiding his team to the AFC Championship game and then to the Super Bowl.
May Antonio Pierce have the interim title removed and become head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
May Luther Burden, Missouri wide receiver, record a 2024 season that takes him to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December.
May Dennis Gates, Missouri Tigers men’s basketball coach, piece together a winning season, and make a run at the SEC Tournament title.
May C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans rookie quarterback, lead his team to a win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday to secure an AFC playoff spot.
May DeMeco Ryans, Texans head coach, be named AFC Coach of the Year for reaching the playoffs with a team picked to be one of the NFL’s worst.
May the late Alphonse Smith, a Kirkwood native and Cleveland Indians star during the 1950s, be enshrined in both the St. Louis and Missouri Sports Hall of Fames.
May the St. Louis Blues, an NHL team in transition, add a Black player to the roster before next season begins – or before the trade deadline on March 8.
May Simone Biles cap her historic gymnastics career with a bevy of gold medals during the Summer Olympics which begin July 26, 2024 in Paris.
May Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys quarterback, find a way to guide his team to the Super Bowl.
May Ron Washington, Anaheim Angels manager, not tear out what little hair he has during the season.
May Tiger Woods at least look like he’s having fun playing golf in 2024 – and hopefully win a tournament.
May the St. Louis youth sports community not see the violence and upheaval that clouded games and seasons in 2023.
May everyone have a peaceful and rewarding 2024.
The Reid roundup
The New York Rangers and defenseman K’Andre Miller visits the St. Louis Blues at 7 p.m. Thursday Jan. 11. Miller, one of the NHL’s brightest young Black stars has seven goals, nine assists and a solid +10 rating…Yes, Tommy Pham is 36 and yes, he can be caustic at times. But the former Cardinal is a free agent, and the current clubhouse could use a no-nonsense guy like him…The St. Louis Battlehawks are one of eight United Football League franchises. The spring league merged teams from the USFL and XFL. XFL owners Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Danny Garcia made the announcement last weekend…In six games since returning from a 25-game suspension, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant averaged 25.2 points, 7.8 assists and five rebounds. Memphis also recorded a 4-2 record…San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama tallied 30 points, seven blocked shots, six rebounds and six assists in a 118-105 road win over Portland on Dec. 28. He and Hall of Famer and former Spur David Robinson are the only rookies to reach that stat line. Only nine NBA players have accomplished the feat, and he is the only teenager to do it.
