As the sports world enters 2016 here are some hopes and wishes for players, coaches, organizations and fans.
May Jason Heyward greet the many boos he receives in his first plate appearance at Busch Stadium with the Chicago Cubs with a home run – or at least a base hit.
May the St. Louis Cardinals figure out a way to have at least one black player on the 25-man roster when it is introduced during the home opener on April 11.
May the Cardinals also understand the few dollars missing from Major League Baseball are black ones- try to cultivate more black fans.
May the black football players who helped make change at the University of Missouri understand the magnitude of their actions, now and in the future.
May other black athletes in college and elsewhere dare to challenge the status quo if they deem it is necessary for themselves and others.
May former Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel win his battle with cancer and not be “blackballed” when he seeks a return to coaching.
May St. Louis area product Bradley Beal stay healthy the remainder of the NBA season and lead his Washington Wizards to a long run in the playoffs.
May Beal be in the starting lineup and it not snow when a friend and I travel to Indianapolis for the Wizards vs. Pacers game on
May Hall of Famer Lou Brock continue to grace us in his red sport coat on Opening Day for many years to come. The same for fellow HOF members Bob Gibson and Ozzie Smith.
May St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley be the next Eric Dickerson, not the next Stephen Jackson.
May the Rams’ Aaron Donald continue his stellar play and someday become highest-paid interior defensive lineman in football.
May Donald become a Dallas Cowboy when he signs that contract.
May the Rams coaches and front office understand that if the team closes 8-8 in 2015 means nothing in 2016.
May the East St. Louis Flyers bounce back in 2016 from a lost season because of a teachers’ strike.
May Darlene Green be applauded by city taxpayers for opposing the $150-million city contribution to a proposed new stadium.
May Alderman Antonio French be congratulated for getting something out of the city for his vote for the stadium financing – a crime plan that targets many northside neighborhoods.
May David Peacock, Bob Blitz, Gov. Jay Nixon and Judge Thomas Frawley all rue the day they bypassed city voters in regard to stadium financing.
May Mayor Francis Slay regret not appealing Frawley’s wacky decision.
May County Executive Steve Stenger be commended for standing up for county voters in regard to stadium financing – it’s about the only thing he did right in his first year in office.
May Mayor James T. Butts of Inglewood, Calif., be rewarded for his hard work in trying to bring a NFL franchise to his city just outside L.A. – be it the Rams or not.
May the many fans who want to keep the Rams in the St. Louis area and mention minority jobs and business development get involved in these issues regardless if the Rams stay or go.
May Rams owner Stan Kroenke stop being such a jerk and learn to enjoy his billions of dollars without making people miserable.
May running back Ezekiel Elliott, a St. Louis guy, not follow through with his foolish pronouncement that he would not return to Ohio State in 2016 and declare himself eligible for the NFL draft.
May Elliott he also get his suspended license re-instated, learn to drive better and come up with a better excuse than he did after his accident in Columbus, Ohio last Sunday.
May my friend Post-Dispatch columnist Bill McClellan win his cancer challenge and be with us for many years to come.
May all the St. Louis area enjoy a 2016 that is more peaceful and less divisive than 2015.
Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on KETC channel 9’s most-popular show “Donnybrook,” and is also a radio commentator and author.
