December 20, 2016 at 6:15 p.m.
Browns win is on sports wish list
Rays of Insight
What do you want for Christmas?
This becomes a problematic question for me every year. I’m just not very good at coming up with imaginative new things to put on my list for my parents and siblings to potentially purchase and place under the tree.
It inevitably ends up with things like colorful ties, books or sports apparel. Not super exciting.
Then again, perhaps it runs in the family. My dad’s list this year, as it does every year, includes pistachios, movie gift cards and WD-40. (Yes, you read that right — WD-40. It’s about the strangest thing I could think of to request for Christmas, and the man probably has 25 half-used cans in his garage/barn/basement, but every year it’s on the list.)
A much easier list for me to make, and probably for my dad as well, is a sports Christmas list. Last year, we both finally got what had been at the top of our list for decades — a Cleveland championship, thanks to the Cavaliers’ rally from three-games-to-one down against the Golden State Warriors in June.
That said, there is always something to wish for on the sports landscape. So here is what I want for Christmas in the world of sports this year.
A Browns win
At 0-14 already, we’re going to need Santa’s help in order to make this one happen.
It’s been humorous to joke over the last few months about the possibility of a winless season for the Cleveland Browns. There is even a Facebook page that has pre-scheduled the “perfect season” parade.
This becomes a problematic question for me every year. I’m just not very good at coming up with imaginative new things to put on my list for my parents and siblings to potentially purchase and place under the tree.
It inevitably ends up with things like colorful ties, books or sports apparel. Not super exciting.
Then again, perhaps it runs in the family. My dad’s list this year, as it does every year, includes pistachios, movie gift cards and WD-40. (Yes, you read that right — WD-40. It’s about the strangest thing I could think of to request for Christmas, and the man probably has 25 half-used cans in his garage/barn/basement, but every year it’s on the list.)
A much easier list for me to make, and probably for my dad as well, is a sports Christmas list. Last year, we both finally got what had been at the top of our list for decades — a Cleveland championship, thanks to the Cavaliers’ rally from three-games-to-one down against the Golden State Warriors in June.
That said, there is always something to wish for on the sports landscape. So here is what I want for Christmas in the world of sports this year.
A Browns win
At 0-14 already, we’re going to need Santa’s help in order to make this one happen.
It’s been humorous to joke over the last few months about the possibility of a winless season for the Cleveland Browns. There is even a Facebook page that has pre-scheduled the “perfect season” parade.
But I’m afraid the reality of an 0-16 season wouldn’t be anything to laugh about.
The Browns are bad. That’s obvious. But I’d prefer them not to be in the record books as one of the historically worst teams in history.
I’m more than happy to let the Detroit Lions carry the banner as the only 0-16 team. They don’t need any company.
Another national title
With all local events canceled or postponed this weekend because of the ice-covered roads, I spent Saturday night watching Jay County High School graduate Eric Hemmelgarn and his University of St. Francis teammates play Baker in the NAIA football national championship game on ESPN3.com.
It was a blast, as Hemmelgarn recorded a pair of first-quarter sacks and the Cougars took control early on. They went on to a 38-17 victory over the Wildcats, and anyone watching got to see Eric on screen several times during the celebration.
Now I’m hoping for another JCHS graduate and USF player to win a national title. Kegan Comer and the Cougar men’s basketball team came agonizingly close to winning the NAIA Division II tournament last year. They’re 12-1 thus far this year and ranked second in the nation.
Another title is well within reach.
An injury-free year
I hope everyone can go through 2017 without any injuries, although that seems highly unlikely. So this wish is a little selfish as it’s specifically for me.
When I started playing recreational softball again during Jay Community Center’s 2015 fall co-ed league, my goal was simple — don’t get injured. I managed to accomplish it.
Year two was mostly injury free as well. Sure, there was a pulled calf muscle, pulled quad and a gash on my right ankle from an ill-advised slide, but nothing that kept me off the field.
This year, I’m hoping for the same. I’m not worried about home runs or great diving catches — not even Santa has enough magic to make those things happen — but rather just another year of fun on the field.
A tournament run
There’s nothing quite like a postseason that just keeps going. Each tournament win brings with it new excitement and possibilities.
In the last year, we’ve seen the Fort Recovery baseball team advance to the state final four and the South Adams softball and volleyball teams reach the semi-state. We’ve seen individual state medals in swimming (Sophie Bader), wrestling (Andy Kohler), track (Robby LeFevre) and cross country (Bailey McIntire).
Looking ahead, there are any number of teams and individuals that could make a run this year. The fun will be in the surprise of who fulfills that promise.
If a Jay County team makes the state finals, maybe my dad will make the trip again, like he did when the Patriot boys basketball team played at Conseco Fieldhouse in 2006. And maybe he’ll have a can of WD-40 with him. You know, just in case.
The Browns are bad. That’s obvious. But I’d prefer them not to be in the record books as one of the historically worst teams in history.
I’m more than happy to let the Detroit Lions carry the banner as the only 0-16 team. They don’t need any company.
Another national title
With all local events canceled or postponed this weekend because of the ice-covered roads, I spent Saturday night watching Jay County High School graduate Eric Hemmelgarn and his University of St. Francis teammates play Baker in the NAIA football national championship game on ESPN3.com.
It was a blast, as Hemmelgarn recorded a pair of first-quarter sacks and the Cougars took control early on. They went on to a 38-17 victory over the Wildcats, and anyone watching got to see Eric on screen several times during the celebration.
Now I’m hoping for another JCHS graduate and USF player to win a national title. Kegan Comer and the Cougar men’s basketball team came agonizingly close to winning the NAIA Division II tournament last year. They’re 12-1 thus far this year and ranked second in the nation.
Another title is well within reach.
An injury-free year
I hope everyone can go through 2017 without any injuries, although that seems highly unlikely. So this wish is a little selfish as it’s specifically for me.
When I started playing recreational softball again during Jay Community Center’s 2015 fall co-ed league, my goal was simple — don’t get injured. I managed to accomplish it.
Year two was mostly injury free as well. Sure, there was a pulled calf muscle, pulled quad and a gash on my right ankle from an ill-advised slide, but nothing that kept me off the field.
This year, I’m hoping for the same. I’m not worried about home runs or great diving catches — not even Santa has enough magic to make those things happen — but rather just another year of fun on the field.
A tournament run
There’s nothing quite like a postseason that just keeps going. Each tournament win brings with it new excitement and possibilities.
In the last year, we’ve seen the Fort Recovery baseball team advance to the state final four and the South Adams softball and volleyball teams reach the semi-state. We’ve seen individual state medals in swimming (Sophie Bader), wrestling (Andy Kohler), track (Robby LeFevre) and cross country (Bailey McIntire).
Looking ahead, there are any number of teams and individuals that could make a run this year. The fun will be in the surprise of who fulfills that promise.
If a Jay County team makes the state finals, maybe my dad will make the trip again, like he did when the Patriot boys basketball team played at Conseco Fieldhouse in 2006. And maybe he’ll have a can of WD-40 with him. You know, just in case.
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