THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601070180
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
Before the year grows another day older, before another legend is pushed into the shadows, or one more NFL team changes zip codes, here are some of the things I'd like to see in 1996:
Cleveland keep the Browns, the name if not the team.
Less talk of multimillion dollar contracts, more Penny Hardaway.
Deion Sanders humbled.
The CFL Pirates pay in advance.
I would like to see more schools use Northwestern, not Nebraska or Florida, as the model for their football programs.
The Old Dominion men's basketball team put its act together for three days in March in Richmond.
Like everyone, I want to see a basic agreement for major league baseball.
A pennant drive for Cal Ripken.
Another Tides season as exciting as the last.
For Sweetpea Whitaker, a fight worth his trouble and talent.
I would like to see the AFC representative show up big at the Super Bowl, or at least show up.
Monica Seles build on her '95 comeback.
Heath Shuler exhibit some of Mark Rypien's grit.
Bela Karolyi off screen.
Less O.J., more Ken Griffey Jr.
Don Shula resist the easy money of the pre-game panel show.
I would like to see Steffi Graf with a new business manager and father.
Bob Costas reconsider volunteering for the job of baseball commissioner.
Recognition for the true unsung heroes of Nebraska football - defense attorneys.
I would like to see somebody launch an investigation into the possible link between worsening free-throw shooting among college players and sinking SAT scores.
A regular-season college basketball game that matters.
Athletes, present and past, pay taxes on card-show revenue.
Less Jerry Jones, more Kordell Stewart.
I would like to see Nike understand that the Olympics belong to everyone, not just to athletes who wear their logo.
Chris Webber in good working condition.
A college basketball coach who can sit still.
Spring training camps open on time.
I would like to see Virginia's defense hold on.
Virginia Tech keep its football success in perspective.
Greg Maddux give somebody else a chance to win the Cy Young.
Don Mattingly have a place in baseball for as long as he wants.
I'd like to see how many people would be interested in an instructional video on tackling made by Steve Spurrier's Florida defense.
I would like to see as much as I can of the Chicago Bulls.
Pete Sampras remain healthy and hungry.
People stop calling newspaper writers ``media.''
Fewer bogus football bowls, more true student-athletes.
Massachusetts in the Final Four.
A college basketball team that doesn't rise or fall on the 3-point heave.
I would like to see the person who came up with the idea of the seat license fee be forced to walk hand-in-hand down a busy Cleveland street with Art Modell.
This summer, a place to park in Atlanta.
As always, under the feet of football and baseball players, less artificial turf, more grass. by CNB