The future has to be better, doesn’t it? Could 2007 be the year sports are devoid of steroids? Will we have 12 months free of Terrell Owens’ shenanigans? Might this just be the year when my Eagles finally win a Super Bowl? O.K., so you have a better chance of meeting the Tooth Fairy than any of the above happening.
A new year brings change, and hope, of course, that the future will be better than the past. It brings me hope that the Washington Redskins and Joe Gibbs might finally realize the triumvirate at the top is not working.
Damn me for saying this, but the Redskins have potential. Yes, the dreaded “P” word. Meaning, “we should be good, we could be good, but we’re not.”
As the season finished out, Ladell Betts’ multiple 100-yard games and Jason Campbell’s improvement left hope for the future. But, as I’ve said before, decisions have to be made in the front office. Recent history has proven that Gibbs, Vinny Cerrato and owner Daniel Snyder need a football-minded general manager to create a system of checks and balances.
Gibbs has to conclude that returning was a good move (it was) but installing himself in the personnel department was a poor decision.
My wishes for this year go beyond the Beltway and into the heart of the Bowl Championship Series.
Say what you want about next Monday’s college National Championship between Ohio State and Florida and how it should or should not feature Michigan. What is indisputable is that the BCS is flawed.
We hear how it is the best and definitive way to crown a national champion. I ask you, then, why is there always controversy and an odd man left out like Michigan and USC and Auburn?
College football can’t ignore the issue much longer as its popularity grows.
The National Football Foundation reported recently that ESPN on ABC, ESPN and CBS showed strong growth in ratings. ESPN on ABC’s “Saturday Night Football” saw a 24 percent increase in viewership for its time slot. At the same time, Bowl games including the Rose, Cotton and Orange Bowls reported drastic demand in ticket sales. The BCS Championship may be a great game, but it’s not helping college football.
Finally, while I’m whipping pennies into the wishing well for 2007, maybe the gods of justice will intervene and make Barry Bonds retire before he surpasses Hank Aaron.
A man can dream, can’t he?
Wes McElroy hosts the Final Round on ESPN 840am from 3-5pm Monday-Friday.