Ong Talk: Holiday Wish List

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Ong Talk By: Ryan Ong Holiday Wish List - December 24, 2008 Season’s greetings Davis Sports Deli readers! While you’re joyfully anticipating opening those gifts in the coming days, I’ve compiled my Top 10 wishes for the ‘09 sports year: 10) Rod Marinelli kicks the crap out of Detroit News columnist Rob Parker for going after Marinelli's daughter at a recent press conference. The tone that Parker used to address Marinelli was inappropriate. It’s a football-related press conference and nothing else. Parker should put any other stupid questions he has in his back pocket. No wonder athletes like Tiger Woods no longer give entertaining interviews. 9) The Arena Football League comes back even stronger than before. I know, I know, it’s not real football, but hell, it’s entertaining. Where else can you see football players being crunched into a wall and offenses putting up 50 plus points a game? The AFL is far from the NFL talent, but way better than Vince McMahon’s garbage XFL league. 8) Stephon Marbury of the Knicks gives some of that $20 million that he’s earning, for doing nothing, to inner city basketball programs. I’m dreaming here, but if I was earning $20 million for doing nothing, I think I could afford to cut a little check to lose the “Me-bury” image. 7) Gary Gerould and Grant Napear (of the Sacramento Kings) switch duties as Gerould becomes the TV play-by-play announcer and Napear moves to radio. The Spurs game was the last straw for me with Napear. Seriously, the Kings are down double digits and Napear somehow finds a way to complain about something – the Spurs change the music every time the Kings come up the court. Gerould is one of the best and deserves the face time. 6) Tim Lincecum and Dustin Pedroia face each other in the World Series. I’m dreaming here, but this would be the ultimate match-up for little people around America. CY Young winner versus MVP – can’t get any better than that! 5) Two former NFL number one Bay Area draft picks find their game. Alex Smith was thrown to the wolves under Mike Nolan, but he showed some resilience and is determined to turn his game around. It’s hard to not root for him - it just might have to be on another team. JaMarcus Russell has all the talent in the world and probably can throw the football through a brick wall. If possessed with some determination like Smith, Russell may become a consistent quarterback. Also, I hope he loses the fur coat and shades next season. 4) Bud Selig steps down as baseball commissioner and the lifetime ban is lifted from Pete Rose’s name. How are you going to ban one of the greatest players of all-time from the game? Come on, it’s not like he was ever a suspect for murdering someone. Rose admitted he made a mistake and he’s served his time, now let Rose take his place where he belongs. Selig has failed to keep the league competitive and does not have a legacy that he’ll leave behind like Paul Tagliabue. 3) The Sharks get over their playoff curse and make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. This has to be the year they get over the hump, right? Todd McLellan has the Sharks coasting right now, but can they handle a little adversity in the playoffs? The Oilers own their number and the Sharks can’t keep up their record setting pace forever. Let’s hope the Sharks have saved their best hockey for the playoffs. 2) The Pittsburgh Steelers get their revenge on January 18th by beating the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Conference Championship game and rub the terrible towel in Lendale White’s face. It was a total disgrace and a completely unprofessional act by White and the rest of the Titans for stomping on the towel and blowing their noses with it. Classless act. Maybe the Steelers should disrespect something symbolic from the Titans organization – oh wait, the Titans don’t have any tradition. White should save his stuff for the game and be grateful to have a teammate in Chris Johnson who puts him in goal line situations. 1) Mike Singletary is named the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers by early January. Do not let this guy get away. It’s amazing how the culture changed after Nolan was fired. Lock him up for a good few years and give the guy some time. Another year in sports may have come to an end, but these Top 10 wishes should keep you warm enough to make it through the cold.

Holiday Wish List - December 24, 2008

Season’s greetings Davis Sports Deli readers!

While you’re joyfully anticipating opening those gifts in the coming days, I’ve compiled my Top 10 wishes for the ‘09 sports year:

10) Rod Marinelli kicks the crap out of Detroit News columnist Rob Parker for going after Marinelli's daughter at a recent press conference. The tone that Parker used to address Marinelli was inappropriate. It’s a football-related press conference and nothing else. Parker should put any other stupid questions he has in his back pocket. No wonder athletes like Tiger Woods no longer give entertaining interviews.

9) The Arena Football League comes back even stronger than before. I know, I know, it’s not real football, but hell, it’s entertaining. Where else can you see football players being crunched into a wall and offenses putting up 50 plus points a game? The AFL is far from the NFL talent, but way better than Vince McMahon’s garbage XFL league.

8) Stephon Marbury of the Knicks gives some of that $20 million that he’s earning, for doing nothing, to inner city basketball programs. I’m dreaming here, but if I was earning $20 million for doing nothing, I think I could afford to cut a little check to lose the “Me-bury” image.

7) Gary Gerould and Grant Napear (of the Sacramento Kings) switch duties as Gerould becomes the TV play-by-play announcer and Napear moves to radio. The Spurs game was the last straw for me with Napear. Seriously, the Kings are down double digits and Napear somehow finds a way to complain about something – the Spurs change the music every time the Kings come up the court. Gerould is one of the best and deserves the face time.

6) Tim Lincecum and Dustin Pedroia face each other in the World Series. I’m dreaming here, but this would be the ultimate match-up for little people around America. CY Young winner versus MVP – can’t get any better than that!

5) Two former NFL number one Bay Area draft picks find their game. Alex Smith was thrown to the wolves under Mike Nolan, but he showed some resilience and is determined to turn his game around. It’s hard to not root for him - it just might have to be on another team. JaMarcus Russell has all the talent in the world and probably can throw the football through a brick wall. If possessed with some determination like Smith, Russell may become a consistent quarterback. Also, I hope he loses the fur coat and shades next season.

4) Bud Selig steps down as baseball commissioner and the lifetime ban is lifted from Pete Rose’s name. How are you going to ban one of the greatest players of all-time from the game? Come on, it’s not like he was ever a suspect for murdering someone. Rose admitted he made a mistake and he’s served his time, now let Rose take his place where he belongs. Selig has failed to keep the league competitive and does not have a legacy that he’ll leave behind like Paul Tagliabue.

3) The Sharks get over their playoff curse and make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. This has to be the year they get over the hump, right? Todd McLellan has the Sharks coasting right now, but can they handle a little adversity in the playoffs? The Oilers own their number and the Sharks can’t keep up their record setting pace forever. Let’s hope the Sharks have saved their best hockey for the playoffs.

2) The Pittsburgh Steelers get their revenge on January 18th by beating the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Conference Championship game and rub the terrible towel in Lendale White’s face. It was a total disgrace and a completely unprofessional act by White and the rest of the Titans for stomping on the towel and blowing their noses with it. Classless act. Maybe the Steelers should disrespect something symbolic from the Titans organization – oh wait, the Titans don’t have any tradition. White should save his stuff for the game and be grateful to have a teammate in Chris Johnson who puts him in goal line situations.

1) Mike Singletary is named the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers by early January. Do not let this guy get away. It’s amazing how the culture changed after Nolan was fired. Lock him up for a good few years and give the guy some time.

Another year in sports may have come to an end, but these Top 10 wishes should keep you warm enough to make it through the cold.