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Strange: Resolutions for new year in sports world
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It's a new year. A clean slate. A fresh start. Anything is possible.
The Cubs might win the World Series. Vanderbilt might go to the Independence Bowl. A 16 seed might beat a 1.
Tiger might miss a cut. O.J. might find his ex-wife's killer.
All of that, however, is out of our control. The only thing we can do about any of the big sports stories is watch and cheer - or jeer - and hope.
But we can make a difference in our little personal spheres. We can do the right thing. We can aspire to be better.
With that in mind, I begin 2008 with the following intentions:
I resolve to become a fan of some team in some sport somewhere. It may be the Toledo Mudhens or Idaho State. It may be Real Madrid. I realize the wall of journalistic objectivity denies me the full measure of enjoying the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
I resolve to buy a ticket and sit in the stands at some sporting event. The insulation of the press box, not to mention the free food and hand-delivered stats, gives us media types a very different experience than the audience to which we cater. We need to remember that.
I resolve to stay at the SEC men's basketball tournament at least until Saturday. They do play on Saturdays, don't they?
I resolve to not think of Cowboys fan, Yankees fan, Celtics fan Dave Hooker merely as a bandwagon-hopping dynasty-worshipper. Even though last week I overheard him on the phone ordering a Manchester United jersey.
I resolve to stop saying, "They've got 'em right where they want 'em," every time Tennessee's opponent lines up on third-and-long.
I furthermore resolve to stop saying, "Strategy, baby. They did it intentionally," every time Tennessee's opponent has a penalty or loses yardage on the preceding play to set up third-and-long.
I resolve not to vote Ole Miss last in the 2008-09 SEC basketball preseason poll. Old habits are hard to break.
I resolve to vote Ole Miss last in the 2008 SEC football preseason poll.
I resolve not to pay attention to an NBA game until there are four minutes left in the fourth quarter of game seven of the finals. This one's a lock. I keep it every year.
I resolve to learn five talking points about the Car of Tomorrow before the Daytona 500. On second thought, better make that Darlington.
I resolve to halt quarterly post-game, post-midnight visits to Krystal. Well, maybe to cut it from quarterly to semi-annual.
I resolve to avoid using the phrase "hobnail boot" in a story, regardless of how thoroughly Tennessee beats Georgia in any sport.
I resolve to interview Eric Berry.
I resolve not to bet on the Kentucky Derby favorite and not to waste $2 trying to hit an exacta. I've got better odds at Powerball.
I resolve to watch the Pro Bowl, the Indy 500 and Wimbledon. Nah, not really.
I resolve to make friends with someone who gets ESPNU.
I resolve to go to a Maryville High School football game.
I resolve to vote for the presidential candidate who promises a college football playoff.
I resolve to give Roger Clemens the benefit of the doubt when he says he didn't use performance-enhancing drugs.
I resolve to give Paris Hilton the benefit of the doubt when she says she's devoting her life to helping the less fortunate.
I resolve to work like heck to get better.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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- Rawls happy at Memphis, 'just never liked Knoxville'
- The 1998 Vols: Where are they now?
- Jaguars sign Mahelona
- Jerry Lucas tells Vols to get M-A-D
- Strange: UT's sure of defense this trip
- Adams: UCLA to Southern Cal: Bring it on
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Posted by oasis3 on January 5, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm with you Mike. Any presidential candidate who promises a cfb playoff gets my vote and probably wins in a landslide. They are all missing a great opportunity to define the election.
Posted by TurboFan on January 5, 2008 at 10:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One last one, Mike, resolve not to procrastinate on writing an end of year column. LOL
Posted by budd on January 5, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Please resolve to make sure you identify any candidate that is in favor of a college football playoff so I can vote against them and give money to their opponent
Posted by murrayvol on January 6, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mike, if you can meet your deadline while all about you are missing theirs, then you'll be a star at KNS and the envy of all your colleagues.
Posted by FWBVol on January 6, 2008 at 1:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mike, maybe UT's defense will be good enough on third and long next season so we can all stop saying, "They've got em right where they want em."
Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 6, 2008 at 3:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I resolve to..., wait. What were we just talking about?
Posted by slovog on January 6, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You write well, Mr. Strange.
But deep down in your heart of hearts, where deadlines and headlines don't really matter, and journalistic integrity is a concept that holds no sway, you must be a fan of some team.
I've never bought in to the idea that a person cannot have personal biases in order to be a good journalist. In fact, I think it is impossible for a human being to NOT have preferences as to which teams win and which teams lose, especially if those folks feel enough of an attraction to sports to adopt it as a career.
One of the marks of being a great sports journalist is being able to admit to the biases, then rise above the personal fandom and write unbiased articles. And you succeed at that, Mike.
Posted by pdhuff on January 6, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
errr.. Strange, Darlington racing ....and OJ finding killer, about the same chance.
On visits to Krystal, more calories await down the street when the red light is on.
At least you didn't pick the Vol's defense last in the SEC. Happy 2008.
Posted by mtnvol on January 6, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I predict there will be unhappy Vol fans regardless of the outcome of the season. I also predict that John Adams will mention CPF's salary in 45% of his articles concerning UT football.
Posted by southernACmavs on January 6, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I resolve not to give any more money to Mike Hamiliton. Mr. Thornton has plenty get it from him.
Posted by TommyJack on January 6, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mike: "Work like heck"? I love it.
Posted by pdhuff on January 6, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TJ, We're starting witn a clean slate, per the writer, I hope someone remembered to dust the erasers, also. New clean chalk along with a dozen raspberry. Then maybe we'll be ready.
Can anyone say deee-fence! Please.
Posted by tnmantravel on January 6, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I resolve not to pay attention to an NBA game until there are four minutes left in the fourth quarter of game seven of the finals. This one's a lock. I keep it every year.
Typical response from someone who claims to like the college game and then abandons the nba, because of various reasons such as "the players don't play defense or just simple bigotry as being too black" I'd like to take such a person to a nba game and sit close to the floor, let them watch the game, then see if they could tell me "they don't play defense" You try guarding Chris Paul or Paul Pierce or Steve Nash and see if you can stop them. Please....When the Pistons, Celtics, Lakers, Suns, Trailblazers, Spurs, Magic, Nuggets, Jazz, Warriors, Hornets, play a fan will watch, their are great players on those teams...anyway Go Vols
Posted by cdldoc on January 6, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HOT OFF THE WIRE:
In a surprise move today Phillip Fulmer, Head Coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, named Touchdowntn as his new Offensive Coordinator. Fulmer said tdtn's first assignment would be to "kiss the big man's butt."
Posted by brdteton on January 7, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GO ISU Bengals!
Posted by NCCOLTSFAN on January 8, 2008 at 12:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WTGGGGGGGGGG Tigers!
Oh.
MVP-Erik Ainge!
sorry... couldn't resist!
Off till fall!
Posted by slambob2 on January 8, 2008 at 6:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I resolve to interview for the OC position at UT, thereby ensuring myself a promotion at my current institution.
slambob
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