New Year’s resolution for the sports fan

By Rob Ficiur

How are you coming with those New Year’s Resolutions? According to several websites that I checked out, just less than half of adults set New Year’s Resolutions. Of those who set resolutions, 75% are still following (or trying to follow) their new plan. 

According to Wikipedia, making promises at the beginning of a new year has been an ancient tradition. The Babylonians (around 600 BC) made promises to their Gods at the start of the year that they would returned borrowed objects and pay their debts. In Mid-evil times knights took the peacock vow to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.  Wikipedia’s information shows that New Year’s Resolutions are more common now than during the 1930’s: “At the end of the Great Depression, about a quarter of American adults formed New Year’s resolutions. At the start of the 21st century, about 40% did.”

In our time the most common New Year’s Resolutions are predictable. They include: lose weight, stay fit, quit smoking, spend more time with family, improve finances by getting out of debt and or increasing savings and of course, quit smoking. 

With such noble goals why do most people not succeed at their New Year’s Resolutions? Each of the goals mentioned in the previous paragraph involve lifestyle changes. People got where they are going because of their choices. In our busy lives changing habits can be difficult.

Since keeping personal New Year’s resolutions is difficult, I thought it would be easier to make / announce the New Year’s Resolutions that sports personalities could (should) make at this time:

-Toronto Blue Jays – Before the season starts acquire a starting pitcher (better yet get two). The 2013 Blue Jays were expected to be World Series contenders; but when injuries ravaged the starting pitching staff, the season went downhill. Blue Jays leaders do not want to overpay to get a good pitcher – but look around all teams are over paying for any pitching.

-Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers – play competitive hockey games. Normally we would insist that the teams push to make the playoffs – but this season that goal is as unlikely as repealing the law of gravity. While we appreciate both teams are in a rebuild, being shut out on a regular basis is not entertaining hockey to watch. The Flames have scored one goal in four games since Christmas. The Oilers set a club record by being shut out three games in a row at home in November. (Helpful hint – we know both teams are on rebuilds, but constantly changing coaches and or General Managers creates instability not progress.

-Repeat December’s Success – The Toronto Raptors were on a five game winning streak and have an 8-3 record since they traded their star player Rudy Gay. Most experts predicted the Raptors would be fighting for last place, not a higher playoff spot. When Gay was on the team, 30% of the team’s possessions went through him. Stop Rudy and you stopped the Raptors. The Raptors have excelled at passing the ball and playing like a team. Seems silly to wish for something that is already happening, but Raptor fans have had some lean years; so for this resolution keep doing what you have been doing.

-To sports fans – stop procrastinating the list of things in your Job Jar at home.  January is a perfect month to being the new habit of getting those simple but long delayed projects done. This new resolution will begin a habit that can carry you throughout the year … or until the Winter Olympics start on February 7, but by then the Job Jar will be empty… right?

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