Well, boys and girls, it's 16 days before Christmas and I'm busy making my Christmas wish list for Santa. Now you may argue Santa doesn't exist, but I might argue neither do standards in the Athletic Department (although that's a story for another day). So Santa, besides wishing for world peace and the ability to be omniscient so I'd never have to study for finals again, I have some sports wishes for our beloved athletic teams, and one special wish for myself.
u A Big Ten title for men's basketball. Alando Tucker's impending return, continuity from last year's starters and support off the bench-they all seem to indicate a third title. Of course, this could be me just hoping that I'll have another use for my Three-Peat shirts from the Chicago Bulls run. If anyone knows how to change \Bulls"" into ""Badgers"" using only masking tape, let me know.
u Fan support for the women's basketball team. Twelve thousand fewer fans came out Sunday to see the women's team in comparison to those who came out Saturday to support the men. C'mon folks, you know the Packers won't be playing on Sundays much longer (especially if I get my Christmas wish) which means a lot more free time...
u A little bit of chutzpah for Barry Alvarez. The ""business-as-usual"" attitude is becoming more and more apparent with each player that faces criminal charges but continues to play football. The decision to overturn the decision to suspend Ernest Mason in the first real test of the Athletic Department's new conduct policy shows just how uncommitted the department was in the first place. The alleged incident at the Southeast dorms was deplorable, just as was soon-to-be Athletic Director Alvarez's response, and is an insult to the fans-in particular female ones who have supported the team through several consecutive mediocre seasons.
u The Red Panda to be invited to every Badger event. Imagine how cool it would be to be sitting at graduation and a woman in a sequined leotard comes out on a unicycle flipping plastic bowls onto her head. They could increase my tuition just for that. I'm kidding. Please don't raise my tuition. Don't make me move to Champaign. I'm begging you.
u WCHA titles for the hockey teams. I'll admit my knowledge of hockey is limited to what Emilio Estavez and Joshua Jackson taught me in ""The Mighty Ducks"" I and II (III was a joke, I tell you). But I hear men's hockey is doing pretty well, and since the WCHA is the title award, let's wish for that.
u The Packers to fall short of the playoffs. I know it's petty and this is actually a present for me and not for the Packers, but what did you expect from a chronically disappointed Bears fan? Now, I really don't want the Vikings to make it either, so I'll let the Packers into the playoffs, but they can't make it past the first round. I want Brett Favre and his magic four fingers sitting at home in January so bad it almost outweighs my desire for Kordell Stewart to be sitting home all of next season. Almost.
Unfortunately I don't have time to finish the list because while I wait for the ability to be omniscient, ""The Mighty Ducks"" is on and I need to learn more about hockey.
