New Year's Resolutions For 2022

As we get ready to close out 2021, it's crazy to think about the whirlwind that was this year.  It started in the specter of the worst year any of us have ever experienced, with all kinds of restrictions still in place.  Things gradually got closer to "normal" and people were allowed to attend events again (well, events other than the Olympics), only for COVID to come back at the end, bringing back the fun of restrictions, postponements and cancellations all over again.

My biggest hope for 2022 is for "normal" to no longer be a word we put in quotes.  Hopefully at this time next year, we're no longer talking about COVID lists and positive tests and vaccines or the related postponements/cancellations.  I'd love for people to be able to go to games without having to worry about capacity restrictions or showing proof of vaccination or mask mandates.

It's also the year when the sports world will get back to "normal" in terms of scheduling.  After the Tokyo Olympics were pushed back a year, all of the 2021 World Championships were moved to 2022.  We'll have a ridiculously late World Cup, but once that's done a week before Christmas, the sports calendar will, finally, have been reset.

The U.S. Men's National Team hasn't clinched its place in Qatar yet, but that seems like more of a formality at this point.  They've put themselves in a good spot with qualifying set to resume in late January.  So, the first of my New Year's resolutions for a sports team/figure should be taken care of without a problem.  U.S. Men's National Team: qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

After the 2019-20 seasons were interrupted and resumed months after the fact in "bubbles," the NHL and NBA obviously had to adjust their 2020-21 seasons.  They both finished in July, then started this season close to the normal time.  The NHL, of course, planned on having an Olympic break, so their New Year's resolution is actually fairly straightforward.  The NHL: play the 2022-23 season within the regular league calendar.

Likewise, MLB is in the midst of its first work stoppage since the infamous 1994-95 strike.  According to the Commissioner, the whole point of having a lockout now is to preserve the 162-game season.  I actually agree with that logic, and I do believe they'll get the new CBA done in time.  So, MLB's New Year's resolution should also be pretty simple.  MLB and the MLBPA: sign a new CBA and begin the 2022 season on schedule.

Then there are the New Year's resolutions for individual teams and athletes.  Winning a championship is obviously the goal for most teams/athletes heading into a new season, but there are so many other variables that it isn't really something you can "resolve" to do.  There are some things that they can resolve, though...

Duke men's basketball: make a memorable NCAA Tournament run.  I'm not saying they're gonna win the National Championship or even make the Final Four, even though they certainly have the talent for it.  You know the Blue Devils want to send Mike Krzyzewski out on top in his final season, but they'll settle for one last deep run with their legendary coach.  An ACC championship would probably do, but an NCAA run would be better.

Roger Federer: come back from injury to reach another Grand Slam final.  Roger's nearing the end of his career.  We all know this.  He knows this.  But he also still feels like he has another Grand Slam run in him.  Most likely at Wimbledon.  And wouldn't we all love to see Roger turning back the clock one more time before he retires?

Novak Djokovic: break the career Grand Slam record.  He'll probably break the three-way tie at some point in 2022.  Djokovic could even do it in Australia, assuming he's allowed to play.  Whether he wins the Australian Open or not, the idea of Djokovic getting completely shut out of Grand Slam titles in 2022 is highly unlikely.

Los Angeles Angels: make the playoffs and finally win a playoff game.  They have the two best players in the game in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.  Yet, they've only made the playoffs once in Trout's career, and got swept by the Royals in the Division Series that year.  So, let's keep the goals modest for the Angels.  Just make the playoffs.  Then win a postseason game and go from there.

Seattle Mariners: sign a big-time free agent make the playoffs.  Ditto for the Seattle Mariners.  They have the longest postseason drought of any team in North American professional sports.  They came close in 2021 and actually won more games than the World Series champion Braves.  So you know they're gonna go for it in 2022.  Once the lockout ends, spend the money on a free agent like Kris Bryant (who I think will end up with the Phillies, BTW) and build a playoff team around him.

Washington Football Team: come up with a new name.  We've been promised they'll finally have a new name in time for next season.  They've even unveiled the unofficial list of finalists, along with some potential logos.  Unfortunately, "Washington Football Team" is among them.  Let's just hope that whatever they go with is better than that.  And better than "Guardians."

Finally, we've got our latest attempt at the spring football league that these intrepid founders/owners can't accept America doesn't actually want.  After the AAF didn't even make it through the season and XFL 2.0 was shut down early because of the pandemic, it's the reborn USFL's turn.  While it may sound optimistic to say this, they should start small and do what those other two leagues couldn't.  USFL 2.0: make it through the season.