Besides losing 20 pounds (totally going to happen), how else will I better myself in the new year?

4. Go see Abdul Gaddy, Josh Smith and Tony Wroten play.

cnnsi.com

Jamal Crawford, Doug Wrenn, Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson, Will Conroy, Tre Simmons, Jon Brockman, Ryan Appleby, Martell Webster, Spencer Hawes, Marcus Williams, Terrence Williams, Isaiah Thomas and countless others. Even Brian Morrison. Maybe especially Brian Morrison. He must have balled to get that UNC scholarship!

If I could go back in time and watch these guys play high school hoops for $5 would I? Absolutely I would. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Friday night.

All three will be in the house for this year’s King Holiday Hoopfest on January 19th (aka Fig Jam’s birthday). That is too perfect to pass on.

3. Add Joe Posnanski to national columnist rotation.

I’m always on the hunt for good sportswriting, and there are only so many Jamboroos one can wade through before noticing they’re all the same (quite good, but the same). Is it too much to ask that I be entertained and edified? Of course not.

Everyone reads Bill Simmons, who is enjoying a mild renaissance (not that he ever slipped that far). Jason Whitlock has been off the chains at Fox Sports recently with his highly entertaining ESPN lambasting.

One guy who is a little under the radar is the KC Star’s “other” columnist Joe Posnanski. Posnanski is one of the best baseball writers going (and if there’s one thing left to respect about baseball, it’s that it boasts by far the best writing). Having checked out KC Joe’s offerings on CNNSI over the past few weeks I can relay that they are meaty and entertaining. Posnanski has been around the block, and his broad perspective is one to bask in.

2. Attend first Pac-10 football road game.

oregonstate.edu

Of these four, this is one that could be tabled. I have no shame in admitting the idea of driving to Corvallis to watch a likely poor (but improving!) Husky team holds minimal appeal. If I’m going to invest a weekend I’d like to see a win. Of the two great sporting shames in my life, the fact that I’ve yet to attend a Husky road football game ranks right below that I’ve never watched He Got Game except for brief segments on cable. God that’s embarrassing to admit.

1. Go to Sounders opener.

seattlest.com

The first sporting event I ever attended I don’t even remember. It was a Sounders game in the early 80s. The first team I ever loved? Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League in the mid 80s (Preki=God). The point is that local soccer has a rich tradition, and hopefully this game is one you’ll be proud to have attended decades down the line.

The Sounders open up on March 19th against the New York Red Bulls.

What are your new year sports resolutions?

After having his enrollment terminated at Garfield, hoops phenom Tony Wroten was allowed to return to Garfield after an injunction issued by the King County Superior Court. The injunction only allows Wroten to continue attending classes and playing basketball temporarily while the Wroten’s lawsuit against the Seattle School District goes forward. The next hearing on the lawsuit is set for January 21. Wroten has been out of school since December 5.

"I will decide where you play this ball-hoop game!"

It seems a little convenient that this entire debacle began right at the beginning of basketball season. I am guessing there is a Franklin alum on the School Board who decided to authorize this dubious investigation. The decision to terminate Wroten’s enrollment was based upon four days where Wroten was dropped off at the Seattle apartment before going to school in the morning and the fact that there wasn’t as much dew on the Wroten’s car as other cars. Considering the evidence, the Seattle School District acted rashly and harshly. I wouldn’t go so far and call it “an injustice against an African-American” as Garfield head coach Ed Haskins said. I guess it’s technically true, but it is more an injustice against an extremely good basketball player at a very convenient time.