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Enough looking back at the last decade.
It's time to peer ahead at what we will see and what we hope to see over the next 10 years.
First of all, it won't be long until major pro sports franchises in North America revert to the same sort of corporate jersey logos that dominate the front of soccer silks.
It's also inevitable the stodgy old guard that oversees footie will eventually realize they have to embrace technology to settle goal disputes before a missed handball or goal-line clearance sparks World War III.
What we dream of seeing: Three points awarded for regulation NHL wins; NHL franchises relocated from places like Florida and Phoenix to Europe and Southern Ontario; a college football playoff system; penalties or fines on glory-hound receivers and defensive backs who celebrate after every play; less gun-play amongst teammates; the death of Twitter, blogging, Cotton-Eyed Joe and inane intermission player interviews; more Charles Barkley, Danica Patrick and Jim Rome; the NFL changing its overtime format to match the college/CFL ranks; immediate stoning of golf fans who yell you-know-what after a shot; NHL shootouts bumped to five players; cloning to bring back players with unequalled class and character like Brendan Shanahan, Joe Sakic and Wayne Gretzky; more shootout slap-shots; and new NHL leadership to see if a fresh face can somehow make hockey relevant in the U.S.
Oh ... and we need fewer lists.
Now more notes, quotes and anecdotes from a sports world wondering what Tiger Woods can possibly do for an encore.
AROUND THE HORN
Interesting story to watch in 2010: How many Calgary Stampeders season-ticket packages are canceled. While it's not necessarily a reflection on the team, many are furious over the crackdown on tailgating that has stymied a brilliantly unique tradition. There are also many who simply bought tickets the last few years to guarantee their Grey Cup ducats ... Alex Tanguay. Paging Alex Tanguay. Please report back to the NHL -- your career is waiting ... No one asked, but just to set the record straight: Lance Armstrong was the athlete of the last decade, while also doubling as the most inspiring sportsman. The enduring memory the last 10 years also happened to be one of the greatest marketing coups -- Tiger's circuitous chip on the 16th at Augusta in 2005 that seemed to freeze in front of the hole just long enough for the world to be reminded of the Nike swoosh Woods helped make famous ... Worst Christmas gift of all time: Chad Ochocinco's book, in which he opens by insisting any number of his pals from the 'hood in Miami could've done what Michael Phelps did if they were given the chance. He also insists even if his football career didn't work out, he'd still have seven cars and be living the same extravagant lifestyle as he'd simply have turned to selling drugs. Great message for the kids, Chad.
PARTING GIFTS
Sports Illustrated's latest sign of the apocalypse: Tiger Woods was mentioned on the cover of the New York Post for 20 consecutive days, surpassing the 9/11 attacks (19 days) for the longest streak in the paper's history ... In the midst of yet another boring, lost season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, I'll say this: At least Harold Ballard made things interesting ... Nice touch by the Calgary Flames to bring longtime anthem singer Susan Smith back to kick off Retro Night Saturday ... After a handful of years doing soccer on Fox, former Hitmen radio broadcaster Mitch Peacock is with CBC News at Six in Winnipeg, where he's also getting more national sports assignments with the Mother Corp ... What a sad world we live in when a 52-year-old wrestler returns to the ring for a night and the mainstream media falls for something that's nothing more than another pathetic, age-old wrestling angle.
ERIC.FRANCIS@SUNMEDIA.CA