In Honor Of The Big Day

Sometimes, there's more important things going on in the world than sports.  Today is one of those days.  As you may have heard, Barack Obama's historic inauguration is taking place today.

Historic in that it's the first competent president we've had in eight years.

Historic in that it's the first African-American president we've ever had.  

You get the point.

But, even on days like this, sports can be connected to those "more important" events.  So, in honor of Barack Obama's day of firsts, I present to you a list of firsts I'd like to see happen in the sports world in the next few years, in no particular order.

Actually, before we get started, two quick things.  First, I can't emphasize enough that I think the Rays and Cardinals making their respective championships is almost (close, but not quite) as amazing as Barack Obama becoming the 44th President of the United States.  Second, if you want a laugh, check out this impression of Obama, especially his favorite TV Show at around the 4:30 mark.  

Alright, now onto the list.

I'd like to see...

• the first white wide receiver in (decades?) to lead the league in something?
• there be a white, American-born player dominate the NBA.  Not a first, per se, but, first in a while.
• an athlete come out and apologize for wasting the team's money for years and give all of his contract back.
• an announcer not slobber all over Tim Tebow in the championship game next year.
• a year in which each college football game is compelling and there isn't one possible complaint about how the games were decided or who is playing in each game.  Yes, that includes the Gaylord Hotel Music City Bowl.
• a professional sports organization realize that without fans they wouldn't even exist, and for once, give something back outside of keychains and garbage baseball caps.
• a year go by without any athletes beating up wives and strippers, shooting people, getting shot, doing drugs, getting caught for doing drugs, selling drugs to kids, selling drugs to adults, killing people, getting away with killing people, betting on the game, screaming selfishly at coaches, complaining about getting more money, crashing their cars, crashing into other people's cars, and/or doing jailtime of any kind for anything not mentioned above.  Not too much to ask from the country's richest 1%, right?
• athletes have normal names, like Marcus and James and Steve and Marshall and Reggie and Larry and Alex and all that.  No more variations of Marcus, and none of this J'Nathan B.S.
• good athletes have to participate in their respective skills competitions at their All-Star Games.  No more ducking out of the Derby or Dunk Contest.
• professional leagues contract, instead of expand.  There's no way you can tell me sports would be worse off with a few less teams in each sport.  
• the New Jersey Nets give up this ridiculous charade that they are going to move to Brooklyn.  Have they been out there?
• the city of Los Angeles actually give a crap long enough to have their own football team again.
• a year go by without athletes thanking God after games, as if God has nothing better to do but make sure the Royals are able to pull one out in August against Minnesota.

OK, now, two things.  First, the list got a little carried away.  Not all of these things are firsts, but so what?  It's my list, so back off!  Second, what would you like to see?  Get at us, in the comments or c-box.