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A Saluki Christmas wish list

Commentary

The holidays are upon us. So are the fights with families over petty jealousies, especially in an Irish family where the argument is over who has the best tattoo or killed the biggest deer. That, my friends, takes years and years of therapy to correct.

So, in an effort to stabilize my family, my only personal Christmas wish is that there be more similarities between my family members and me other than our names being in the newspaper. But mine is in a byline; theirs is in the blotter.

As for all of us at SIU, we have much to be thankful for so far this sports season. Good football, thank God. Basketball appears not to have veered off, and Darren Brooks is making people forget about what's his name, Kent something. But there are still holes and needs in the Saluki athletic community. And here is all I really want from Santa for the SIU Athletic Department this Christmas:

Forward movement in McAndrew renovation

There has never been a greater time to apply pressure for the needed renovation, or complete elimination, of McAndrew Stadium. I've dated some ugly women before, and their imperfections can be considered character for a little while. But after a month or two, it is just too much to handle, and that character turns back into what it really is - fugly.

McAndrew has been standing for a long time and she is starting to get a lot of zits that no medication can tone down. It is time to dump her.

The place is skuzzy; the Athletic Department doesn't even show it to potential hires. The plans have been set for a few years, and they are on display at the Recreation Center. But they are starting to seem like some cracked-out plan like Star Wars - Reagan's, not Lucas'. It is time we at least get to second base with this project.

Wins for SIU women's basketball program

In this offseason, if the Saluki women's basketball team continues to just lose, Lori Opp will be the victim of a business move. Layman's terms: she will be shown the door.

Opp, though, has been one of my favorite coaches I have had the enjoyment of working with, and I sincerely want to see her do well here. She is a tremendous person, and if anyone needs a break, it would be her and the women's team. They have been getting lumps of coal for three years.

But each season has been the same situation - a great outlook filled with hope - and everything except for Opp's dismissal has been tried.

Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk is not a rash person and has given Opp the necessary years to recruit and show signs of life. She will be given the whole season to right this sinking ship and probably will be given the "vote of confidence" midway through the season if she doesn't. For a coach, that means you have two weeks to clean out your desk and find a good realtor.

An Asian girlfriend

God has created nothing finer than the Asian female. Oops, that is one of my Christmas wishes, not one for the Athletic Department. Please dismiss, I am hung over.

A juco big man

Darren Brooks is amazing. He is the most talented Saluki since Troy Hudson and has the same NBA potential. But despite his extreme capabilities, no 6-foot-3 guard should lead a team in rebounding, which is the case with DB leading all Salukis with a respectable 7.8 rebounds.

Sylvester Willis has no regard for his well-being in the inside and flies in for the boards, but the Salukis have the same reoccurring need every recruiting season - a big man that is actually considered big (taller than 6-foot-7).

Matt Painter has done a tremendous job thus far this season, and the Missouri Valley Conference is not saturated with big men; so the Salukis shouldn't wear down near the finish, which is a concern with a small lineup. But with the addition of a capable inside banger, the Salukis will be unstoppable next season and could be better than the Sweet 16 squad of 2002.

People anymore want to say there is no such thing as Santa, though my father has seen him, but there is nothing wrong with wishing. Just like the wish I have of not experiencing a family Christmas where my older cousins lock me in a dog cage.