Resolution

Seeing that 2006 is now bygone and 2007 is upon us, I would like to propose a list of New Years Resolutions for a select few. 2006 left us many heroes, villains, and stories but the start of 2007 opens many new avenues to explore. Here is my list:

1. Michigan Football
11-2. That is how Michigan finished its 2006. Following a five loss season with a dominating road win over Notre Dame, starting the season 11-0 with the number two ranking, and an appearance in the Rose Bowl, many teams would be happy. But, unlike so many other 11-2 seasons, the consecutive losses to that other team and to USC to end the season left many of us feeling in a word- empty. In retrospect, 2006 was another year of what ifs. My resolution for the Michigan Football team is to finish what you all came to Michigan to do and to do that they have to be nasty and not believe that they are entitled to being nasty because of the letter on their helmets.

2. Isiah Thomas
Calling the 2006 version of the New York Knicks a disappointment would be doing the word disappointment an injustice. Never have I yearned for the days of being disappointed by the Knicks' inability to get past the Chicago Bulls or Houston Rockets more than I do today. Patrick Ewing's greatness is enhanced with each Knicks loss of today. Even though the Knicks of old did not ever win it all, they gave off an effort and intensity in each performance. Isiah's Knicks do not. Something - whatever it is - is lost by today's Knicks so my resolution for Isiah is to put your ego in check, start those who will compete whomever they may be and base your decisions on who can help you win and not who gets paid the most, or has the largest name recognition. This means that David Lee is better than Jared Jefferies. This means that Ronaldo Balkman cannot shoot.

3. Alex Rodriguez
They say that the great ones leave their mark in the brightest lights. There is no brighter stage than Yankee Stadium deep into October and there is nobody who wants a curtain call more than Alex Rodriguez. They also say that hard work will be rewarded, which normally holds true, but with somebody as talented and naturally gifted as Alex Rodriguez, putting more effort into baseball is not the answer. I am not proposing that he slack off; far from it. My New Year's Resolution for Arod is to relax, and to stop inhibiting your natural gift for hitting a ball with a bat by over thinking or doubting your talent. New York has a thing for forgetting the past.

4. Hip-Hop
Nas declared at the end of 2006 that "Hip hop is Dead" but I have to politely disagree with him. Hip-hop is not dead, but it is on its last legs as a creative artform. More than anything, the state of hip-hop is reflective of its acceptance into mainstream society. As rap has become more acceptable and popular, it has followed the path that rock and roll and rhythm and blues has before it. Too much of popular music, and hip-hop sounds the same. You would think that people can only do the Laffy Taffy, Walk it Out, or let their Chains Hang Low so many times before it gets old. Please prove me wrong. Music like society is an imitation society and follows the mantra, if it's not broken, don't fix it. My resolution for Hip-Hop artists, producers, and record companies is to rediscover some of the creativity and uniqueness that makes great music great.

5. Television networks
With the increasing number of channels available to television viewers, you would think that there would be an increase in quality television. There is. But, the quality television is too often in the form of reruns of classic shows. I am by no means a television elitist. I love Flavor of Love, the Real World, and Deal or No Deal but I do want some substance occasionally. The number of quality new shows has declined overall and my resolution for the networks is to make a show that viewers can watch, enjoy, and talk about. Every show should allow a viewer to tune in mid season and enjoy. If watching every episode is required to enjoy a show, then networks should offer On-Demand to its viewers like HBO does. But, 24 sucks if you catch only bits and pieces of it and it kind of sucks even if you catch all 24 hours of it. The TV networks are not all to blame however, as the greatest show of my lifetime, HBO's the Wire, gets little fanfare and viewership despite critical acclaim. If we want to watch good television, we have to actually watch the good television so that the networks will continue to make good television.