March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

National title for UMaine tops wish list

As we prepare to bring the curtain down on 1992, it’s time to look ahead to 1993. Let’s hope 1993 brings…. A national title for Shawn Walsh and his University of Maine’s hockey team. That is the only thing missing from the trophy case. The fact Maine took a 31-game regular season unbeaten streak into Wednesday night’s Cleveland College Hockey Classic final against Bowling Green is truly remarkable in this day and age. Maine was 49-4-3 in its previous 56 games. A productive and healthy year for Old Town native and New England Patriots Coach Dick MacPherson. Although the charismatic and personable Coach Mac doesn’t need the stress and strain of rebuilding that sorry franchise, especially in lieu of his colon surgery, I’m sure he’s the type of guy who hates to leave a job unfinished. The Pats will have the first pick in the NFL draft thanks to their 2-14 season and should trade it away for a few veterans and a draft pick or two. No one player can turn this franchise around unless he walks on water. Let’s hope Coach Mac can get things pointed in the right direction and hire an offensive coordinator with an imagination. A new home for Red Sox righthander Roger Clemens. Let’s face it, his best years are behind him; he doesn’t really want to pitch in Boston and he has indicated that he wants to finish his career in Texas. So be it. He has one more 20-win season in him and two 15-18 win seasons. The Sox would need to get a good young starter and either a quality leadoff hitter or power hitter for him. I’ll bet he shows up early for spring training with his new team. A return to the ice wars for Boston Bruins all-star right winger Cam Neely. Believe it or not, Neely is only 27. It would an absolute shame to see another bright young Bruin career prematurely ended by illness or injury (i.e. Normand Leveille, Gord Kluzak). With the emergence of youngsters like Joe Juneau and Dmitri Kvartalnov to go with veterans like Ray Bourque and Adam Oates, the Bruins have a legitimate chance to make a run for the Stanley Cup if Neely can return to the form that made him a 50-goal scorer in each of his last two full seasons. Unfortunately, the Bruins don’t have the goaltending necessary to win a Stanley Cup as 33-year-old Andy Moog is not the goalie he once was and 38-year-old Reggie Lemelin plays like a 38-year-old. A realization in the Boston Celtic front office that a major overhaul is needed and that the time to begin the overhaul is now. This franchise has not been the same since first-round draft pick Len Bias died before he could don the Celtic green. The franchise has been living in a time warp. A return to respectability for the University of Maine’s baseball program. Last year’s betting scandal and sub-.500 season (19-24-1) was the first real black mark on the program. Here’s hoping last year’s embarrassment will fuel the desire of the returnees to make amends. Better music at the Alfond Arena for Maine hockey games. I take my hat off to the University of Maine’s band for their hard work and dedication but, geez, I’m tired of hearing the same six or seven songs over and over again. And I don’t like the songs, anyway. The band has earned the right to play but limit them to The Stein Song and one or two other selections (hopefully from this era). Pipe in some rock music. It doesn’t have to be hard rock but at least have it be music with some life to it (i.e., Lynyrd Skynyrd, Neil Young, B-52s, Eric Clapton, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Squeeze, Supremes, early Bruce Springsteen, etc…). After all, hockey is a kick-tail sport. Speaking of the Alfond, how about this for an Alfond Arena concert lineup following Bill Cosby: Dana Carvey, Jay Leno, Eric Clapton and the B-52s. A win for the the University of Maine’s women’s basketball team and new head coach Joanne Palombo. A safe and happy year for everyone and an appreciation and enjoyment of sports.


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