Out with ’94 already; let’s talk 1995

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Enough of 1994, already. Uncle. I give.

You try to keep a sense of focus, of balance. Good follows bad follows good in any year. But what are we going to remember about ’94, in total, really?

Nancy and Tonya….

All the NCAA troubles at the University of Maine….

The baseball strike….

The NHL lockout….

No World Series….

I try to concentrate on the high points, moments like Lawrence High’s boys and girls basketball teams sweeping the Class A state championships…. Or Mark Plummer winning his eighth Maine Amateur, finally, on his home course of Augusta Country Club…. Or the Orono Red Riots roaring to the Class B state football title….

It doesn’t work.

What do you do with a year in which Maine sports suffers the death of people like former BDN sports editor Bill Warner, Old Town AD Bob Lahey, and, just last week, the inimitable Bud Leavitt?

I’ll tell you what you do with a year like this. You wrap it up in this newspaper, stuff it in the garbage can, take it out to the curb, then give the can a kick.

With that in mind, let’s get on with 1995. Here’s one man’s wish list for the new year:

Bowl games in which the players, after knocking the spit out of each other, help each other up, pat each other on the butt, line up, then knock the spit out of each other again. In other words, no finger pointing, no trash talking, no dancing….

Solutions to both the baseball strike and NHL lockout consisting of the following: End of the drafts. Complete free agency. No rookie makes more than $1 million a year. No veteran makes more than $2 million. No ticket, for any seat in any game, costs more than $10….

NCAA releases findings on UMaine investigation concluding: Maine has done enough to correct the situation and no further sanctions will be necessary….

No books are written about Cindy Blodgett or any high school athlete whose only point of interest in their short lives is scoring points in a game….

The Red Sox sign Billy Swift….

Waterville’s Barry Clukey scores the game-winning goal for UMaine hockey team in the national championship game….

Portland Sea Dogs management sees fit to schedule a couple of games at Mansfield Complex….

Capping a marvelous comeback, Joan Benoit Samuelson wins the Boston Marathon….

Maine Governor Angus King announces a serious bid for Maine to host the Winter Olympics in 2010….

Paul Kariya makes the game-winning assist to lead Anaheim’s Mighty Ducks to the Stanley Cup title in the lockout-abbreviated season….

Brewer-based group plows ahead and builds a new indoor ice rink to service the region….

After being knocked out by Pernell Whitaker in first round, Joey Gamache goes home to Lewiston with $500,000 in his pocket and announces his retirement….

Boston dedicates the new Shawmut Center by having Bob Cousy shoot a layup, John Havlicek shoot a free hrow, Bill Russell shoot a hook shot, and Larry Bird shoot a 3-pointer. After the floor is removed, Bobby Orr shoots ceremonial first puck into the net….

Portland Pirates management sees fit to schedule a couple of AHL games at Alfond Arena….

UMaine receives a financial gift for the expressed purpose of upgrading the rickety stands at Alumni Field….

Bangor’s John Tennett wins starting UMaine quarterback job. He throws for 300 yards to lead Bears to a win in their opener….

Jose Canseco of the Red Sox hits record 62nd homer of the season during Sept. 12 game at Fenway vs. the Yankees….

With no more draft, Patriots owner Robert Kraft puts final pieces to `Team of the ’90s’ in place by signing free-agent rookies Ki-Jana Carter, J.J. Stokes, and Warren Sapp….

Former UMaine QB Mike Buck, signed by Tampa Bay, throws four touchdowns to beat New Orleans, the team that cut him….

Billy Swift throws a complete-game, two-hitter as the Red Sox beat Cubs 2-0 for their first World Series title since 1918….

Proving persistence pays off, Orono native Jim Veno qualifies for the Senior PGA Tour….

It’s not too much to ask for after putting up with ’94, is it?