Hopes for New Year’s resolutions

While still pondering which number will be higher – the number of people who watched the Texas Bowl on the NFL Network or the number of people who actually attended the MPC Computers Bowl on New Year’s Eve – I can’t help but offer a few resolutions that should be made and wishes that should be granted for the new year in the television-radio-Internet realm.

Two days before 2006 becomes 2007, here’s hoping:

. Calmer heads eventually prevail or someone blinks in the nearly year-long staring contest between NFL Network and Time Warner cable that has left millions of couch potatoes without access to a handful of NFL telecasts and even a couple college bowl games.

This stubborn standoff between corporate titans degenerated into name-calling and the blame game months ago, but there’s still no resolution in sight and, as usual, sports fans are the ones left in the lurch as NFL Network keeps trying to pit football fans against Time Warner and Time Warner cloaks an unwillingness to pay NFL Network’s price with a crusade for the common cable subscriber. Both parties need to get off their high Trojan horses and compromise.

. The only NCAA Division I collegiate team sport currently lacking a playoff system gets one. Forget those hollow arguments about student-athletes missing valuable class time (like basketball, baseball, softball and even lacrosse players don’t already do that) and the possibility that bowl payouts and TV money will decrease. The country’s football fanatics have been spoiling for a playoff system for years now and the “mythical” national championship really is just that most years. Don’t for a super slow-mo moment think there isn’t a satellite truck-sized wad of cash just waiting to be injected into the system if the games actually counted for more than a final poll position and a cash payout. Networks and bowls alike will bid themselves into a frenzy over the rights to air and/or host a quarterfinal or semifinal game, let alone a real title game.

Sure, it might mean the demise of some of the lesser-tier bowls, but then again, there would still be a lot of bowl-worthy teams and plenty of alumni and fans willing to buy tickets to see their favorite schools play. And even if some bowls do bite the dust, will anybody really shed a tear if the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl gets its check bounced?

. A “real” sports segment lasting longer than a minute or two returns to WLBZ-TV (Channel 2). Sports reporter and Hermon native John Smist is being a good soldier in light of WLBZ’s downsizing of its sports report, but local viewers deserve more than two short stories and a smidgen – if that – of scores.

. Former Boston Red Sox radio announcer Jerry Trupiano resurfaces with the same job for another successful Major League team. Joe Castiglione’s broadcast partner of 14 seasons deserved much better than an unceremonious nonrenewal of his contract in the offseason. Trupiano was fair, neither an apologist nor a bomb-thrower, and straightforward. He was also a delight to listen to. His willingness to speak critically when it was called for blended well with Castiglione’s nonconfrontational style and both announcers complemented each other perfectly. He will be missed and his replacements – ESPN sportscaster Dave O’Brien and former minor and major league announcer Glenn Geffner – will be hard pressed to fill is Sox. Cry foul on the Red Sox and Entercom.

. An actual network for Bangor all-sports radio station WZON’s Black Bear Radio Network. Currently, the “network” consists of WZON, WZON’s Internet webcasts (at www.zoneradio.com), and the occasional inclusion of a southern Maine all-sports station such as Westbrook’s WJAE. If UMaine really wants to be a statewide presence, it’s going to need to do some more networking.

. A 27th season calling Boston Celtics games for Tom Heinsohn and Mike Gorman – America’s longest-running TV sports announcing duo. And a 17th NBA title for the Celtics, now in their 20th year of rebuilding since their last one.

. A happy, healthy new year and more memorable (in a good way) sports moments to all.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600 or at aneff@bangordailynews.net