Barry Tompkins: A bit of rhyme for the New Year
It’s out with the old and in with the new
And like it or not, the bad news is true.
Our local sports heroes are way less than norm.
So I thought I’d address them in doggerel form.
It’s the first of the year and I’m thinking solutions.
How can we fix things with new resolutions?
There’s one thing I hope to point out in this verse
That things have to get better — they can’t get much worse.
Let’s start with the Niners who never held sway
Holdouts in July — no contract — no play.
And then they got hurt it was all happenstance
The sick and the wounded list mounted — no chance.
The season began with some hits — but more miss
And ends with a fall, deep in the abyss.
The bad news is changes will come almost surely
The good news is this year vacation comes early.
Everybody get well and give Purdy the money
No holdouts next summer and things will be sunny.
Patch up a few spots and do well in the draft
Do better with first picks. And don’t get the shaft.
And speaking of shafts and downward progressions
I give you the Warriors, if you have no objections.
They started this year like they’d be in the hunt
Only to slip from top dog to runt.
Bigs who can shoot give the Warriors trouble
And help needs be found and I think on the double.
Father Time’s creeping on Green and on Curry
So help these guys out with support — best you hurry.
Now to the Giants and the boss, Buster Posey
Early returns say that things could look rosy
With a few more live bodies and arms in the fold
A success story’s there. It just waits to be told.
Is it finally the year that puts bodies in seats
Or must we yet deal with a list of defeats?
It’s different this year so let’s all just relax
And win more than the Dodgers, the Padres and D-Backs.
And how ‘bout them Sharks? Can you tell me they’re good?
I’m a hockey know-nothing, so I wish that I could.
I know that they’re young and someday they’ll win
But for me all I know is that ice goes in gin.
And then there’s there’s the colleges. Where sports are so hot.
It’s recruiting, and cheering, and “How much you got?”
The innocence factor, play and earn your degree
Is now answered by prospects, “…and do it for free??”
The NIL factor has changed things forever.
The rich will get richer. The others will never.
On occasion there might be someone that you’ll cheer
But you best do it fast — they’ll be gone by next year.
Santa Clara, St. Mary’s and USF hoops
To the number are all very talented groups
Who provide entertainment and without that much luck
Give the Bay Area sports scene the most bang for the buck.
I can’t start the new year without showcasing support
For Bay Area women’s teams no matter the sport.
Bay FC soccer is back. Season two
Take in a game this year. It’s a good thing to do.
And welcome the Valkyries, They’ll tip it in May.
They’re owned by the Warriors and let me just say
That the management here, and I’m proud to have said it
Will succeed in its venture. These people just get it!
A cheaply poetic look at this year
Is what you’ve just read as I see it from here.
I’m also quite sure that you all will agree
If I wrote this in high school — no more than a C.
To all my loyal readers. Have the happiest of New Years.