Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
December 23, 2009, Washington Post

A sports fan's holiday wish list for 2010

At this time of year, almost every kid has a holiday wish list. Maybe a new bike. Or a puppy. Or at least a Zhu Zhu pet.

I'm not a kid, but I am a sports fan. So my holiday wish list is filled with sports stuff. I know I won't get everything I want. And some of these gifts are hard to wrap. But here's what I hope happens in sports in 2010.

-- A baseball season with either my Boston Red Sox or the Chicago Cubs in the World Series.

-- A dependable starting pitcher, or two, for the Washington Nationals.

-- NCAA basketball tournaments that are filled with upsets and surprise teams. I would love to see a 16th seed shock a No. 1 seed: That has never happened in the men's tournament. But that may be too much to hope for.

-- Good health for the Capitals' super scorer, Alex Ovechkin, and for the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas and the Nationals' newest pitcher, Stephen Strasburg.

-- A deep run in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the Washington Capitals.

-- Any kind of playoffs for the Washington Mystics . . . and the Wizards.

-- Speaking of long runs, I hope the U.S. men's soccer team does well and plays some exciting games in the World Cup. That would help soccer become more popular in the United States. I hope whatever team wins the World Cup wins the trophy on a real goal and not on penalty kicks.

-- More fan support for the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and all women's sports.

-- A big year for former teen golf sensation Michelle Wie.

-- Lots of thrills and excitement from the 2010 Winter Olympics. The games start February 12. I can hardly wait. But I hope there are no controversies about the scoring in the figure skating competition.

-- I would love to see tennis star Andy Roddick win a major title. After his heartbreaking loss to Roger Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon final, I think he deserves it.

-- A winning season for the University of Maryland football team and its coach, Ralph Friedgen. I root for anyone who has a nickname like "The Fridge."

-- Peace, health and happiness for all KidsPost readers. No matter what age.

Fred Bowen writes KidsPost's sports opinion column and is the author of such kids' books as "Touchdown Trouble" and "Soccer Team Upset."

© 2009 The Washington Post Company