Author: David Shama

Dear Santa Claus:

My letter isn’t important compared to the ones you receive from those who really have problems.  Don’t rush to put my requests at the top of your pile when others are writing about family that is seriously ill and homes where nobody has a job.

I am in the sports business and we receive a lot of “gifts” year round with the games we see and athletes we meet.  Santa, if your resources are limited this year, pay no attention to this.  Take care of the little boy or girl who isn’t sure if they will have presents this Christmas, or the family worrying about someone serving in Afghanistan or Iraq.

But if you have a little time for the trivial, please think about helping our town with this sports list.

Could you send Brett Favre a protective suit?  We’ve really taken a liking to the old guy and don’t want to see him injured before the Vikings (might, perhaps) go to the Super Bowl.

Please send two other NFL franchises to Los Angeles so the Vikings don’t relocate there.  Wasn’t it enough that those beach bums took the Minneapolis Lakers from us years ago?

Could you let Jared Allen set the single game NFL record for sacks?  The old calf roper is real quotable and makes the journalism business a lot easier.

On the subject of journalism, please try to give all the crabby sportswriters and talk show hosts everything they want for Christmas.  I doubt it will help much, but just maybe their spirits will brighten.

A typical day time high in Minneapolis during April is almost 60 degrees.  Please give us at least 50 degrees and no precipitation during the first week of games at Target Field.

Oh, and all Joe Mauer needs for Christmas is a $150 million contract under his tree.  You know that naughty and nice criteria? Well, Joe is the Poster Boy for Minnesota nice sports guys.

Santa, please ask the baseball Hall of Fame selection committee to punch the “admission” tickets for Bert Blyleven and Jack Morris.  Way up at the North Pole you probably heard me groan earlier this year when Jim Rice was inducted.  Help us with Blyleven and Morris.

Could you talk to the Twins or WCCO Radio about playing some old TV or radio tapes of broadcaster Halsey Hall?  Generations don’t even know who he is but Halsey’s baseball storytelling and humor are timeless.  Halsey hasn’t been a Twins broadcaster since the 1970s but we still miss him.  If you get a chance to listen, Santa, he will make your big belly shake from laughter.

Let everyone who can sing or hum “We’re Gonna Win Twins” enjoy at least one visit to Fort Myers to watch the Twins in spring training.  The spring training atmosphere is unlike anything else in sports, plus the Fort Myers area including nearby Sanibel Island is special.

Give us a long, cold winter so kids and adults can enjoy the magic of pond hockey.  (Let me visualize that scene while walking the beaches in south Florida or the Caribbean).

Slip lucky horseshoes into the Christmas stockings of Gophers hockey players and let Minnesota zoom back to the top of college hockey.

I know I am pushing the wish list now, Santa, but could you find the luckiest horseshoes in the world and send them to the Gophers football program?  See the Gophers haven’t won a championship since 1967, way back when you and even the reindeer were a little friskier.  Gophers football fans (the loyal ones and those who pretend they’re not fans but really are) are frustrated and weary after all these years.

Put something extra nice under the tree for Kevin Love this year.  He’s only 21 but his annual coat drive to benefit Minnesota kids sets the right example for other athletes.

Send flattering postcards about our city and state every week to Ricky Rubio in Spain.  (It’s okay to fudge a bit about our weather.)  Tell Ricky he and Love could wake up the NBA fan base here with their passing and unselfish play.

And here’s a final thought, Santa.  If you’re not too busy, write a little book on gratitude and send it to all the sports fans in our town.  You’ll know what to include but here are a few ideas:

Remind folks that TCF Bank Stadium, Williams Arena, Mariucci Arena, Xcel Energy Center and Target Field are really special places and provide great fan experiences.

Encourage fans to be grateful for a fall to remember by the Vikings and a one-for-the-ages summer comeback by the Twins.

For just a moment tell fans not to agonize about favorite players who left town to play for other teams.  Instead appreciate the likes of Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen, Niklas Backstrom, Mikko Koivu, Kevin Love, Al Jefferson, Eric Decker, Blake Hoffarber and Jordan Schroeder.

Let fans know, too, that there’s a lot of fun to be experienced at high school sports events.  The price is right and the environment is priceless.

Mostly remind each of us to be grateful for what we have.

Happy holidays.