Nice List

1 – Stephen Curry and the Davidson Wildcats –

– In the “Big Dance”, you captured the heart of America as you slay giant after giant.  You showed that a team that plays together will always have a chance and it teaches us that we all need to work together.  Stephen Curry gets noted as you chose to stay in school and are improving your game on a weekly basis.  Stay humble as you have thus far.  You gave us many memories and have earned the distinction of being a big game player.  Santa will bring you another berth in the tournament this year and hopefully, a run to the Final Four.

2 – Michael Phelps

At the Olympics, you set a lofty goal that few truly believed you could reach.  Thank you for showing us the importance of pushing ourselves to reach the goals that we have set in our lives.  Thank you for reminding us that we all need to have a level we want to achieve or else we will probably stay fairly stationary in life.  Santa is bringing you a place in history that will likely never be overtaken and will bring you a chance to add to that medal count in 2012.

3 – Yankee Stadium

During his yearly sleigh ride, Santa passes over every stadium in the world, but Yankee Stadium has always been his favorite.  He never misses a game on his HDTV in the North Pole and has loved watching each great player run on your field, from Ruth to Mantle, DiMaggio and Gehrig to Jeter.  Though you will never host a game again, Santa will give you the power to remain in the hearts and the minds of all baseball fans forever.  Just as the stories of Babe Ruth are still told today, so you will be remembered throughout generations to come.

4 – Jon Lester 

You pitched a no-no after battling and defeating cancer.  Regardless of whether we like Red Sox Nation or if the “Nation” makes us sick to our stomachs, your story was an inspiration to us all.  Congratulations on the success, not only on the field, but also in your battle against cancer.  Your story will help others have hope as they face incredible odds in their lives.  Santa will bring you a solid career and will give you the appreciation for each day that most of us lack.

5 – New York Giants

What an unbelievable game!  You pulled an upset of epic proportion and made many people happy, including the 1972 Miami Dolphins.  For the sports fans, it was a rush to see you win.  David Tyree and Eli Manning’s hook-up in the fourth quarter gave us a lasting image and David’s openness about his faith in God made every Christian smile.  Santa will bring you another trip to the playoffs and a chance to repeat.

Naughty List

1 – Green Bay Packers

You weren’t open to Brett Favre returning to the team, even though Favre helped to make your team important again.  When mediocrity reigned supreme in the land of cheese, Favre came in and brought you a championship and made you a contender.  You could have let him go out the way that he wanted to, but you chose to do differently.  Santa will bring you a lump of coal that spells Jets.  Next time, respect those who got you to where you are.

2 – Al Davis

You have to let go of the reigns sometime.  Your leadership is killing your organization but you are convinced that it is every coach who is the problem.  The Raiders have fallen to depths that no one thought possible for such a storied franchise.  The only good news you will receive this year is a reminder that at least you are not the owner of the Lions.  Santa will bring you a lump of coal in the form of the Titanic because your ship is continuing to go down.

3 – The Lance Haters

Arguably the greatest athlete ever, Lance decides to come out of retirement yet has to worry about his own safety if he races in the Tour de France in 2009.  Why?  Just because he has dominated a sport that is one of the toughest to dominate, does that give anyone the right to jeopardize his safety?  No, it doesn’t.  So, since that is the way people will conduct themselves, Santa will bring you a lump of coal that is shaped like a needle as doping scandals have haunted your sport even after Lance retired and made the event irrelevant the last couple of years.

4 – Any team that fires their coach in mid-season

If the season is going bad, odds are not too good that it will miraculously turn around overnight.  Let the coach finish the year and give the coach a little slack.  Not everyone will be in the National Championship hunt each year.  The realm of college sports have truly gone overboard with the in-season replacing in the last five years.  Santa will bring each of you a lump of coal that says “sow” because you shall reap exactly what you sow.

5 – Adam Jones and Terrell Owens

The Giants played as a team last year and they won the Super Bowl.  Adam, stay out of the places that can get you into trouble.  In fact, just stay by yourself whenever possible to avoid any altercation.  T.O., this is the third team you have stirred up conflict with and each quarterback you have played for has had to deal with this.  You are an amazing player, but you have to realize that it is not all about you.  Santa will bring each one of you a lump of coal shaped like you because that is all that you have cared about.

Well, that concludes another year’s list.  It is our hope and prayer that each of you has a very Merry Christmas and an amazing year in 2009.  Thank you for reading Prodigal Magazine and thank you for your prayers and support.  May those on the naughty list strive to make it on the nice list next year.  Remember, there is always hope!