One Man’s Wishes for New Year

Before the first pass of 1987 is thrown, the first ball shot, the first bat swung, we’d like to pass on a few wishes for the year ahead:

For Michael Nunn--A knockout punch and the title shot that should go with it.

For Frankie Duarte--One more knockout punch and the title that will go with it.

For Mike Tyson--A worthy opponent.

For Marvelous Marvin Hagler--The sense to quit on top.

For Sugar Ray Leonard--Time to come to his senses.

For Don King--A comb.

For Tom Keele--Peace of mind.

For Wimpy Halstead--A mind.

For Bob Burt--One more interception.

For Mike Kane--A chance to play with the big boys.

For Cory Snyder--The sense to act like a big boy.

For Russell White--Nothing but good health.

For Bill Redell--Nothing. He’s already got Russell White.

For the Lakers--More winnin’ times.

For the Clippers--Fewer whinin’ times.

For Cal State Northridge--The support to go Division I.

For Bob Shoup--A return to glory.

For Dick Howser--A return.

For Pete Cassidy--An arena and a good enough team to put in it.

For Pierce College--A team.

For the CSUN women’s volleyball team--One more win.

For Reggie Jackson--One more October.

For Kareem Abdul-Jabbar--Many more springs.

For Fernando--Many more screwballs.

For Shea Stadium--A lot fewer screwballs.

For Dwight Gooden--Maturity.

For Donna Duke--More witnesses for the defense.

For the Raiders--More weapons for the offense.

For Tom Lasorda--Twenty-four healthy bodies to go with his healthy appetite.

For Pedro Guerrero--One healthy body.

For Marwan Ass’ad--A year without Seattle Pacific.

For the Valley Dodgers--A return to the Series.

For the real Dodgers--See Valley Dodgers.

For Walt Hazzard--The Final Four.

For Trevor Wilson--The starting five.

For Bob Knight--Civility.

For Red Auerbach--Humility.

For Pat Riley--Another chance to see Red Auerbach in June.

For Pete Rose--A graceful exit.

For Donald Sterling--Any exit.

For Benoit Benjamin--The right shoe and the right attitude.

For Len Bias and Don Rogers--The legacy of a drug-free society.

For athletics--No more Len Biases or Don Rogers.

For all--Enough big moments to fill your 1987 highlight film.

In an effort to start the new year with a clean slate, a final note on last week’s column about baseball memorabilia. Harlan Werner, co-proprietor of America’s Favorite Card Store in Sherman Oaks, was quoted as saying that some baseball jerseys are obtained illegally for resale. While Werner does not dispute that fact, he’d like it known that he has never knowingly accepted such goods for his store.