AS I TAKE INVENTORY of the Christmas bounty, I find Santa got me everything I need, but not everything I want. It seems some things aren’t so easily wrapped and placed under the tree.
My wish list isn’t long. Over the years I’ve learned to keep my wants modest… better to avoid the inevitable disappointment. And it’s not all about me. My wishes will benefit others, as well as myself.
To be sure, the things I’m asking for aren’t easy. If they were, they’d already be done.
Here ya go…
NMU Football
• In between college bowl games, my thoughts turn to our NMU football Wildcats. With two years under his belt, Shane Richardson is still in search of his first win as coach at his alma mater. I don’t know Coach Richardson, but I imagine he’s just as frustrated as Wildcat fans.
Not only did he have a standout career as a player here, but he also received honors for academic accomplishments as well. In other words… he knows the game, and he’s smart. Hopefully it’s just a matter of time before it comes together and he gets the program on the right track.
But here’s the thing. Just like this year’s squad, the 1974 NMU football Wildcats also went none-defeated. Zero wins and ten losses. And then, the very next year, in 1975, they won the Division II National Championship. Tom Izzo’s buddy, Steve Mariucci, quarterbacked that team to the most improbable season in the history of organized sports.
Next year will mark the 50th Anniversary of that accomplishment. My wish is that the guys wearing Green & Gold find enough inspiration in that story to write their own. Am I asking for a Natty? No. But I’d love to see a season that allows the players and coaches to hold their heads high as they represent Northern on the field, and in the community.
Taking Care of Business
• As the long recovery from the pandemic continues, businesses around the Marquette area are still showing the effects of the shutdown. Even though it appears the economy here is humming, we still see empty storefronts and offices, and those businesses that remain open often have limited hours due to staffing issues.
But I have to believe there are opportunities to be taken advantage of. I’d love to see something go into the former Coco’s on Lakeshore Boulevard. With all the foot traffic downtown, the spot which formerly housed the Kildare Irish American Pub seems to be a location with a “can’t miss” label. And now that the German themed Steinhaus restaurant is closing, maybe someone could give that cute venue new life.
And then there’s the granddaddy of them all… the Westwood Mall. I’ve written ad nauseum about the mall’s fits and starts… mostly fits, but the building still stands there, waiting for the jump-start that will bring it back to relevance.
The word on the street is that a credible local company is looking to buy the mall, as long as their due diligence doesn’t find any red flags. Different ownership would be the first step in what would hopefully be a new era in the mall’s existence.
I still find it hard to believe that an indoor shopping center, in the heart of vibrant Marquette Township, can’t find a way to not only survive, but thrive. It may take some creativity, and deep pockets, or simply being on somebody’s Wish List. Whatever it takes, I hope it happens.
Can’t We All Just Get Along?
• And finally, a wish about us. It’s been a few years in the making, but our social construct is on the brink of falling apart. Our tribes are well-defined, hardened, and seemingly unable, or unwilling, to give any ground to the other side.
While we all exist under the colors of the same flag, the colors we fly at home are undeniably different. And though we usually exhibit civility when face-to-face with our adversaries, the discomfort we feel cannot be denied.
So, my final wish as we head into 2025, is that fans of both the Packers and Lions put aside their differences, and seek acceptance and understanding. I believe we can do this… at least until our two favorite teams meet on the way to the Super Bowl.