Jason Ross: Goodbye 2017, Hello 2018
Jan 3, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:22 am
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
There is always something about a new year. People make resolutions, people break resolutions, and we hope for bigger and better each and every year. Locally we could use some good news in 2018. The 2017 sports season was not the best for our “local teams”. The most encouraging thing we have to end 2017 is the play of the San Francisco 49ers. This team started 0-9 but finished strong leading many to believe that 2018 will be good for the 49ers.
The Sacramento Kings made a bold move in February by trading their all-star DeMarcus Cousins. I thoroughly agreed with this decision though the results have not benefited the organization to date. They have cap room, some young players and a beautiful building but not enough wins for anyone to feel like 2018 will be the year of the Kings. It will be paramount for them again to draft well, develop players, acquire the right free agents and keep it pushing forward.
The Oakland Raiders were the team that most were excited about for 2017. A year ago they took the NFL by storm with a free wheeling, risk taking approach and an offense that was hard to stop. 2017 the offense stopped itself, the team won just 6 games and fired Jack Del Rio on the final day of the year. Rumor has it that Jon Gruden will be the next coach. That sounds intriguing but brings in a whole host of questions. 2018 promises to be eventful for the Silver and Black but I am not sure better.
The 49ers ended 2017 with a bang. People have Jimmy G. fever. They acquired him out of nowhere and he finished the season giving Niners faithful a sense of excitement that they haven’t had in years. Signing him will be the key and all the other off-season moves too. This team played hard under Shanahan and should do more of the same next season. If they add the right pieces then 2018 could be very promising. They are one of the brightest lights going in the area.
The San Francisco Giants spent money on the bullpen last season and from day 1 that let them down. They all of a sudden couldn’t hit, Mad Bum got hurt, they plummeted in the standings and all their top targets in the off-season didn’t pick San Francisco. They still have some good pieces but they will start 2018 with less expectations and maybe that will be good for them.
The Oakland A’s continue to do things the way they have for the better part of a decade. They are growing prospects and then moving them. It is a frustrating cycle. They are still trying to get firm stadium plans too. This team always competes but their fans deserve a plan that is held on to for a while. I hope that is sooner rather than later for the Athletics.
Other local teams of notes, the Sharks are doing their thing but many don’t believe that they will be quite good enough. Sacramento State and UC Davis keep doing better things. Aggies basketball had a great 2017 under coach Jim Les as they went dancing. Hornet football had their best season at the FCS level in 2017. I also have to mention the most successful “local” team and that is the Golden State Warriors. They won the title in 2017 and remain the favorites for 2018.
Here’s hoping that 2018 stirs up all the emotions that makes us fans. Enjoy sports in 2018 and I hope your teams wins a lot.
