January can be a tough month as we settle back into normal life after the hustle and bustle, the highs and the lows of the holiday season. Psychologists say that Post-Holiday Depression and Blues is a real thing. Adrenaline is the culprit, and, according to experts, the abrupt withdrawal of stress hormones after an important deadline can have a profound impact on our psychological health.
The best relief from the malaise is looking forward to other upcoming events. (Fear not, we are about to get to sports, I am not deep enough to write more than a paragraph or two about another topic.) So, what could we possibly have to look forward to in our sports world?
If you are 30 years old or younger you probably don’t remember how great January can be. It can absolutely be the best month of the year. Even if it is cold and cloudy every day of the month, North Texans will have a sunny disposition if the Cowboys make a playoff run.
Having moved here in 1990 from the barren landscape that was January in Michigan, I couldn’t believe my eyes when those ‘90s Cowboys playoff runs started happening. That three-letter word “run” is important to the concept. It is one thing to be one and done in the NFL playoffs, but making a run is a completely different deal.
This Cowboys team is built to make a run. From the beginning of the season veterans of those ‘90s teams were weighing in on the subject. The likes of Michael Irvin and Nate Newton were on social media and on their various network shows touting this team as reminiscent of those great teams from bygone days.
The difference this year is the defense. The organization did just the right thing last spring when they put the D in the draft. They were focused on improving on that side of the ball after setting records for futility, allowing a franchise-record 473 points and 6,183 yards last season.
As they were putting that D front and center they did experience one L. Not as in Loss, as in Luck. The Cowboys really wanted to take one of the two best cornerbacks available with their first pick. When Patrick Surtain and Jaycee Horn were gone, they traded down. With the 12th overall pick they had to settle for a linebacker who hadn’t played in over a year after opting out of the 2020 season because of COVID.
Hello, Micah Parsons, hello defensive difference maker, hello NFL Defensive Player of the Year? He is definitely a candidate but would no doubt trade that award for a Super Bowl Ring. There, I said it, the Cowboys have enough talent on both sides of the ball now to be in the hunt for the ultimate prize. The Champs won’t be crowned this year until Feb. 13th.
Which is just about the time pitchers and catchers report … normally. If this column were delivered electronically this is the spot where I may include a sad face emoji or the one with the teeth clenched together expressing great concern.
The ninth work stoppage in MLB history has all baseball fans concerned, but especially Rangers fans. The franchise’s best and most expensive off-season coincides with the 50th anniversary of the team moving here from Washington, D.C. The excitement that fans felt 50 years ago about the arrival of the franchise is similar to how Rangers fans are feeling today. Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Kole Calhoun …
… And Rangers officials spent some money to get some pitching in here, too, in the form of Jonathon Gray. Jon Daniels and Chris Young insist they are not done yet.
Once the two sides agree – and they will come to an agreement, don’t be surprised if the Rangers go after more pitching, maybe even local hero Clayton Kershaw.
So, if your brain even suggests the possibility of post-holidays blues, you can trump it with some blues of your own, like a Cowboys road jersey (what great shade of blue that is) topped off with a Rangers blue cap, maybe even the baby blue variety. There is a lot to look forward to for sports fans around here!
