It’s time to look ahead, clear the clutter of a disastrous 2020

I decided to clean off my desk to get rid of the physical and emotional clutter that continues to pile up.

My first priority was to throw away anything that can remind me of 2020, including a calendar with unicorns, rainbows and puppies. From this point forward, I intend to focus on what’s ahead, not the troubled past. I agree with Satchel Paige, who once famously said “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” There’s nothing about 2020 worth revisiting.

Including the fact my belt is too small. A person who believes a cup is half-empty would say my belly has gotten too big. Not me. I’m trying to be optimistic.

I’ve purged by drawers and cabinets of cookies, crackers and candy. And I hired a trainer three weeks ago with the goal of getting healthier. I don’t believe in making resolutions because we should resolve to be our best every day of the year, not just the start of a new one.

I’m eating smarter, which means avoiding goodies and fast-food drive-thrus. My timing couldn’t have been worse because my eating habits changed as the same time the McRib was brought back.

It’s not easy to make a lifestyle change. But neither was walking up a flight of stairs.

While I’m rambling, I always will have fond memories of growing up outside of Dayton, Ohio. New Year’s Day was a special time in Ohio, because that meant cooking sauerkraut, pork and mashed potatoes to honor my mother’s German heritage.

Dinner was always ready at 4 p.m. – the same time Ohio State usually played in the Rose Bowl. It was one of the few times a year the entire family gathered.

My father was from North Carolina, so our New Year’s tradition became to include blackeye peas and collard greens.

Now I have to decide whether continuing a long family tradition is worth the extra hour in the gym. I’ll let you know.

Speaking of Ohio State, I’ve always had a passion for the Buckeyes. But the upcoming college playoffs have tarnished that memory.

Despite only playing six games, Ohio State was selected to be one of the semifinalists in this year’s national championship. That’s wrong.

Texas A&M and Cincinnati made better cases to be part of the Final Four than Ohio State or Notre Dame. But the selection committee, which has never taken any other team outside their coveted Power 5 conferences, remained arrogant and close-minded by sticking with their four teams that started the season as the playoff favorites.

Texas A&M finished 8-1, closing the season with seven consecutive wins against the Southeastern Conference. Ohio State couldn’t win seven SEC games in a row. That’s a fact. The Buckeyes had three Big 10 games cancelled by COVID-19, and of their six games, the Buckeyes only played two teams – Indiana and Northwestern – with winning records.

Notre Dame got ripped 34-10 in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game by Clemson. That kind of beatdown should send a team to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Instead, the Irish will play Alabama in one semifinal game. Expect another beatdown.

All Cincinnati did was finish 9-0 with wins against five bowl-bound teams.

The committee was so compromised, it left 9-2 Army off its original bowl lineup. The Black Knights earned a reprieve Monday when they were asked to replace Tennessee in the Liberty Bowl after the Vols opted out following a new outbreak of the coronavirus. Army now will play West Virginia.

Add a dysfunctional selection committee to what’s wrong about 2020.

I can’t wait for this year to get over. I’m ready to start with a new attitude and a clean desk. From now on, there’s no more room for clutter.