Embrace the New Year: Navigating a Whirlwind of Challenges and Joys!

It’s always a delight to hear a long-lost melody that brings back memories of how much we adored the song before it faded from our minds, often in the most unexpected ways. Occasionally, it wafts through the muzak in an elevator or a shopping center, and more frequently, it occurs while we watch classic films and — even stranger — during breaks at athletic events.

You know of what I speak: They play some classic tune from the 1970s or 80s over the loudspeakers while attendees queue up for a halftime beverage or snack, allowing them to tap their feet while waiting and attempting to recall where they last heard the track or who performed it. More significantly, it evokes thoughts of WHO we were when the song enjoyed its acclaim, along with a deluge of other reflections/memories/regrets and/or joy.

This occurred over the past weekend when the track “Whatever You Want” by a British band named Status Quo resonated through the speakers during an Italian Serie A soccer match I was watching on Saturday between Hellas Verona and Udinese, passing the time as I awaited the start of Week 18 of the NFL. Now, I have no preference for either of the soccer teams involved, but I felt the nostalgia of the song playing softly in the background during halftime while players on the sidelines — most of whom are likely under 30 years old — were rocking their heads to a tune that was among Status Quo’s 60 hit singles in the United Kingdom, released in 1979.

While I could join in on the laid-back, murky lyrics I could barely distinguish in the background (I’m unsure why I can recall five decades of tunes yet forget whether I had breakfast), observing the players goofing around led me to search online to find it. Fortunately, it was right near the top of the search results because Status Quo is an amazing band and quite renowned globally.

Not to ruin the surprise, but I frequently wear a shirt sporting a well-known phrase I devised back in the 1990s: “Music Was Better When Unattractive People Were Allowed to Create It,” which undoubtedly garners more laughter than any other T-shirt I own. People notice it, chuckle, and then affirm, “That’s true” all the time … and rightly so. You can check out the video below if you think I’m exaggerating. The band’s performance is as tight as a snare drum in this song, and I found great joy in replaying it about four times through my headphones … cranked up to “11.”

That said, another simple pleasure is witnessing the band perform live — with long hair flowing and outfits that seem like they just picked them off the hotel floor before performing, revealing their chest hair and medallions — as they truly engage the beat, resonating through my eardrums and shaking my skull with the rhythm. To be honest, the song has probably been played 25 times since Saturday, and I presume my neighbors are weary of hearing it (even though I’m not).

(Sports editor’s note: If you wish to see what I mean regarding the appearance of the 1970s and 80s and whether you think any of these individuals were serious contenders for Homecoming King at their high schools, you can view the video for the song here:

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However, this led me to contemplate a few other topics I wished to address as I resume my column for the New Year. One: While I enjoy the band Status Quo, I am not fond of the status quo of life in general and firmly recognize that nature detests a void. Life is about richness, transformation, and new trajectories intertwined with relentless improvement or risk. Two: It’s always been my objective to provide you with “whatever you want” in terms of the sports sections of The Press. We have initiated new projects that herald other interests we aim to pursue, and — although I realize we won’t please everyone all the time, we’re going to make the effort, my friends — I hope you will enjoy them.

Photo credit: Jason Jacobs

With The Dickinson Press Sports Show, Handsome Rob Eilts and I have an enjoyable time. It’s been a great experience for me to collaborate with Southwest North Dakota’s Official Homecoming King on air, and I’m thankful to Players Sports Bar & Grill for hosting/sponsoring it and all the guests who’ve participated thus far. Jacob Cheris has launched his hockey venture, “The Breakaway,” which follows his “Jump-Serve” volleyball videos, giving you an idea of what I/we have planned. The in-game footage, post-game interviews, and photo collections have also been well received, and there’s more on the horizon … trust me.

As always: We value your thoughts, emails, and remarks and hope to cover as many games as possible in the paper and throughout the next five months until the school year concludes and the seniors graduate. I hope you are enjoying the coverage thus far. So, here’s to 2025 … may it be a fruitful year for all.

Gaylon is a sportswriter originally from Jensen Beach, Fla. His column appears weekly, and he can be contacted at

[email protected]

and/or 701-456-1213.

Gaylon is a sportswriter from Jensen Beach, Fla., but has resided around the globe. Growing up with a background in athletics instilled in him a passion for sports, leading to a career in journalism across various locations including Enid, Okla., Alamogordo, N.M., Pascagoula, Miss., and Viera, Fla. since 1998. His primary enthusiasm lies in small-town community sports, particularly baseball and soccer.