As a sports fan, you know you’re getting old when guys your age are big time stars in the sports you love.

Well on my favorite baseball team alone, the New York Mets, David Wright (born 12/20/82) and Jose Reyes (6/11/83) are pretty big names. That leaves me (2/14/83) feeling a bit older today as I hit the age of 24. Somehow I don’t think I’m ever going to develop that sweet stroke to the right center field gap. Or that killer jump shot either.

So I have to forget the dreams of yesteryear and move forward with some new goals and hopes. As you know if you read my post from yesterday, last year on my birthday, I made 23 wishes (I turned 23) in hopes to that a few would come true. Granted, some were completely off kilter and had no chance of happening, but I got a measly 1.5 wishes of 23.

1.75!!! That’s a .076 clip. Pitchers hit better than that.

So in 2007 I’m trying to do better. I’m going to scale back in the ridiculous wish department (though some will sneak in) and add one more wish to the overall total in honor of my 24th birthday.

The 2007 birthday wish list; extravagant to some but not nearly as bad as Mr. Wright had and Mr. Reyes will on their 24th birthdays, I’m sure.

24. Vince Carter traded for Ron Artest: The Nets need a defensive presence and I’m sick of the Vinsanity’s fade away threes. Give me RJ for offense and RA for defense.

23. Eric Mangini To Dress Up Like “the Penguin”: That’s been the Jets head coach’s nickname so why not? He already dresses in black; all he needs is a top hat, monocle and umbrella. Do it for Halloween coach; I guarantee it will top any of Clinton Portis’ characters. (Come to think of it, the Jets and Redskins play this year. Think of the possibilities!)

22. A Baseball Video Game to actually get the minors right: Heard MVP Baseball ’05 came the closest. The Show ’06 made a nice effort, but wound up just short (there was next to no player development, even though you had AAA and AA). The farm system is what makes baseball different; get it right people.

21. A Good Sportswriter on a Mainstream Site: I’m sick of reading guys whose arguments come down to basic catch phrases (he’s good because he’s got heart!) or hate on players just because everyone else does. (A-Rod isn’t clutch!) My new hope; Larry Dobrow on Sportsline, who just wrote how A-Rod doesn’t suck. (the latest in quite a few quality pieces) I, naturally, agree with him. Or should I say, he agrees with me? Speaking of A-Rod:

20. A-Rod traded: Just so he can go smack 55 homers for some other team and win another MVP. In a perfect world, he’d also hit .500 with four homers and 12 RBI in a victory over the Yankees in the postseason.

19. Win the NCAA Tourney Pool: Perhaps the greatest feeling of victory, because so much has to go your way. Plus there’s no shame is greater than having your National Champion bow out in the first round. The MADNESS!

18. Go out partying with David Wright and Jose Reyes: I might never be a star like them, but there’s no reason we can’t hang out. (Aside from the obvious) I know they can draw out the women. Maybe I can pass for a slap hitting second baseman with a good glove. People do often think I’m Dominican, for no other reason but my skin coloring.

17. A US soccer player (non goalie) makes it big overseas: DeMarcus Beasley looked like that guy, until injuries derailed him. A similar fate may befall Bobby Convey. Landon Donovan will never be the guy. Maybe one of these days someone will. Connected to this is:

16. MLS matters: I don’t like MLS. Its level of play is third tier. They don’t even get the second level Latin and South American players; those guys run to Mexico, Argentina and Brazil to play. Maybe David Beckham and possibly Zinedine Zidane can generate enough interest into making soccer a viable enterprise in this country.

15. Lastings Milledge actually is given a chance: only Mets fans and the NY media are down on this kid. Projection systems love him because of his excellent year in the pitcher friendly International League (and very pitcher friendly Norfolk ball park). If they’re right, the Mets should be playing him there rather than Shawn Green.

14. For an athlete to say “it is about the money”: We came oh so close with Tyrus Thomas calling the slam dunk contest “easy money” but he’s since backed off those statements. I don’t see why someone doesn’t just come out and admit it. I mean is there anyone who believes that a multi billion dollar industry isn’t driven by the green first and foremost?

13. Baseball writers come off their pedestals: If I read one more piece where baseball writers claim a “moral dilemma” with how voting for Barry Bonds for the HoF will affect their children, I’m going to vomit. Or short of that:

12. Some lovable “Scrapper” gets busted for steroid use: So tired of people railing on how Barry Bonds destroyed the game when it’s obvious PED use is rampant in sports. Nothing would shut people up more than seeing someone in the mold of David Eckstein get busted for it.

11. Repeating as Fantasy Football champion: Repeats are hard to do, as the NCAA pool showed. Plus fantasy football is the king of all the fantasy sports; it gets you the most rep.

10. Dan Haren traded to the Mets: Haren would become one of the top ten pitchers in the league. There’s almost no way a pitcher with his peripherals wouldn’t pitch to at least a 3.50 ERA in the National League and at Shea Stadium.

9. Finally Doing Something in Fantasy Baseball: Baseball is the sport I know best, yet despite that Lance and I have had two straight years of bottom tier finishes. Pathetic. This year I want to actually be able to make moves at the deadline to try to win the league. Though Zach would probably tell me “get to fifth place before you dream of first.”

8. Jose Reyes to continue walking: I wanted him to start in 2006. It happened. If Reyes maintains what he did last year, he’ll be very good. If he improves, he’ll be a star.

7. The Jets Don’t Regress:The Jets had a great season, spurred on by an easy out of division schedule. Next year it will have to be harder, so the hope is the Jets can go 10-6 again or maybe even improve. Can’t say I’m overly optimistic, but we’ve got a long way to go until September.

6. Some big time sports person to dismiss the idea of “clutch”: Embrace the small sample size people. It allows Alex Gomez to produce a very good average over a four game stretch. Or Yadier Molina to be the MVP of a seven game series. Or Alex Rodriguez to go 1-14. But don’t try to tell us that these players possess some mythical ability to raise their game or have an inherent flaw to choke when the games mean more.

5. Oliver Perez returns to 2004 form: It’s no secret that I’m a huge supporter of the erratic fireballing lefty. If Perez produces like and ace, then the Mets are in great shape. If he produces like a #3 they’ll be fine. His arm is still electric and he can erase a lot of bad memories about hard throwing lefties if he comes up big this season.

4. To regain my love for the NHL: I don’t know what happened. Years ago I’d never watch the Nets over the Rangers. Now that’s what I find myself doing. No clue as to the reason, but I hope whatever it is passes soon.

3. One of my four favorite teams wins a championship: Twas my number one last year. Unfortunately my lack of funds have forced me into knocking this down a few pegs this year. While I’d love to see one of my teams actually win it all, there are some more pressing problems which take my top two wishes this year.

2. A job sports writing: Last year I said in NY. I’m a lot less picky a year later. This by all rights should be numero uno for obvious reasons, but it’s Valentine’s day. So:

1. A date with a cute female sports fan: A hold over. So what? It’s the dream of many a sports fans out there and on Valentine’s Day, it’s quite appropriate. Besides it’s pathetic that I’ve never had a date on my birthday with my last name. Won’t happen this year either, but maybe in 2008?

So that’s 24 for 2007 on this 2/14. Will I have better luck this year than last? You’d have to think so, right? Of course, life, like sports, can be very unpredictable. That’s what makes it great.

Here’s to hoping year 24 will be as solid as the years that preceded it and less heart stopping than the show of the same name. I tend to think partying with Wright and Reyes is a bit more suited to me than hanging out with Jack Bauer.

Happy (Ben) Valentine’s Day.