Basket of unrealistic wishes

The one thing about sports wish lists is that they seldom have any chance of becoming reality.

In 2009, for example, one of my wishes was to see Floyd Mayweather fight Manny Pacquiao.

But then, which boxing fan wouldn't have wanted to watch the world's two top pound-for-pound fighters, at the peak of their powers and in the same weight division, slugging it out?

Admittedly, my wish did extend to the point where Pacman knocked out the American braggart, but I'm digressing.

Boxing fans are still talking about the possibility of this match-up, but I must be honest, the fight doesn't grab me as it did half a decade ago.

By the time they actually do get to duel they might have to use walking sticks at dawn.

Another wish is that South Africa has a flawless - or at least a less flawed - sports awards.

Whether you like Fikile Mbalula's razzmatazz affair or not, it does serve to honour our top sports stars, and that part is wonderful.

Especially for the Cinderella sports like rowing, where the top guys earn practically nothing, but still become world champions.

While there is sure to be much hullaballoo around this year's ceremony, the nomination process doesn't seem to enjoy the same marketing.

How many people actually know that the deadline for nominations has been extended until tomorrow? Or that nomination forms can be found on the Sport and Recreation SA website?

Too few is my guess.

For last year's bash cyclist Daryl Impey, who became the first South African to wear the Tour de France yellow jersey, and Johan Cronje, the 1500m World Championship bronze medallist, were omitted from the final lists.

Mountain biker Greg Minnaar, who won the downhill World Championship in September last year, was not considered for last year's awards because the period of eligibility ended on August 31 that year.

A year later he is still not being considered, because the 2014 period begins on October 1 2013.

Abracadabra! September 2013 has magically disappeared from the SA sports calendar.

With a little effort and no extra outlay, one could make these awards more meaningful and inclusive - of all the dreams on my wish list, this should be the most attainable.

But my most unrealistic wish, probably, is to see Patrick Lambie playing at inside centre for the Springboks.

Handré Pollard has made the flyhalf berth his own, which means that Lambie must either play second fiddle or change position.

No disrespect to Jean de Villiers - he is a skilful player - but Lambie better fits my vision of the magician at inside centre.

And flyhalves have frequently played this role: think of Hennie le Roux, Michael du Plessis, and, if you go back far enough in history, Dave Stewart.

The thing about Lambie is his passing; he delivers the ball with such accuracy and perfect timing that he has the ability to split a backline wide open.

Pollard, apart from having a reliable boot, also possesses a creative gene, and I'd be interested to see if he and Lambie could conjure up a chemistry.

I'm not suggesting that this wish come true against the All Blacks on Saturday.

Lambie and Pollard are young enough to keep my wish alive for years to come, and I'm happy to carry on dreaming.