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  A Happy New Year From Mike Lynch
The following is part of year-long column penned by WCVB Channel 5's Mike Lynch. He wiill provide his insights and thoughts on youth sports.

Happy New Year
MikeLynch2.jpgBy Mike Lynch

The calendar tells us that the New Year begins on January 1 but if you are a student or an athlete, your year begins in September. Schools open, tryouts for fall sports abound and hockey is just cranking up. Like the jingle in the Staples commercial, "it’s the most wonderful time of the year."

School brings new challenges, new teachers, new courses, and new friends. On the athletic field or rink the same holds true. There are new coaches, new teammates and those one or two kids who grew four inches and put on 20 pounds over the summer.

On January 1 many of us make resolutions for the coming year so why not do the same for the “unofficial” New Year. In school, set a goal to do better in one or more subjects (mom and dad will love you for it.)

In hockey, soccer, football or other sports – do the same. Spend as much time on your weakness as you do in your strength. If your coach wants you to practice a drill ten times then do it twenty times. Somewhere out there is an athlete who is doing just that and he/she will have the edge as the season goes on. That is how Tedy Bruschi made it through thirteen NFL seasons as an undersized linebacker – first one on the practice field- last one off the practice field.

Remember, it is a new year – you all are starting out equal – but in a few months those who sacrifice and sweat a little more than the others will enjoy success. As Bill Belichick always reminded me each September since I have known him, "the price of success is always paid in advance.!"
About Mike Lynch
Mike Lynch has been the principal sports anchor at WCVB-TV Channel 5 in Boston since September 1985. He reports Sunday through Thursday on NewsCenter 5 at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. He joined Channel 5 full-time in April 1983 as weekend sports anchor after working part-time for the station for one year.

Since 1995, Lynch has hosted the weekly sports program "Patriots All Access," a behind-the-scenes look at New England's NFL franchise. During the NFL pre-season, Lynch serves as a broadcast commentator during Patriots games. He has also done play-by-play coverage for the Boston Celtics, New England Patriots and college football.

For 11 years, he hosted the Boston College weekly football coach's show "Eagles Preview" on Channel 5. In 1985, Lynch initiated "High Five," a weekly NewsCenter 5 report highlighting the achievements of high school student athletes. The unique segments have been lauded by critics and received numerous honors for a continuing commitment to covering high school athletics.

From 1985 to 91 and again in 1998 and 1999, Lynch was voted Massachusetts "Sportscaster of the Year" by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. In 1987, SportsCenter 5 won the United Press International Award for "Best Sports Reporting" in the country.

Prior to coming to WCVB, he was sports director for Boston's WMRE Radio, formerly WITS, from 1977 to 1983. During this time, Lynch was responsible for the station's Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins pre-game shows. In addition, he hosted a weeknight sports talk show and was the radio voice of Harvard University's football broadcasts.

Lynch's broadcasting career began in 1974 at WLYN Radio in Lynn, where he served as a color commentator for high school football and basketball broadcasts. Lynch was brought up in the Boston suburb of Swampscott.

He graduated from Harvard in 1977. While in college, he quarterbacked and kicked for the Harvard team that won the 1975 Ivy League Football Championship. He also played first base for the Crimson baseball team.
  
  INDEX
 Jul 15, 10
King of What? - By Mike Lynch
 May 14, 10
Triumph and Courage - By Mike Lynch
 Apr 30, 10
Like Father Like Daughter; Alex Carpenter Is Carving Out Her Own Legacy
 Apr 30, 10
The Year to Remember Continues for Former VJW Player Chris Kreider
 Apr 20, 10
Keeping #5 Alive - By Mike Lynch
 Apr 16, 10
Tournament Action Returns to Haverhill in 2010
 Apr 10, 10
Magical Season Comes to an End for VJW '97 Elites at USA Hockey Nationals
 Apr 9, 10
A Class Act - By Mike Lynch
 Apr 8, 10
VJW '97 Elites Loss Sets Stage for Third Day Showdown at Nationals
 Apr 8, 10
VJW '97 Elites Post 3-2 Win Over Columbus at USA Hockey Nationals
 Apr 6, 10
VJW '97 Elites Arrive in New York; Prepare to Take On Nation's Best
 Apr 2, 10
Former VJW Junior A Player Colin Mulvey Captures NCAA National Title
 Mar 22, 10
VJW '97 Elites Prepare for USA Hockey Nationals
 Mar 21, 10
Chris Kreider - Former VJW Standout - Leads BC to NCAA Tournament
 Mar 17, 10
Nothing is Impossible - By Mike Lynch
 Sep 8, 09
Valley Jr Warriors Excel at Labor Day Face-Off Invitational
 Mar 15, 10
Former VJW Junior A Star Cucci Shines in Hockey East Battle
 Mar 14, 10
VJW Mite Selects Bask in NEHL Championship Glory
 Mar 14, 10
VJW '97 Elites Punch Ticket to USA Hockey Nationals in April
 Mar 14, 10
VJW '99 Selects Celebrate Mass State Select League Championship
 Mar 14, 10
VJW '98 Elites Capture New England Hockey League Title
 Mar 7, 10
Former VJW Junior A Standout Nets Year-End League Honors
 Mar 5, 10
Non Sibi - By Mike Lynch
 Feb 22, 10
What Can You Do For Brown? - By Mike Lynch
 Feb 11, 10
VJW Squirt Major Selects Make a Difference Both On and Off the Ice
 Feb 11, 10
VJW Squirt Major Selects Take Time to Help Others In Need
 Feb 5, 10
Valley Jr Warriors Coach Bob Sweeney Joins Beanpot Hall
 Feb 3, 10
Tewksbury Tough - By Mike Lynch
 Jan 5, 10
VJW Teams Battle For Titles at the 2010 JWK Holiday Tournament
 Jan 19, 10
VJW '98 Elites Jonathan Folsom Featured in Local Newspaper
 Jan 18, 10
Standing Tall - By Mike Lynch
 Jan 5, 10
VJW '98 Selects Capture Boston Jr Terriers Tournament Title
 Jan 4, 10
Taking the Pledge in 2010 - By Mike Lynch
 Dec 31, 09
Valley Jr Warriors '98 Elites Take On Bell Capital Cup Challenge
 Dec 28, 09
Former VJW Standout Chris Kreider & Team USA Are World Champions
 Dec 23, 09
Former VJW Star Kreider Named to the 2010 U.S. National Junior Team
 Dec 23, 09
VJW '97 Elites Take Their Game to Canada
 Dec 17, 09
Holiday Shopping List - By Mike Lynch
 Dec 14, 09
Haverhill Valley Forum Enjoys Its Fourth Year of Operation In Style
 Dec 11, 09
Eastern Junior Hockey League Featured in Recent USA Hockey Magazine
 Dec 6, 09
Walking Tall - By Mike Lynch
 Dec 4, 09
Former VJW Players Shine On Collegiate Scene
 Nov 18, 09
Call to Glory - By Mike Lynch
 Nov 15, 09
14th Annual Warrior Classic Comes to a Close
 Nov 15, 09
VJW Teams Battle at Mass State Championship Playdowns
 Nov 12, 09
Riki Retelle Earns EJHL Defensive Player of the Week Honors
 Nov 12, 09
VJW Teams Set For Mass Hockey Tier I & Tier II State Championship Playdowns
 Nov 10, 09
Valley Jr Warriors Junior As Enjoy Weekend Sweep Over CD Selects
 Nov 8, 09
Welcome Home - 4 VJW Teams Return After Strong Showing in Chicago
 Nov 6, 09
Courage - By Mike Lynch
 Nov 1, 09
VJW Teams Poised to Face the Best of the Best
 Oct 30, 09
VJW Junior A Team Making Big Strides
 Oct 13, 09
VJW U-16 IIs Continue Winning and Championship Ways
 Oct 20, 09
The Golden Tornado - By Mike Lynch
 Oct 20, 09
VJW '95 Elites - Picking Up Where They Left Off
 Oct 20, 09
Steve MacAdams Brings Experience & Success to VJW
 Oct 25, 09
USA Hockey Announces H1N1 Recommendations
 Oct 5, 09
No Early Season Jitters for the VJW '98 Elites
 Oct 5, 09
Great Expectations - From Mike Lynch
 Sep 29, 09
VJW Mite Minors Off to a Fast (and Fun!) Start
 Sep 22, 09
VJW '99 Selects Make a Difference On and Off the Ice
 Sep 21, 09
VJW U-16 Midget Standout Brian Ward Heads to Dartmouth College
 Sep 16, 09
VJW Teams Post Impressive 5-1 Record Against Team Comcast
 Sep 16, 09
VJW '96 Selects Skate to Victory at Summer Cool-Off Tournament
 Sep 15, 09
Tom Terrific - Mike Lynch Reflects on Tom Brady
 Sep 8, 09
Valley Jr Warriors '98 Elites Capture WNS Title
 Sep 9, 09
VJW - Junior A Season Preview
 Sep 2, 09
A Happy New Year From Mike Lynch
 Aug 18, 09
VJW's JJ Layton Heads to Little League World Series
 Jul 19, 09
VJW Players Shine at 2009 USA Hockey Player Development Camp
 Jun 29, 09
Chris Kreider Selected No. 19 in 2009 NHL Entry Draft
 Jun 18, 09
VJW Tournaments Make a Return to Haverhill in 2009
 Jun 1, 09
VJW Junior A Team Welcomes Two Key Players for 2009-10 Season