Mike London’s first season begins with a test against Richmond.

Each of the last few years, I have written a 10 Things column right before the start of the season and in each of the last few years, I have looked for some kind of a theme. This year, I did not have to look hard – this season is all about hope, both the hope of better things ahead and my own hope about how certain things will play out (or not).

1. I hope … 2010 is a stepping stone to better things. It might seem strange to start a preseason column about the 2010 season by talking about what 2010 could mean on the road to 2011 and beyond. But as far as I am concerned, that is how you must look at the 2010 season before the first snap is taken.

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