2008 Predictions: Upsets in the Forecasts
What's going to happen in the new year? Read on and you may find out
Dec. 31, 2007
By Adrian Brijbassi
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer
Most predictions fall somewhere between childish fantasy and educated guesswork. The more far reaching the forecast, the less likely the prognosticator is to be right. Anyone who is consistently accurate ends up rich, on TV and with a column in a nationally syndicated publication of note.
That my predictions are published in an online mag should tell you all you need to know about my rate of success (in forecasting and other endeavors). I will point out, however, that way back in August — and more than a week before the NFL season kicked off — I wrote this bold-faced sentence: "The New England Patriots will go 16-0."
Shower me with plaudits.
Keep it coming.
You're not done yet.
OK, that's enough. So my Nostradamian quatrains on the big-picture events in sports in 2007 were more reliable than Tavaris Jackson on third and long. I'll take it. Now, let's again gaze into the future while the Waterford Crystal ball in Times Square prepares to make its 77-foot descent toward 2008. Here's what I believe the new year holds for some of the notable names in sports:
Bill Belichick – Ultimate victory? Ubiquitous respect? "Unbeatable" next to your name? Actually, I'm thinking "upset." Home field isn't a big advantage for New England because Gillette Stadium figures to be cold and blustery in January, favoring teams with strong running games like Jacksonville and San Diego. It's a hunch (and some wishful thinking), but I don't see the Pats making it to the Super Bowl.
Tom Brady and the Patriots may not be perfect after all. (AI Wire photo)Tom Brady – Don't worry. Win or lose, you’ll still get to host Saturday Night Live whenever the writers' strike ends.
Josh Beckett – Having their ace lose out on the Cy Young award may be a good thing for the Red Sox. Beckett will be even more motivated to put together back-to-back 20-win seasons, and he'll do it too.
Barry Bonds – Maybe they'll let you have an iPod in your new 7x14-foot home. I suggest downloading some MIA. Like BALCO, she can "pack and deliver like UPS trucks."
Alex Rodriguez – You won't have to worry about choking in October, unless the Yankees get Johan Santana, A.J. Burnett and Nolan Ryan circa 1979. That's what it’ll take for the Bombers to reach the postseason.
Kobe Bryant – The playoffs and an MVP title, finally. The Lakers have a chance to do something special out West because they refused to trade the most explosive player in the NBA.
Coach K has a big year ahead of him. (AI Wire photo)Mike Krzyzewski – An 11th Final Four appearance then Olympic gold. The Blue Devils are deep and balanced with a number of ball handlers and an inside presence in Kyle Singler. Plus, Coach K is hungry to erase the memory of a deplorable NCAA Tournament showing last year. Once he's done with the kids, he'll gear up for Beijing with the pros.
LeBron James – The Dream Team rises again this summer and so does your global image. Renegotiate with Nike now.
Roger Federer – The French Open title you've coveted is yours in 2008, but a sixth straight win at Wimbledon seems too ridiculous, so no Grand Slam.
More Sports Betting News
Dominik Hasek – An early retirement. The Red Wings will again be upset in the NHL playoffs, maybe by Chicago in an Original Six showdown.
Bud Selig – A long overdue retirement.
Chuck Liddell – No retirement for you. "The Iceman" is back.
Tony Romo – On behalf of everyone in Cowboys Nation, I predict you will get a girlfriend who can communicate without hand signals.
Tiger Woods is aiming for history. (AP Images)Tiger Woods – Grand Slam talk is already heating up. The U.S. Open is at Torrey Pines, where Woods has won five Buick Open titles. So go ahead and mark down one major. If you think Tiger can win all four, you can get rich. His PGA odds are 25/1 to complete the slam.
David Beckham – With baseball rocked by the steroids scandal, could soccer finally sneak into the national spotlight late in the MLS season? Beckham will undoubtedly play more than five games for the L.A. Galaxy in 2008, meaning the sport is assured of more mainstream exposure.
LaDainian Tomlinson – Redemption and supremacy. As stated in August, I think the Chargers beat the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. With 6/1 Super Bowl odds, the Bolts are also a value play heading into the NFL playoffs.
Glenn Dorsey – A BCS Championship Game victory with LSU and a top-five selection in the NFL draft is due for you.
Bill Parcells – Good luck. Unless Darren McFadden is the next Adrian Peterson, the Dolphins are at least a three-year rebuilding project.
Kevin Love – Superstardom. That's what you get when you lead UCLA back to the top in college basketball then go pro as the NBA's most highly touted prospect.
The Undercard
That's upsetting: If you're going to play your starters into the second half of an NFL game that's meaningless to you, then you better make sure they're prepared. The Cowboys had no interest to compete with the Redskins (which is wrong on all sorts of levels), and it was obvious after the first few series. Wade Phillips is lucky his team got out of Washington without any injuries but giving a half-hearted effort against a division rival couldn't have done anything for the team's confidence.
Proof of disorder in the universe: Jim Sorgi made $850,000 this season. That's $47,222.22 for each of the 18 completions he posted in 2007.
Coolest song of the week: Paper Planes by MIA (last week: Four Winds by Bright Eyes).
PHOTO: Is 2008 Kobe Bryant's year to win the MVP? (AP Images)
