2012 Forecast

With the new year here, we've got a new year to wish, to dream, to hope that our team wins the championship. I myself am guilty of that, hoping that my Mets will at least finish .500, or that the Giants make great strides in the playoffs this year. What else do we have to look forward to? Well on the 9th of January, we'll have a new BCS National Champion, with wither Alabama or LSU taking it all. I've got my money on Alabama, since I feel like they have a better defense and can make more explosive plays. Trent Richardson was held in check last game, but surely that'll change this game. If bowl season has taught us anything, it's that you better score 40 points to have a chance. Ok, that's a bit of a stretch, but this game will have at least three touchdowns, not like the "thrilling" 9-6 victory LSU had over Bama to give the school it's only loss of the year. So Roll Tide on this one.
On February 5th, expect a record crowd to view the Superbowl, an event that will be streamed live on NBC for the first time ever. And while we're far from knowing who will participate, I'll take a stab at determining the NFC and AFC championship games. On the AFC side I've got the Patriots and the Ravens facing off, considering the Texans have issues at QB and the Steelers are very down on offense right now. The Broncos, with a QB that completes 2/20 passes and the Bengals with inconsistent offense shouldn't make it far in the playoffs. In the NFC I have the Giants and the Saints facing off. Detroit has an explosive offense but it's defense will give up a few touchdown to Drew Brees, while the 49ers don't have enough offense to compete with these MVP quarterbacks and the Packers barely edged out the Giants last time they met, a lineup that had their starting RB on the bench at the time. These games will be great though, so lets go Giants!
March Madness comes after, with favorites like Syracuse, Duke and North Carolina leading the charge. I really like Duke this year, with outstanding athletes Seth Curry and Austin Rivers leading the charge. Surely my bracket won't be busted like a last year, so no Butler and VCU in this championship matchup this year. Don't expect much from my Scarlet Knights, who play in the toughest conference known as the Big East. With lots of ranked teams in the Big East, they'll make noise in the tournament but won't win it all.
April brings the opening of the MLB season. Just like the scene from Family Guy for my Mets, "And here's the first pitch...and the season's over". That pretty much sums it up for my team. Although we do have excitement brewing across the NL East. The Phillies still have the strongest pitching staff. The Marlins are know the Miami Marlins and took he-who-must-not-be-named as their new SS and Buehrle to go with Johnson in that pitching staff. The Braves have great talent in Heyward and McCann, and just missed the playoffs last year. While the Nationals have a very intriguing team with Werth, Strasburg coming back, Harper possibly being called up, and Fielder potentially signing with them. And on the AL side we have a new manager for the Red Sox in one of my favorite managers, Bobby Valentine. We also have Pujols sporting new wings and a relentless Rangers team who has lost the past two World Series. The new Buffalo Bill's? Only time will tell.

Perhaps the biggest sports tournament this year will be the 2012 Summer Olympics. Before, I wasn't a huge fan of the games in 2004, but the games won my heart in 2008. I watched live as Michael Phelps won his second gold against the French, and Usain Bolt breaking every track record. Plus I am guilty of watching the woman's gymnastics, purely for the sake of competition., yeah. We also had the great American Redeem Team led by LeBron James and Dwight Howard. This year the headlines should be the continuing domination of Phelps, a second gold for USA men's basketball, and Spain or Brazil taking the soccer gold.
In September the NBA season commences (but it just started!). That's weird, but this year brings the free agency of Dwight Howard and the movement of the New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn and the Barclays Center. Exciting time for Jay-Z's team. Let's keep the bandwagoning to a minimum guys. Hopefully before the season starts, LeBron hasn't won a championship, the new look Knicks are NBA champions, and Steve Nash hasn't retired!
In the last 3 months, you have the World Series and hockey/basketball/football in full swing. Championships will be won and lost. Legends will be born and fall. It's the beauty of sports. All can go right or everything will erupt in your face. I can't wait to see what this year brings!