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| Oh yeah, and USA Basketball will win Gold at the 2012 Olympics in London! |
For all you avid BDD&C readers out there, you know how we like to make bold statements and opinionated comments, well how about we make 10 of 'em that should set up 2012 nicely for us. That is of course, so we can stand proud like your local high school QB hero or fall flat on our face like Jared Jefferies does on ever layup. No particular order here either:
Carmelo Anthony Will Finish 2nd In The MVP Voting
Ok, call me a homer here and then call me a jackass. But, take a look at Carmelo Anthony's game. People knock Carmelo Anthony because he doesn't play defense and sometimes shoots too much. However, when 'Melo is focused he can one of the elite players in the NBA. Just because Carmelo doesn't play defense, doesn't mean he can't. It simply is about his focus. I think, with a full year under his belt as a New York Knick, Carmelo Anthony will be focused and truly comfortable in D'Antoni's system running the "point-forward." I have a feeling we're going to watch 'Melo assume the leadership role in all regards, defensively, rebounding and ball-movement, not just in his classic scoring role. Though Anthony will have a 25 ppg, 8 rpg, 7 apg, kind of season he won't be able to take the award from Kevin Durant and the 50+ win Thunder.
CJ Wilson Will Be A Bust
The Angels threw big money at CJ Wilson this offseason, and I'm not entirely sure it was a good decision. With an already solid pitching rotation, the Angels felt the former Ranger was worth 15 mil or so a year and would put them over the top. However, I'm not completely sold on the 31 year old lefty. He's a gunslinger who likes to overpower his batters with fastballs and cutters. Though he's 31-15 with a 3.14 ERA over his last two seasons, he's only been a true starter for two years. His 16-7 record isn't that impressive with the lineup the Rangers had. Plus, Wilson's career ERA in the playoffs is a bad 4.82 and with the way the Angels have built their team, they're going to be looking for playoff success from their new 2nd starter. Maybe, I'm just not sold on big money, long-term contracts for pitchers, but I don't see CJ Wilson being worth 15 mil a year.
MSG Will Host Both The NHL & NBA Eastern Conference Finals
MSG has been rocking lately with the beginning of the highly anticipated Knicks season, along with the emergence of a dominate Rangers squad. I think the Rangers are a definite Stanley Cup contender with the acquisition of Brad Richards and the growth of Dan Girardi, Brandon Dubinsky and Derek Stepan. The Knicks, once they get Baron Davis healthy and then gel together, will be a serious contender in the East. New York City should feel like it's '94 again, and like '94 I think the Rangers have a far better chance of lifting Lord Stanley than the Knicks do winning the NBA Championship. Either way it'll be an exciting spring in NYC.
Alabama Will Win The National Championship Game
The rematch of the SEC's two best teams will be a phenomenal game, whether you wanted it or not. I think both teams are still extremely similar in talent level, but this time around Trent Richardson will not only make a dent in the stat sheet, but in the end zone. Expect Richardson to break through for a touchdown or two, proving to be the difference in another dramatic game. Though this time it won't be a 9-6 yawner, it'll be a 24-21 hard-fought game. I know how good LSU is, and how dominant they've been all season, but how in the world do you beat Alabama twice in a season?
Neither Green Bay Nor New England Will Make The Super Bowl
Everyone and their mother is picking New England and Green Bay to meet in the Super Bowl this year. I mean how could you not? Both teams have elite quarterbacks who are knocking on the 5,000 yard door, and rarely turn the ball over. Both teams are going to have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. However, their horrendous defenses are being overlooked way too much. I'm not sure who thought playing Madden in the regular season was going to translate to playoff success, but last time I checked "Defense wins championships," not video-game like offenses. Both of these teams are lacking any sort of defense, and though I'm not completely sure whose going to beat either one of these squads, I'm confident it will be before Super Bowl 46.
The Heat Will Not Win The NBA Championship
This has nothing to do with the fact that the Heat aren't ready or built for a championship, this will simply be attributed to the wackiness of this 66 game season. Back in '99 when the NBA had it's last lockout an eight seed(The New York Knicks) made the NBA Finals and that remains the only time an #8 seed has ever made the NBA Championship Series. These season is going to require an insane amount of depth, which the Heat do not have. There will be too many back-to-backs and 6 games in 8 days for the three of them to log 45 minutes a game like they did last year. I expect the unexpected this season to win it all, like the Grizzlies, Bulls, Knicks or maybe even the Atlanta Hawks. The Heat are my 150% favorite for next season, when the NBA returns to it's epically soft 82 game season.
The Indianapolis Colts Will Once Again Miss The Playoffs Next Year
As much as I think Peyton Manning deserves the NFL MVP in a reverse psychology sort of way, I see an aging Colts squad around #18. Jim Caldwell, has proven that he isn't Tony Dungy, and can't just imitate what Dungy had done in his previous years with the Colts. Though, I think the Colts will recover soon, with the hopeful draft pick of Andrew Luck and heralded Bill Polian as their GM, I'm pretty sure Jim Caldwell is better suited as an assistant coach. I understand his quarterback play was atrocious, but the mere fact that he couldn't get any of the Colts veterans to rally around Peyton and instead sit around like a bunch of spoiled brats really makes me second guess his ability to coach a team. But enough with Caldwell because after the Colts miss the playoffs again next season he will longer coach them.
The Boston Red Sox Will Make The World Series
Positively and negatively the Boston Red Sox cleaned house in their management department getting rid of Theo Epstein and Terry Francona opting to bring in the unproven Ben Cherington and no bullshit Bobby Valentine instead. I think the Valentine move is great as long as the Red Sox respond. Responding is a must for many of these players dignities after the disaster that was last year's September collapse. Adding Andrew Bailey to the rotation should strengthen it and take pressure of the big time bust, Jon Lackey. I also think Carl Crawford will respond to Valentine's old-school attitude. The left fielder's revival combined with more MVP efforts by Jacoby Ellsbury and Gonzo should make the Red Sox's lineup as dangerous as it looks on paper. I'm not exactly sure if the Sox can win a series against the Phillies who have a serious chip on their shoulder, but I'm confident Boston will find itself back in a familiar place: in the World Series.
Cam Newton Will Put Up MVP Numbers, But Will Not Win Because The Panthers Still Suck
No one expected Cam Newton to be a gunslinger and a record breaker at that. People didn't doubt Cam's athletic ability or his ability to run the football, but no one thought he could throw the ball the way he did this year. Breaking the rookie passing yard records was nice, but doing it with a mediocre offense around you is truly impressive. I could see Cam Newton willing the Panthers to an 8-8 record next year by putting up a stupid 4,000 yards passing, 800 yards rushing and 45 total TDs, but not winning the MVP because the Panthers are still going to be brutal. Cam Newton's intelligence and decision-making is what makes him a great QB in the NFL, not his ridiculous athletic ability. No sophomore slump here!
USC Will Make The National Championship Game
Unfortunately for Matt Barkley and the USC Trojans they had to take the fall for USC it's cheating ways in the mid-2000s. But the Trojans are set to make a big return to the bowl stage, and I think it will be as big as the National Championship. The Trojans have Matt Barkley returning, along with 15 other starters returning following a strong season that including 10 wins, and almost an eleventh if it wasn't for a miraculous throw by Andrew Luck. When USC beat Oregon on the road, I realized that this team was actually a National Championship contender, despite it's completely deserved bowl ban. Even though USC will return to the BCS promise land, they will not be able to beat a SEC team, because well, no one beats SEC teams in BCS bowls.
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