So this year, on January 2nd, which actually seems like yesterday, I posted 10 predictions on what I thought might happen in the world of sports in 2009.Well...let's see how I did.
1. With the why they're playing, Team Canada will win the World Junior Hockey Championships.
Canada indeed did, capturing their 5th straight Junior Hockey Title! In a short few weeks, we'll be looking at Team Canada on the ice again, trying for their 6th consecutive gold.
2. Brian Burke proves to be the magical potion for the Toronto Maple Leafs, turning that team around, and bringing them to the playoffs.
The Leafs were...well, the Leafs once again this year. They failed to make the 2008-2009 postseason, and though Burke has made some significant moves, it's probably doubtful that they will make the postseason next April. But who knows, we've bounced back from a 0-7-1 start and are now only 5 points out of the 8th playoff spot.
3. The Boston Celtics, lead by the Big Three, repeats as NBA Champions.
They were good, but not good enough, as the Orlando Magics beat them in a tough and exciting series in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. This year, it looks like they are good again, but potentially not good enough. But you never know what might happen down the road.
4. Usain Bolt will break his own World Record in the 100 M Sprint...again. Do I dare say at the World Athletic Championships in Berlin?
I was so happy that Bolt proved me right. Boy, that man is just so fast-shaving more than .1 of a second off his own record. The new mark is now set at 9.58...how low can he go?
5. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal continue to rule the tennis world, splitting the four grand slams. Federer takes the Aussie Open and reclaims Wimbledon. Nadal takes Roland Garros and breaks through in Flushing Meadows.
Nadal had a fabulous start to the tennis season, but an injury bug bit him hard, forcing him out early at the Roland Garros and missing the entire Wimbledon tournee. Federer did win 2 Grand Slams, but it was the French and the Wimbledon instead of the Aussie. Nadal met with kid star Juan Martin Del Potro in the semis in New York and succumbed to the eventual champion in straight sets.
6. In the 2009 World Aquatic Championships, Michael Phelps goes with a less rigorous program and takes home 4 gold medals.
He did go with a less rigorous program and still walked away with 5 golds. Now that there seems to be some competition in the swimming arena, London 2012 should be really fun.
7. The National League, after more than a decade, finally takes the MLB All Star Game in Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
The NL players went down in defeat again. The AL team struck first, then lost the lead, before retiring 18 straight NL batters and squeezing in 2 runs of their own. It was the shortest ASG in 21 years, at 2 hours and 31 minutes. At least we saw President Obama throw out a first pitch.
8. Japan wins their second straight title in the World Baseball Classic.
YES THEY DID!
9. Liu Xiang audaciously comes back from his defeat at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to reclaim the World Champion title, beating Dayron Rubles by a hair.
Liu Xiang's Achilles heal is still recovering from the 2008 injury he suffered in Beijing. So even though he didn't get to run on a track against Rubles this year, you can be sure that Liu will be back in shape for 2010.
10. Nastia Liukin once again beats her teammate Shawn Johnson at the 2009 World Gymnastic Championships for the Women's All-Around gold medal.
Yes, it was the Americans atop the podiums but it wasn't Liukin and Johnson. Instead, Bridget Sloan winning the gold and Bridget Bross winning the silver.
So this year, I went 3-10. That's better than '08 and come 2010, I'll be pumping out 10 more of those predictions.
-D
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