SPORTSBEAT by Peter Jakey: Truth or fiction sports predictions
While the front part of The Advance has been dedicated for a review of the events of the second half of 2007, here?s what I believe is in store in the world of sports from July to December. While many may seem like far off fictional tales, how many are close to what could happen?
July– Former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr takes over as the new Notre Dame football coach after Charlie Weis is fired.
The National League wins the all-star game at Yankee Stadium as Tiger reliever Todd Jones serves up four consecutive home run balls. It is the National League?s first win in more than a decade. Jones made the roster after 20 other Major League relievers were forced from the game because of injuries. The National League squad gives him the game ball.
The Kansas City Royals are in hot pursuit of the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central race, after a three-game sweep mid-month. Detroit still leads the division over the Royals by three-and-a-half games. The Tigers are recovering from injuries to Gary Sheffield and Carlos Guillen. The big news during the month is manager Jim Leyland kicking the habit.
The Lions unceremoniously begin training camp. Shaun Rogers surprisingly returns to the Lions weighing about 380 pounds, about 40 more than was listed at the end of 2007. He blames the media for the extra pounds.
August– Down by 15 runs in the final inning, the Nautical Dudes hit 12 home runs into the crowd at ?The Hole,? to capture the first Nautical City men?s softball tournament trophy in more than two-and-a-half decades.
Americans capture gold medals at the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing, China in table tennis and taekwondo.
Tiger starter Nate Robertson takes a no-hitter into the eighth inning before having it broken up by the Indians? Grady Sizemore. Robertson goes on to win his 12th game of the year.
September– The Michigan State football team starts off the season with a 5-0 record in September with wins against UAB, Bowling Green, Pittsburgh, Lloyd Carr-led Notre Dame, and Wisconsin.
Lion quarterback John Kitna tosses three touchdowns to Calvin Johnson, but Jason Hanson misses an extra point and a field goal in the closing minutes in a 21-20 home loss to Miami. Detroit also is blown out in week two at Lambau Field, 60-2. The annual wake begins early for Lions? fans.
October– The Red Wings get off to another hot start with an 11-2 record during the first month of the season, but yet it is difficult to get the fans interested after another post-season debacle less than six months before where they were bounced from the No. 1 seed. The Wings continue to find it difficult to sell out, but yet refuse to reduce ticket prices which range from $50 to $200.
The Tigers knock off Boston in the playoffs, and play Cleveland in a classic seven game series, before facing Los Angeles in the World Series. Tiger pitchers commit six errors in the first four games, but the Dodgers cannot counter Detroit?s powerful line-up as the Tigers win their fifth World Series title.
November– Ohio State coach Jim Tressel can?t find any of his sweater vests before the big Michigan game and shows up midway through the third quarter. The distraction works in Michigan?s favor as new Wolverine coach Rich Rodriguez wins his first game against the Buckeyes. Even thought the Maize and Blue finish with a 6-6 regular season record, a win against Ohio State has made the season a success.
The Lions get bombed by the Bears on Thanksgiving Day at
December– Tiger president Dave Dombrowski trades Ivan Rodriguez, Nate Robertson, and Todd Jones to Minnesota for Johan Santana, and the Tigers? odds of winning a second straight World Series title go through the roof. Indian fans are beside themselves in disbelief about another blockbuster trade pulled off by Dombrowski. He is given the award for ?Detroit Sportsperson of the Decade.?
Late December: This columnist spins another nutty list of sports predictions.