As the year comes to an end, I feel it is only appropriate to leave you with some things to look for during the summer. So, without further adieu, maestro could I get an unnecessary drum roll, please.
Kings will win NBA Title
Although the recent injury to All-Star power forward Chris Webber could put a significant chink in Sacramento's armor, a healthy Webber will lead the NBA's most talented and deepest team to the Promised Land. They were the best team in the league last year and now are ready to take it to the next level.
After easily disposing of the antique Jazz and paper-mache Mavericks, the Kings will square off with the Lakers and play for the real NBA title in the Western Conference Finals.
The Lakers supporting cast is a year older and a step slower. Vlade Divac always has had as much success against Shaq as any other center in the league. Webber is playing the best basketball of his life and consistently has come up big at the end of games this season. Point guard Mike Bibby still will be clutch in the playoffs and All-Star forward Peja Stojakovic will be healthy and at 100 percent for the whole series this time around (no more air balls at crunch time). The additions of center Keon Clark and guard Jimmy Jackson give the Kings two more options in trying to slow down Shaq and Kobe, respectively. Most importantly, Sacramento now has the experience and mental toughness to go with the talent to dethrone the defending champs. Just as it took a few years for the "Bad Boy" Pistons of the 1980s to get through Boston in the Eastern Conference, Sacramento finally will get past the Lakers in the West and declare themselves the NBA's "Kings."
Tigers to keep pace for historic futility
The Detroit Tigers already have set a Major League Baseball record for being the first team since 1900 to start two consecutive seasons with at least nine straight losses. The Tigers could add another dubious distinction to their name if they break the all-time loss mark set by the 1962 Mets who went 40-and-120. As of yesterday, the Tigers only had garnered one win in 17 tries. Furthermore, they were five games below the Devil Rays! And it doesn't look like it's going to get any better for the Detroit faithful. The Tigers offense sports the American League's lowest batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, home run total, runs produced and runs scored (the numbers for all the categories are not even close). To make matters worse, the Tigers pitching staff has an ERA over 5.00 with no signs of improving. At their current pace of a .057 winning percentage, the Tigers are set to achieve a grand total of 10 victories by the end of the year. Let's only hope they do so well.
Annika Sorenstam will surprise many
Now I know what most of you are saying. A woman golfer, no matter how good a player she is, can't actually make the cut against the greatest male players in the world. And normally I would agree, but her chances are much better than normal because of the course she will be playing on. The Colonial Tournament is noted as one of the PGA's shortest golf courses and filled with sharp dog legs right and left. Unlike most other tournaments, the Colonial does not cater to the long hitters on the tour. Instead, this tournament demands accuracy off the tee and perfection around the greens---two of Sorenstam's strong suits. Remember that many past winners of the Colonial, including two-time winner Corey Pavin (1985 and 1996), were not nearly the longest hitters in the game. Instead, they played on their accuracy and short game to post wins, despite not having the long-hitting ability of the rest of the field. Even if Sorenstam doesn't make the cut, she will make many take notice of her successful showing against the men in May.
So there you have it: the Kings will win, the Tigers will lose and Sorenstam will fall somewhere in between. Wait a minute, what about hockey and NASCAR? Oh yeah, I don't care.
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