Ten Thoughts and Five Predictions Around the World of Sports

Early March is an interesting time for sports fans.

March Madness is coming fast, but we haven’t gotten into the big tourneys yet, so we have time before all-encompassing bedlam hits.

The NFL is distant in our rearview mirror, and we haven’t fully engaged free agency and the draft just.

Basketball is in its dog days, limping through schedule-filler following their All Star break, and still not near enough the playoff stretch run to keep our interest. And besides, the teams that matter have been locked in for months.

Baseball? Which scandal do we want to address first? Sign stealing in 2017 is too easy. How about doctoring baseballs? Or one of the most notorious steroid cheats in the history of the sport now being the headliner in the Sunday Night Baseball booth? Or all kinds of funky future playoff scenarios being bandied about in the press that no one in MLB with a say will comment on (although I am in favor of ditching the one-game play-in wild card idea).

And yeah, I know, there’s probably interesting things going on in hockey, but I’m still not paying attention to the ice.

In an attempt to fill this fluky void in the sporting schedule, SportsAttic goes around the word of sports, offering ten thoughts for the sports fan’s consideration. Let’s begin.

1. Yeah, I’m still pissed off at the whole disgraceful Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, but if we are in the business of silver linings, at least it was the Yankees that took the biggest hosing (we are counting 2019 as well here, folks, as I remain unwilling to buy that Altuve wasn’t on the wrong side of some scum-baggery when he hit that walk off against Chapman). Honorable mention hosing goes to the Dodgers, which also doesn’t bring tears to my eyes. Yes, the bitterness of Mets fans knows no bounds.
2. I turned on the XFL last weekend and was blown away by the quality of play being far better than anticipated. Some of the quirky ideas, like how they are handling kickoffs and making the extra point more interesting I liked, too. Way back when (the ’80’s) I was a diehard USFL fan for a few years, and felt like there was a cool place being carved out for football in the spring (until Trump blew up the league). So I’m cautiously placing a toe on the XFL bandwagon and will absolutely tune in again.
3. Speaking of off the beaten path team sports, I happened to attend a World Team Tennis event last weekend. I think the WTT must be experienced in person for the full effect to work for most fans, but I believe even non-tennis fanatics could have some fun here. Lots of music (which takes some getting used to, but ultimately works) and fan interaction, but maybe the best part was that even the “names” on the court seemed to be having fun. In fact, I’m pretty sure I saw a self-effacing smile flash across the visage of that all-time ice princess, Maria Sharapova. The team format is a significant departure (in a positive way) from the traditional hand to hand combat of the sport, and the crowds are small, so fans are close to the action. Highly recommended for folks looking for something different to do with the kids or grandkids.
4. I am totally caught up in the “where will Tom Brady go as a free agent” storyline. Will we have Johnny Unitas as a Charger and Joe Namath as a Los Angeles Ram? Or will it be…oh, that’s right, there isn’t an example where the aging superstar QB changed franchises and came away with a Lombardi Trophy. Think about it — Favre, Montana, Manning. Oh shit, Peyton Manning. There goes that theory. Anyway, I still consider Brady’s free agency to be the most interesting plot for us to follow this offseason.
5. And how will we handicap the Pats sans Tom Brady? You can’t help but wonder how much of the genius of Bill Belichick comes from having the GOAT under center. The one year Brady was out hurt? No playoffs for New England. Who was the QB when Belichick coached the Browns? Exactly.
6. Zion Williamson is the biggest story in The Association right now. Seems like he’s on TNT or ESPN every night. Spoiler alert — the Pelicans still suck, folks. Full stop. Here’s a vote for Memphis as the eight seed out west, and Ja Morant getting his first taste of playoff action under the bright lights in Los Angeles. Williamson is putting up superstar numbers nightly, but I’m not ready to anoint him the next game-changing young star. Let’s see him stay healthy for a full season and make the supporting cast around him better (yeah, like MJ used to) and then we can talk.
7. I’m glad Steph Curry is back. It would have been easy for he and the Warriors to decide to just shut it down for the year, saving him to come back refreshed next season, along with a lottery pick and his Splash Brother, Klay. But would that have been fair to the fans? Right, it wouldn’t have, especially considering the top dollar those fans are dropping at every home game in their new arena to watch lousy basketball. So bringing him back now was the right thing. Props to the Dubs and Curry for stepping up.
8. I’m a Mets fan but if the over/under for Pete Alonzo homers in 2020 is 35, I’m taking the under. Between what I suspect will be a slightly less juiced baseball, and some level of sophomore jinx in the form of the rest of the league having the offseason to analyze how to attack him, I just can’t envision MVP numbers coming from the Polar Bear. Even so, I’ll sign up for 32 with 90+ ribbies right now, and putting those kind of stats in the middle of what should be a strong orange and blue lineup? Yeah, that will be just fine.
9. I was never going to watch another professional fight. Turns out never is a really long time. Nothing beats the hype associated with a legit heavyweight title fight. And it seems like we hadn’t had one of those since the days of Evander Holyfield. Well, Tyson Fury taking on Deontay Wilder completely sucked me in, and it was the first time in forever that I can say the pay per view spend was more than worth it. And yeah, Fury is the real deal. Enormous human being, with good footwork and exceptional, technical boxing skills. There’s never been anything like this guy. And a showman on top of that (singing American Pie in the ring after the fight normally would send me racing for the remote to change the channel, but the big Brit is totally fucking likable). I hope his reign is a long one.
10. Time to eat a little crow. Carmelo Anthony has been a productive, below the radar contributor to the Blazers since his signing earlier this season. Coming off the bench after sitting out a year, he’s done whatever’s been asked of him and done it well, while respecting that Portland is Damian Lillard’s team. Didn’t expect it, and never thought I’d hear myself saying this, but if Memphis falters, I wouldn’t mind seeing ‘Melo and the Blazers sneak into the playoffs as the eight seed.

Added Bonus — Five Predictions Certain to Happen

1. Seton Hall wins the NCAA hoops title.
2. Brady ends up a Charger, and they win 10 games and make the playoffs.
3. Pats go 9-7 and don’t.
4. Fury knocks out Wilder again in the rematch in July.
5. The Bucks get to 70 wins, but lose in the finals to the Lakers.

Enjoy your weekend sports fans!