2009 Predictions

I’m not going to go into a deep insightful 1200 word column like I did last year (just 710). I called for a Pats Superbowl Win, a Celtics banner raising, and another Red Sox World Series Title. The column could have just been titled, “A Homer Guide To Boston Sports”. This year with the Pats not even in the playoffs I try again to guide you through the sports year.

The Super Bowl will be won by a Manning. Bold prediction considering Peyton could be out before anyone reads this column. The Colts are really playing the best football at the right time and beat some very good teams along the way. So I say the Colts win the Super Bowl over the Giants. Really no one in the AFC is that intimidating and had the Pats made the playoffs, I would have picked them to beat the Colts in the AFC Championship at Gillette. Alas, without the Pats to stop them, I say the Colts roll through the AFC and knock out the Giants in the Super Bowl. For everyone that hates the Mannings, this is really going to suck. For anyone looking for an I HATE PEYTON & ELI SUCKS TOO SHIRT, click on the link on the right.

Spring training will start quietly for the Sox but I’m pretty sure Jason Varitek will be there. No one’s going to be paying attention though because the Bruins and Celtics are continuing their dominance in hockey and basketball. In fact the Bruins win a playoff series for the first time in a decade. They actually make it to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing a heartbreaking game seven in triple overtime. The bangwagon then clears off and hockey has to start all over again in Boston.

The Celtics win their 18th Championship. No real bold prediction there considering there’s hardly any competition in the East. The addition of Stephon Marbury surprisingly doesn’t bother the team’s chemistry and he’s a great 6th man for the team. The C’s beat LeBron and the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals in five games and then beat the Spurs in the Finals in six games. Leon Powe is the Finals MVP filling in magically for an injured Kendrick Perkins.

Now that hockey and basketball are over the attention of the Boston Sports world turns to the Red Sox who have been skating along in second place behind the Yankees. Just three games back in July many in Sox Nation are calling for the Sox to pull the trigger on a big deal at the All Star break to vault the team over the Yankees. For reference the Rays are in fourth behind the Blue Jays. Every sportscaster asks, “What happened to Tampa?” Theo makes no moves and the phone lines at WEEI are lit up like a Christmas Tree. The Sox make a couple waiver moves in August but as they’re fading in the playoff picture it doesn’t excite anyone.

As the Patriots open training camp everyone is pleasantly surprised to see that Tom Brady has recovered very well from his injury. Trading the franchised Matt Cassel in the off season doesn’t seem so bad but many are wondering how the Pats will do without Josh McDaniel who is in Cleveland with Scott Pioli. The team starts the season 3-1 but again, not too many people are paying attention because somehow the Sox made the post season.

The Red Sox surprise even themselves by sneaking into the Wild Card overtaking the White Sox in the final week of the season. The Sox off the Twins in the first round of the playoffs and are poised for the World Series after beating a depleted Angels team in five games. The Yankees announce that they’re going to fire Joe Girardi for failing to win in the playoffs in a new stadium and with a monstrous payroll. Meanwhile the Red Sox and Cubs face off in a fall classic for the ages. The Series goes seven but the Cubs come out on top finally winning a championship for Mark Cuban.

The Pats finish the season with an 11-5 record and this time actually make the playoffs. But in order to know what happens after that, well, we’ll have to wait for 2010.