The Dirty Dozen

Dude, I’m tellin’ ya……….

I had to pat myself on the back last night after Mariano Rivera recorded the last out for the Yankees for them to win the World Series.

Did I call this one pretty good or what?

In earlier posts, I predicted the Yankees win it in 6. They did. I predicted that after Cliff Lee, the Phillies starting pitching sucked and they ended up losing every game Cliff Lee did not start. I pointed out that Brad Lidge was always shaky, but Mariano Rivera was on fire. Lidge blew a tie game in Game 4 that the Phils ended up losing. Mariano was brilliant from start to finish. Finally, when the Yanks held a 3 games to 1 lead and could have closed it out in 5, I stood my ground and said Lee would get the Phils to Game 6 where the Yanks would then win it.

To those of you who took my advice and bet the kids college funds, you may send my cut to:

1234 Fake Street
Springfield

But I feel like I’ve been on a pretty good psychic roll lately and thought I’d throw out some more prophecy for you to profit from. My spidey senses have really been tingling. In no particular order of significance, this is the dirty dozen:

1) As I’ve said in my covering of the Chicago Bears all season, they will be no better than 8-8. Of course I hope I’m wrong on this one. But it’s what I’ve said from the beginning and I’m not going to slink away from it now. Even with the team 4-3 and above the .500 mark at the moment. Do note that I’m saying no better than 8-8. They can be 7-9, or God forbid 6-10, and this one is still good.

2) The Blackhawks will at least make the conference finals….same as last year. Anything short of that and I’ll be pissed. And the team and all Hawks fans collectively will deem this year a failure. But I do see us making the conference finals at a minimum. If we don’t even qualify for the conference finals, this is a loser. And I’m not saying WIN the conference finals…..I’m saying we’ll make them.

3) The Chicago Bulls will finish 43-39 at the very best. That’ll be more than good enough to make the Eastern Conference playoffs like every year. But you will not see anything close….not even close to the exhilirating, exciting playoff run the Bulls made last year. We may not make it past the first round. They are pretty much a .500 team but I envision a 42-40 record….or 43-39 at best.

4) Jake Peavy will win between 16-19 games for the Chicago WhiteSox next year. Anything out of that range and this one is a loser. But if he ends up winning 20 or more, I hope it’d be recognized that I was predicting some nice success for him. What the prediction really says is that he will not be a major bust. And this one is a double dipper……Now that the whole sale to the Ricketts family is done, I see the Cubs acquiring another big-money front line free agent. Or working a rather big trade for a major name. Like packaging Bradley and Harden in a single deal for a stud. Or trading Harden or Bradley and signing a starting pitcher like John Lackey.

5) The Indianapolis Colts will win this season’s Super Bowl. Book it. That’s my prediction. See address above to send me my cut.

6) I agree with the security expert Juval Aviv that I discussed in a recent post {See: Let’s Face it: There’s Really No Stopping Terrorism} in that the next major terrorist attack within US borders will happen in the next 3-5 months. And we’re not talking about something terrible like one little cell blowing up a small apartment building and killing six people. We’re talking about a serious undertaking in the works for a long time now that kills dozens or more. I hope this one is wrong too. But it’s those friggin spidey senses. 

7) From 11/1/09 thru 11/1/2010 , a major music star under the age of 45 will die. And by a major star, I mean a really big star. I’m not talking about a drummer from the White Stripes or a bass player from Blink 182. I by no means hope any of these people fulfill this prophecy, but I am talking about (and not limited to) people like: Beyonce, John Mayer, Keith Urban, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Britney Spears, John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Gwen Stefani, etc etc…. One of the really big names in music. Hey, the shit happens. Watcha gonna do?

8) In the same token, so does divorce. And between 11/1/09 and 11/1/2010, a really huge high-profile couple will file for divorce. And again, I’n not talking about a Steven Seagal and whoever he’s married to. Or even a Gwen Stefani and her rock star husband. I’m talking big like Angelina and Brad splitting up. Or say a Beyonce and Jay-Z. Or at the very least, a Jesse James and Sandra Bullock. OK…OK…just to set a minimum, the lowest I’ll accept is something on the level of Courtney Cox and David Arquette. Or David Letterman and his wife.

9) Christmas sales will really suck this year surprising only the White House and the American media. This will demonstrate how very little economic progress has occurred across the country despite everyone high up trying to tell you it’s getting much better. There will be a lot of disappointing sales reports. We will head into 2010 with a little less optimism than if it was a bustling holiday shopping season.

10) There will be a really, really aggressive move made on a neighboring country between the dates 12/1/09 and 12/31/2010 by one of the two countries most likely to do it: Iran or North Korea. One of these countries will aggress against one of their declared enemies in a way that draws world condemnation and serious repurcussions. Unfortunately, it will happen by the end of next year.

11) This winter will be a real bastard across the US. I mean totally brutal like we haven’t seen in about 15-20 years at least. There will be some incredible snowfalls in many parts of the country. Even warmer areas like the far west and deep south will get some winter loving. It will be one that is the topic of much conversation and concern.

12) Finally, perhaps we can call this a good one. Either Fidel Castro or our other buddy out there in the world Kim Jong-il ——one or both of them will be deceased by 12/31/2010. Bet the kids college funds on it. Only one has to pass away for this to be a winner. So to speak.

So I will watch for events that may apply to these prophecies over the next 13 1/2 months. My judgement will be fair when it comes to celebrity divorces and the like. Kinda looks like a rough 2010, doesn’t it?

Look at it this way, if nothing else……….at least the Hawks will be in the conference finals.