Mea culpa time. My annual predictions column for 2016 was MUCH better than 2015. It helps that that column doesn’t include my March prediction that Michigan State would win the NCAA title before being knocked out in the first round. Here’s the hits and misses:
Alabama beats Oklahoma in the College Football Championship — Well I was half right.
The Winter Classic is disappointing — Hugely correct. Big point for me.
The Patriots do not make it back to the Super Bowl — Nailed this one too.
Super Bowl? Kansas City 31, Carolina 27 — I want half credit here too. Yes the Chiefs pick was bad. But everyone thought Carolina was a runaway favorite, too.
Brandon Montour makes NHL debut — Fun story. I’m writing this on Wednesday afternoon. I just wrote this “He didn’t, but not because he wasn’t terrific in the AHL. He’s well on his way. Still no points for me” and took a break to look at Twitter where I found out Montour has just been called up. Made it by three days. Huge points for me.
Hanley Ramirez/Pablo Sandoval have bounce-back seasons — Half right.
The Celtics will draft Henry Ellenson — Nope. None of their three picks were spent on the Marquette big man.
Somebody gives Raphiael Putney a 10-day contract — Nope.
Peyton Manning does not retire — Well he wouldn’t have retired if it was the Chiefs who’d won the Super Bowl.
Tiger Woods will retire — Nope.
The NBA will change the draft lottery — They should. They didn’t. But they should. No points for me.
David Price will be good, not amazing — I’m calling this a win.
The Red Sox win the East — Mookie Betts will have an MVP-caliber season – On the money.
Frank Vatrano stays in the NHL — He did get sent down again so I’ll take the L.
America will fall in love with Simone Biles and Michael Andrew — So right on one and so wrong on the other. Biles was AP’s Sportswoman of the Year. Michael Andrew did not qualify for the Olympics.
This column will be cloaked in shame, 366 days from now — I don’t know about shame, but I wasn’t good enough to start my own 900 number.