Allow me to wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy 2013.
It was a good 2012 for sports in our area.
The Cardinals were one win away from the World Series. The Rams showed tremendous improvement. The Blues reached the second round of the NHL playoffs.
On the college scene, the University of Missouri played its first season in the Southeastern Conference.
MU basketball had a great regular season last year, winning 30 games and the Big 12 Conference Tournament, but lost to Norfolk State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
On the local front, winning state championships were the Borgia boys golf team, Sullivan’s Macy Ritter in the long jump, the Washington Post 218 Senior and Freshman Legion squads, Washington’s cheerleaders and Borgia’s dance team.
We also had individual successes in wrestling, cross country and track and field.
Before we look to see what will happen in 2013, let’s see how some of last year’s predictions went.
The Hits
• The Rams will hire Jeff Fisher as head coach and Les Snead as general manager. (Correct on both.)
• Albert Pujols and the Angels fail to reach the playoffs. Pujols hits .295 with 28 homers and 110 RBIs in his first season in LA. (The Angels missed the playoffs and Pujols’ stats were 30 homers, 105 RBIs and a .285 batting average.)
• The Rams make improvements, but fail to make the playoffs, finishing 7-9. (The Rams improved, failed to make the playoffs and finished 7-8-1.)
The Misses
• In Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, New Orleans defeats Baltimore, 24-17. (The New York Giants defeated New England, 21-17.)
• Mizzou and Saint Louis meet in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers defeat the Billikens, 72-65. (SLU reached the second round, but not Mizzou.)
• Reaching the Final Four will be Ohio State, Florida, North Carolina and Murray State. North Carolina cuts down the nets. (Final Four teams were Ohio State, Kentucky, Louisville and Kansas. Kentucky cut down the nets.)
• The Blues, fall to Detroit in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. Chicago defeats Boston in the Stanley Cup Finals. (The Blues lost in the second round to the Kings, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.)
• Playing its first season in the SEC, Mizzou football goes 8-4 overall and 4-4 in the SEC. (Mizzou went 5-7 and 2-6.)
Predictions for 2013
• The NHL season will be canceled.
• Alabama defeats Notre Dame in the BCS title game, 17-13.
• In Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, Denver defeats Atlanta, 27-24.
• Steven Jackson leaves the Rams and signs with New England.
• FRC Basketball champions will be St. James’ boys and Sullivan’s girls.
• With their two first-round draft picks, the Rams select Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore.
• Reaching the Final Four will be Missouri, Kansas, Duke and Indiana. Mizzou and Kansas meet in the national title game. What the heck, Mizzou cuts down the nets.
• The Los Angeles Clippers defeat Miami in the NBA Finals.
• Dale Earnhardt, Jr. wins the Daytona 500.
• Hunter Mahan wins the Masters.
• St. Clair, Union, Washington and Borgia are the area’s top high school football teams.
• The St. Louis Cardinals finish second the NL Central behind Cincinnati, defeat San Francisco in the wildcard game, Washington in the NLDS and fall to Los Angeles in the NLCS. Toronto defeats the Dodgers in the World Series.
• Maty Mauk beats out James Franklin for Mizzou’s starting quarterback job. The Tigers go 7-4 overall and 4-4 in the SEC.
• The Rams become one of the top defensive teams in the NFL, finish the regular season 10-6 and lose a wildcard playoff game.
