Pat Benson
The start of a new calendar year always gives me a shot of much-needed excitement during the doldrums of winter. The holidays have come and gone, you have some time to reflect on the good and bad of the past year, and, of course, as a sports fan you have renewed hope for what could be in your near future (unless you are a Miami Marlins fan, in which case I’m sorry).
This time of year it is common to see articles floating around the Internet titled “Year in Review”. Well I would like to go ahead and jump the gun and give an early look for what will eventually be the 2019 “Year in Review”. Let’s jump right in:
January
· Another Alabama/Clemson matchup resulting in yet another College Football National Championship for the Crimson Tide. Nick Saban surpasses Bear Bryant as the most successful college football coach of all time.
· Manny Machado signs with the evil empire. This Steinbrenner-esque move puts the Yankees as the odds-on favorite to win the World Series according to Vegas.
· Bryce Harper signs an unprecedented deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite concerns about pitching and depth, the Front Office decides it’s now or never after two straight trips to the World Series with nothing to show for it.
February
· The team that plays in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome wins Super Bowl LIII in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That’s right, the New Orleans Saints hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Atlanta. To top it off, local legend Vonn Bell picks off Tom Brady to secure the victory. This would mark the beginning of the end for Brady/Belichick era.
· The NBA All-Star Game is hosted in Charlotte. The Hornets owner (often referred to as the GOAT) Michael Jordan uses this networking event to execute a trade with fellow legend, and Lakers Team President Magic Johnson. Kemba Walker for Lonzo Ball and Kentavius Caldwell-Pope. Officially marking the end of the Big Baller Brand era in Tinsel Town.
March
· No 1-seeds get beat by 16-seeds this year, but there is still plenty of madness. Most notably when Duke’s fab-three get knocked out in the Elite-8 by a hungry and underrated Nevada Wolfpack team.
· Consequently, the “Where Does Zion Go?” mania reaches epic proportions. NBA teams start tanking so hard that it makes former-76ers executive Sam Hinkie blush.
April
· The Tennessee Vols win their first ever Men’s National Basketball Championship. Benefiting from an older team, savvy coach, and a lack of national coverage all year creates the right formula for the big orange to make big history.
· Meanwhile in the Women’s tournament, Geno Auriemma’s Connecticut Huskies cut down the nets again. This win further separates Auriemma from the Wizard of Westwood, John Wooden.
· Is it 2019 or 1997? Because Tiger Woods wins his first Master’s Tournament in well over a decade. The resurgence of Righty helps boost the highest-ever television ratings for the tournament.
May
· The Nashville Predators secure their first NHL championship in a convincing Stanley Cups Finals over the Toronto Maple Leafs. This marks the best sports year for Tennessee since 1998.
June
· After a grueling four-year run of consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors fall short of the dynasty-solidifying 3-peat. Injuries, chemistry issues, and bad matchups cause the reigning 2-time champs to fall in 7 games to the Boston Celtics. “I don’t know” says a forlorn Curry asked about what happened in the final game, “their depth wore us down, and Coach Brad Stevens seemed to have a counter for every adjustment we made.”
· Finally Zion-mania wraps up as the league-worst New York Knicks get their first #1 pick since 1985, the year they drafted Patrick Ewing.
July
· After a disappointing loss in the NBA Finals, the Warriors roster falls apart. Much like the Jordan-Pippen Bulls of the 90s, the Kobe-Shaq Lakers of the 00s, and the Lebron-Wade Heat of the 10s.
· On July 1 Kevin Durant bolts for the New York Knicks where he will form a new super team with fellow free agent Kyrie Irving and the new prodigy Zion Williams. Spike Lee declares it “A New Day in the Big Apple”.
· Klay Thompson follows in his father’s footsteps and inks a new deal with the Lakers. The Warriors let Draymond Green walk after a subpar season. Steph Curry moves into the new arena in San Francisco facing a new town with a new roster and a new head coach as Steve Kerr decides to return to the broadcast booth.
· Cleveland hosts its 6th MLB All Star Game which features a LA/NY battle between Machado and Harper which results in an exhibition game that looks more like the Home-Run Derby.
August
· In a series of surprise announcements both Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger decide to hang it up just before the start of training camp. This change of guard ushers in a new era of quarterbacks for the league led by Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff.
· Serena Williams wins the U.S. Open and continues to show no signs of slowing down.
September
· In a record-setting season the Braves clinch home field advantage with their 100th victory on a steamy Sunday afternoon in Suntrust Park.
· SEC dominance in football reaches a high water mark when the first 4 teams in the AP rankings are Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Texas A&M.
October
· A rematch of the 1996 World Series with very similar results. Despite a phenomenal regular season where the Braves out-muscled the National League, the New York Yankees when their first championship in 10 years in a convincing 5-game series.
November
· What will be a Super Bowl winning season for Patrick Mahomes starts to take shape as the Chiefs jump out to a 9-1 start to the season.
· Ronald Acuna wins NL MVP. Jose Altuve wins his second AL MVP.
December
· After overcoming a difficult and painful transfer from Georgia to UCF, Justin Fields wins the Heisman Trophy over his former teammate Jake Fromm, and Alabama Quarterback Tua Tagovaiola. The sophomore says he’s “just focused on taking care of business in the college football playoff”.
So that’s a quick glimpse into the future for sports fans. One thing in life is certain and that is change. I believe we can expect a lot of change in the sports world this upcoming year. Thanks for reading and I hope you and your loved ones have a happy and healthy year! God Bless!
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Pat Benson is a fixture at local high school sporting events. He has been a sideline reporter, P.A. announcer, and radio personality. Tweet him @Pat_Benson_Jr.