FWIW's Crystal Ball

January 3^th, 2008

The FWIW Crystal Ball

Happy New Year everyone! I know it’s a time for resolutions (mine include making money and continuing my strong track record of breathing properly). It’s also a time for predictions. And you know ‘For What it’s Worth’ is getting in on the fun. So, I’ve dug out the crystal ball from Aunt Mae’s root cellar and peered into it for a few hours.

For What it’s Worth: $71.19-The Lethbridge Hurricanes make a long playoff run.

Despite a shaky end to December, the ‘Canes should finally win their first playoff series since 1997; the year the team won the WHL championship. The Boys From the ‘Bridge are fighting for first in the Central Division and Eastern Conference. The team has a differential of plus 19 in goals for and goals against, 6^th in the league as of this writing.

If the playoffs started today, the Hurricanes would play Kootenay. The Ice are currently on top of the season series 4-0. However, the ‘Canes are probably just employing the old rope-a-dope strategy, baiting their Cranbrook rivals into over-confidence.

Making it out of the first round will give the local side a great deal of confidence, which will carry it past it’s second round opponent. And if things play out according to form (and that always happens!), a match-up with Calgary in the conference final bodes well for the Hurricanes, who have beat the Hitmen 6 of their last 8 meetings.

FWIW: $6.89-A player punches Glen Healy or Pierre McGuire.

Both broadcasters provide their “analysis” from between the benches during TSN’s NHL coverage. I’ve got to believe players are overhearing what these two are saying during a game. And I’ve also got to believe their “analysis” is going to push someone’s buttons (Sean Avery’s the obvious choice) and an NHLer will take a swing at one of them.

FWIW: $55.16-Jarome Iginla wins the Hart Trophy.

The Calgary Flames captain is making his case as the NHL’s top player. While I expect Sidney Crosby to have a huge second half surge, Iginla is throwing together his best professional season. The 30-year-old is on pace for 58 goals and 110 points. Iggy’s had a number of line-mates so far this season, Daymond Langkow, Kristian Huselius, Alex Tanguay, and Craig Conroy. All of them are much more effective when number 12’s on the ice than when they’re on another line. Seriously, could you imagine if Iginla ever played a full season with a true top NHL centre? Put him on a line with Joe Thornton and he would top 70 goals!

This season, Iginla may not win the Rocket Richard Trophy (Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk gets to face easier competition and should take the goals race) or the Art Ross Trophy (I still expect Sid the Kid to come out on top, just 5 points off the pace right now); the Flames will make the playoffs fighting for the Northwest Division crown. While the other top suspects (Kovalchuk, Crosby, Vincent Lecavalier) will all fight for tee times this spring. The biggest rivals to Iginla for this award are Henrik Zetterberg (the top player, on the top regular season team-Detroit) and Dany Heatley (the best player on the second best regular season team-Ottawa).

FWIW: $36.79-The Boston Celtics take the NBA Championship.

Celtic pride is finally back! Off-season trades by C’s General Manager Danny Ainge have proved, as always, whoever gets the best player, wins the deal. Swapping 18 players for Kevin Garnett from Minnesota was a masterstroke. Acquiring Ray Allen from Seattle for 3 others was important as well. With just 3 losses in their first 30 games, the Celtics look like a runaway train. While Garnett, Allen, and Paul Pierce (Big 3 Redux?) get all the press, Boston has some fine role players. Eddie House and James Posey provide big sparks off the bench, the former for his instant offence, the latter for his defensive tenacity and 3-point touch.

The key is sophomore point guard Rajon Rondo. The ex-Kentucky Wildcat is showing he can play with the big boys, averaging a shade under 10 points per game, while shooting 52% from the field. Rondo also keeps his turnovers down, a big improvement over his rookie campaign.

Sure, there are some other great teams out there (San Antonio, Detroit, Phoenix) but the C’s have Garnett’s burning desire leading them. Piecre, Allen and Garnett are all playoff battle tested, losing in conference championship series. And the Celtics are hoping it up like the Spurs (last year’s champs), playing the best defence in the NBA right now, and scoring efficiently on the offensive end, a winning combination. Who knew it would take 12 years for title number 17?

FWIW: $4.12-Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds explode.

Allegedly (hahahaha!), these two baseball superstars took boatloads of performance enhancing drugs to pile up Hall-of-Fame totals. I think one, or both, will actually explode from all the crap they’ve (allegedly…hahahahaha!) put in their bodies.

FWIW: $95.01-This year’s Super Bowl will be the biggest of all-time.

Ratings will go through the roof as the top two teams in the AFC, New England and Indianapolis and the top two teams in the NFC, Dallas and Green Bay, have huge North American fan bases. If the Patriots make it, it’s no contest. A team going for a perfect 19-0 season? Last year’s game, Super Bowl XLI, between Indy and Chicago drew over 93 million viewers States-side, the largest crowd to date. MASH’s 1983 finale is the most watched U.S. programme in history, with over 105 million tuning in. Expect more if the Pats are playing in Glendale in February (Jacksonville-Washington on the other hand….)

FWIW: $100.00 Global Lethbridge continues to provide great coverage of Southern Alberta sports.

Just a plug for the work Paul Kingsmith and myself do around here. Tune in at 6:00 and 11:00, 7 days a week on Global Lethbridge for ‘real’ Southern Alberta TV sports coverage. Or if you have the satellite, remember you can watch on-line at www.globallethbridge.com”

All the best for ’08….I’ve got a cast to do….