The New Year With Our Old Teams

Happy New Year, everyone! With the new year comes a new look. That's what happens when the technologically challenged blogmaster finally decides to start playing with all the buttons available from the TypePad folks. Let me know what you think of the changes!

Though only 2 days old, 2011 has already proven interesting for some local, i. e. Mid-Atlantic sports teams, prompting some predictions from your blogmaster, seemingly one of only six humans on Earth happy not to receive an iPhone for Christmas:

For local hockey fans, the new year has begun in fine fashion as the Capitals defeated arch-rival Pittsburgh 3-1 in the Winter Classic Game held on New Year's day. When the Caps were in the midst of an 8-game losing streak, which consumed much of December, Red Rockers everywhere were simply hoping that Washington would not embarass itself on this outdoor national stage. Instead, it was the Penguins who were embarassed, especially at the end of the contest when they pulled their goalie and an extra attacker never took the ice for almost 15 seconds. The Caps have now won five of their last six and have allowed only eight goals in those six games. If the Caps have become true believers in defense, then I predict good things for them in the spring of 2011!

I predict that the Ravens will lose their first playoff game after trying desperately to lose to Cincinnati in the season finale. Fortunately for Baltimore, Cincinnati tried even harder, turning the ball over five times. The penalty-plagued snooze-fest reminded me why I like football less and less. I foresee the Ravens leading the Chiefs next weekend 13-3 going into the fourth quarter, only to lose in the final minute, 17-13. The Ravens have one of the most talented offenses in the league; it is also the most underachieving, leaving Baltimore football fans frustrated.

Of course, Redskin fans crave such frustration. I predict that this off-season they sign an aging quarterback to a huge contract only to have the coach bench the guy for a journeyman. . . . Oh, wait, that already happened in 2010. Well, unfortunately, for Martha, the Dodges, and all the other Redskin fans out there, something similar is bound to happen again this year; assuming that there is any football in 2011 with a looming players' strike.

As for the Wizards, no one cares.

The Maryland Terrapins will get a new football coach, but it's still ACC football, so again, no one cares. Win or lose, who can root for a team with a turtle as the mascot? The track team must love that. As a Marylander, I wish to petition the governor to change the name to the Maryland Tax Hikes. It's much more emblamatic of the state.

On Wednesday, I'll check in on everybody's favorite local team, the New Market Rebels!