For me, New Year’s Resolutions are like the 10-pound bag of potatoes everyone seems to buy when they go to the grocery store. That humongous brown sack is such a better deal than the more manageable five pounds of spuds, right? It only costs a couple quarters more to get twice as many potatoes. You can’t believe how cheap they are and don’t have the ability to pass up that deal.
But, after it’s all said and done, you always end up throwing away three-quarters of the 10-pound bag because they have sat in the cupboard for weeks and are now covered in weird green vines and black spots.
Same with the always-empty New Year’s Resolution. Who really believes that people actually keep their promises? Not even the person that makes the resolution.
It’s the American way. We overindulge on things like bags of potatoes, fried foods and New Year’s Resolutions.
So, instead of a false resolution like getting in shape or eating better, I will be handing out my sports predictions for the New Year.
In terms of the Seattle Seahawks, now that’s a tough one. I actually think the Seahawks are the best team in the NFC, but that might not equal a Super Bowl appearance.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the Seahawks and Russell Wilson will go to Washington, D.C., and handle RGIII and the Redskins on Sunday. They are a much better team than Washington and won’t have to play out of their minds to get the win.
But I don’t know if Seattle can go on the road and win three games in a row in the playoffs to get to the team’s second Super Bowl. Obviously, I will root my head off for the Seahawks, hope my prediction is incorrect, and we’ll see Seattle in the Super Bowl.
In terms of the Seattle Mariners, I’m kind of excited about what they are doing. I also think they are going to add one more stud outfield bat in the next few days via a trade. It’s going to be either the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Justin Upton or the LA Dodgers’ Andre Ethier. It’s going to take a couple of the Mariners’ young prospects to get the deal done, but they are minor leaguers for a reason. These guys have proven nothing at the big-league level, and if I can get a solid bat for prospects, I’ll do it all day long.
There is also a lot of optimism for the winter sports at the high school level in Federal Way. There are some impressive teams out there and a big-time likelihood that multiple state championships could be won.
The Federal Way boys basketball team is currently unbeaten and blowing other teams out of the water. The second-ranked Eagles are 7-0 in the SPSL South and their closest game was a 19-point win over Puyallup. Federal Way has an amazing five players averaging double figures and only one of them, D’Londo Tucker, is a senior.
The Todd Beamer girls basketball team has the look of a squad that could qualify for the Class 4A State Tournament for the first time in school history. The Titans feature 6-foot-2 junior Megan Huff, along with three ultra-talented freshmen Nia Alexander, Bria Rice and Quinessa Caylao-Do. All four are averaging more than 10 points a game for the 8-1 team. Their only loss came to national power Oregon City.
But the wrestling rooms around Federal Way might even contain more talent than the basketball courts. The Decatur Gators have the most depth the program has ever had, led by 113-pounder Tysten Dawson, Nick Karis (170), Rowland Gaydosh (195) and heavyweight Kyle Gleed.
On the girls’ side, a pair of Beamer wrestlers, Arian Carpio and Vanessa Dixon, along with Federal Way’s Bianca Arizpe, have very, very solid shots at bringing home state championships.
So, these are my fearless sports predictions for the early part of 2013. I also predict that you still buy that 10-pound bag of potatoes when you head to the grocery store. Those bags are irresistible.
