When PressBox DFW launched in late March of 2018, we were immediately besieged with requests – OK, a couple of people asked — to continue my long-standing tradition of predicting the upcoming year in sports.
I am always taken aback when readers tell me they look forward to the predictions column. Some have told me they even clip and save them.
I have nightmares of the old newspaper predictions draped on the doors of Fort Worth refrigerators for people to say, “Let’s go get a beer and see whether that dumbass LeBreton thinks Romo will choke again.”
That’s way too much pressure.
In truth, while copious research goes into the formulation of the predictions, much of it is serendipity combined with semi-educated hunches.
I even occasionally do get some right. Like TCU’s undefeated 2010 season and trip to the Rose Bowl, predicted 12 months in advance. And like the Mavericks making Luka Doncic their No. 1 pick, six months before it happened.
The applicable standard still applies, however. Consider the predictions you agree with to be uncanny prognostication.
And for the rest, just open the fridge and get the beer.
For the 37th time, here’s a peek at what’s left of the sports year ahead:
January
Brett Maher misses 45-yard field goal in final seconds, and Rams end Cowboys’ Super Bowl dream 24-23 . . . Dak Prescott sacked five times . . . LA’s Jared Goff throws for three touchdowns . . . Before heading for his new yacht, the SS Gloryhole, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tells media that he sees “four or five Super Bowls” in Jason Garrett’s future . . . Chiefs survive Indy comeback and defeat Andrew Luck and Colts 31-27 . . . Patriots, playing at home in 25-degree weather, beat Chargers 27-20 . . . Saints, back in Superdome, race past Philadelphia 31-20.
In a classic NFC title game in New Orleans, Michael Thomas’ 10-yard touchdown reception in overtime gives the Saints a 51-45 win over the Rams . . . America groans as Tom Brady and Patriots win AFC again, upsetting the Chiefs in Kansas City . . .
Voters name Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina and Roger Clemens to Baseball Hall of Fame. Clemens earns exactly the 75 percent of votes required to make the Hall. Barry Bonds misses by just three votes . . . Miami Dolphins name Patriots linebacker coach Brian Flores as new head coach over Cowboys assistant coach Kris Richard . . .
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts announces he is transferring to University of Miami. Hurts says he chose Hurricanes over Maryland and never really considered Oklahoma. “What? And lose in the playoffs again?” Hurts explains . . . Quarterback Brandon Wimbush announces he is transferring from Notre Dame to enroll in grad school at TCU.
February
Gil Brandt, a cornerstone of the original Cowboys franchise, elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame, joining class that includes Tony Gonzalez, Ed Reed, Champ Bailey, Kevin Mawae, Tony Boselli and Johnny Robinson . . .
Alvin Kamara, Drew Brees lead Saints over Patriots 34-24 to win Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta. Pregame poll shows 94.8 percent of America was rooting against New England . . . Cheez-It’s 60-second ad spot, starring TCU’s Grayson Muehlstein, named best of Super Bowl commercials by YouTube . . .
Rangers sign free agent lefty Wade Miley . . . Club opens first spring training camp under new manager Chris Woodward . . . Early workouts have Joey Gallo playing third base . . . Free agent Manny Machado signs with Phillies. Bryce Harper goes to White Sox for 10 years, $300 million . . . Kevin Harvick wins Daytona 500. French driver Jean Girard finishes second . . . Star-Telegram raises annual subscription price to $650.
March
Mavericks trade Wesley Matthews, Dwight Powell and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Otto Porter and Tomas Satoransky. At same time, Mavs GM Donnie Nelson announces Dennis Smith Jr. “isn’t being traded anywhere” . . .
TCU basketball team finishes regular season with a 23-8 record. Frogs fall to Kansas in Big 12 tournament final. Seven Big 12 teams receive NCAA invites, including No. 5 seed TCU . . . Coach Jamie Dixon’s team defeats UNC Greensboro and Cincinnati in NCAA tourney, but loses to Gonzaga in West regional . . . TCU women’s team finishes regular season 23-7, winning school record 12 games in the Big 12 . . . Frogs earn first NCAA bid since 2010, win first-round game over Tulane but lose in second round to host Kentucky . . .
Rangers strike fear into AL West rivals’ hearts by finishing Surprise, Ariz., camp with starting rotation of Mike Minor, Lance Lynn, Wade Miley, Drew Smyly and Yohander Mendez . . .
At drunken bash at Niki’s Italian Bistro in North Richland Hills, PressBox DFW celebrates one-year anniversary by giving all writers $10/month raise . . . Co-founder/executive editor Gil LeBreton, vacationing in Switzerland, unable to attend . . .
Rangers open season against Chicago Cubs with Gallo at third base and spring training standout Willie Calhoun in left field . . . Martin Truex Jr. drives to victory lane at NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Cal Naughton Jr. finishes second.
April
Men’s basketball Final Four in Minneapolis has Duke, Michigan, Tennessee and Kansas . . . Women’s Final Four in Tampa hosts UConn, Notre Dame, Mississippi State and Michigan State . . . Led by freshman phenom Zion Williamson, Duke defeats Michigan to win men’s title. UConn regains women’s crown by defeating Irish . . .
Jordan Spieth earns Masters green jacket for the second time. Tiger Woods fails to make 36-hole cut . . . Mavericks end season with 36-46 record, a 12-win improvement, but miss playoffs for third consecutive season . . . Luka Doncic named NBA rookie of the year . . . Dirk Nowitzki announces retirement after 21 NBA seasons, all with the Mavs, and will join front office as special consultant to Mark Cuban and frequent guest investor on Shark Tank. “I’d do anything, frankly, to keep that smarmy A-Rod off the show,” Dirk explains . . .
Dallas Stars conclude regular season with record of 43-31-8, but lose in first round of NHL playoffs to Vegas Golden Knights . . . Jason Witten says he is remaining at ESPN, despite lousy reviews in his first year as Monday Night Football commentator. Witten said he pondered coming out of retirement to help Cowboys, but admitted he’s intrigued to see where his new career will go working with a guy named Booger . . . Without a first-round pick, the Cowboys select tight end Irv Smith Jr. of Alabama with the No. 57 pick in the second round. Arizona Cardinals draft defensive end Nick Bosa of Ohio State with the overall No. 1 pick.
May
Game Winner, one of three Bob Baffert-trained horses in field, wins Kentucky Derby. Improbable finishes second . . . Somebody named Ryan Blaum wins the AT&T Byron Nelson at some place called Trinity Forest . . . Justin Thomas captures PGA Championship at Bethpage, NY , in the week following the Nelson . . . One week later, the yet-renamed-again Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial is won by Brooks Koepka . . . Longhorn Network announces marathon week of non-stop Sugar Bowl win over Georgia . . . TCU baseball finishes regular season with 44-12 record, falling to Texas Tech in Big 12 tourney finals . . . KTCK-TheTicket radio’s Craig Miller, George Dunham and Gordon Keith make Richest Men in Metroplex list, edging out Mike Doocy and Jerry Jones’ bodyguard, Roosevelt.
June
Playing as No. 2 seed, TCU wins the Athens, Ga., baseball regional, but Frogs lose in Super Regional round at Vanderbilt . . . Texas Tech is only Big 12 team to make Omaha field. LSU defeats UCLA to win College World Series title . . . With No. 8 pick in MLB Draft, Rangers select high school lefty Hunter Marco of Jacksonville, Fla . . . TCU pitcher Nick Lodolo is chosen No. 12 overall by New York Mets . . .
U.S. soccer team beats host France to win Women’s World Cup . . . At IOC meeting in Lausanne, combo bid of Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo named host for 2026 Winter Olympics . . . For the third year in a row, this time at Pebble Beach, Brooks Koepka captures U.S. Open golf title . . . PressBox DFW turns down multi-million-dollar bid by Norm Hitzges to purchase website’s Bet the House franchise . . .
In deciding seventh game, Golden State defeats the Lakers for the NBA Western Conference crown. Boston beats Philadelphia in the Eastern finals . . . In the NBA Finals, Warriors do it again, knocking off Celtics . . . Nashville Predators defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning to win hockey’s Stanley Cup . . . Without a No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, the Mavericks patiently wait and select forward Matisse Thybulle of Washington with the 41st pick . . .
The Yankees and Red Sox play major league baseball’s first regular season game in London . . . Seventh inning delayed while New York’s C.C. Sabathia pauses for crumpets and tea.
July
Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal win singles titles at Wimbledon . . . Cowboys open training camp at Oxnard, Calif., as Owner Jones delivers annual State of the Team address from the deck of his yacht. As highlight of address, Jones mans turret and playfully fires off a few 50-caliber rounds in the direction of the Oakland Raiders’ Napa camp . . . Cowboys center Travis Frederick announces retirement for medical reasons . . . Free agent receiver Dez Bryant, recuperating from Achilles surgery, says he “hasn’t ruled out” possibility of re-signing with Cowboys and is certain he’d “always be open,” even using his current crutches.
Nomar Mazara lone Rangers representative on American League team at baseball’s All-Star Game in Cleveland . . . Veteran baseball scribe T.R. Sullivan named to University of San Francisco sports hall of fame. His plaque will hang on same row as famous Dons Bill Russell, Pete Rozelle and Willie “Woo Woo” Wong . . . Romain Bardet becomes first French cyclist in 34 years to win the Tour de France . . . Pride of Ireland Rory McIlroy wins the British Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland . . . Upwards of a dozen Baseball Hall of Famers boycott Cooperstown ceremony in protest of Roger Clemens’ induction.
August
In Big 12 preseason poll, Texas picked to finish first, Oklahoma second and TCU third . . . Cowboys open exhibition season with 23-17 loss to Chargers played on deck of Owner Jones’ yacht . . . During game, mascot-with-stupid-grin Rowdy falls overboard while celebrating touchdown. Jones family wisely votes 12-1 not to launch dinghy to retrieve him . . . Horned Frogs open practice with newcomer Wimbush listed as No. 1 quarterback . . . In Hall of Fame induction speech in Canton, Gil Brandt declines to elaborate on the perks of picking the Playboy All-America teams all those years . . . College football begins with TCU defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff . . . Texas survives scare from Louisiana Tech . . . Aggies roll over Texas State . . . TCU fans complain that new East Side expansion level blocks view of world famous Berry Street skyline.
September
Novak Djokovic captures men’s singles title at U.S. Open. Naomi Osaka repeats as women’s champion, defeating Simona Halep, who upset Serena Williams in semis. Williams complains about “rude tone of voice” that chair umpire used when announcing score, demands written, notarized apology.
Horned Frogs win at Purdue, then defeat SMU and Les Miles’ Kansas Jayhawks at home . . Cameron Dicker kicks game-winning field goal as time expires, giving Texas 20-17 win over visiting LSU . . . Trevor Lawrence riddles A&M secondary and Clemson too much for Aggies 42-20 . . . A&M finishes month with wins over Lamar, Auburn and Arkansas . . .
Cowboys defeat Washington in season opener, then drop road games at Philadelphia and New England, before returning to AT&T Stadium to defeat Miami . . . Raiders abandon Oakland for good and begin season playing home games in San Diego while they await move to Las Vegas in 2020 . . . Rangers close Globe Life Park baseball with thud by losing all six games to Red Sox and Yankees . . . Closing Billy Joel concert at ballpark marred by on-stage guest solo by Morning News’ Evan Grant . . . TCU’s Jim Schlossnagle turns down lucrative offer to manage Chicago Cubs.
October
Cowboys lose to Bears at Soldier Field, but raise record to 4-3 with home victories over Buffalo and Green Bay . . . Dale Hansen celebrates 65th year in DFW television . . . TCU rises to No. 10 in national polls with wins at Iowa State and Kansas State, but Frogs fall at home to Texas 24-23 . . . Longhorns begin month with road win at West Virginia, but lose to Oklahoma before beating Kansas and TCU . . . Texas A&M falls to Alabama, then gets back on track by beating Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
Red Sox win AL wild card game over Oakland . . . Phillies defeat Cardinals in NL wild card contest . . . White Sox knock off Astros in ALDS, Yankees beat Boston . . . In NLDS, Dodgers beat Phillies and Braves defeat Cubs . . . In retro World Series matchup, Dodgers defeat Yankees in six games . . . In continuing effort to stem declining revenues, McClatchy Corp. announces plans to sell souls of all remaining editorial employees at Star-Telegram.
November
Rough month for Cowboys begins with back-to-back losses to Saints and Rams . . . Month ends by beating Giants on the road and Eagles at home, then losing to Vikings on Thanksgiving Day . . . Joey Logano drives to victory in NASCAR playoff AAA Texas 500 at TMS . . . Elon Musk, behind wheel of self-driving Tesla Roadster, finishes second . . .
Frogs drop second Big 12 football contest in a row, losing on road at Oklahoma State. TCU beats Baylor and Texas Tech, loses at Oklahoma, then ends regular season by defeating West Virginia to finish 9-3 . . . Texas defeats Kansas State, but Horns are upset on the road by Iowa State . . . Texas beats Baylor and Tech to finish 10-2 . . . Aggies defeat UT-San Antonio and South Carolina at home, but get trounced in SEC road games at Georgia and LSU to finish regular season 8-4 . . . SpaceX lands rocket on deck of Jerry Jones yacht. Live pay-per-view telecast nets Jerry $250 million, paying off yacht.
December
Cowboys recover by beating Jets on road and Giants at home, then clinch NFC East with road victories at Detroit and Washington to finish with 10-6 record . . . Oklahoma successfully defends title, beating Texas in Big 12 championship game . . .
TCU defeats Washington Huskies in Alamo Bowl . . . Aggies win Texas Bowl over Oklahoma State . . . Baylor defeats Arizona in sadly mundane Cheez-It Bowl . . . Houston knocks off Texas Tech in Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth . . . New Year’s Day pairings set: Penn State and Oregon will play in Rose Bowl. LSU and Oklahoma will meet in Sugar Bowl. All-Florida matchup at Orange Bowl will pair Gators and UCF . . . Texas defeats Notre Dame in Cotton Bowl . . . In playoff semifinals, No. 1 Clemson over Michigan in Peach Bowl, and Ohio State knocks off Alabama in Fiesta, setting up Tigers-Buckeyes title game in New Orleans . . . At emotional ceremony during halftime of final Cowboys game, dozens sworn in as first members of Jerry Jones Navy . . .
NFL wild card pairings show Texans at Pittsburgh, Browns at Indianapolis, Packers at New Orleans and Vikings at Cowboys. Chiefs, Patriots, Rams and Bears all with first-round byes . . . WFAA’s Pete Delkus forecasts “sunny, 76 degrees” for NHL’s Winter Classic at old Cotton Bowl . . . PressBox DFW celebrates wildly favorable fourth quarter earnings report with raucous party at Texas Live . . . co-founder LeBreton, vacationing in Tahiti, unable to attend . . . Happy 2020!
