By Joe Schackman

The field at this years US Open is as deep as ever but here are some players to watch.

The United States Open is, by far, the most grueling golf tournament of the year. It features the biggest names playing the most challenging golf course, right in the midst of the summer heat. While the Masters and Augusta National are often romanticized, it’s the U.S. Open that distinguishes the sport’s truly great golfers.

This year, the tourney is at the Olympic Club, just outside of San Francisco. The course is steeped in history, having already hosted four U.S. Opens with winners that include Billy Casper and Lee Janzen. It also presents a bit of a different challenge: it’s just a par 70, excluding two of the typical par fives. That means that longer hitters have less of an advantage than normal. Instead, the Olympic will emphasize accuracy off the tee, precise iron shots onto the green, and of course, steady nerves.

The beauty of the PGA Tour right now is that the field is incredibly deep. But while any player can win on any given week, these are the 11 golfers likely to be in contention come Sunday.

Tiger Woods

Any list of tournament favorites has to start with Tiger Woods, and the U.S. Open is no exception. He’s coming off a classic win at The Memorial, and finally appears to have settled into his new swing. Now, we’ll see if he’s ready for major championship play.

Pressure in golf affects players a little differently than in other sports. It forces players to revert to their comfort zone, which often involves making the technical mistakes they’ve tried so hard to fix. When the pressure mounts, we might just see Tiger’s old swing creep back. If that happens, you can count him out.

But there’s one big reason to like Woods’ chances outside of the fact that, well, he’s Tiger: He’s been driving the golf ball well. For the first time since 2000, Woods leads the PGA Tour in total driving, a statistic that factors in both accuracy and distance. Tiger used to regularly rank among the best in this category finishing in the top 10 three times between 1997 and 2000. Since then, he’s reached that high just once. If Woods can continue to hit the ball far and straight, he’s the odds-on favorite to win the U.S. Open.

Phil Mickelson

Mickelson’s list of U.S. Open failures is lengthy. He’s finished second on five occasions, most notably when he collapsed in 2006 on the 18th hole at Winged Foot. In high-pressure situations, he has a tendency to go for broke, endearing him to fans and TV execs but ultimately leading him toward some bad decisions.

Yet, there’s no doubting his ability, and because of that talent, he has to be considered a main contender. For every four wood flub into the rough, Mickelson is capable of producing a miraculous iron shot off the pine straw. Determining when to take those chances and when to play conservatively will take control and discipline, and be crucial to his attempt at his first U.S. Open victory.

Bubba Watson

If it wasn’t for the fact that Bubba Watson won the Masters, he would be the hot pick for this week’s tournament. He’s the longest hitter on tour and is surprisingly accurate given his power, ranking 12th in total driving. But what gives Watson an advantage is his creativity. He loves to work the ball left or right in the air and is great at applying sping, allowing him to attack pins that other players have to avoid.

The only question is whether his heart will be in it. Watson might still be basking in the glow from his first major, and the only time he’s played since then, he missed the cut. While there’s no doubting Watson’s talent, he might not be sharp enough to win this time.

Lee Westwood

Westwood (right) currently holds the title as the “best player never to win a major.” He has 13 top 10 finishes in major championships, and if it wasn’t for a missed putt on the 72nd at the 2008 U.S. Open, he would have been in an 18-hole playoff with Tiger and Rocco Mediate.          

He’s widely considered the best ball-striker on tour, and this year’s course set up puts a premium on golfers’ ability to place their shots. With the pins in some extremely difficult positions, his particular skills could help create birdie opportunities. The main worry, though, is his putting. Westwood’s performance on the green has historically held him back, and you can’t win a tournament without making big putts. But if he can put it together for one week, Westwood could walk away with his first major championship.

Luke Donald

There are many reasons to like the chances of the world’s No. 1 player. He’s accurate off the tee, hits quality iron shots, has a fantastic short game and putts as well as anyone in the game. The course will be sure to reward a deadly accurate player like Luke Donald, and he’s already racked up two wins this year.

However, Donald has always had some trouble with this tournament. Despite finishing in the top five of every other major at least once, he’s never been in contention for the U.S. Open. It’s hard to come up with one reason why that’s happened, and even more difficult to see that happening again. This course was made for him.

Rory McIlroy

Evaluating McIlroy’s chances of a successful title defense is a bit tricky. His performance last year ranked among the most dominant U.S. Open wins ever, but is seemingly the exception rather than the rule. Outside of that week, McIlroy has been streaky, bowing out early or keeping pace late into the tournament but rarely finding himself in between those two extremes.*

This year, he’s won a few overseas tourneys, as well as the Honda Classic, and was in contention last week at the St. Jude Classic. He’s also played poorly on a number of occasions, like his missed cuts at The Memorial and the Players’ Championship.

While McIlroy certainly has the skills to return to championship form, he’ll likely have to wait another year to capture his second U.S. Open.

* This is probably the most under appreciated part of Tiger Woods’ game. He never quits. For a lot of players, when they’re off their games and about to miss a cut, they seem to pack it in, go through the motions and move on to next week. Never Tiger. Whether he’s 10 strokes ahead or 20 behind, he puts maximum effort into every shot. He grinds it out, and that’s what makes him the most incredible competitor in the game.

 Hunter Mahan

He isn’t as popular a name as Bubba, Tiger or Phil, but Hunter Mahan (left) could mount a strong case for being the best American player in the game right now. He’s ranked eighth in the world, and won the Shell Open and Accenture Match Play, while finishing 12th at the Masters. Mahan is a quality ball-striker who ranks fifth in greens in regulation and 10th in total driving.

Like Westwood, the challenge will be the greens. Olympic has some speedy surfaces, and if those give Mahan trouble early on, he could fall out of the running early.


Matt Kuchar

Kuchar rarely gets the respect he deserves going into majors, despite ranking sixth overall in the world. He’s finished in the top 15 at majors four times since 2010, including a third place finish at this year’s Masters. He also recently took home the trophy at the Players’ Championship.

Like many of the others on, it’s his ball-striking that will give him the leg up on this course. The perennial dark horse has already shown he can win big tournaments, and his first major could be next.

Rickie Fowler

Fowler is a very popular pick this year. He’s young, talented and has played well of late, breaking through for his first win this year at the Wells Fargo Championship. He’s also been a model of consistency, finishing in the top 10 in five out of 15 events so far this season.

Fowler is accurate off the tee, ranking 23rd on tour in driving accuracy while averaging 293 yards per drive. Yet like most of the players on this list, he’s streaky with the putter, placing 61st in putting percentage (one slot ahead of Westwood). If he keeps the ball in the fairway and can get it going with the putter, Fowler has a chance to win this. But without a ton of major championship experience, it’s hard to imagine that he’s able to pull it off this week.

Dustin Johnson

Dustin Johnson has come oh-so-close to winning his first major a couple of times now. He absolutely kills the ball, and has a knack for the top in the toughest of conditions. Part of winning majors is simply remaining in contention long enough to reach that final day, and Johnson has the ability to do that. He held a big lead at Pebble Beach in the 2009 U.S. Open before faltering, was just a penalty stroke away at the 2010 PGA Championship, and came close again during the 2011 Open Championship.

The key for Johnson will be accuracy off the tee. The course won’t reward him just for hitting the ball far, and he currently ranks just 133rd in driving accuracy.


Webb Simpson

If you’re looking for a dark horse, then Webb Simpson (right) is your man. He’s certainly not a household name, but that doesn’t mean that this U.S. Open can’t be his coming out party.

Amid all of these great ball strikers, Simpson excels at rolling the rock. He’s 18th in strokes gained putting, and in the top 10 in both putts made between 20 feet and 25 feet and putts made longer than 25 feet. While he’s short on major championship experience, Simpson did finish tied for 14th at last year’s Open, and won twice in 2011, so he knows what it takes to close out a tournament.


Joe Schackman is an editor and co-founder of Began in '96.

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By Matt Anderson

A guide to the best, brightest and quirkiest players that you should keep an eye on during Euro 2012.

On June 8, the European Championships kick off across Poland and Ukraine. This competition is like the World Cup on crack. Everyone in the 16-team tournament knows each other well, and likes each other a lot less.

For those of you who aren’t soccer obsessed like me, I’ll give you one player from each team to watch and a license to use any of the following to impress people watching Euro 2012 with you.

Group A

Poland: Wojciech Szczesny, GK.
You pronounce it Woah-Check Shez-Knee. This young keeper came into his own for England’s Arsenal this year, manning the space between the sticks in their third-place campaign. He kept 18 clean sheets, which is a lot for an Arsenal team with less than stellar defense. He also made a highlight reel penalty save against Liverpool that ended up being the difference in the game.

Greece: Fanis Gekas, F.
Gekas is old. But he's crafty. He doesn’t play in the big leagues anymore, instead plying his trade in Turkey for Samsunspor. But he scored eight goals in 11 appearances for them, and if Greece wants to pull off a shocker, he’s going to need to be very active and soak up a lot of pressure.

Russia: Alan Dzagoev, M.
He’s only 21, but he’s been the Next Big Russian Thing for what feels like forever. Dzagoev is athletic and has great vision and passing skills. He also has a knack for scoring, which is helpful since Russia’s strikers have struggled of late. This tournament is his audition for a club from one of the big four leagues (England’s Premiere League, Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, and Germany’s Bundesliga).

Czech Republic: Petr Cech, GK.
About a year ago, everyone said Cech was washed up. They said the fractured skull he suffered in 2006 had made him timid. It looked as though his days at Chelsea were over. But over the past few months, he's played at the highest level imaginable. First, he survived the barrage that was the Champions League semifinal versus FC Barcelona. Then he won Chelsea the FA Cup.  And then he saved a penalty in extra time as well as two during penalty shots to win the Champions League final. He is in the form of his life.

Group B

Netherlands: Robin van Persie, F.
Arsenal’s RVP showed the world just how good he really is this year, winning all three of England's Player of the Year awards. He scored 38 goals total, including 30 in the Premiership. As RVP went, Arsenal went, but for this deep Dutch squad, he won’t have to do all the legwork, leaving him fresher than ever.

Denmark: Christian Poulsen, M.
Poulsen is going to be critical for the Danes. He will have to cover for the back line, which boasts some decent players but few superstars. He will also have to get the ball to their front line. Poulsen is the quintessential box-to-box midfielder, and he is one of the most experienced men in this tournament. If he’s up to the task, the Danes could put up a fight in this Group of Death.

Germany: Bastain Schweinsteiger, M.
His last name is one of the most fun to say in the tournament. Schweinsteiger is also is the lynchpin of the well-oiled machine that is Germany. He will be charged with defending, attacking, distributing, and otherwise making sure all the pieces swirling around him move like they're supposed to. Germany is one of the favorites to win this thing, and to do that, he'll have to play a key role.

Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo, F.
There are few players in this tournament who can put their teams on their back and Cristiano Ronaldo is one of them. But that’s the problem: In the past he has tried to do that and failed miserably. When things don’t go his way, he checks out and becomes rather petulant. However, if he can strike the perfect balance between taking over and letting the game come to him, Portugal could turn a few heads.

Group C


Spain: Xavi, M.
As Schweinsteiger is to Germany, Xavi is to Spain, but times 10. This little man is the calm in a storm of soccer magic, much like he is at FC Barcelona. He never tires and never misses a pass. He was the MVP during Spain’s run to the title in 2008, and things will be no different this time around. If Spain is a frenetic sonata, he is the metronome that keeps everything on rhythm.

Italy: Mario Balotelli, F.
Balotelli is a wild card. Earlier this year, the Manchester fire brigade had to come put out a blaze that he had started by shooting off fireworks in his bathroom. Later in the year, he followed a brilliant goal by flashing a shirt that said, “Why Always Me?” It’s always him because we don’t know what he’ll do next: slot home a goal after an amazing touch, or slide tackle an opponent who doesn’t have the ball and get sent off. He never fails to entertain, or have a terrible haircut, and Italy is putting a lot of hope on a 21-year-old who''s likely just on the wrong side of loopy.

Ireland: Robbie Keane, F.
One of the few players in this tournament who plays here in the USA. He led the Galaxy to an MLS title last year, but did it with what seemed like three-quarter effort. He's in the twilight of his career, yet Keane can nevertheless make an impact. Keep in mind that he holds the distinction as Ireland’s career goal-scoring leader.

Croatia: Luka Modric, M.
Modric is one of the most creative and driven midfielders in the world. Last summer, Tottenham fought hard to keep him away from many suitors, including super-rich Chelsea. One can only imagine that he’s still looking to move, now that the Spurs failed qualify for the Champions League. Modric disappeared at the end of the year for Tottenham and will be looking to show everyone that that was an anomaly, not the new norm.

Group D

Ukraine: Andriy Shevchenko, F.
Shevchenko has been around the block quite a few times. He knows his history and he knows how important this tournament is to Ukraine. With the home crowd behind him, he will look to reach back to the mid aughts and find a rich vein of talent to help his team impress in a relatively wide-open group.

Sweden: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, F.
Ibra was once a lumbering target who struggled when he didn’t have good service from the midfield. Then he went to AC Milan, where he grew into what experts call the false nine role. Ibrahimovic can now sit in a sort of no-man’s land between where a striker normally would be and the midfield, and drive the action forward as well as score on his own. His passing is spot on and his finishing is often creative and exciting.

France: Hatem Ben Arfa, M.
This relatively young player has had a rough couple of years. His lack of discipline and health has kept him out of regular action, but this year with Newcastle he still managed to hit a new level in his development. Gven a chance to get a consistent run of games, Ben Arfa produced some magical goals. He will look to continue that this summer and restore France’s disgraced name.

England: Andy Carroll, F.
For much of the year, Andy Carroll was Liverpool’s waste of 35 million pounds. This lolloping forward struggled to stay with the squad and struggled to score. But toward the end of the year, something clicked and he suddenly became a threat to score. In the FA Cup final in May, Carrol came off the bench and immediately halved the deficit, then appeared to tie it when his header was saved into the underside of the crossbar. We’ll probably never know if it was in, but the man is playing with confidence, and that will go a long way. Carroll's even more important for England  this year, because Wayne Rooney must sit out the first two games due to disciplinary problems. If he continues to play well, England should be in good position when Rooney returns.

Matt Anderson is Began in '96's Richmond correspondent. More of his coverage of Euro 2012 can be found here.

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By Adam Cancryn

Looking ahead to the 2012 Major League Baseball season, one sentence at a time.

I know. Baseball season is still a month away. But that's the thing: It's only a month away! Maybe it's the unseasonably warm weather or just the general sports drudgery of our current the post-Super Bowl, pre-March Madness purgatory, but baseball season can't come soon enough. And so to celebrate those first whiffs of fresh cut grass and early thwaps of bat against ball, here's an easy, one-sentence preview of what to look forward to (or dread) about each team this year.

Arizona Diamondbacks- There are worse excuses for getting out of the oppressive desert heat than watching a middling ball club with a bunch of former high school All-Americans, but there are better ones too.
Player to watch: First baseman Paul Goldschmidt

Atlanta Braves- Enough talent to compete deep into the season before falling short, a storyline known in Atlanta as the last 20 years of Braves baseball.
Player to watch: Right fielder Jason Heyward

Baltimore Orioles- Possibly the best six-inning team playing what is unfortunately a nine-inning game.
Player to watch: Catcher Matt Wieters

Boston Red Sox- No beer and no chicken make Red Sox win 90 (Having Adrian Gonzalez helps too).
Manager to watch: Bobby Valentine

Chicago White Sox- There's no way Adam Dunn hits .159 for an entire season again... right?
Player to watch: Designated hitter Adam Dunn (out of morbid curiousity)

Chicago Cubs- Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza and Travis Wood are not the trio to lead the Cubs to their first championship since 1908.
Player to watch: Shortstop Starlin Castro

Cincinnati Reds- Everyone's sleeper pick for the fourth straight year, in a tradition that's just starting to get a little sad.
Player to watch: First baseman Joey Votto

Cleveland Indians- Cleveland is Major League Baseball's team of misfit players.
Player to watch: Second baseman Jason Kipnis

Colorado Rockies- The Rockies' hitters will need to take advantage of that thin air to support their untested rotation.
Player to watch: Pitcher Jeremy Guthrie

Detroit Tigers- The Tigers will start three sweet-swinging, brick-gloved designated hitters this year, with the hapless twist being that two of them have to play the field.
Player to watch: Right fielder Brennan Boesch

Miami Marlins- Few teams have more talent, and none have a better chance of imploding by the All-Star break.
Player to watch: Right fielder Mike (aka Giancarlo) Stanton

Houston Astros- By September, the only team the Astros could be neck-and-neck with is the 1962 Mets.
Player to watch: Second baseman Jose Altuve

Kansas City Royals- A team that is perpetually one year away from competing, its young talents (Hosmer, Moustakas) can't make up for all of the holes.
Player to watch: Third baseman Mike Moustakas

Los Angeles Angels- Have a bull's eye on their backs after a busy offseason, but Albert Pujols, Kendry Morales and a scary pitching staff should have the Angels cruising into the playoffs.
Player to watch: First baseman Albert Pujols

Los Angeles Dodgers- Broke and suddenly overshadowed by the upstart Angels, good pitching and the addition of a healthy Andre Ethier means that the Dodgers could have a sneaky-good season.
Player to watch: Pitcher Clayton Kershaw

Milwaukee Brewers- The team is about 350 lbs. and eight wins lighter without Prince Fielder, but could still win out in a weak division.
Player to watch: Pitcher Yovani Gallardo

Minnesota Twins- Mauer's legs and Liriano's arm are the few things worth watching on this snoozer of a team.
Player to watch: Pitcher Francisco Liriano

New York Mets- Between the Giants, Knicks and Rangers, it's been a good run, New York.
Player to watch: Right fielder Lucas Duda

New York Yankees- Loaded as usual, but will need Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes and Michael Pineda to deliver to keep pace with the Red Sox.
Player to watch: Pitcher Michael Pineda

Oakland Athletics- After losing its top two pitchers and adding a slew of middle-tier outfielders, we can only hope this is one of Billy Beane's genius plots.
Player to watch: Pitcher Brandon McCarthy

Philadelphia Phillies- This could be their last chance at a run before Miami and Washington take over the NL East, but Ryan Howard's lengthy recovery is already the season's first setback.
Player to watch: Pitcher Vance Worley

Pittsburgh Pirates- All you need to know about the promise-turned-inevitable disappointment that is the Pittsburgh Pirates: Big offseason acquisition A.J. Burnett is already sidelined after fouling a ball off of his face.
Player to watch: Third baseman Pedro Alvarez

San Diego Padres- The Padres are a collection of answers to obscure trivia questions.
Player to watch: Closer Huston Street

San Francisco Giants- Always in the mix with Tim Lincecum headlining the rotation, but the main story is whether they'll let Buster Posey continue catching.
Player to watch: First baseman Brandon Belt

Seattle Mariners- Unfortunately for Seattle, Felix Hernandez can only pitch once every five days.
Player to watch: Second baseman Dustin Ackley

St. Louis Cardinals- The Cardinals have neither abundant speed nor overwhelming power, but somehow have a knack for coming out on top more often than not.
Player to watch: Pitcher Adam Wainwright

Tampa Bay Rays- The little kid on the block for the past few years, the Rays have finally hit their growth spurt, but that also means they can't sneak up on anyone anymore.
Player to watch: Pitcher Matt Moore

Texas Rangers- Downright terrifying on paper, but it won't be a cakewalk to the division crown this year.
Player to watch: Pitcher Yu Darvish

Toronto Blue Jays- Jose Bautista is no flash in the pan, but not as much can be said for the hitters surrounding him.
Player to watch: Third baseman Brett Lawrie

Washington Nationals- A potential powerhouse, but inexperience at all the key positions means the season could derail quickly.
Player to watch: Pitcher Gio Gonzalez

Image via The Sacramento Bee

Adam Cancryn is an editor and co-founder of Began in '96.

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By Adam Cancryn, Joe Schackman and Neill Thupari

The year 2012 is a big one in the sports universe. There's the Olympics and the Euro Cup, not to mention two dream teams, multiple new storylines and a bunch of athletes waiting to make their mark on the world. The Began in '96 staff took time to gaze into their crystal ball and answer 10 questions about what this year will hold.

1. Let's start off easy: Name the 2012 winners of the upcoming Super Bowl, the NBA and NHL championships and the World Series.

Joe: The NFC is just kicking the shit out of each other. The Giants downed the Packers and the Niners beat the Saints. Who knows what is coming out of that championship game? So I’m going with the Ravens. They are a dangerous pick because they have the ability to lay an egg out of nowhere. But their defense is menacing. Ray Rice is one of the most complete backs in the league and should absolutely gash New England's defense. If Joe Flacco can get hot (lukewarm for most QBs) then they can battle with the best of them.

NBA- Oklahoma City Thunder, baby. Youth is the X-factor in this year’s condensed season. Kevin Durant is maybe the best pure scorer in the league right now, and Russell Westbrook is that perfect complementary piece you need to survive in the current superstar format of the league. The only question is whether Westbrook is mature enough to accept that role.

World Series- It's so easy to pick the Angels, but goddamn are they good. So yeah, those guys.

Neill: I’m so angry Joe took the Ravens. THE REVERSE JINX COMETH! I would love to pick my hometown Purple and Black, but I can’t do it. I’m mentally preparing myself for the evil empire from the Northeast to rain all over our parade in Foxboro. That being said, while my heart will be rooting hard for the Ravens, I’m going to go with the NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS to win it all.

Why? Why the hell not? Just like Baltimore, they can come into a game and look like a team that is completely and utterly lost. They can be dysfunctional, unpredictable, and a heart attack in waiting for their fan base. Still, when they come into a game focused and playing up to their potential, I don’t think anyone’s better. Much the way Green Bay got hot last year, I see all the pieces coming together for a healthy Giants team. In the Super Bowl, they’ll beat the Pats, just like they did in 2008.

I’m not going to pretend like I know what is actually going to happen in the NBA this year, because I doubt anyone could reasonably predict anything with any sort of particularity. We have a 66-game schedule where older teams will struggle (see Lakers, Spurs, Celtics and Mavs) and younger teams will flourish (Thunder, Bulls, Knicks, Clippers and, believe it or not, the Indiana Pacers). That being said, most, if not all of the teams I’ve mentioned above will make the playoffs, and regardless of whatever crazy things happen this regular season, I think order will be restored come playoff time.

While I will enjoy rooting against them each playoff game, I’ll take the Miami Heat over the OKC Thunder in a fiercely contested NBA Finals, Russell Westbrook will cost the Thunder a championship because he can’t handle playing second fiddle.

While normally my NHL predictions consist of picking which team the Caps will have another playoff collapse against, I think I've got a pretty good chance at predicting who will hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup this spring. Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the next dynasty in the NHL: The Boston Bruins. Move over, 90’s Redwings and Avalanche, there’s a new dynasty in town.

People are taking the Angels in the MLB, right? Well, if there’s anything that the Eagles and Heat superteams have taught me, it takes more than a year to put it all together. Then again, baseball is such an individualistic sport that it can be broken down into the Moneyball-esque sabermetrics so that things like team chemistry and clubhouse personnel become practically obsolete. Let’s just keep this jinx thing going and take the Red Sox.

Adam: In the NFL, I like the San Francisco 49ers to win the Super Bowl. They would have never been my pick even a few weeks ago, much less at the beginning of the season, but the playoffs so far have shown us that good defense still beats good offense. Of the teams remaining, the Niners have the best defense by far. The offense is no slouch either, thanks to a relentless running game and the Alex Smith we've been waiting to see for six years.

I see the Chicago Bulls pulling it off in the NBA Finals this year. Like Joe said, youth is key in a condensed season, but you need experience to go along with that youth. The Bulls have all the pieces in place, led by Derrick Rose, one of the best guards in the league. With all the attention paid to the Heat, Clippers and Lakers, Chicago hs had the luxury of flying under the radar a bit. They'll cruise to a high playoff seed, then turn it on and beat the Thunder in six.

Though I won't go as far as calling them a dynasty, the Boston Bruins sure do have the look of a repeat champion. Tim Thomas is as consistent as you'll get in goal, and the offense has incredible depth. That doesn't mean it'll be easy, though. Two teams to watch are the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. Both weren't supposed to be anywhere near as good as they are, but the Rangers have a top notch defense and Detroit has a its next franchise goaltender in Jimmy Howard.

Lastly, the World Series. The Yankees are officially scary again now that they've added Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda to the rotation. They've slowly remolded themselves to resemble the championship teams of the late '90s, and have the firepower to beat the Angels as long as they stay healthy.

2. Which team in each of those four leagues will be the biggest surprise, and which will be the biggest disappointment in their upcoming seasons?

Joe: I have no idea who will surprise, which is the beauty of the NFL. But as far as disappointments, I think the Jets continue down their path of doom. Right now, they're like that surreal scene after a car crash, where everything is scattered on the ground and people are standing around in disbelief waiting for someone else to call 911. The Jets have a serious lack of leadership right now, and Rex Ryan will have to take a HUGE step forward as a head coach and leader to save next season.

Unless they get Peyton Manning. Then wow, will they be good.

I think this year’s surprise NBA team will end up being the Warriors. They beat the Heat in overtime last week, and Steph Curry's  shot is just so so pretty. Disappointment? The Knicks. I hate James Dolan.

In the MLB, the Nationals are going to be filthy. It'is kind of cheating to pick them because the team is stacked, but no one is talking about them thanks to the Marlins and Angels making the big moves and the Phillies’ and Braves’ firm grip on the division.

The Marlins will disappoint everyone. Mark Buehrle can’t be a workhorse forever, Jose Reyes’ legs are made of glass and Hanley Ramierez' pouting will be a giant fun sponge.

Neill: I think the Eagles will be back next year. It’s contingent on a man named Vick staying healthy, but for some reason, I’m inclined to give the Eagles a pass on their season this year. When you create a “dream team," as Vince Young so eloquently put it, you’re going to have some growing pains. They had those at first, and then in the last month they went 4-0, outscoring opponents 125-46.

I can only hope the disappointment will involve the Patriots, Cowboys or Steelers or Rex Ryan’s wife’s feet. But I think our biggest disappointment next year, unfortunately, will be a serious, life-altering injury in an NFL game. There are just too many hits these days where players are violently launching themselves at one another. It’s not healthy, it’s almost always unnecessary, and it’s downright dangerous. I used to get pumped and jacked up as much as the next guy when a big hit was laid out, but now I find myself cringing at the sight of these receivers and defenders cracking skulls. I have never wanted to be more wrong about a prediction in my life, but I just have a sick feeling in my stomach about this one.

Adam: In the NFL, the wheels will finally fall off for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They've held on admirably over the past few seasons despite injuries and an aging defense, but the division is getting tougher while Pittsburgh spins its wheels. 

The Dolphins showed serious improvement over the back half of this past season, and that should continue as the rebuilding effort gains momentum. Matt Moore, Reggie Bush and Brandon Marshall are a solid core. 

I think the Boston Red Sox will take a big step back this year as well. I'm not convinced last year's collapse won't stretch into this season, and personnel-wise they haven't kept up with the Yankees. Just by virtue of the fact that a big chunk of their schedule comes against New York and the Tampa Bay Rays, the Sox could have major struggles. 

On the other end of the spectrum, the Cincinnati Reds might finally put it all together. They've been the trendy pick for a few years now, and for good reason. If the Reds get their rotation in sync, they could threaten deep into the postseason. 

If the Heat don't win an NBA championship, they're the league's biggest disappointment once again, hands down. And it's hard to call this a surprise given how much attention they've gotten, but the Los Angeles Clippers can go deep into the playoffs. From what we've seen so far this year, they've already meshed and are firing on all cylinders.

On the ice, the Pittsburgh Penguins have had trouble keeping up with the rest of their talented division. Even with Sydney Crosby still working his way back to full strength, the Pens should have enough talent compete for a Stanley Cup. Instead, they've had to battle it out with the rest of the pack.

This has been a season of surprises so far, from the Rangers and Red Wings to the St. Louis Blues. Even the Winnipeg Jets are not nearly as terrible as was predicted. 

3. Within those four sports, what will be 2012's single biggest storyline?

Neill: I believe that the first well known, active athlete in one of the four major sports will announce that he’s gay. Amid all the homosexual, pedophiliac sex scandals that have come to light this year, I truly believe that an athlete will reveal his homosexuality and then proceed to speak out about gays in sports. He'll become an advocate in sports, so to speak, educating many on the struggles and realities of homosexual existence in professional sports. The most interesting part of this will be to see how teammates, opponents, fans and the always mindful media will react to an active athlete coming out.

Adam: Peyton or Pujols, take your pick. How the Indianapolis Colts handle Peyton Manning will grab headlines throughout the NFL offseason because of the league-wide implications. If he stays, the Colts will have to delicately balance the Manning-Andrew Luck relationship (or maybe they won't even take Luck in the draft?) and if he leaves he makes his new team an instant contender.

Pujols, meanwhile, will be the most scrutinized athlete since LeBron. His mega contract comes with expectations the Angels will win a championship immediately.

4. What about the biggest storyline outside the traditional big four?

Joe: Tiger Woods getting back into the winner's circle. This is the year he returns to form. He will never be early 2000s Tiger, but he is going to start winning again. A lot.

Neill: This summer, all of Europe will be captivated for three weeks by UEFA European Cup. Spain comes in as the returning champion, after having dominated the international football scene for the past  six years and become just the second team in history to simultaneously hold the World Cup title and the European Cup. The scary thing? Spain might be even better than they were four years ago. They could start nine out of 11 players from FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, with Spain’s attack led by Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas in the midfield. Other contenders include a young German squad and a French team that’s full of talent but still reeling from its internal meltdown two years ago in South Africa.

Adam: The Federer/Nadal/Djokovic battle for supremacy will rule tennis once again. Each have something to prove this year, and they'll have to do it during a golden era for the sport. And there's always the potential that Jo Wilfried Tsonga crashes the party. 

5. Scandals dominated the sports landscape in 2011. Where will we see the controversy come from this year?

Joe: I think in 2012 we see the first serious threat to the credibility of the NCAA. The Atlantic fired a warning shot in 2011 with their fantastic piece on the corruption in the organization. The NCAA in response allowed a $2,000 stipend to be added to the scholarship, basically admitting the current deal is inadequate. With O’Bannon v. the NCAA (now In re: NCAA Student Athlete Name & Likeness Licensing Litigation) coming down the pipeline in 2013, the NCAA is in a precarious position. One day a championship team will refuse to take the field/floor and the NCAA will crumble. 2012 could be the year. 

Neill: In 2011, fans were clued in to the darker realities of booster payments, illegal benefits, NCAA violations, child pornography, child sex abuse and, worst of all, the multiple cover-ups that took place at institutions of higher learning. These shadowy acts were hidden for years to preserve the millions of dollars poured into college athletics. Meanwhile, the players remain unpaid, forced to kill themselves for sports where less than 5% of athletes turn professional. But rest assured people, as long as schools' programs keep winning, all shall be forgiven.

In 2012, in addition to the horrifying, gory and troubling details continuing to emerge from the Sandusky and Bernie Fine prosecutions, the sports world will have to endure more of these controversies across college (and possibly high school and youth) athletics as more victims come forward to call out their abuser. I truly do not believe that Americans realize how prevalent of a problem sexual abuse is in youth sports. 

Adam: It seems like it's been a while since someone took aim at AAU athletics, and it's not like those teams have cleaned up their act one bit. I wouldn't be surprised to see an investigation into pay-for-play arrangements or high schools that are essentially diploma mills.

6. There's always a subject or story that get completely overblown. What will we never want to hear about again after 2012?

Joe: Tim Tebow. He is getting overblown right now and it will only continue through the summer and next season. I am so tired of hearing about Tim Tebo. Sportscenter is on right now and Herm Edwards Live is breaking down Tebow. The next three topics? America is Tebowing, then Tebow Bio, followed by Urban on Tebow. Not to mention the fact that they are running fan tweets about Tebow on the bottom of the screen.

Neill: There are a lot of obvious things jumping out at me right now: Timothy Richard Tebow, Gerry Sandusky, the Miami Heat, Kobe Bryant’s wrist, Tim Tebow, Pacquiao-Mayweather, hey, did I mention Jesus H. Tebow? But I think I have a good one. In August, London is scheduled to host the Olympics which means MICHAEL PHELPS! MICHAEL PHELPS MICHAEL PHELPS MICHAEL PHELPS. Not sure if anyone knows this, but Mr. Phelps is a swimmer. He likes to swim, rip bong hits, drive drunk and then somehow become the symbol of all that is heroically American. I’m already sick of seeing his name in print. And the thought of Bob Costas saying his name 6,980 times an hour? I’m done. I will never want to hear about Michael Phelps after 2012. May he breaststroke his way off into the sunset, never to return.

Adam: Peyton Manning and his neck. It already screams "Ed Werder reporting live from Manning's front lawn," and the coverage should ramp up as soon as the NFL season is over. We'll get minute-by-minute updates on what exercises he's doing and BREAKING NEWS ALERTS every time he turns his head a half-inch farther to the right and left.

7. Any story you think will be undercovered this year?

Neill: I already spoke a bit about soccer, but there is a renaissance of sorts taking place in European club soccer. Just last year we were treated to an incredible stretch of soccer where FC Barcelona played its fiercest, most hated rival Real Madrid four times in three weeks, with three different trophies on the line. To give you an idea of what Real Madrid/Barcelona is like, imagine the Red Sox and Yankees on 10 years of steroids. Even UNC/Duke is like 1986 Barry Bonds, and Barca/Real is 2006 Bonds. The hatred. The disgust. The gamesmanship. I’m literally salivating right now. Just give soccer a chance, people. Watch Barcelona play Real Madrid at the Camp Nou on April 22, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. EST. I promise you won’t regret it.

Adam: Drowned out by the attention given to Michael Phelps will be the rest of the talented US Olympic swim team. Missy Franklin is the new name to know, but the entire men' and women's squads have the chance to take home multiple golds. And gear up for the team relays, which are the most intense five minutes in sport.

8. There are rule changes ever year, some subtle and some—like all the NFL's recent changes—not so subtle. What rule change would you like to see in 2012?

Joe: It is time the MLB embraces video review. How many important calls can umpires get wrong before baseball stops living in the past? Umpires are absurdly good at their job, but they are still human. When you have the option to get these calls right, you need to embrace it.

Neill: Joe’s answer regarding MLB video review is right on target. My rule change? I want CBS to stop putting the crappiest play-by-play commentators on air each NFL Sunday. I want Gus Johnson to call each and every single NCAA Tournament game, even if that means the games will be tape delayed and he’ll do them afterwards. That’s the rule I want.

Adam: I agree wholeheartedly with Joe, but I'd settle with fixing the replay system we do have. The NFL challenge system is unnecessary; the officials should just review all controversial plays. Teams shouldn't be penalized for wanting to get the referees to do their jobs right. 

9. A sports media question: Yahoo! Sports arguably won the 2011, breaking a string of huge stories. What media outlet will rule the coming year?

Neill: I’m going with a big underdog. I’m betting that none other than ESPN makes a huge comeback! Believe in the underdogs, people!

Joe: Is it cheating to say Yahoo! again? I am a conspiracy theorist, and I just don’t see the CBS’ and Fox’s of the worlds taking down major sports organizations and figures while they televise the games and make so much money off the product. For example, no way ESPN goes after USC like Yahoo! did when it stands to gain so much from a potential USC title run.

The good news is the door is now open to sites like Yahoo! and Outkick the Coverage to go after these big stories that the giant outlets don’t want to break. I’m also excited to see Deadspin’s new look under Tommy Craggs.

Adam: I'm also going to cheat a little bit and say Twitter will rule 2012. Already we're seeing more athletes find out they've been traded on the social media platform before anyone tells them in person, and Twitter's accessibility and speed means everyone is a reporter and anyone can break news. While professional outlets are the ones that do the in-depth reporting and confirming, more of those stories will be started by rumors that originated on Twitter.

10. Finally, let's get three predictions about anything within the sports universe. The first one should have a good chance of happening, the second one should be plausible and the third should be downright outlandish.

Joe: 1) The New York Mets will be the worst team in baseball. 

2) Peyton Manning restructures his contract so Colts can draft Andrew Luck, who doesn’t play anything outside of garbage time in 2012 season.

3) Mr. Irrelevant, the final pick in the 2012 NFL draft, wins Rookie of the Year.

Neill: 1) Tiger Woods wins two Majors in 2012.

2) Tiger Woods wins four Majors in 2012.

3) Tiger Woods strolls into the PGA Championship this year at The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island, S.C., having won the first three majors. He shows up Thursday morning with 12 gorgeous supermodels from all over the world, one wearing the 2012 Green jacket as she chain smokes, and the others fighting over carrying the Claret jug and the U.S. Open trophy. Tiger roars to a wire-to-wire win, reducing Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy to tears in the process. After accepting the Wannamaker trophy, Tiger thanks no one but himself, blasts Stevie Williams and pours out champagne for his father. A guy can dream.

Adam: 1) An SEC team will play for the NCAA football championship for the seventh straight year.

2) Yu Darvish will secure a $100+ million contract, and then be a major, Hideki Irabu-level disappointment.

3) The Heat get knocked out of the playoffs again, prompting LeBron James to say "screw it" and go out for the NFL. He's signed by the Redskins.

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By Adam Cancryn

The Texas Rangers will be looking to slug their way to their franchises' first World Series victory.

The Texas Rangers are back in the World Series, and it’s not because they spent all season sacrificing the runner over and nibbling at the outside corner.

No, more often than not, this Rangers team took out the bats and bludgeoned its opponents, unleashing a barrage of doubles, triples and home runs into the warm and welcoming Texas sky.

It wasn’t supposed to work, that approach. Not with Philadelphia’s Fantastic Four and the BeckettLesterLackey trio and Sabathia and Verlander and the rest. Not with speed and efficiency trumping brute strength. Not during the back-to-its-roots small ball era that baseball swung to following a steroid-tainted decade.

Yet here we are. The Phillies are long gone. So are the Yankees, and the Tigers just joined them. Boston never even got to the postseason soiree.

And here are the Texas Rangers, standing alone: a symbol of offensive excess, of unabashed power and, most importantly, success.

Much of that success has been predicated on the tireless attack opposing pitchers find themselves up against each game. It’s Ian Kinsler, who tied for the team lead with 32 homers. Then it’s lightning-fast Elvis Andrus, then it’s Josh Hamilton, the graceful lefty who evokes comparisons to a young Mickey Mantle. That’s the first inning, and by that point you’re only just getting into the meat of the order.

Young (41 doubles), Beltre (32 HRs) and Napoli (1.046 OPS) await, with even more firepower behind them. You’re two innings in, if you’re lucky, and the game has already taken on an air of inevitability. Sooner or later, this Rangers offense will strike hard and fast. It’s too good not to.

That’s what the St. Louis Cardinals are up against this year. The team’s pitching staff must get 108 outs against a lineup that gives none away. It must make it through 36 frames without a major hiccup against a team that in 10 playoff games has scored four or more runs in an inning five times. It must make it past Nelson Cruz at least 12 times, likely more, without falling victim to a bat that in just six games has launched six home runs, including two game winners. It must get four final outs against a Texas squad that scored 13 runs in the ALCS after the seventh inning.

Of course, once the Rangers are done slugging, they must also pitch. And it’s here where their throwback, 1990s image becomes more nuanced. Ace C.J. Wilson finished the year with a 2.94 ERA, and no regular starter finished with less than 13 wins. On a team in which the staff needed only to keep games close before the Rangers’ inevitable offensive surge, the starters and bullpen combined for an AL-leading 19 shutouts.

St. Louis will certainly present a formidable challenge, boasting heavy hitters and crafty pitchers of its own. But the Cards’ lineup reads more like Texas lite, and the patchwork pitching staff will need more than manager Tony LaRussa’s meddling genius for matchups to keep the Rangers in check.

No, for the upstart Cards, who took advantage of an unprecedented divisional collapse and rode that momentum for two rounds, the journey stops here, in five games. And the Rangers, in all their primitive, see-it-and-hit-it glory, will party like it’s 1999.



For a look at the Cardinals check out The Invisible Hand of Albert Pujols

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