I’ve closed the book on 2008. Well, I still may be paying off some sports debts for a bit, but that’s beside the point. M-6 I’m ready for a whole new year of sports filled with a whole new set of disappointments with a few successes sprinkled in just to keep us interested. M-6 Here now, my — very brief — preview.
January
18 NFL Conference Championships
Just because the Bears are out of it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy quality football.
25 NHL All-Star game
Three Blackhawks will be there. Yes, Chicago has bona fide hockey all-stars.
February
1 Super Bowl
Last year the game was better than the commercials. Let’s hope the commercials rebound this time around.
15 NASCAR Daytona 500
This race in sunny Florida screams “spring.” Reminds you better weather days are ahead. It reminds me of drunken days with … I’ll stop now.
15 NBA All-Star game
Sorry, Bulls, Derrick Rose cannot bring guests with him.
MARCH
15 Selection Sunday
March Madness. Enough said.
19-23 NCAA tournament first round
Perhaps the greatest four days in sports on any level.
APRIL
6 White Sox home opener vs. Kansas City
And so it begins … the parade of Ozzie Guillen curses, that is.
NCAA tournament championship game
It’s in Detroit. Don’t let that stop you from enjoying it.
9-12 The Masters
There’s no way golf can top last year’s U.S. Open with Tiger Woods winning on one good leg — unless Woods is playing for the title here.
13 Cubs home opener vs. Colorado
Lou Piniella will throw his first tirade of the season — before the second inning.
15 Stanley Cup playoffs begin
I don’t want to jinx anything, but the Blackhawks should have a solid run to the Stanley Cup finals. Sorry, I just jinxed it.
18 NBA playoffs begin
No Bulls allowed.
25-26 NFL draft
See your future Bears disappointment before reality smacks him in the face.
MAY
19 NBA Draft lottery
The Bulls might have a chance at getting the No. 1 pick again. That’s good and bad news. Good: Impact player. Bad: Your team was abysmal to get it.
24 Indianapolis 500
Now that open-wheel racing has merged, it should be back to Indy’s good ol’ days. Meaning, it’ll be the biggest party around, with a racing sideshow.
JUNE
12 Sky home opener vs. Atlanta
Olympic gold medal winner Sylvia Fowles and Co. play the best pro basketball in the city this year.
15 Last possible day for the Stanley Cup finals
Yes, you read that right. Hockey in June.
16-18 Crosstown Classic: WHITE Sox at Cubs
How many Cubs players will be on the DL at this point?
18 Latest possible end of NBA Finals
This might as well be called the Celtic Coronation.
22-7/5 Wimbledon
Rafael Nadal. He’s got game — and great hair.
26-28 Crosstown 2: Cubs at WHITE Sox
There’s no way A.J. Pierzynski and Milton Bradley don’t start a bench-clearing brawl.
July
1 NASCAR LifeLock.com 400 in Joliet
NASCAR comes to town. Lock up your wife and kids. And your shotguns. And your PBR. And I’ll stop now.
4-26 Tour de France
Lance Armstrong goes for No. 8. No, that’s not the number of Hollywood hotties he’ll date
this year. On second thought, it might be.
August
29 IRL PEAK Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 in Joliet
Racing for the wine and cheese crowd. Yeah, I know, no one will be there.
September
10 NFL regular season begins
Let’s make one thing clear: The Bears should be Matt Forte’s team. Sexy Rexy or Kyle Neckbeard can go join the WWE for all I care.
October
11 Chicago Marathon
Look for me around Mile 19. I won’t be running, I’ll be sitting in the shade behind that mailbox. I love marathons.
27 World Series begins
Chicago looks on with jealousy. Oh, don’t pretend you think the Cubs or Sox — or both — will make it. This is Chicago, people.
November
1 New York City Marathon
Even with four legs, I couldn’t do this.
December
7-10 Baseball’s winter meetings in Indy
The Cubs and Sox search for the right pieces to finally get them over the hump. And so the cycle continues …
