NEW YEAR, NEW HOPE
If we learned one thing from a wild 2017, it’s that when it comes to making predictions, only one thing is for certain: nothing’s for certain
WE ARE experts. We are all experts. We, who sit behind laptop computers, raging and roaring that this bum needs to be traded and that stiff needs to be fired, 100 percent certain we are right. You, at the saloon/water cooler/subway platform, yimmering and yammering about baseball/football/basketball/hockey, 100 percent certain you are right. Here’s the thing, though. We don’t know as much as we think we know. We aren’t nearly as certain as we believe we are.
This time last year the prevailing baseball opinion in town was that the Mets would cruise to another playoff season and the Yankees would struggle to stay above .500. In golf, we could’ve asked for a mulligan when the Mets sank and the Yankees soared. But this isn’t golf.
This time last year the overwhelming football opinion in town was that the Giants were tiptoeing on another Super Bowl doorstep and the Jets weren’t just going to be bad — they were going to be historically bad, 0-16 (maybe 1-15) bad. In Wiffle ball we could’ve asked for a do-over when the Giants tanked and the Jets managed to start 3-2 and actually stay in genuine playoff contention through Thanksgiving. But this isn’t Wiffle ball.
This is sports, and as much as we know, we know nothing. Did you have the Devils in first place during Christmas week? Did you think the Knicks would ever see .500 after 0-0? Did you think the Islanders, this time last year, would be headed home to Long Island and a new 18,000-seat palace? You did? Well what are you doing here then? Off to Vegas you go. And leave the rest of us with our lock-solid, guaranteed, 100 percent predictions for 2018.
Just make sure to wear a helmet.