Every year, I have made predictions on who would win sporting events, usually just the Super Bowl and the Stanley Cup Finals. I have been right more than once, but there’s one problem; I never have any evidence that I made the right call. So this year I’m taking it to the next level and publishing my predictions. Some of these predictions I fully believe in, and some are very bold predictions that seem unlikely—maybe impossible—but they aren’t out for the count.
Year in Sports
The Atlanta Braves will win the World Series.
This one isn’t too bold in my opinion. The Atlanta Braves were the most consistent team in baseball last year, and one of the better teams too. With only the loss of Brian McCann to the Yankees, the Braves bring back essentially the same group as last year. If they can get there and stay hot in October, don’t be surprised if they win it all this year.
The Miami Heat won’t 3-peat.
Picking the Heat to win again wouldn’t be a bold prediction, but this is: the Indiana Pacers will upset LeBron James and the Heat in Eastern Conference Finals and win the NBA Finals. The Pacers have been the only other force in the Eastern Conference with the ability to dethrone the King. Call me crazy, but that’s why it’s called “Bold Predictions of 2014.”
LeBron James will not win the MVP.
This one goes hand in hand with the last one. Somebody has to dethrone the King, and my guess is either Kevin Durant, who hasn’t been able to do so in recent years, or Paul George. KD has been Player of the Month in November and December in the West while the East was split with Paul George taking November and LeBron getting the honors in December. If Durant and George can keep up their play and LeBron goes down with an injury, look for one of them to take LeBron’s crown.
FSU will win the BCS National Championship.
This probably isn’t very bold, but considering Auburn took down the formidable Crimson Tide, it’s pretty bold. Although The Rambler already previewed this game, but I’ll give a little of my input too. First off, Auburn has had nothing but luck all season. The game against Alabama, the odds that Cade Foster would miss the field goal and Chris Davis would return it the entire length of the field for the win, is/was highly unlikely. Florida State will win the BCS National Championship with an offense that will overpower the Auburn defense as well as a strong defensive performance on the big stage.
Johnny Manziel will declare for the NFL draft.
I don’t know what is going through Johnny Football’s mind, and I don’t think he knows either.
Reason he leaves: to get away from College Station and all the problems that have surrounded him there.
Reason he stays: to not go to the Browns.
Syracuse will win March Madness.
This one is a shot in the dark. Anyone could win the coveted tournament, but seeing that usually a number 1-5 seed wins NCAA tournament, I think Syracuse has a serious shot at winning it all come this March.
Peyton Manning will end the season with a Super Bowl ring.
Peyton “I smash records for fun” Manning is simply too good. The Broncos are going to have a hard time getting to the Super Bowl, but if they can get to the dance Peyton will be ready to tango.
The Chicago Blackhawks will win Lord Stanley’s Cup.
No team has won back-to-back Stanley Cups since the Red Wings in 1997 and 1998, but with basically the same team as last season, a resurgent Patrick Kane, and having won the Cup twice in four years, don’t be surprised if you see Jonathan Toews and company getting their picture taken with Lord Stanley for the second straight year.
Patrick Kane will win the NHL MVP.
Having just received first star of the month for November and December, Patrick Kane has been hot for the first half of the season. If he can keep up this pace and avoid injury, he may be the only one with a shot at beating Sidney Crosby for the Art Ross and Hart Memorial this season.
Year in Pop Culture
What’s the year in video games look like?
I don’t know. I’m not in middle school.
Music Artists
There is no orthodox way to do this, so I will do it by important figures and role models in my life.
Justin Timberlake: JT is my idol. My guess is that he comes out with at least 3 albums, 12 hit singles, a mixtape, 9 movies, 8 of which he is the lead and 1 being a cameo, features on 76 songs, 1 being with A$AP Ferg, hosts SNL 7 and a half weeks straight. At this rate, it looks like a mediocre year for my man Justin.
Lupe Fiasco: People have stopped talking about Lupe, but I haven’t given up the ship. Lupe’s “The Show Goes On and On” will be his next hit single, you watch.
Miley Cyrus: After accepting her award for Bangerz 2 (speculation by me), she is wearing a wedding dress and starts singing “Hallelujah” and makes the entire world break down in tears.
Michael Jackson: Comes back from the grave like in Thriller and makes more hit music songs (or at least some previously unknown releases from the archives).
Taylor Swift: She finally settles down with a guy and stops making songs about her exes. (SPOILER ALERT: This is not going to happen, for sure. I repeat: not gonna happen.)
Justin Bieber: I know JB. He likes to tease us, and he’s all talk, but… this being a bold prediction, I bet he actually retires.
Ylvis: if you didn’t hear the hit song in 2013, “The Fox,” then did you even have a 2013? My guess is that Ylvis follows up 2013 with “The Mammoth” in 2014.
Gilly: Gilly teased us in 2013 with his mix tape bluff, but I’m hopeful in 2014 he actually puts out some songs for us to enjoy.
Movies

The year in movies will be pretty good, but overshadowed in 2015.
Any year would and should be overshadowed by 2015; with two movie all-stars making sequels, Star Wars Episode VII and The Avengers: Age of Ultron, it’s sure to be a memorable year in 2015. 2014 should be interesting, 22 Jump Street might be the comedy of the year, I’m excited to see the story continued in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Transformers: Age of Extinction, and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes will be a top movie this summer.
Actors/Actresses
Jennifer Lawrence: I’m not gonna sit here and say that J. Law is not going to have a good 2014 because The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 comes out in November, but it’s going to be hard to top her 2013.
Ron Burgundy: Everything Ron Burgundy says is the truth, but if he told you his 2014 is going to be successful, would you believe him? Sure, Anchorman 2 was one of the funniest, most random movies of all time, and it kicked off the New Year in theaters, but it will be hard for Mr. Burgundy to stay relevant in 2014.
Drake: If you’re wondering why Drake is here instead of the music section, after his cameo in Anchorman 2, I can never look at Drake as a “rapper” ever again. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Drake turn into a JT type of entertainer, a “triple-threat” as we like to call it in the business. Drake may very well be a Hollywood star at the end of the year.
Ryan Gosling: Being debatably the best looking actor in the biz, it’s hard to have an off year. Ryan Gosling only has one project in the making for 2014, but you better bet you’ll see Gosling’s name in the news more than any other actor.
Bruce Willis: I am going out on a limb here; Bruce Willis retires from his acting career with Die Hard 24 and makes his move to become a star in the WWE.
2014 should be an exciting year.