Here we are again, preparing for yetanother academic year at LSU. And as the leaves begin to changecolor and the weather begins to cool, we’ll begin to embark on yetanother predictable year in the wonderful world of professionalsports.
    First, major league baseball. With theseason coming to a close, division races are getting interesting,yet we won’t see much of a difference from past years.
    In the American League, the Yankeeswill, of course, come out of the east as the favorites and make itto the World Series, only to lose again because of a weak bullpenand struggling starting pitching staff. After all, buying newplayers (Alex Rodriguez) year in and year out can help.
    The Red Sox will earn the wildcard, onlyto lose yet again to the hated Yankees in the American LeagueChampionship Series.
    In the central, the fan favoriteMinnesota Twins will clinch the division, and perhaps even put up afight in the divisional series. But don’t ever look for a team likethe Twins to make it to the world series. While they’ve got greattalent and perhaps the best centerfielder in the game with ToriiHunter, baseball comes down to money, and the Twins don’t have muchof it.
    Out in the west, Texas Rangers fans willbe disappointed despite a very exciting year after they fail to getpast the Oakland Athletics. The pitching in Oakland is too good tobeat, and any team with a player like Eric Chavez is bound to makethe playoffs.
    The National League has begun to shapeup as well, with no major surprises.
    Atlanta will win the east and thedefending world champion Florida Marlins will fail to earn the wildcard. Despite having a decent pitching staff, getting rid of BradPenny proved to be a mistake. Being without catcher Ivan Rodriguezhas also hurt.
    The St. Louis Cardinals, the bestfundamental team in baseball, have managed to blow away thoselovable losers the Chicago Cubs, who have again managed to notfulfill expectations. Yet the difference this year from last isthat there’s no excuse for the Cubs. Sorry Cubbies fans, but you’llhave to blame somebody other than Steve Bartman in the off-seasonfor yet another disappointing year in Chicago.
    The Los Angeles Dodger’s pitching hasproven to be too strong out in the west to be beaten, so look forthe Dodgers to win the west.    
    The National League wildcard is theinteresting part. Once again, sorry Cubbies fans, but despite thatfact that your tied for the lead right now, don’t get your hopesup. Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants will clinch the wildcard.
    Yet baseball isn’t the only thing thatwe can predict with such ease. Come late October, the NBA willcontinue to see how many criminals and thugs it can fit into onecourt. Allen Iverson will again skip practice and take offense whenasked for the reason of his absence. Does it seem odd to anybodythat the same person who was arrested in July of 2002 forallegations of threatening two men with a gun is representing ourfair nation in the Olympics? On the other coast, Kobe Bryant willtry and carry the most famous team in basketball on his shoulderswithout Shaq around, all while managing his rape case off thecourt. Who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky and re-live the days ofLatrell Sprewell choking his coach or Jason Kidd slapping his wife.I can’t wait to find out!
    And of course, we can’t forget aboutfootball, perhaps the most predictable sport of all. Michael Vickwill again fail to play a 16-game season because of the fact thatrunning quarterbacks like him do not survive in the NFL. Only guyslike Donovan McNabb survive by the run. And throwing for 3,216yards can help. Aaron Brooks will again fail to do anything rightin New Orleans, as the only bright spot for the Saints has beenDeuce McAlister the past few years. And once again the New EnglandPatriots will win the super bowl for one reason: defense. Not onlydid Bill Bellicheck prove it last year, so did a man by the name ofNick Saban. It’s simple as that. Defense wins championships.
    So try and get excited, sports fans, formaybe this year we’ll see some new faces and ideas. Be sure andtune in come October to see the Bronx Bombers buy their way intoanother World Series. Be prepared to check your daily police reportto get an update on the NBA. But don’t get your hopes up. Justexpect another dull and boring fall in the wonderful world ofprofessional sports.