2011 predictions are on every sports fan’s mind as the holidays near. Here are predictions for 2011 in the sports world:
MLB:
Adrian Gonzalez wins the American League MVP award after taking advantage of friendly confines of Friendly Fenway Park.
The Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of the World Series behind a masterful four-hit shutout by…Pedro Martinez.
Derek Jeter hits the midway point of the season with a sub .700 fielding percentage. He’s still the most liked man in New York.
Zack Greinke wins the National League Cy Young Award and helps the Milwaukee Brewers to the National League Championship Series.
Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer combine for the best offensive duo in Major League Baseball, leading the Minnesota Twins to the American League Championship Series.
Carl Crawford finishes second behind Adrian Gonzalez in American League MVP award voting.
After missing out on signing Cliff Lee, Nolan Ryan comes out of retirement to sure up the Texas Rangers bullpen.
The Baltimore Orioles win the American League Wild Card before falling to Minnesota in the Divisional Series.
San Francisco’s Brian Wilson signs a sponsorship deal with Armani and cleans up his act. He mentions Major League 2 as his favorite movie.
The New York Yankees trade the naming rights to the new Yankee Stadium to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Felix Hernandez.
Albert Pujols signs a 10-year, $300 million extension with the St. Louis Cardinals.
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen says something politically incorrect to a group of reporters, but none of them hear him clearly because of his thick accent.
Cleveland catcher Carlos Santana hits .320 with 28 home runs and 110 RBI to lead the Cleveland Indians back into relevance.
NBA:
LeBron James and the Miami Heat fall to the Boston Celtics in a heart-wrenching Game 7 after being up 3-0 in the series.
The New Jersey Nets select Duke’s Kyrie Irving with the first pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Carmelo Anthony leads the New York Knicks to the Eastern Conference semifinals where they lose to the Miami Heat.
Dirk Nowitzki earns his second NBA MVP award while leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
Shaquille O’Neal assumes the name of The Big International and becomes the biggest—figuratively and literally—star in Turkey.
Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder knock off the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals before falling to the Mavs in the Conference finals.
Joakim Noah returns to the Chicago Bulls, who go on to win 16 straight games from February to March and clinch the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Blake Griffin holds his Rookie of the Year trophy up proudly.
Antoine Walker averages 12 points, four rebounds and seven missed three-pointers in four games with the Memphis Grizzlies in March.
Glen Davis of the Boston Celtics wins the NBA’s Sixth Man award.
NFL:
Brett Favre retires, maybe. Well, I’m not sure. But he might. Or he might not.
Sal Alosi goes 2-1 in a “celebrity” boxing circuit. His lone loss was a disqualification and came after tripping his opponent.
After undoubted success with its first outdoor home game in 30 years, the Vikings tear the rest of the Metrodome’s roof off and play under the cold Minnesota sky.
Versus announces the launch of a new reality show called Straight Cash, Ocho, starting Randy Moss and Chad Ochocinco.
Tom Brady cuts his hair after being asked to play George Harrison in a Beatles reunion.
Donovan McNabb runs windsprints throughout the offseason while Mike Shanahan watches silently.
Alex Smith, Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Matt Flynn become the next batch of great NFL quarterbacks.
The Dallas Cowboys become the first team to host a Super Bowl party next to where the Super Bowl is being played.
The NFL Players Union and its owners will agree on a new collective bargaining agreement in April, days before the NFL Draft.
The Minnesota Vikings sign free agent quarterback Michael Vick to a four-year deal.
The New England Patriots defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, pushing Tom Brady and Bill Belichick up another level among the greats.
The Cincinnati Bengals acquire free agent wide receiver Randy Moss and go winless in their first eight games of the 2011 season.
Jenn Sterger is hired by ESPN as an NFL analyst.
Tom Brady is named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player.
Back to full strength, the Indianapolis Colts finish the regular season 16-0.
College Basketball:
The UConn women win another NCAA championship with an undefeated record.
Duke finishes with a 32-1 record, erasing a February loss to Temple with a win in the National Championship game.
College Football:
Jim Harbaugh takes over at the helm for the Denver Broncos.
Iowa lands itself in a BCS Bowl, despite offseason investigations into drug use.
Syracuse knocks off UConn for the Big East championship, clinching a BCS bid.
Mark Cuban loses $500 million in a failed effort to develop a College Football playoff.
Boise State goes 11-0 and fails to make the National Championship game.
Cam Newton is the first pick in April’s NFL Draft and becomes one of Jimmy Clausen’s go-to weapons in Carolina.
Golf:
Tiger Woods wins the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open in his best season ever on the PGA Tour.
Sergio Garcia finally wins a major, taking home the PGA Championship.
Hockey:
The Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup over the Dallas Stars.
Tim Thomas helps lead the Boston Bruins to the Eastern Conference finals.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
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