December 30, 2019 By: Mark Knudson

2020 Vision: The upcoming year in PRE-view

Enough with looking back at the last year and the last decade. Let’s look ahead. What can we expect to happen in 2020?

Time to check in again with the slightly cracked Crystal Ball…

January 13^th, New Orleans – Heisman winner Joe Burrow completes a magical year by throwing for 275 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead LSU past Clemson 28-17 in the College Football Play-off championship game. After the game, Burrow signs a five-year guaranteed contract with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, who hold the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

Also, after the game, Clemson sophomore quarterback Trevor Lawrence announces he’s leaving school to sign a multi-year deal with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the upstart XFL. Not eligible for the NFL draft, Lawrence will report to his XFL team in one week.

February 2^nd, Miami – Drew Brees returns to the scene of his first Super Bowl title exactly 10 years ago and gets his second ring, as the New Orleans Saints defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 38-31 in Super Bowl LIV. Brees passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns, and the Saints defense intercepts Patrick Mahomes twice to secure the victory. After the game, Mahomes fires his State Farm agent.

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April 6^th, Atlanta – While starring down the barrel of NCAA probation, the Kansas Jayhawks don’t blink. After overcoming a 17-point second half deficit, they defeat upstart San Diego State 81-78 to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball title and complete a wild “March Madness” post season that saw all four No. 1 seeds eliminated before reaching the Final Four.

Jayhawks coach Bill Self, the focus of some of the most serious charges against the KU program, vowed to continue to fight to clear his program of all charges stemming from the shoe company paying players scandal that has enveloped several prominent programs and coaches.

“The truth shall set us free,” Self proclaimed during the victory celebration that included several representatives from Adidas.

March 22^nd, Scottsdale – After hitting a pair of exhibition game home runs against Arizona and pronouncing himself ready for the start of the regular season next week, Colorado Rockies superstar third basemen Nolan Arenado laughs at a reporter who asks him about the persistent trade rumors that followed him during the off season.

“It was all nonsense,” Arenado grins. “I told Jeff (Bridich, Rockies GM) that if he felt like punking the media guys a bit, that he could put it out there that he was listening to offers, even though we both knew I wasn’t going anywhere. It got funny, some of that stuff. But to read some of the s*&t that got written really started to piss off some of the other guys.”

June 10^th, Denver – Nathan MacKinnon scores a pair goals, including the game winner short- handed, to lead the Colorado Avalanche to the third Stanley Cup championship in team history, toppling the Boston Bruins 4-3 to win the series four games to two. After the game, Canadian TV commentator Don Cherry tweets that McKinnon could be the best player in NHL history.

June 14^th, Houston – Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 25 points and pulls down 12 rebounds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks past presumptive MVP James Harden the upstart Houston Rockets 114 – 96 in Game Six of the NBA Finals to win Brew Town’s first NBA title since Lew Alcindor and Oscar Robertson helped the Bucks capture the NBA championship in 1971. The Rockets were coming off a four-games-to-none sweep of the injury plagued Los Angeles Lakers – who were missing both LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the series, which earned them a spot in the finals for the first time since 1995.

April 23^rd, Las Vegas – With their first pick, No. 15 overall, the Denver Broncos select offensive tackle Andrew Thomas from Georgia. But it’s the second-round selection, wide receiver Laviska Shenault from Colorado, that gets the most buzz. Shenault fell to Denver unexpectedly after a so-so showing at the NFL combine. Head Coach Vic Fangio tells the gathered media that Shenault will be looked at as a kick returner as well as a pass receiver.

July 10^th, Norman, Oklahoma – Keeping with his tradition of bringing in transfer quarterbacks, Oklahoma football coach Lincoln Riley announces that former Florida signal caller Feleipe Franks is coming to OU to play his final season of college football. Franks acknowledge the move on social media, adding “If I want to win the Heisman next year, that’s the place to go.”

August 13^th, Denver – Broncos coach Vic Fangio announces that he will play his starters more in this preseason than he did last year. “We weren’t ready for the start of the regular season last year,” Fangio acknowledged. “That’s on me. But the starters won’t be playing this week or next, just so you know.”

September 5^th, Fort Collins, Colorado – In his first game as the new Head Coach of the Colorado State Rams, Steve Addazio lives up to his “ground and pound” reputation. The Rams attempt just 12 passes in the game, generate no touchdowns and fall in a snooze fest to the Colorado Buffaloes and new starting quarterback Tyler Lytle 10-6 at Canvas Stadium. It’s the Buffs first trip to Fort Collins since 1996, and their last until 2024.

September 26^th, Denver – Nolan Arenado caps what could be an MVP season by hitting a pair of home runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks – numbers 49 and 50 on the season – as the Rockies beat the visitors 10-4 for their 81^st win of the season. The win guarantees a 10-game improvement from the 2019 season. After the game, Arenado tells the media, “Look, it was a much better season than last year, and we’re headed back in the right direction. I’m here for the long haul…so no, we won’t be talking about any trades this winter, okay?

October 29^th, Los Angeles – After waiting 32 years, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally celebrate a World Series win, beating the New York Yankees 5-3 to win the series in six games. After the game, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is overheard telling Dodgers minority owner Magic Johnson “it’s about time we got the big markets back on top of baseball. I’m sick of those small market teams and their whining.”

December 27, Denver – Drew Lock throws for 324 yards and four touchdowns as the Denver Broncos clinch a wild card play-off berth with a 42-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field. The Broncos record their 10^th win of the season and finish second in the AFC West behind the Las Vegas Raiders. Defending AFC Champion Kansas City finishes in third place.

So says the Crystal Ball.