New year of predictions, and this time they're in writing

I'm an ace at making predictions. The problem is that I never have taken the time to write them down.

Instead, I've usually made the mistake of casually telling somebody that this or that will take place. So when the time comes for me to brag about being right, the person I made the prediction to always acts like the initial conversation never took place.

I hate that, which brings me to my New Year's resolution. From now on, I write everything down. Starting today. I've decided to use this space right here to rant and rave about what I think will come true during the next 12 months. Hey, it's my column (for how long is anybody's guess).

Prediction No. 1: People at Lecanto will forget about the transfer of star pitcher Jimmy Metz to Crystal River ... in 2006.

Seriously, folks, this is a BIG deal. Take a look at what Crystal River's baseball team did last year. Twenty-five wins. And that was with a group of underclassmen. Stick Metz, the area's true ace, in the rotation and suddenly you've got yourself a team capable of capturing a state title.

Prediction No. 2: The Citrus girls soccer team will complete another season without a loss to a county opponent.

For those keeping score at home, the Hurricanes are unbeaten against county rivals -- all time. Citrus has too many weapons, among them star midfielder Amber Presnick, for Crystal River and Lecanto to overcome.

Lecanto is solid, no doubt about it, and will put up a fight when the teams meet again Jan. 11, but the Panthers won't win. If they do somehow pull the upset, coach Kevin Towne can thank me for the motivation.

Prediction No. 3: If Lecanto's Kate Wheeler wants to qualify for the state track and field meet in five events, she will.

Last season, Wheeler reached state in four but failed to advance in the 100-meter hurdles -- her best event.

Wheeler has a chance to score in the high jump, triple jump, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and 4x400. If she does, she'll finish with more points than most teams.

Prediction No. 4: The Lecanto-Citrus boys basketball game scheduled for Feb. 8 will be the county's game of the century. A bold statement? You bet. But first consider that it's 2002, not 2891, so it's not like this game has much competition.

Last season, for example, kind of stunk in the good-games department. Anyway, both teams are loaded, both have great fan support and both are well-coached (I know this because I once coached Little League basketball).

Expect a packed house in Inverness and a game to remember.

Prediction No. 5: Hernando basketball standout and Florida signee Bernice Mosby will be the Times All-Citrus/Hernando Player of the Year.

Hey, sometimes you've got to stick your neck out on these things.

Prediction No. 6: This is going to be an unpopular one, but my gut tells me that Mike Hampton's struggles in the second half of the 2001 season with the Colorado Rockies wasn't a fluke.

Do I know anything about pitching? Nope. All I know is that when a player gives up more home runs in one season than he did in the previous two years, has an ERA of 5.41 and allows opponents to hit .296, something is wrong.

Call it the Coors Field Curse. Everybody tells me Hampton is a great guy. If that's true, then I hope I'm wrong on this one.

Prediction No. 7: The team to beat next football season in the county will be ... Lecanto. Okay, stop laughing, I'm being serious. Really. The Panthers went 6-4 last fall and return most of their top players. Citrus doesn't have the athletes to match up with Lecanto, and Crystal River is graduating more than half of its starters.

Look for the Panthers to finish 9-1, with wins over Central, Citrus, Crystal River, Deltona, Dunnellon, Eustis, Hernando, Springstead and Tavares. You can forget about Lecanto beating North Marion. Nobody around here can touch those guys.

Prediction No. 8: Citrus cross country runner Tony Lyons will make a serious push for a state title. As a junior, he placed sixth, and he's ready to join Florida's elite.

Lyons bagged training last summer for a part-time job. In 2002, he'll spend June, July and August working hard at Whispering Pines Park. He might not claim gold at state, but the offseason work will lead to a college scholarship, which probably is a bigger deal anyway.

Prediction No. 9: Those upset or dumbfounded by the above comments will e-mail their complaints to niebuhr@sptimes.com, or call 860-7337 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. P.S., I'm on vacation this week.

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