Beginning the year with a few predictions

ROGER CARLSON

Peering into the crystal ball ...

Logic is the only motive in predictions, and with that in mind,

here are a few for 2004:

* A berth in the CIF Southern Section playoffs will be the

ultimate focus for Newport Harbor, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa and

Estancia basketball and football teams this year. Newport football

could be the exception and make a serious run for the Sea View League

championship. And, maybe, off a 36-point blowout of Estancia in

basketball, CdM has the horses to deal with Northwood in Pacific

Coast League hoops.

* A clear winner in Golden West League basketball is Huntington

Beach-based Ocean View where Coach Jim Harris has his son, Jimmy,

lined up to replace him. Harris has been the Seahawks’ only head

varsity basketball coach in the school’s 24-year history. His

daughter, more sooner than later, will be the girls basketball coach.

But they won’t call it Harris High. They’ll have to settle for Harris

Gymnasium, eventually.

* Costa Mesa High football coach Dave Perkins will continue his

domination of the “Perkins Bowl,” with a 5-0 record in his pocket as

the winning coach in the last five Costa Mesa-Estancia football

games. He and his Eagles were winners over Mesa twice before coaching

Costa Mesa to its last three wins over Estancia. His first Estancia

team was drubbed, 52-0, by the Mustangs.

* Football coach Jeff Brinkley and his Sailors will still rule the

waters in the Battle of the Bay against rival Corona del Mar. Nine

Newport victories in the last 10 starts with CdM suggests that I have

a 90% chance for accuracy.

* Several standout coaches will call it quits or move on, because

of the sorry display of no commitment to former Estancia High

basketball coach Chris Sorce. The Newport-Mesa district’s response to

each loss will be about the same as a two-line note in small “agate”

type that “the coach resigned after so many years.”

* Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium, with a new, first-rate

synthetic surface, will become an even more attractive site for a

football game, but Estancia High will continue to act as if it is

some sort of orphan because it has to play on the Pirates’ pristine

field. What crosses some have to bear.

*

Predictions in terms of the tube, where I spend most of my time,

are without limits.

Already beyond any resemblance of common sense, it’s an arena

which defies restraint:

* In the NFL, more commercials will be provided by changing to a

Canadian Football League feature, two downs and a punt, allowing for

more interruptions and more time to promote various soaps and

specials.

As for presentation, look for five in the booth with occasional

stops to show a key play in a drive. This gives the quintet ample

opportunity to yuk it up quite nicely without the need to show any

live game action, with a quick review of each drive, followed by

further analysis. Also look for a new feature: a psychologist to

present his or her viewpoints on how the players and coaches are

feeling and what they’re saying to themselves as play goes along.

And instead of a booth, the expansion to a lounge will be coming,

which will give the various announcers the ability to toss the ball

around and experiment with a few plays. And, it will allow for

continuing analysis on the various celebration shots in the end zone,

with multiple cameras and angles.

Also new to the set, a fortune teller, to predict which play will

be next, assuming the analysts haven’t already done it. And, even if

the analysts have “opined,” the fortune teller can verify.

ESPN will be the first to come up with an all-female team of

announcers and analysts, and halftime will be limited to six minutes,

again providing more commercial time and promotions for ABC.

Fox’s major contribution will be more women prancing about on the

sidelines, one at each corner of the field. They’ll be called “Foxy’s

Angels.”

In college football:

* It has been determined what is really needed is another bowl

game.

Inspired by the collapse of Notre Dame and Alabama, a new bowl,

the Toilet Bowl, will feature the two considered to be the biggest

disappointments of the season.

After spots in the other bowl games are filled, teams will be

determined by the BCS computer. The site will be Seattle, home of the

original skid row.

In basketball:

* Kobe walks. Fame and fortune outweigh the details.

* No doubt, Dennis Rodman is the mole.

*

One thought about the BCS college football rankings: If USC’s

schedule was so crummy, how is it that Hawaii defeats Houston,

California tops Virginia Tech, Washington State puts away Texas,

Oregon State thumps New Mexico, and Oregon is a 31-30 loser to

Minnesota in bowl games? UCLA? See below.

Oklahoma’s schedule, on the other hand, included bowl-game losers

North Texas, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and

Missouri. Texas Tech is only winner on the Sooners’ 2003 schedule.

Fresno State doesn’t count, since UCLA lost to everyone.

Hey! See you next Sunday!

* ROGER CARLSON is the former sports editor for the Daily Pilot.

His column appears on Sundays. He can be reached by e-mail at

rogeranddorothea@msn.com.