Tom King

We have begun the dreaded month of January, the one that seems to go on forever.

Forget trying to find out Bill Belichick’s New Year Resolutions; we want to get a window of what 2022 will look like.

Ten years ago at this time, the New England Patriots were beginning a Super Bowl run (which ended with a loss in Indianapolis). Will they make one again?

Who will be the high school champions this winter, spring and next fall? How will the Silver Knights do?

Let’s check our crystal ball.

PREDICTION: The Patriots won’t make the Super Bowl, and we thought the opposite.

The one thing you have to look at is the competition, and the competition has gotten better over the last three weeks. Tennessee is getting Derek Henry back, Kansas City (other than the Bengals game) has improved defensively. And speaking of the Bengals, they look like a real threat. But, with all of the COVID impacts, things could change.

We say Green Bay wins the whole thing, beating … the Bengals.

PREDICTION: The Pinkerton Academy girls basketball team wins the state title, barring any pandemic impacts.

It looks like the team to beat, blowing away the competition in the way Bishop Guertin has in the past. Key game to see is Thursday, Jan. 20, when the Cardinals trek to Derry.

PREDICTION: The NHIAA’s new basketball schedule lasts just this year.

There were all sorts of reasons given to try the early-start early-finish, three-games-a-week setup. One of the ludicrous ones we heard was that everyone wanted to avoid the late February vacation.

Look, we’ve dealt with that for years. But for schools having to schedule Saturday morning basketball games after teams have played on a Friday night to avoid potential weather issues, as was done by many schools last month, is ridiculous.

PREDICTION: The 2022 Major League Baseball season won’t begin until June and will last about 100-110 games.

There’s no way these two sides will be able to get together on anything until things get dire. Those who think this will