Your Worst Sports Predictions?

Since most of wrote/covered/worked in sports, I’m curious what are some of your own worst predictions? Looking for the odd ones…

— was convinced after one game that Todd Marinovich was the answer at quarterback for the Raiders.
— Felt the same way about Browning Nagle.
— John Wallace was the steal of the NBA draft when he slid to the Knicks in 1996. Convinced he was a 20-10 guy.
— the 2008 Detroit Lions would win 10 games….I was only off by 10. I was convinced they were a playoff team.
— Ron Dayne was going to be the new Earl Campbell.

 

I thought Michael Vick was the future of the NFL.

 

I know a guy who predicted Wayne Gretzky would amount to nothing.

And another guy who said ithat Barry Bonds wouldn’t finish out his contract in San Francisco after he signed there out of Pittsburgh.

 

I thought Kobe Bryant was ruining his career by entering the draft after high school.

 

I thought the jets should have drafted Lawrence Phillips.

 

I thought Bo Kimble would be a good pro. He could score inside and outside, and could create his own shot. I learned that the difference in speed between college and pro is significant. And, Kimble lost a step when he suffered a torn patellar tendon his junior year.

I WAS NOT one of those who thought Shohei Ohtani needed to go to the minors.

 

He did change it. Running QBs, or ones that can run for 10-15 when flushed, are the norm today.

 

I thought the Bucs were fools for signing a washed-up Brady who couldn’t throw past 15 yards.

 

I thought Rich Rodriguez would be the Foge Fazio of WVU when they hired him and that gimmick spread offense.

I thought Michigan was a sure bet to win a national championship when they hired Rich Rodriguez.

 

I wrote that Saban wouldn't have more success at Bama than he had at LSU. Oops.

 

I’ll make one now: Mayfield will have a more successful career than Watson from here on out, especially if he gets with the right coach. Not sure why any team would put their franchise in the hands of a 25-year-old who missed an entire season of development. I don’t care how good he is.

 

Thankfully I kept it to myself, but I covered Phillip Rivers in a game his senior year of high school and thought he was overhyped.