Things I Think #2

Theo Epstein will leave one previously-
cursed franchise for another one this Winter.

I think Theo Epstein will be successful running the Chicago Cubs, but he can't expect to lead the Cubs to its first World Series title since 1908 unless he signs Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder in the offseason this year.  Epstein was hired as a 28-year old General Manager of the Boston Red Sox in 2002 and created a culture of statistic evaluation, exposed market inefficiencies (go see "Moneyball"), and signed big-time free agents to carry the Red Sox to 2 World Series titles (2004 & 2007).  He can replicate that success in the Windy City, however, the championship Boston lineups were consistently stacked with sluggers such as Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz who delivered during Boston's run.  Last I checked, the Cubs had "sluggers" such as Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Pena.  First order of business: Get an upgrade, Theo.

I think the NBA season won't start until at least December.  The owners and the players are still just too far apart in their demands, and as they work towards solidifying a proposed ten-year deal, there is too much money on the table for both sides to want to rush into a deal to save some November basketball.  In fact, Carmelo Anthony has stated that he wants to return to Denver as a New York Knick to play his former team, the Nuggets, on November 16.  But if the NBA owners and players don't reach an agreement soon, then Melo's return to Denver would be canceled and not rescheduled this year.  Right now the NBA season is scheduled to start on November 15, but the stakes are too high for either side to cave before more games are lost.  However, both the owners and the players would be wise to give the NBA fans some basketball for Christmas so that any results gained from the prolonged lockout are not lost in the form of lower ticket and merchandise sales in both the short-term and the long-term.

The NBA owners have locked out its players, but some players like Jimmer
Fredette are keeping themselves busy by staying around campus and getting engaged.

I think Jimmer is a Super Senior.  I know that his fiancee is still a BYU student and a BYU cheerleader, and I know that the NBA owners have locked out players like Jimmer for the foreseeable future, leaving Jimmer without a day job, and I know the ESPN cameras love the guy, and I know that everyone in Provo still idolizes the guy, but let's be honest, he's a Super Senior...not that there's anything wrong with that.