Mojo's Sporting World

By Morris Denton, Executive Vice President, General Manager

Another New Year. And another opportunity to bathe in a rich compilation of experts predicting what we should expect in the coming year. I’m always intrigued by these pieces, mostly because I’m curious what the experts see in their crystal balls. And, admittedly, I like to poke holes in their stories or theories.

Now I find myself in the position of actually writing a trend story, and encourage you to poke your own holes in my analysis, but be warned, I don’t take myself too seriously. Here’s a view of the top five trends associated with sports, according to me, a self-proclaimed and somewhat jaded expert.

Trend One: there will be fewer people exercising in 60 days. Look, I love New Year’s resolutions. But if there is one thing I know, they fade quickly. Each day during my morning commute I drive alongside a section of Austin’s beautiful hike and bike trail on Lady Bird Lake, and while Austin is an active city, I’ve never seen this many runners in the morning. I expect to see a decreasing number until it levels out around Spring Break, when only the serious remain.

Trend Two: the London Olympics this summer will bring even more awful TV commercials than the Christmas season. I’m not sure what it is about TV advertising, but there are way too many bad commercials over the holidays. Maybe it’s because the advertisers know they have a captive audience and choose that time for relentless repetition of annoyance. Anyone besides me want to forget the December to Remember?

Oh, and while I’m on the subject of the Olympics, I think the sport of Badminton is due for a huge revival. HUGE. I’m currently evaluating, for investment purposes, companies that sell shuttlecocks.

Trend Three: in the world of college football, there are fewer things more controversial than the Bowl Championship Series. The BCS is the biggest farce of fair and open competition as anything I’ve seen. There are a gazillion reasons why the BCS should be abolished and a playoff system put in place, but I’ll give you five reasons why it won’t happen anytime soon: ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and ESPN. Some of you may think those are the names of major television networks. Others will properly recognize them as the names of new super conferences.

Trend Four: there will be a Motorsports resurgence. On the heels of an exciting NASCAR season, coupled with the highly anticipated return of Formula One, fans can expect more from the Motorsports scene. Consider this – NASCAR big wigs think that one of the best ways to increase their fan base is by increasing the star power of drivers through the use of social media. Get ready, fans! You will soon be inundated with the stylistic musings of NASCAR drivers in 140 characters or less. Most of the drivers are smart and articulate and take a thoughtful approach to how they communicate. And then there’s Kurt Busch.

Trend Five: as long as the National Hockey League can get through its collective bargaining agreement negotiations with its players later this year, we’ll be in for a multi-year stretch of uninterrupted harmony on the business side of our favorite stick and ball sports. The NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL will have relatively new long-term agreements in place between owners and athletes. This is good news, especially during these tough economic times. Not only do we get to watch our favorite professional sports, but we also get to watch as the owners and athletes get richer while we foot the bill. Quick fact – the average cost to take a family of four to a Major League Baseball game is $197.35. Expect that cost to increase.

While I’ve got you, here are some quick predictions for 2012:
 

• The New Orleans Saints will beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau and go on to win the Super Bowl.

• March Madness will still be the greatest collegiate sporting event, with Baylor making a deep run in a tournament that has North Carolina winning it all.

• Tiger Woods will win a major. But not the Master’s.

• Lebron will go another year without a ring.

• The Texas Rangers won’t make the playoffs. Unfortunately. I like seeing Li’l Ron Washington.

• A newcomer wins the Big 12 Football title and the Mack Brown era comes to an end. Sorry Horns’ fans.

• Sebastian Vettel won’t win the F1 Driver’s Championship, but Jimmy Johnson will return to his winning ways in NASCAR.

• Danica Patrick will still be a GoDaddy.com girl, but that will be the most significant airtime she’ll receive.

• Sports TV and Radio will become even more troubling and annoying, although Mike and Mike in the Morning and Pardon the Interruption will remain the best programs on the air.

• Tebow-mania will continue in Denver, ultimately forcing Denver fans to choose between John Elway and Tim Tebow as favorite football son of the city.