US Sport: 2003 predictions

Kevin Asseo BBC Sport Online's US sports writer looks ahead to 2003

FUTURE STARS

NFL - Deuce McAllister

McAllister stats

Born: December 27, 1978, Lena, Mississippi

2002 record: 1613 yards. 16 touchdowns

Height/weight:
6ft 1in/221 lbs

Did you know?:
Deuce is short for Dulymus

Latest NFL results

The New Orleans running back has enjoyed a tremendous season in 2002, making Saints fans forget all about Ricky Williams.

McAllister will only get better in 2003 and should turn New Orleans' young offence into one of the NFL's best, not to mention turn his team into genuine Super Bowl contenders.

NBA - Yao Ming
The Houston Rockets' 7'6" Chinese import was very much an unknown quantity heading into the 2002-03 basketball season.

Now, with a few games under his belt, it has become clear the big man can play.

With each passing game, Yao looks increasingly comfortable with the style of play in the NBA and will become a force under the boards by the end of the season.

MLB - Mark Prior
The Chicago Cubs' lanky second-year starting pitcher has the makings of a star for years to come in the Majors.

Prior's rookie year was cut short with injury but next season the hard-throwing right-hander should pick up right where he left off, blowing away hitters.

His 147 strikeouts (to just 38 walks) in 119 innings is an omen of great things to come.

Review: US Sport 2002

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PREDICTIONS

Top tips

NBA: Sacramento on top

NFL: Packers to lift Super Bowl

MLB: Oakland to win World Series

NHL: Flyers to clinch Stanley Cup

NBA
All good things must come to an end, and the end of the Lakers' dominance is near as the age of their supporting cast has finally caught up with them.

The door is open for a new crown bearer and fittingly in 2003 it will be the Sacramento Kings.

The young, hungry Kings will not have to taste the bitter disappointment of their play-off experience a year ago.

NFL
The Super Bowl champions could come from anywhere in the field - it all depends on which team gets hot as the weather turns cold and January's post-season begins.

Can Brett Favre inspire Green Bay?

In these upside-down times in the modern NFL, when perennial losers like the Saints, Buccaneers, and Patriots are among the league's elite teams, look for a reminder of the old days come Super Bowl week.

The Green Bay Packers and their unflappable leader, quarterback Brett Favre, will make another run to the championship, bringing the Super Bowl trophy back to Lambeau Field.

MLB
Will Ken Griffey Jr finally have a good year in Cincinnati? Will Dusty Baker turn the Cubs into winners? Will the Yankees return to their championship form?

No, no, and no.

But the Oakland A's will become World Series champions in 2003.

The A's got close last year, losing in the play-offs to the Minnesota Twins, and have all the key players returning in 2003.

Their pitching rotation is the best in baseball and reigning Most Valuable Player Miguel Tejada leads a potent hitting attack.

This should be the break-through season for a team that has finally matured into champions.

NHL

2003 should be the Philadelphia Flyers' year

The Philadelphia Flyers, a veteran-laden team with a new coach, Ken Hitchcock, are ready to put their under-achieving ways behind them and hoist the Stanley Cup.

The Flyers' defence has been outstanding this season.

And with veterans Jeremy Roenick, John LeClair, and Mark Recchi leading the offence, the Cup will have a home in Philly for the first time in more than 25 years.

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POTENTIAL SHOCKS

After years of clinging to its antiquated system of bowl games to determine the college football national champion, the NCAA will, at long last, initiate a play-off system.

The Bowl Championship Series, created four years ago to end the inevitable controversies caused by allowing a panel of sports writers to select the national champion, will be done away with after creating more controversy than it prevented.

And finally - a play-off to determine a rightful national champion. No more multiple champions, no more snubbed West Coast teams - just a month of "December Madness."

Maybe it is just a holiday wish, but here's hoping it really does come true.