The new year should be prosperous and surprising for our top five local sports franchises.
So here's a peer into the future with some logical timelines. You fill in the endings based on experience:
Jan. 16, Soldier Field: Michael Vick has zig-zagged his way all over the Bears defense, building up a 27-21 lead on his hosts in their NFL divisional playoff game. But with five minutes left, the best of Mike Martz's game plan is put into effect as Jay Cutler steadily marches the Bears downfield. With 41 seconds to go and the ball on the Eagles' 14-yard-line, Cutler lofts a pass into the end zone directly at Johnny Knox...
May 30, Miami: The entire country is rooting for the Bulls against the gilded Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bulls have not disappointed, battling the Despised Ones to a draw after six games. In Game Seven wtih the Heat leading 96-94 with 38 seconds left, Derrick Rose, who already has 41 points, loses LeBron James in his dust, rives around Heat ringleader Dwyane Wade and launches a mid-range jumper...
June 10, Washington: The miracle Blackhawks, having entered the playoffs as a Western Conference eighth seed on the regular-season's final day, have dueled the powerful Capitals to a standstill over six games in a stunning return to the Stanley Cup Finals. But unlike the Bulls, the Hawks have the lead, 4-3, as time runs out in the final minute of Game Seven with the Caps pulling their goalie. The puck goes to Alex Ovechkin and he bears down on Hawks goalie Corey Crawford. However, Crawford is screened by both a Hawk and Cap as Ovechkin fires away from 15 feet...
Sept. 25, St. Louis: The young Cubs have stunned baseball, knocking back the fading Reds 10 days previously, then sweeping the Brewers' best pitchers at Wrigley Field from Sept. 19 to 21 to move within one game of the first-place Cardinals with six games to go in the season. With the showdown at Busch Stadium, the teams split the first two games. In the Sunday rubber match, the Cards take a 4-3 lead into the ninth inning. Ryan Franklin retires the first two Cubs. But then Brett Jackson, a speedy sensation since his July callup, doubles to right. Up comes Tyler Colvin and his 29 homers. Tony LaRussa opts to stay with Franklin rather than go to a lefty. Colvin swings, and the ball booms deep to center field. Colby Rasmus goes back, back, back, back...
Sept. 28, U.S. Cellular Field: The game, and the AL Central flag, appear to be in hand going into the eighth as the White Sox lead the Blue Jays 4-0. But setup man Sergio Santos allows two runs. With two out, manager Ozzie Guillen (about whom a tweet from son Oney hasn't been written all season) signals for closer Chris Sale for a four-out save. With a runner on second base, Jose Bautista -- going away from Sale's power -- slices a stinging opposite-field line drive. Right fielder Carlos Quentin and the ball converge near the top of the fence by the right-field foul pole...
As implied up top, I've taken the easy way out by not filling in the endings. You do the heavy lifting. If you've lived in Chicago long enough, you know what the answer to at least some of these outcomes will be.