http://bleacherreport.com/ Bleacher Report - The open source sports network en-us 30 Justin Wells <img class="attributed_image" src="/image/file/3184/lead/random_key_43521_file_thomas.isiah.1.jpg" br_image_id="3184" border="0" style="margin: 0px 8px 8px 0pt; float: left" />Some sports stories to look for in the New Year...<br /><br />In a development that hearkens the Heaven&#39;s Gate cult, <strong>Isiah Thomas</strong> is fired and a cult commits mass suicide.<br /><br /><strong>Charles Barkley</strong> begins to play dice games with the refs off the scorer&#39;s table during timeouts in NBA games.<br /><br />The NHL schedules an outdoor game between the <strong>Panthers</strong> and <strong>Lightning</strong> in April.<br /><br /><strong>Roger Federer</strong>, bored by tennis, wins Wimbledon using a ping-pong paddle.<br /><br /><strong>Jose Reyes</strong> and <strong>Dame</strong> <strong>Judi Dench</strong> win <em>Dancing with</em> <em>the Stars</em><br /><br /><strong>Tyra Banks</strong> joins the <strong>Joe Buck</strong>-<strong>Tim McCarver</strong> booth team in the MLB playoffs. The results are stammering.<br /><br />In a piece of performance art designed to emulate the current state of the Falcons franchise, <strong>Arthur Blank</strong> blows up the Georgia Dome during a game.<br /><br /><strong>Derek Jeter</strong> finally gets a flattering haircut.<br /><br />In an attempt to make soccer more marketable to Americans, the offsides rule is removed.<br /><br /><strong>Bill Belichick</strong> reveals that his birth name is actually Lex Luthor.<br /><br /><strong>Ricky Williams</strong> fails another drug test. When asked what happened he responds, &quot;I&#39;m Ricky Williams, didn&#39;t you expect this?&quot; Tue, 01 Jan 2008 08:57:42 -0500 http://bleacherreport.com/articles/5605-2008-predictions-the-sports-year-to-be http://bleacherreport.com/articles/5605-2008-predictions-the-sports-year-to-be http://bleacherreport.com/articles/5605-2008-predictions-the-sports-year-to-be Humo