2013 Predictions

[KCMax]

All predictions wrong or your money back.

Local

Jackson County passes a county-wide transit tax, to pay for start up costs for a commuter rail line, and will in part be used to fund the DT streetcar and any expansions.

Plans are finalized for a downtown convention hotel.

Highwoods announces plans to sell the Country Club Plaza.

A major tech company announces it is moving part of its operation to KC because of Google Fiber.

Kansas eliminates state income tax, but also phases out many of its tax incentive programs including STAR bonds.

The KC Star discontinues as a daily print paper, announcing it will carry paper versions only 3 days a week.

National

The ban on assault weapons is reinstated, but no other gun control measure passes.

We go over the fiscal cliff. In late January, Congress agrees on a deal - top marginal rates rise to Clinton-era levels on those making over $400k while tax cuts are extended for everyone else, a few deductions and exemptions are eliminated but not the more popular ones, Medicare eligibility is raised to 67, Social Security is attached to "chained" Consumer Price Index, $100 billion is trimmed from the Pentagon, $300 billion from discretionary spending. Obama comes out a big political winner from the deal. Moderates praise Boehner, but he is excoriated by conservatives.

The Supreme Court strikes down the Defense of Marriage Act, ruling that the federal government must recognize whatever the states define as marriage in that state, but doesn't go as far as to say that states have to recognize other states' gay marriages.

The Senate passes filibuster reform. The filibuster is still in play, but cannot be used nearly as much.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg retires. Obama nominates DC Circuit Court judge Merrick Garland, who barely passes.

Attorney General Eric Holder resigns and is replaced by Jennifer Granholm.

Hillary Clinton writes a best-selling book.

Entertainment

"Lincoln" wins Best Picture at the Oscars, beating "Argo", "Django Unchained", "Les Miserables", "The Master", "Beasts of the Southern Wild", "Zero Dark Thirty", "Life of Pi", ""The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" and "Silver Linings Playbook."

Apple comes out with a new interactive TV that becomes a huge seller at Christmas.

Lindsay Lohan gets arrested.

Sports

The Chiefs fire Pioli and Crennel and hire Omar Khan of the Pittsburgh Steelers for GM, and Colts interim head coach Bruce Arians as Chiefs head coach. They draft QB Geno Smith in the first round and finish 9-7 on the year, just missing the playoffs.

Bill Snyder announces 2013 will be his last as head coach. The school announces his son Sean will take over as head coach. Snyder finishes the year 8-4.

Charlie Weis resigns after a 4-8 season unexpectedly to take an offensive coordinator position in the NFL. KU hires Mike Stoops. Mizzou finishes 8-4.

Kansas defeats Louisville in the National Championship game. Mizzou reaches the second round. K-State makes the Quarterfinals of the NIT.

The Royals finish 84-78, 8 games back of the Tigers, and 4 games back of a wild card. They hang around for most of the year, and pick up a few players at the trade deadline, but fall short. Next winter, they trade Billy Butler for a young pitcher and some prospects.

SKC wins their second championship in franchise history, knocking off the LA Galaxy.

[beautyfromashes]

Politics:
Obama gets gun control measure passed that mildly restricts semi-automatic assault weapons. NRA goes along with plan but privately works to get the law challenged in court as unconstitutional.

Hilary Clinton resigns as Secretary of State and either starts her own non-profit or works with Clinton Global Inititive. Begins run for 2016 with many visits to Iowa.

John Kerry takes over as SOS with Scott Brown winning a special election to fill his seat as Senator from Massachusetts.

Susan Rice is given a cabinet position in the White House and rumors begin to grow about troubles in the Obama marriage with the National Inquirer running infidelity rumors.

Fiscal cliff is fixed at end of January but only after major drop in the stock market and international pressure. Taxes are raised on the rich which causes a swell in super wealthy donating to Republican candidates.

Countywide transportation election is defeated. Second transportation district to extend the streetcar line to the Plaza is proposed but won't be voted on until the following year.

Sports

The Royals are in the race at the All Star race but just miss the wild card. We have more than one All Star, one being Salvador Perez. Moose and Hosmer sign long term contracts to stay in Kansas City after improved numbers. Two pitchers have Tommy John surgery.

The Chiefs fire Pioli and Crennel and draft a quarterback in the first round of the draft. A former coach who is now an analyst takes over with little success.

Sporting Kansas City changes the name of their park from Livestrong to Google Fiber which coincides with Google making a major prescence in Downtown Kansas City based in the Power & Light Building.

Zack Grienke wins the NL Cy Young award.

The NHL eliminates their entire season and there is questions of whether hockey is even a major league sport anymore.

Tim Tebow is released by the Jets and picked up by the Patriots where Belichick turns him into a hybrid RB/WR/QB where he is wildly successful and popular.

RGIII is the best QB in the league and becomes a spokesman for a major sock company.

Big East conference is eliminated with Uconn becoming an independent. Schools begin petition to join Big 12 but they stay at 10 teams. A major conference contracts a team.

World Stage

Gas prices dramatically fall to under $2 with a stagnant economy and new domestic sources of oil.

Increased focus on global warming will increase with another major hurricane in the Gulf and flooding in Europe.

No changes in the Supreme Court.

Someone dies on a reality television show.

Iran tests long range missle with enough range to reach all of Europe. Saudi Arabia counters with weapons build up.

Egypt degresses into civil war. No chance of Middle East peace.

Local

Justus Drugstore opens restaurant in the city.

Boulevard reverses and makes a new round of Chocolate Ale. They also start selling wine but it tastes like shit.

After Walmart opens a neighborhood market in Waldo, Target begins construction on a midtown location.

Another flash mob on the Plaza freaks out suburbanites.

American Girl store opens on the Plaza.

Seasons 52 turns their restaurant into what they originally proposed when first going in. No one says anything.

[chaglang]

Zack Grienke wins the AL NL Cy Young award.

[AllThingsKC]

Better late than never, I guess...

Local:
KC moves closer to improving the mass transit system. Big news is announced, though nothing is actually done in 2013.

The KC Star will face more layoffs, and will slowly but surely start becoming a sham of a newspaper (even more so than it is now)

Google Fiber brings an economic boom.

Tragedy will strike at a big Kansas City event.

Sporting KC does a great job of hosting the MLS All-Star game, but reviews of the stadium/city are mixed.

KCI moves closer to becoming 1-terminal.

KC will get a decent-sized snow storm (blizzard).

National:
There will be yet another massive shooting, which will help further the gun-control agenda. Those who favor gun control will be very pleased, but not completely satisfied with gun-control legislation.

Unemployment slowly creeps back up to over 8%.

Gas prices will see a slight decline, followed by an increase. 2013 finishes with the national average gas price of $3.95/gallon.

Despite some questionable or controversial moves, Obama's approval rating will increase. Obama will be seen as the president that "gets stuff done."

Expect some changes to the SCOUS, moving toward the left.

There will be a major disaster along the West Coast.

Sports:

CHIEFS:
Andy Reid gets the man he wants to be GM (I don't know their names, but it should be either Tom Heckert or John Dorsey.

Chiefs improve to 6-10 or better. (Though, I will make a more accurate prediction once we know who the GM and #1 draft pick will be).

ROYALS:
Finish just shy of .500.

SPORTING KC:
Losing the game that would take them to the MLS Championship.

KANSAS:
Basketball: Makes Final Four, loses the national championship (though, they are currently my pick to win it all as I don't see another team stepping up to challenge them right now).

Football: Improves to 2-10.

KANSAS STATE:
Basketball: Finish in the top 5 of the Big 12, make it to NIT.

Football: Finishes second in the Big 12, beat an SEC team in the Cotton Bowl. Snyder retires.

MISSOURI:
Basketball: Wins either the SEC regular season or tourney. Doesn't make it past the 2nd round.

Football: 6-6, lose bowl game. Rumors start about Pinkel getting fired.

[phxcat]

Better late than never, I guess...


Expect some changes to the SCOUS, moving toward the left.



MISSOURI:
Basketball: Wins either the SEC regular season or tourney. Doesn't make it past the 2nd round.

Football: 6-6, lose bowl game. Rumors start about Pinkel getting fired.

I don't see any conservative justices retiring in the next four years, much less this year. They will try to hold out for a Republican president. Aren't there already rumors of Pinkel being on the hot seat?

[AllThingsKC]

I don't see any conservative justices retiring in the next four years, much less this year.

Retiring? Not likely. Dying? A possibility.

[Aren't there already rumors of Pinkel being on the hot seat?

No, at least no "credible rumors" that I'm aware of.

[KCMax]

All predictions wrong or your money back.

Bill Snyder announces 2013 will be his last as head coach.

Bill Snyder signed a five year contract today.

[bobbyhawks]

All predictions wrong or your money back.

Bill Snyder announces 2013 will be his last as head coach.

Bill Snyder signed a five year contract today.

It has been said many places, but I don't think this really changes anything as far as when he thinks he might retire. He is the type of coach that deserves an extension and pay bump in good faith. He could coach for one more year or for ten more years, but I don't think the contract extension does anything to indicate how long he plans to remain as head coach.

[grovester]

All predictions wrong or your money back.

Bill Snyder announces 2013 will be his last as head coach.

Bill Snyder signed a five year contract today.

It has been said many places, but I don't think this really changes anything as far as when he thinks he might retire. He is the type of coach that deserves an extension and pay bump in good faith. He could coach for one more year or for ten more years, but I don't think the contract extension does anything to indicate how long he plans to remain as head coach.

Yep, it will help in recruiting.

[phxcat]

Yep, it will help in recruiting.

This is what I am thinking. He will retire when it is time for him to retire- nobody is going to push him out and nobody is going to force him to stay before his contract is up. But when opposing coaches are recruiting against you because you could retire at any time, a five year contract could make a difference.

[KCMax]

Let's see how stupid I am.

Jackson County passes a county-wide transit tax, to pay for start up costs for a commuter rail line, and will in part be used to fund the DT streetcar and any expansions.

Nope. If anything, the commuter rail seems to be losing steam.

Plans are finalized for a downtown convention hotel.

No plans yet, but the ball seems to be rolling.

Highwoods announces plans to sell the Country Club Plaza.

Unfortunately, no.

A major tech company announces it is moving part of its operation to KC because of Google Fiber.

Nope.

Kansas eliminates state income tax, but also phases out many of its tax incentive programs including STAR bonds.

No, although things are still moving in that direction.

The KC Star discontinues as a daily print paper, announcing it will carry paper versions only 3 days a week.

Not yet.

The ban on assault weapons is reinstated, but no other gun control measure passes.

I still can't believe nothing passed.

We go over the fiscal cliff. In late January, Congress agrees on a deal - top marginal rates rise to Clinton-era levels on those making over $400k while tax cuts are extended for everyone else, a few deductions and exemptions are eliminated but not the more popular ones, Medicare eligibility is raised to 67, Social Security is attached to "chained" Consumer Price Index, $100 billion is trimmed from the Pentagon, $300 billion from discretionary spending. Obama comes out a big political winner from the deal. Moderates praise Boehner, but he is excoriated by conservatives.

Ah, how naive I was back in 2012.

The Supreme Court strikes down the Defense of Marriage Act, ruling that the federal government must recognize whatever the states define as marriage in that state, but doesn't go as far as to say that states have to recognize other states' gay marriages.

Yep.

The Senate passes filibuster reform. The filibuster is still in play, but cannot be used nearly as much.

Yep.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg retires. Obama nominates DC Circuit Court judge Merrick Garland, who barely passes.

No.

Attorney General Eric Holder resigns and is replaced by Jennifer Granholm.

No.

Hillary Clinton writes a best-selling book.

No.

"Lincoln" wins Best Picture at the Oscars, beating "Argo", "Django Unchained", "Les Miserables", "The Master", "Beasts of the Southern Wild", "Zero Dark Thirty", "Life of Pi", ""The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" and "Silver Linings Playbook."

Argo won.

Apple comes out with a new interactive TV that becomes a huge seller at Christmas.

No, but "smart TVs" are becoming a big deal.

Lindsay Lohan gets arrested.

I don't think she did. Did she?

The Chiefs fire Pioli and Crennel and hire Omar Khan of the Pittsburgh Steelers for GM, and Colts interim head coach Bruce Arians as Chiefs head coach. They draft QB Geno Smith in the first round and finish 9-7 on the year, just missing the playoffs.

Well they did fire Pioli and won more than 9 games.

Bill Snyder announces 2013 will be his last as head coach. The school announces his son Sean will take over as head coach. Snyder finishes the year 8-4.

Just signed a five year deal.

Charlie Weis resigns after a 4-8 season unexpectedly to take an offensive coordinator position in the NFL. KU hires Mike Stoops. Mizzou finishes 8-4.

Nope.

Kansas defeats Louisville in the National Championship game. Mizzou reaches the second round. K-State makes the Quarterfinals of the NIT.

KU lost in the Sweet 16. Missouri lost in the first round. K-State defied expectations and was a #4 seed, but lost in the first ruond.

The Royals finish 84-78, 8 games back of the Tigers, and 4 games back of a wild card. They hang around for most of the year, and pick up a few players at the trade deadline, but fall short. Next winter, they trade Billy Butler for a young pitcher and some prospects.

86-76, 7 games back, 6 out of a WC. Butler hasn't been dealt yet.

SKC wins their second championship in franchise history, knocking off the LA Galaxy.

Yes!

[AllThingsKC]

KC moves closer to improving the mass transit system. Big news is announced, though nothing is actually done in 2013.

Yes?

The KC Star will face more layoffs, and will slowly but surely start becoming a sham of a newspaper (even more so than it is now)

Yes.

Google Fiber brings an economic boom.

No, not yet.

Tragedy will strike at a big Kansas City event.

Yes, if the murder at Arrowhead during a Chiefs game counts.

Sporting KC does a great job of hosting the MLS All-Star game, but reviews of the stadium/city are mixed.

Yes, No. SKC did a great job hosting, but never really heard a bad thing about the city.

KCI moves closer to becoming 1-terminal.

Yes?

KC will get a decent-sized snow storm (blizzard).

Yes.

There will be yet another massive shooting, which will help further the gun-control agenda. Those who favor gun control will be very pleased, but not completely satisfied with gun-control legislation.

Yes, there was another shooting, but the big story of the year was the Boston bombings. No to gun-control legislation.

Unemployment slowly creeps back up to over 8%.

No?

Gas prices will see a slight decline, followed by an increase. 2013 finishes with the national average gas price of $3.95/gallon.

No.

Despite some questionable or controversial moves, Obama's approval rating will increase. Obama will be seen as the president that "gets stuff done."

Expect some changes to the SCOUS, moving toward the left.

No and No.

There will be a major disaster along the West Coast.

Do the Oakland Raiders count?

CHIEFS:
Andy Reid gets the man he wants to be GM (I don't know their names, but it should be either Tom Heckert or John Dorsey.

Chiefs improve to 6-10 or better. (Though, I will make a more accurate prediction once we know who the GM and #1 draft pick will be).

Yes and Yes.

ROYALS:
Finish just shy of .500.

Fail.

SPORTING KC:
Losing the game that would take them to the MLS Championship.

Yes. Oh, wait.....NOPE!

KANSAS:
Basketball: Makes Final Four, loses the national championship (though, they are currently my pick to win it all as I don't see another team stepping up to challenge them right now).

Football: Improves to 2-10.

Basketball: No to the FF
Football: Yes improving in the win total.

KANSAS STATE:
Basketball: Finish in the top 5 of the Big 12, make it to NIT.

Football: Finishes second in the Big 12, beat an SEC team in the Cotton Bowl. Snyder retires.

Basketball: Yes, No.
Football: No, No, No.

MISSOURI:
Basketball: Wins either the SEC regular season or tourney. Doesn't make it past the 2nd round.

Football: 6-6, lose bowl game. Rumors start about Pinkel getting fired.

Basketball: No, Yes.
Football: No. No.

[chaglang]

There will be a major disaster along the West Coast.

Do the Oakland Raiders count?