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Some Things I Know - And Some Things I Don't - About New Year

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2009

There was a moment when the urge to find a Miss Cleo outfit and a crystal ball came over me.

Thoughts of a head scarf, a small table covered in cloth and incense burning sounded like fun. I even contemplated having The Canadian (see explanation below) line up folks at the front door and charge them 10 bucks a head.

It would have made for a nice Christmas.

Note to self: Maybe next year.

I wanted to yell "Call me now!" in the deepest of Patois accents, all while telling you what I think will happen during the year 2009. Maybe I've been interviewing coaches for far too long and the coach-speak has started to get to me. But I'm not much into counting my muffins until the timer goes off and nothing's burned.

What Do I Know?

Quite frankly, I can say the Pasco football team will again dominate the county and win the program's second state title.

They fell one game shy in 2008, so will that happen in '09? Who knows?

What I do know is that Coach Tom McHugh demands his players take personal stock in what they're doing. They must be accountable for not just their assignments on the field, but also their assignments in the classroom and their tasks in life.

That can set anyone on the path to success.

Here's one: Pasco County will have its own female swimming state champion.

Sure, I said it.

Land O'Lakes has a freshman named Alex Pierovich. The first time she swam the 500-meter freestyle, she broke the school record. Pierovich's time of 5:27.69 topped Heather Anderson's 5:36.22, which was set in 2000 during the Class 2A state preliminaries. As the 2008 season progressed, Pierovich had the fastest times in the county in the 200 individual medley, 100 freestyle, 500 free and 100 backstroke.

Is that too much pressure to put on a kid? Not when that kid can dip a toe in the water and swim off like a fish.

OK, another one: When the Land O' Lakes and River Ridge softball teams play each other, there will be a need to carry an umbrella, a poncho and a pair of galoshes. This one you can take my word on.

Last season, patience and flexibility was a must when it came to the two-game series. Four different attempts to play were canceled because of rain. They finally got one in, and about a week later the second game of the series was played. Not surprisingly, it was a five-inning, thunderstorm-shortened contest.

Here's my lock for 2009: Land O' Lakes football coach John Benedetto will complain about something I did or didn't do. I will listen, interject my thoughts and listen some more. Once that's done, Benedetto will graciously answer whatever question I ask.

By the way, expect big things from his Gators next season. No pressure, Coach!

What I Can Say For Sure

This I do know.

By the time this column reaches the pages of The Pasco Tribune, The Canadian and I will have said "I do." Despite the fact that I dominated her in our "He Said/She Said" football blog. If you didn't read it - shame on you. Feel bad. Really, really bad.

The Canadian, better known to her family and friends as Stephanie, decided to make good on an idle threat this season. In 2006, we joked about how funny it would be for her to write down her predictions on the football games I picked. She fell for it this year, helping me with a weekly blog during the football season. Maybe she threw me a bone because I proposed. I'll get back to you on that one.

Anyhow, I've finally gotten my championship ring. Time for you to get yours.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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