Sports Illustrated owed us. They put Nomar Garciappara on the cover of their 2001 Baseball Preview issue, thus invoking the SI Cover Jinx and dooming Boston to another agony-filled summer. But this year, they chose Jason Giambi, the latest beneficiary of the Yankees' "but...but...but we don't buy championships" mentality. With the jinx in mind, I would have chosen a Yankees team photo with a close-up inset of Roger Clemens' cheekbone; but we'll take what we can get.

My unresearched and unscientific predictions for the 2002 baseball season? In the AL, the Yankees (dammit), Twins and Oakland, with the Red Sox winning the wild card. In the NL, the Braves, Cards, and Giants, with Arizona eking out the Mets for the fourth spot. I'd like to pick a surprise team, but this is baseball. The Royals and Marlins will be lucky to be still playing in September.