{"id":80630,"date":"2017-12-19T19:22:00","date_gmt":"2017-12-19T19:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"\/rcntv\/?p=80630"},"modified":"2023-02-17T22:22:13","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T22:22:13","slug":"looking-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/looking-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking Ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"

I know this is the time of the year when most writers look back on the past year and reminisce on the highlights of the 2017. You will be able to find plenty of those articles and opinions in the next week or so.\u00a0 I am not much for looking back.\u00a0 I tend to think except for the nostalgia value, not much is gained by it.\u00a0 Instead, I like to look ahead \u2013 you know, have a reason to look forward to the next day and the one after that.<\/p>\n

So, with that in mind, and since this will be my last blog for the year (\u201cGary\u2019s Guesses\u201d will continue, however), I thought I would offer up some of the questions I look forward to the future answering in 2018. They are in no particular order:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Can the Eagles<\/a> actually get to and win the Super Bowl?<\/li>\n
  2. Are there better NFL<\/a> games to watch than the Steelers<\/a> against the Patriots<\/a>?<\/li>\n
  3. With that in mind, when is a catch a catch in the NFL?<\/li>\n
  4. Will there be any prominent males left in positions of power at the end of 2018 or will they all have harassed someone and left their positions?<\/li>\n
  5. Since it is a foregone conclusion that Penn State<\/a> and Whitehall<\/a> football player Saquan Barkley will head for the NFL draft, will he sign with a team I can root for? (I certainly want to root for him).<\/li>\n
  6. Now that it looks like all Philadelphia sports teams are on the rise, will the spring and summer (Phils<\/a>), fall and winter (Flyers<\/a>, 76\u2019ers<\/a>, Eagles) all create year-round excitement in the City of Brotherly Love?<\/li>\n
  7. When will there be a positive story about the concussion problem in football \u2013 like advancements being made? (The Larry Johnson story in Sunday\u2019s Morning Call was very difficult to read, but well worth reading).<\/li>\n
  8. Will the District XI<\/a>\u00a0use the PPL Center again for their showcase high school winter sports (wrestling and basketball)?<\/li>\n
  9. Jay Wright and his Villanova Wildcats <\/a>are #1 in the nation in college basketball. Can they stay there and win their second national championship in three years?<\/li>\n
  10. Will excitement return to College Hill in Lafayette<\/a> football and basketball?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Well, that\u2019s enough to chew on for a while, with new questions cropping up every week. Before I call it a year, I do want to thank all the people who made this past year so gratifying \u2013 the RCN-TV crew and management (they are an amazing group); athletic directors and coaches (their cooperation is essential); the players (your dedication and effort inspires me every game); the Lafayette Sports Information Department (you make me feel like part of the team); and, especially, you, the fans.\u00a0 Nothing makes our day than when so many of you take the time to tell us how much you enjoy our product.<\/p>\n

    I hope we all can spend 2018 together once again!<\/p>\n

    \u00a0Gary\u2019s Guesses: NFL Picks \u2013 (LAST WEEK \u2013 13-3; OVERALL \u2013 143-80 \u2013 64%)<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u00a0Week Sixteen<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u00a0BALTIMORE<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

    MINNESOTA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    DETROIT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    CHARGERS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    RAMS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    CHICAGO<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    CAROLINA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    NEW ORLEANS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    WASHINGTON<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    KANSAS CITY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    NEW ENGLAND<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    JACKSONVILLE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    GIANTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    DALLAS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    PITTSBURGH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    PHILADELPHIA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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