21 Sports Predictions for 2021

2020 was a terrible year to make predictions, and alas, my 20 attempts one year ago resulted in 18 strikeouts, easily my worst performance since I started doing this 10 years ago. To view last year's list, click here. We're all hoping for a better 2021 and would like to forget the calamitous calendar that's now in the history books. Granted, some of my predictions from 2020 will carry-over to 2021, mainly those involving the Olympics, which was cancelled in due to Covid.
 
Be warned that in previous years, terrible luck has befallen the team whom I predict to win the Stanley Cup. I'd like to believe that I have the power to prevent teams from attaining glory by afflicting them with a powerful curse. So for the third straight year, my pick to win the Cup is...
 
1. The Toronto Maple Leafs Win the Stanley Cup
2. There will be fans in at least 75% of arenas for the 2021 NHL playoffs (albeit a limited #)
3. Nathan MacKinnon wins Hart Trophy
4. Penny Oleksiak will win at least 2 Olympic gold medals
5. Penny Oleksiak wins Lou Marsh Trophy
6. Tiger wins a major
7. Canada finishes top 10 in total Olympic medals
8. Anthony Joshua will fight and defeat Tyson Fury
9. Conor McGregor will fight and knockout Jake Paul
10. Seattle Kraken pick at least 3 times in the 1st round of 2021 draft
11. Dennis Shapovalov wins more matches than Bianca Andreescu at majors
12. Dustin Byfuglien signs an NHL contract
13. Andre De Grasse wins an Olympic medal
14. Kirill Kaprizov wins Calder Trophy
15. Mike Tyson will fight and defeat Evander Holyfield
16. Patrik Laine does not get traded
17. New York Yankees win World Series
18. Toronto Blue Jays make the playoffs
19. Aaron Rodgers wins NFL MVP
20. Buffalo Bills lose in the Super Bowl
21. Milwaukee Bucks win NBA Championship
 
These missed the cut...
 
*. Detroit Red Wings finish dead last and lose the draft lottery
*. New Orleans Saints win the Super Bowl
*. Doug Wilson gets fired
*. Tim Tebow hits a home run in MLB
*. Alex Ovechkin returns to KHL
*. John Tortorella gets fired (not renewed)
*. Elvis Merzlikins gets traded
*. William Nylander gets traded
*. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins gets at least $8M aav on next contract