Last week, we had a special Mike Chamernik’s “Question of the Week” for Christmas Eve, and Mike is back again with a special New Year’s Eve edition.
by Mike Chamernik
Feels like 2024 just started, but it’ll be over in just a few hours.
My question, quite simply: What are you looking forward to in sports in 2025?
I’m excited, and nervous, to watch the Detroit Lions in the playoffs. I’ll enjoy NBA on TNT on Thursdays once football ends. The National Sports Collectors Convention is coming back to Chicago this summer, so I’ve already set aside a full Friday afternoon to check that out. I’ll be in Kansas City for work in July, so I have plans to see a Royals game and to visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
I am relieved that MLB uniforms should be back to normal this year. Also, the MLB All-Star Game will have players wearing their normal unis again, which is nice. I’ll be curious to see what the Utah Hockey Club picks for its official team name and logo. And, I’ll be thrilled to see yet another royal blue Milwaukee Bucks uni next fall (I’m joking).
Can’t wait to hear the readers’ responses! OK guys…fire away!
Given that it’s an odd-numbered year, there’s no international tournaments to look forward to as someone who primarily watches men’s soccer. In fact, there is the dreaded 2025 Club World Cup, a revamped version of a money-grabbing event that nobody cared about to begin with, which FIFA has somehow turned into an even greater display of greed.
I too am excited for the MLB’s return to normal uniforms for the ASG. Not for myself – I am one of the few who likes the idea of one-off uniforms for the game (if not always the execution), but I have decided to stop arguing with people or trying to convince them otherwise after seeing just how many people liked the old way. So I’m excited for them.
I’d be OK with special all-star unis if they weren’t so ugly
Rugby world cup is in odd years. Just not this odd year.
I am looking forward to Josh Allen finally taking the Bills to the Super Bowl and finally winning one for Bills Mafia all over the
world. That being said, we can finally get an epilogue at the end of The Four Falls of Buffalo with Josh handing the Lombardi trophy to Jim Kelly. Happy New Year everyone !
Paul Skenes. Gotta enjoy him while my team has him…
Going to Opening Day in Miami specifically to watch him pitch.
I’m hoping the Pirates get more aggressive and try to actually win the division this year and next.
Don’t hold your breath.
I’m looking forward to seeing another Pittsburgh team: the Thunderbirds of the Ultimate Frisbee Association. I went to this year’s home opener and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Also looking forward to seeing some small-college football. Either Mount Union, Youngstown State, Slippery Rock or Geneva College.
Hopefully, college football playoffs semifinals appearance for Penn State, pending outcome of the Fiesta Bowl.
My District Broomball game a week from today – I was gifted news shoes for Christmas.
Alex Ovechkin’s chase for thr all-time goal scoring record and the Capitals possible advancing past the first round in the playoffs.
The Nationals and their chase to break the 71-win barrier! Just having baseball back will be welcome.
Being one year closer to the Commanders ditching their bad jerseys for a traditional look. The origami W had grown in me though.
Maybe getting to Audi Field for a United or Spirit game.
While it could be boring if players decide to phone it in (which they could, but I doubt it), the four nations face off is what I’m looking forward to. Being able to see Crosby pass the torch to McDavid as Canada’s captain will be special
I’m cautiously optimistic that my Buckeyes will advance deeper into the CFP and wear their 1967 Throwbacks.
Otherwise I’m anticipating the return of minor league baseball locally.
Feels like a good spot for Ohio State. Everyone has cooled off on them since the Michigan game
I am looking forward to what could be one of the most chaotic seasons of F1 racing in a long time.
Three new driver making their debut, plus three other drivers having their first (possible if they are allowed to finish) full campaign as well.
Old drivers in new places (with Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari looking like to most interesting)
A chance that some mid tier teams might move up the pecking order (yes, I am looking at Aston Martin).
And in the background, the last year of the current regulations and the addition of a new team for 2026.
That new team is Andretti/Cadillac (Oops, F1 wouldn’t allow it to have the Andretti name, likely because they’re still pissed off that Mario won F1 in 1978, and pissed that Michael didn’t relocate to Europe for the F1 season in 1983). Make that Cadillac Formula Racing, which won’t actually have GM/Cadillac engines until 2028, so call them Cadillac Formula Racing powered by Ferrari.
This is why I dislike F1. The uber ultra rich running 4 wheeled computers around the world. Give me IndyCar and NASCAR any day.
I am not a fan of IndyCar because of the conflict of interest in ownership.
You really cannot have the owner of the entire series also own one of the teams, and one could argue its most premeir team.
Now, am I saying Roger Penske is putting directly his thumb on the scales, I think he is above that sort of thing, plus, anything that looks to not be above board is bad for business. Not that bad that he still bought the whole series, but, Penske is smart enough to know better,
what is the issue is, when push come to shove, and it is a dispute between to cars during an event occurs, I am sure subconsciously remember whose name signs their paychecks.
I’m looking forward to the same things I look forward to every year, March Madness, the Super Bowl and the NHL Playoffs (even with my Rangers nosediving out of contention right now).
BTW.. you will love the NLBM! I was lucky enough to get a private tour (with a couple of friends) of the museum from its director, Bob Kendrick. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Negro League history and has some remarkable stories.
I didn’t get the pleasure of a private tour by Bob Kendrick but thoroughly enjoyed the NLBM. My sons took me there as part of a baseball road trip (Royals and Cards games included).
In 2025, I hope to check off a couple of the last remaining baseball stadiums on my list. Looks like I’ll never get a chance to see the Trop, but by accounts, that could be a blessing.
Very excited for the museum. It’s a work trip so most days I’ll be busy, so I’m already planning to arrive early on the travel day so I can see it.
Yes, you will love the NLBM in KC. A lot of things about the NLB in the US I never knew. A great education.
Each year I look forward to the Daytona 500, the Pocono 400 and the Southern 500…’25 will be no different (though I still hold out hope that Cup will comes to their senses and forsake the ad space to restore the ‘door’ numbers to a more pleasing position).
The return of the “Dale Jr” 8 will be another sight to behold in the coming year.
The KC Keeler era begins at Temple…optimistic that the Owls will improve and perhaps simplify their uniform program.
I’ll say it: I’m looking forward to seeing the next generation of city connect unis. Spaced out like they are, I haven’t burned out on them yet, like the NBA alts.
Looking forward to Utah hockey announcing a permanent identity.
If rumors prove fruitful, I’m looking forward to Pete Carrol coaching the bears. Love me some surfer Pete, and (old as he is), he brings a sort of hip coolness to a team that I’d love to see the bears have. They’ve always come across as kind of a stodgy legacy team to me. I want to see them infused with a little fun and enthusiasm like Campbell did for the lions. The vikes are formidable, the pack looks decent and they’ve got Joe cool in Cincinnati, it’d be nice to have another entertaining team in the Midwest/Great Lakes area (the browns have a role to play… sorry. What would Cleveland even do with themselves if the browns were any good?)
Some Bears fans would consider a Pete Carroll hire to be a junior version of the Sox getting Tony La Russa
I’m looking forward to seeing the Rays at Steinbrenner Field. I like baseball to be outdoors, and being able to participate in an odd footnote of baseball history seems like fun.
Are you going to go to any games?
Totally, I’ve been out there a few times. Once for the Savannah Bananas, and before that Tampa Yankees games. It seems like it’ll be fun to see a real big league game at the minor league park.
Good answers, everyone!
I guess the show will stick around, but this will also be the last season/playoffs of Inside the NBA on TNT. It’ll be bittersweet. Not sure how much ESPN will tinker with it in 2025-26.
I’d love to see Baltimore championships and refreshed uniforms!
Ravens were my Super Bowl pick
Big basketball year (which is great because I love basketball) here in the Bay Area: NBA All-Star in Feb., men’s March Madness first round, and then in May the Valkyries tip off their first season. Probably won’t be able to afford tickets but seeing all the activations and the attached events should be fun
Big Caps fan. Looking forward to Ovechkin setting the all-time goal scoring record.
Maybe not looking forward to but will be curious as to how the Athletics and Rays fare in their minor league stadia. I’m kicking myself for never getting around to a game at their former parks, even if they were drab and dumpy. It was still a Major League baseball park after all. Personally I’m looking forward to attending more minor league games. I’m trying to keep tabs on which MiLB parks will be sunsetting after the 2025 season so I’m already planning road trips. Zebulon, NC here I come!
I am looking forward to a lot! Too much to mention.
I am knocking one thing off my bucket list though. I will be seeing a Brier draw (Canada’s national men’s curling championship) in person. A fun, unique event to see in person and I got tickets. Flying into Kelowna, BC, where it is this year. Arena seats just under 7,000 and the draw I am going to is pretty much sold out.
I’m jelly, Wade!
Seeing a Brier (or a Scotties) is on my bucket list for sure. Closest I’ve ever come is seeing the U.S. Championships, but the Brier/Scotties is on another level!
I am a big detroit tigers fan and was so anxious the past few years for there city connect unveiling, with the goal of buying a cap. Now that it was rolled out and not for me, I am looking forward to just enjoying there season in the summer