Log of Wood is the biggie for me

OPINION:  Jamie Mackay gazes into sport's crystal ball for the year ahead.

Although 2010 is not a Rugby World Cup or an Olympic year, there are several biggies to look forward to on the sporting calendar during the months:

• The football World Cup in South Africa was always going to be the biggest of the big. In terms of viewership it transcends even the Olympics. And it's just got a whole lot more exciting for us with the All Whites qualifying in November.

In 1982 we got to play Brazil, the Soviet Union and Scotland and while the All Whites never threatened any of them, we did manage to get a couple past the goalie against the Scots.

This time round we face the might of Italy, plus Paraguay and Slovakia. A win against one of the latter two sides would be momentous and even a draw on the biggest of sporting stages would be a victory.

My prediction: The All Whites will not win a game and although Brazil will again start favourites, England will repeat its heroics of 1966 with superstars Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerard, John Terry and David Beckham (off the bench) the heroes.

• The 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi promises to be interesting even though it is very much the poor relation of the Olympics. The event will be climatically challenging for the athletes and logistically demanding for the Indian organisers who are racing the clock to have all in readiness for the October 3 opening ceremony.

My prediction: The TAB will not dare open a book on Valerie Vili retaining her shot put title. I'd love to also see Nick Willis make it two in a row but don't think he will and we'll see some very interesting big-name inclusions in the winning New Zealand rugby sevens team.

• The World Rowing Championships at the majestic Lake Karapiro will also grab our attention in late October.

My prediction: Another world title for Mahe Drysdale will see the genial giant moving into the same rarefied sporting atmosphere reserved only for the likes of Peter Snell and John Walker.

• The sporting world will hold its collective breath in 2010 awaiting the return of Tiger Woods from his self-imposed exile.

My prediction: We will not see Woods in 2010. He will return for the Masters at Augusta in April 2011. In his absence Big Phil Mickelson will win two of the four majors and take Americans into his ample bosom as the family-friendly face of golf.

• Other brief sporting predictions: Roger Federer will win another two grand slams, Wimbledon and the US Open, to take his career tally to 17 but that's where it will end.

• The All Blacks will have yet another good pre-Rugby World Cup year. Steve Hansen and Ali Williams will continue to make dumb statements. Jamie Mackintosh and Robbie Robinson will join Jimmy Cowan in the All Blacks.

• The Warriors will continue to be New Zealand's most disappointing sporting franchise (that's a fact, not a prediction).

• The Winter Olympics in Vancouver will pass largely unnoticed. The America's Cup shambles will continue. Boxing, too, will be shambolic but we'll all eagerly anticipate David Tua's possible tilt at the heavyweight crown. And despite the drugs cheats the Tour de France will again transfix us for three weeks during July.

• The Highlanders, despite an improved showing in 2010, will again struggle to engender true passion, on and off the field.

• So long Southland's No1 sporting franchise, the Steel (the artists formerly known as the Sting) will be very much second-string to the Stags, proving Southlanders love Southland teams not provincial hybrids (see Highlanders).

• And finally, because I'm saving the best the for last, will 2010 be the year Southland retains the Ranfurly Shield? I have no trouble in predicting 15,000 die-hard fans will pack Rugby Park to the rafters for the first Shield defence against North Otago on July 9. But can Jamie, Jimmy, Jason (and hopefully the other Jason), Josh, Joe, John, Tim and Robbie build a dynasty by defending the Log of Wood against Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland?

I predict Southland rugby fans are going to have one hell of a 2010 finding out!

» Jamie Mackay is a radio broadcaster known for his well-documented rise through the rugby ranks to the heights of the Southland B team and his irreverent rugby commentary work as one half of the Scream Team.

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