Well, we got the Game 4 part right (that was the easier one, obviously), but the Wild did not win Game 5, much to the chagrin of our *keen* prediction sense. So, much to (we’re sure) your delight, we are following through with a list of the five things we’ve been wrong about before in the sporting world. Honestly, this might not even be the top five. We could do a much longer list. But this is at least a list of five things we were previously wrong about (as a special bonus, these things also appeared in print. Whee!):

5. Jason Bartlett vs. Juan Castro. We wrote this for publication on April 3, 2006: Juan Castro … won’t hit much, but he’ll catch the ball and turn two pretty nicely with Luis Castillo. This throwback shortstop will solidify a Twins infield defense that was looking sketchy, the reason he got the nod over the better hitter, Jason Bartlett. Um, no.
4. This one we don’t feel quite as bad about because we were simply following orders. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s still ridiculous. Jan. 11, 2001: [Wasswa] Serwanga was part of a defensive rebirth in the Vikings’ 34-16 playoff victory over the Saints. With a more aggressive scheme in place — one that placed more responsibility on his shoulders — Serwanga responded with three pass breakups to go along with six tackles. A burned corner had turned the corner. You might recall things didn’t work out quite so well a few days later for Wasswa and his pals in the NFC title game.
3. We were in the majority here. A very wrong majority. Jan. 8, 2007: Ohio State vs. Florida: When Ohio State is up by 17 points in the fourth quarter, casual fans should be really upset that USC gagged against UCLA this season. You might recall Florida won the BCS Championship. Handily.

2. Sometimes it’s as though we just can’t wait to be wrong. Like on Dec. 26, 2005: The NFC is too unpredictable for the 13-2 Seahawks to represent it in the Super Bowl. Plus, there’s still something untrustworthy about Seattle. It feels like a year when a surprise team will get to the big game. Right. That worked out well.
1. On September 8, 2000, we achieved a rare sportswriting double-play. Not only did we write a lead to the story that is still mocked in the newsroom — Knock-knock. Who’s there? Opportunity. — but in the predictions segment accompanying the article (about the Eastview high school football team’s emergence to power), we called an upset: Eastview had one breakthrough last week, getting its first win ever over Apple Valley. Playing at home against an Eden Prairie team with key injuries, the Lightning will pull off the upset. Final score? Eden Prairie 45, Eastview 13. One Eden Prairie player, we’re told, later described our prediction by using a combination of 1) our name, 2) the word “ridiculous” and 3) another word that’s not printable. He had it about right.

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