Things I Predicted Would Be Huge in 2014

At the start of 2014, I put out a list of "things and people to watch" for the year on my old blog. Here was that list:

Let me give you ten names and stories to watch in 2014:

1. Sochi- The 2014 Olympics will be the biggest story of the early part of the year. 
2. Senator Cory Booker- He is up for re-election in New Jersey in 2014. I think he is the sleeper to emerge as 2016's winner, provided he does well and Hillary somehow didn't run.
3. Peyton Manning- In the run-up to this Super Bowl, all eyes are on him. All eyes will be on him again.
4. Pope Francis- Yes, he'll have a follow up to 2013 for the man of the year. What kind of noise can he make in year two?
5. Miley Cyrus- Yes, she's going to continue to be a big story. I don't think this will stop, as she's so willing to take chances that the possibility for big success and big failure is always present.
6. The Detroit Tigers- My team of destiny for 2014, because if they fail to win now, they probably won't with this group.
7. Andrew Wiggins- I think we're going to see WigginsMania hit in 2014 as he goes #1 in the NBA Draft. Is he the new LeBron?
8. Mitch McConnell- The Senate Minority Leader will fight for his political life- in the primary. If he survives that, he gets to do that again in the Fall.
9. Obamacare- Millions of people will get health insurance this year under the law. In short, the conservatives will lose.
10. Hassan Rouhani- The new Iranian President will either forge peace or cement war in 2014. Not small stakes.

So, how'd I do?

1. The Sochi Olympics were a huge story, probably one of the biggest of 2014 in sports, but they probably aren't still all that memorable to Americans. There weren't a lot of breakout stars from the U.S. that we're still talking about. The old guard of skiers did well, and so did some snowboarders, but the signature events of the Winter Games besides the slopes- figure skating and hockey- weren't bringing home the gold. 
2. Senator Cory Booker was re-elected easily, and I was apart of that, but his opposition never was legitimate enough to make him a major story during the election cycle. In hindsight, the workman-like year he had was both better for the party, and for himself. Probably was better for New Jersey too.
3. Peyton Manning really wasn't the big story of 2014. He flopped badly in the Super Bowl, and while he had a good season this year, he hasn't been quite as good as last year.
4. Pope Francis continues to make history and thrill millions around the globe. His latest work- helping to bring the U.S. and Cuba to historic normalization agreements- is world changing. The man is an absolute gem.
5. Miley Cyrus isn't absent from the news altogether, but she's not quite a full-time story either this year. Maybe in 2015.
6. The Detroit Tigers not only failed to win the World Series, they lost in the ALDS, while the Royals won the AL Crown. 
7. Andrew Wiggins was the top pick in the NBA Draft, by the Cleveland Cavaliers. They then dealt him away to Minnesota to get Kevin Love. Not quite.... WigginsMania. He wasn't even slated to be the top pick until Joel Embiid got a stress fracture. So far, he is playing well.
8. Mitch McConnell not only survived a tough primary, then a general election, he's now the Majority Leader-designate in the U.S. Senate. He's the political winner of 2014.
9. Eight-Million, or 8,000,000 people signed up for a new health insurance plan on the insurance rolls. Obamacare won in 2014, and the people who got plans, like me, love it.
10. Iran and the U.S. continued historic nuclear negotiations, but I'll mark President Rouhani's year an incomplete yet.