The crystal ball

Predicting the fortunes of teenagers is definitely a fool's game. But since we're all pretty foolish, we do it anyway. Football, basketball, even baseball (which most are smart enough to avoid). We try to forecast what's going to happen and when we're off people definitely don't forget.
Few coaches want to be picked first. No coaches want to be picked last - but a lot like the middle of the pack since it seems to give their kids an apparent motivational boost. I've certainly had my share of kids, parents and coaches willingly bring it up when my picks are as off the mark as Javier Vazquez's pitches.
And it came up this weekend as Conant beat Palatine and Schaumburg narrowly missed an upset of Fremd in MSL West play. Wasn't at Conant but a couple of players expressed their disdain for being picked to finish last in the division by a certain someone. The drumbeat could get even louder with a trip to Fremd for the first game on its new turf next week.
Schaumburg hasn't and didn't look again like any fifth-place team against Fremd on Saturday. The point was made by Schaumburg's Josh Spandiary - not with any nastiness or defiance - after he had an incredible game along with his teammates.
Don't worry, I will get fooled again but I'll keep on putting out those predictions because it is fun to see how they turn out. And I don't mind the grief that comes with the misses because it can turn out to be a pretty good story.