Commentary: Lots of predictions from last year at this time didn’t pan out. Others did. That’s why you will want to read this and be in the know — and prepared — or just for a good laugh.
So those 2016 predictions weren’t exactly the stuff of Nostradamus. Looking back at some of those 2016 predictions — made one year ago right here — there was a headline under some chump’s picture that read, “Trump won’t last.” Missed it by that much.
But that was right under “Kasich won’t win,” so there. And not far away was “a title is coming …” with a correct prediction of the Cavs winning the NBA championship. Then there was TimkenSteel will rebound, although it topped out at $18.08 a share in December, not quite making it to the $20 prediction. So let Jim Cramer put that in his stock-picking pipe.
Hey, they weren’t all terrible predictions last year.
So let’s try another round of predictions for 2017, starting with the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Staying country
I have no inside knowledge, other than a hunch, but the headliner for this year’s Concert for Legends will remain a nationally known country music act. It won’t be Garth Brooks (save him for 2019), but it will be someone who sells out a show. Who will it be? Keep in mind the Hall likes to book an act that is not making a Northeast Ohio appearance before the Concert for Legends.
Hotel will break ground
I know, this was supposed to happen already. It didn’t happen as expected in September, but I bet it happens before summer. And if it doesn’t happen this year, well, things will have gotten off the rails at Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village to be ready in time for 2020.
It won’t have a flag
The hotel won’t carry the flag of Marriott or Hyatt or Sheraton. Hall of Fame Hotel has a ring to it, or is The Golden Jacket too cheesy? Put a couple of slot machines in there and The Golden Jacket makes sense.
More money coming
The Hall of Fame will announce a couple of more deals that will not be the same as the naming-rights deal with Johnson Controls, but they will be more significant than any deal Canton has seen. Also, someone — an NFL owner — will announce another major gift to Hall of Fame Village.
Who killed JFK?
More than 3,000 documents and 34,000 redacted files will be made public for the first time as the deadline passes for the government to release all files related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The JFK Records Act of 1992 gave the government 25 years to release all the records. That expires in October. Some people still won’t believe Oswald shot him.
Council will lose another
Canton City Council already lost Kevin Fisher, and the Stark County Democratic Central Committee replaced him. It will have to replace Thomas West, who was elected to the 49th Ohio House District, and David Dougherty, who resigned his council seat to become clerk of council. Don’t be surprised if another council member steps down before the end of January. If a fourth is replaced, one-third of council will have been replaced without the will of the people from an election.
One county elected official steps down
Who knows who it will be, but an elected county official will step down. My money is on Coroner P.S. Murthy, who admitted at 82 years old that he has had to slow down a bit.
Timken takes over
Jane Timken will unseat Matt Borges as the Ohio Republic Party chairperson Jan. 6, when the Ohio Central Committee meets. Timken, a native of Cincinnati, is married to TimkenSteel CEO Tim Timken. She needs 34 of the 66 Central Committee members to vote for her. Timken has the backing of Donald Trump to unseat Borges, who was less than welcoming of Trump during the campaign.
Johnson Controls invests here
Johnson Controls, which agreed to a naming rights and services contract with Hall of Fame Village, will make a significant investment in the Stark County community. Leaders from the company’s foundation will visit and find causes with which to partner.
Also, Johnson Controls will sign at least one Energy Performance Contracts with a public entity — a municipality or school district — to bring efficiency savings here. The EPC means the upfront costs for devices are paid for by the savings from energy efficiency, and anything not realized from that Johnson Controls would pay for.
Twitter will swear in president
Donald Trump will take the oath of office Jan. 20, and he will use Twitter in some way to do so, perhaps tweeting the oath 140 characters at a time.
I’ve had enough
Before the end of summer, Donald Trump will step down as president, and Mike Pence will fulfill his term because Trump will have accomplished everything he said he would in six months. The American people see that running the country is much easier than 44 presidents before Trump made it seem.
So, just as the country was starting to adjust, and even like President Trump, he decides he has had enough living in the “humble White House” and moves back to posh Trump Tower, in part because he will find Washington boring. Trump announces a new reality show: “Apprentice President.”
Take it to the bank
Feb. 13 is the one-year anniversary of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s death. President Trump will announce his pick to serve on the Supreme Court.
iPhone of all iPhones
Apple will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone and in the fall release a major redesign of its flagship handheld smartphone and call it iPhone 8. Tech rumors already have pegged the new device to look like a single piece of glass and perhaps include wireless recharging.
‘Wonder Woman’ is a hit
This is real, not a prediction. Well, sorta. “Wonder Woman” hits the big screen this summer starring Gal Gadot. The fact it becomes a summer blockbuster hit, that’s all me.
Take it easy on legends
2016 took some of our most talented from the big screen and music. It started with David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Abe Vigoda, Harper Lee, Joe Garagiola, Mother Mary Angelica, Merle Haggard, Morley Safer, Muhammad Ali, Elie Wiesel, Gene Wilder, Arnold Palmer, Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, George Michael, Alan Thicke and maybe the biggest icon to die in 2016, Prince. Here’s to a 2017 that leaves us with our legends on Earth.
Princess Di
We will be saturated with coverage on the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. The Paris car wreck will be relived, and interviews with her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, will be played on morning shows ad nauseam, because we can’t get enough of a princess who died much too soon.
The Indians win the World Series
Don’t laugh, I predicted a Cavs championship last year. The Indians and Cubs will meet again in the World Series. The Indians win Game 7 in Chicago, and Cleveland celebrates. Meanwhile, the Browns will be winless as the No. 1 draft pick is put on the injured-reserve list.
Shake up in Columbus
Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, Attorney General Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Jon Husted and Treasurer Josh Mandel are all term-limited in 2018. That means they all have to run for something else to stay in elected office. DeWine will announce in 2017 he is running for governor to replace term-limited John Kasich. DeWine might have to beat Taylor in the primary. Husted would like to run for governor, but someone in the Ohio GOP (Jane Timken?) will advise against it. Mandel already has announced he will run for U.S. Senate against Sherrod Brown.
Big announcement downtown
Leaders from the city, state and Pro Football Hall of Fame will announce a collaborative effort to make Market Square in downtown an attraction. Something grand will be built there, and there will be a connection between that area and the Pro Football Hall of Fame to be completed by 2019.
A new coach
The Cleveland Browns will fire Hue Jackson before the end of 2017 NFL season after starting 0-8, and we will never have to watch another one of those poorly produced Mr. Hero commercials again. Those are just awkward.
Bliss Tower opens
The Bliss Tower, next to the Historic Onesto Lofts, opens rental units by the end of the year. Several tenants at the Onesto leave for the Bliss because they realize the views are better with the full-length windows. People my age across the county warn their children the gravy train is ending, and when they come off the parental payroll, one of these downtown spaces will be the new home.
Hoover district doesn’t
Work slowly progresses at the Hoover District, with no rentals close to being finished. IRG, the same development company working on Hall of Fame Village, asks for patience as work continues. Officials point to the complete smokestack as progress.
AI is new buzzword
Artificial Intelligence — no fellas, not what all of our wives say about us — becomes more consuming and mainstream. Amazon Alexa and Google Home will battle for market dominance all year. Nest devices that control the heating and cooling of our homes become more affordable. And we thought it was neat when we could remote-start our vehicles. No one is hitting the brake pedal on technology anytime soon. Embrace it folks — it is 2017 after all.
Reach Todd at 330-580-8340 or [email protected].
On Twitter: @toddporter
