What to look for in sports world in 2008

With only a couple of days left in 2007, it's time to look ahead to what will happen around the sports world in 2008:

JANUARY

LSU beats Ohio State in national championship game.

New England Patriots win Super Bowl to complete perfect season.

Three members of 1972 Miami Dolphins are hospitalized following suicide attempts.

FEBRUARY

Michael Waltrip banned from Daytona 500 after plutonium discovered under his hood during routine inspection.

Tennessee athletic department adopts more lenient drug policy for student-athletes: five positive tests and you're out.

John Daly and his wife exchange gunfire for Valentine's Day.

Michael Vick hospitalized after being bitten by prison guard dog.

MARCH

LSU coach Les Miles wins $1 million in Reader's Digest Sweepstakes.

Tennessee safety Eric Berry excused from the last three weeks of spring practice after permanently damaging two tackling dummies.

UT dominates first All-Smith team in college basketball.

APRIL

Tennessee defeats Ohio State to win national championship in basketball.

Tim Tebow tramples 15 other runners in winning the Boston Marathon.

Celtics lead the NBA in shooting; Pacers lead the league in being shot at.

MAY

LSU coach Les Miles hits Kentucky Derby superfecta to win $1.5 million.

Tim Tebow hits 500-yard drive at Gainesville Putt-Putt course.

Georgia defeats Ohio State to win national championship in tennis.

Columbia, S.C., student edges Columbus, Ohio, student to win Scripps national spelling bee.

JUNE

Broncos RB Travis Henry gets nine subpoenas for Father's Day.

UT athletic department adopts more lenient drug-testing policy for student-athletes: six positive tests and you're out.

Davey O'Brien Award, given annually to the best college quarterback, renamed the Tim Tebow Award.

JULY

LSU coach Les Miles wins $11 million in Powerball lottery.

Tim Tebow tramples 10 bulls during the "Running of the Bulls" in Pamplona, Spain.

Ohio State finishes second to Ole Miss in national cheerleading competition.

New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush says he won't report to training camp until he's paid as much as he made his junior year at Southern Cal.

Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the best college defensive back, renamed the Eric Berry Award.

AUGUST

Tennessee Athletic Department announces more lenient drug testing: "Only the hard stuff."

Eric Berry banned from tackling teammates during UT's preseason drills.

USA Today survey reveals that more people can name the prime minister of Belgium than the heavyweight boxing champion.

SEPTEMBER

Two UAB running backs give up football after being tackled by Eric Berry.

Tennessee fans required to show proof of health insurance to purchase hot dog at Neyland Stadium.

LSU converts four fourth-downs to beat Auburn.

Tim Tebow-Eric Berry collision registers 6.7 on the Richter scale.

After loss to Florida, UT defensive tackle Demonte Bolden says quarterback Jonathan Crompton throws like a girl.

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino collects $10,000 bonus for not quitting before the end of the first month.

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez clinches triple crown.

OCTOBER

Alex Rodriguez hits into game-ending triple play as Yankees lose in first round of the playoffs.

Northern Illinois running back quits football after Eric Berry stares at him during pre-game warmups.

Georgia breaks out new fuchsia jerseys but still loses to Tennessee.

Uga VI follows Tim Tebow home after Gators beat Bulldogs.

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino collects $50,000 bonus for not quitting after two months.

NOVEMBER

With Gerald Jones running the "G-Gun" offense for the entire game, Tennessee gains more than 500 yards against both Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

Vols basketball coach Bruce Pearl signs three Smiths during early signing period.

Joe Paterno announces he will retire after Penn State's bowl game.

DECEMBER

Alabama coach Nick Saban says he will never be the head coach at Penn State.

Tim Tebow wins Tim Tebow Award.

Eric Berry wins Eric Berry Award.

Florida and Ohio State finish one-two in BCS rankings.

After leading Tennessee to top 10 finish, Phillip Fulmer voted SEC coach of the year.

O. J. Simpson continues the pursuit of his ex-wife's killers.

(Contact John Adams at adamsj@knews.com.)

(John Adams writes for The Knoxville News Sentinel in Tennessee at www.knoxnews.com.)