Gavin Cummiskey, from a safe position on the fence, reviews the parameters as our experts put reputations on the line
Prepare for some erudite surmising about what lies beneath the surface of 2006. This is the traditional January offering that tells you, the reader, how The Irish Times experts see the sporting year panning out.
The opinions of several sporting notables were also canvassed: the future of Irish boxing; Irish hockey's goal machine; an exiled rugby international; a man of both Gaelic football and basketball fame; and a bookmaker.
Equestrian correspondent and mountaineer extraordinaire Grania Willis invokes her crystal ball, as do Messrs Thornley, Moran and Reid.
The sports editor himself even enters the domain of his underlings with an annual picture byline followed by some incisive observation. He keeps reminding us, by the way, that last year he foresaw Chelsea winning the Premiership and Roger Federer annexing Wimbledon.
Those two issues are, however, considered far too predictable this time, and so we have dropped them. Instead we asked for the three Premiership teams that will fill the Uefa Champions League qualification spots.
Most believe Tottenham will fend off their north London neighbours Arsenal and sneak in behind Liverpool and Manchester United but a couple plump for Sam Allardyce to guide Bolton Wanderers into Europe's elite competition. One brave soul thinks Wigan Athletic can hold the pace.
A great World Cup is expected from Germany in June, when Ireland's absence will ensure a great deal of interest in Sven's White Knights.
Nobody among our experts expects David Beckham to emulate Bobby Moore - but prepare for the English propaganda machine to crank into overdrive nevertheless.
At least we have the K Club.
Golf takes centre stage as the Ryder Cup arrives on these shores for the first time. From September 22nd to 24th, Straffan will feel the full force of this corporate-driven event.
The significance is such that even the mighty GAA thought better of entering into a ratings war and shifted the All-Ireland finals forward a week.
We asked our 10 experts would the biennial Europe-America grudge match impact on their lives. Curiosity, at least, should ensure the Arnold Palmer-designed course attracts attention even from the non-golfing types.
The Irish public can expect Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington to shine at the K Club, but elsewhere, Irish prospects on the world stage are bleak enough.
At least Irish hands will lift the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy Cups - unless those dastardly Aussies again lose the run of themselves and sack the Croke Park Museum during the International Rules series.
The further evolution of Tyrone and Cork in 2005 almost precludes bold predictions in Gaelic football, though you can spot the diehard Dubs and the deranged Kildareman among our forecasters. Generally though it's hard to see past the Big Three (Tyrone, Kerry and Armagh).
Ditto Cork and Kilkenny in hurling - unless Babs Keating works the oracle in Tipperary, or Galway take the next step.
Rugby is a hard call. Last year's Grand Slam aspirations crashed and burned, and then there were those nightmarish November defeats to the All Blacks and Australia.
Seven out of the 10 think Ireland will finish mid-table in the Six Nations, but our esteemed editor sees Eddie O'Sullivan's men helping Italy prop up the table at the finish.
In the Heineken European Cup no one backs Leinster. Munster get one vote, the rest opting for French or English clubs. Toulouse and Sale look the part as we go to press.
One fascinating branch of soothsaying is naming the unknown, or comparative unknown, that will make headlines over the coming months. Our pundits advise watching out for Kerril Wade (hurling), Shane Geraghty (rugby), Mitch Darling (hockey) and Sarah-Kate Quinlivan (equestrian), among others.
Boxer Andy Lee's Olympic exploits are well documented but can he make a smooth transition to the professional ranks? Can Irish rugby unearth some depth in the troublesome areas of halfback and prop?
The Cheltenham festival could make a household name of trainer Colm Murphy. The World Cup could make a megastar out of Barcelona's young Argentinian Lionel Messi.
We also allowed one last look at the forgettable sporting year that was 2005 before delving into hopes for 2006. Andy Dufrane said it best in The Shawshank Redemption: "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and a good thing never dies."
