The new year brings the usual litany of major events to look ahead to.  The Super Bowl will be in Atlanta, the Final Fours will be in Minneapolis and Tampa, the NBA All-Star Game is in Charlotte, and the golf US Open returns to Pebble Beach.  Two quadrennial events return as well, with the Women’s World Cup heading to France this summer and the rebranded FIBA Basketball World Cup (with whatever version of the Dream Team is assembled) going to China.

But before all that, there are the NFL playoffs, the annual matchup between Clemson and Alabama for the college football title, free agents seeking jobs still, and eight (so far) vacancies to fill in the coaching ranks of the NFL.  As ever, all sports topics are welcome.