If there is one good thing about the beginning of a new millennium, it’s that all of us will be long deceased before we hear and read that word ever again. But the calendar year 2000 will bring about change and, looking into the crystal ball as the Great Hagueini has often done, there does seem to be a ton of promise in the local sports scene for the coming year. After all, there is always is some light at the end of the tunnel when the calendar turns another page. Even the teams and programs that are perennial losers seem to find hope in the new year. When the clock ticks to 12 midnight and the ball drops on Times Square, the slate is wiped clean and everything seems to change. That’s why there’s always promise, always hope. Especially in the local sports world. A year ago at this time, the Great Hagueini pulled out the old turban, crystal ball and magic wand and traveled on a magical journey into the future. The Old Wide One rubbed that crystal ball and at the same time looked for his annual spiritual and financial guidance from his wise friend and guru, Duncan Chubbie. As a result, the Hagueini came away with some bold predictions for the coming year. Some of last year’s peeks into the future did in fact come true for that mammoth soothsayer, that gargantuan donut. All in all, it wasn’t a bad year in the prognostication field for Hagueini. After spending a year on probation with the other members of the Jeanne Dixon/Kreskin Memorial Turban and Wand Hall of Fame, the Great Hagueini has regained his full-time status. But it is a status that is never permanent. It’s always on the line. With that, the neck is on the line. Here’s hoping that a lot of the following comes true in 2000: Predictions On the boys’ basketball front, the image that appears of the player holding the HCIAA trophy is a bit hazy. It’s either a blue and gold jersey or a maroon and gold one. We think it’s either Marist or Dickinson, last year’s finalists. And as the image becomes clearer, we see that it’s Dickinson, with head coach Red Drennan and standout performers Rashawn Wilson and Steve Richardson hoisting the trophy. Yes, Dickinson will win its first county championship since the glory season of 1972. On the girls’ scene, it looks like it’s either defending champion Marist or upstart newcomer St. Dominic Academy. In fact, Hagueini predicts that those two teams will play for the title in February. But when the smoke clears, it will be a repeat for coach Bill DeFazio, standouts Tara Walker and Makeda Gleaton and the Lady Knights of Marist. When the time comes for the state tournament, it will be a disappointing year for Hudson County, as all of the locals fall short of a state crown. The best opportunity for a state title will come from the Friars of St. Anthony, but coaching legend Bob Hurley will be denied of another state championship. It will definitely be a winter and spring season to remember for the Memorial boys’ track team, as coach Julio Lopez’ team, led by Jonathan Robinson and Manny Alonso, will roll to championship after championship in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns. Hoboken’s brilliant running back Tyrell Dortch will announce his intentions to attend Florida State. Flashy flanker Carlos Perez will announce that he’s also headed to Florida to attend the University of Miami. The St. Peter’s College women’s basketball team will make it a “three-peat” in the MAAC and make another trip to the NCAA Tournament in March. The SPC men’s team will continue its struggles and the school will be faced with a decision what to do with head coach Rodger Blind. Hudson County’s lone representative in the NBA, namely Roshown McLeod, will continue to prosper as the starting small forward for the Atlanta Hawks and will lead his team into the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Jersey City’s Willie Banks will be faced with a decision: either accept an invitation to spring training with a major league baseball club, or head back for another season in Japan. He accepts the invite and hooks on with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Secaucus’ Mark Lukasiewicz gains his release from the Toronto Blue Jays and gets another chance to serve as a closer for the Boston Red Sox. On the high school baseball scene, the Marauders of St. Peter’s Prep successfully defend their HCIAA title, but receive a stiff test from Memorial. While Prep’s lethal combination of pitcher Peter Duda and catcher Greg Condo impress, Hudson’s best baseball performer is Memorial’s sensational shortstop Santiago Chi. Chi earns First Team All-State honors. The high school softball picture is a very clear one. It’s another year of dominance for coach Tom Eagleson and the Bruins of North Bergen. After the turmoil and the adversity it has faced over the last two years, Snyder announces that it will not field a varsity football team again in 2000. But the Jersey City Board of Education looks into the possibility of fielding a football team at McNair Academic for the first time. In football, the team to beat will be Hoboken once again, although the Red Wings’ impressive 24-game winning streak will be put to the test right away in the first two games of the season against Hudson rivals North Bergen and St. Peter’s Prep. After the Red Wings win the first two games, they roll undefeated once again into the state playoffs. And the team’s premier performers will be running backs Irv Reyes and Bladimir Ventura. One of Hudson County’s top players to watch will be St. Peter’s Prep sophomore QB Joe Dailey. And Secaucus will win its first-ever state football championship. Led by Tommy Warth, Mike Gerbasio and Bobby Dornan, the Patriots make Charlie Voorhees the most successful coach in Patriots’ history. That’s about all the images that The Great Hagueini can muster out of the crystal ball this year. He also sees one other thing