Ice, ice baby

From Adrian Russell:

The news broadcasts are creaking under the weight of cliches like ‘blankets of snow’, ‘big freezes’ while footpaths are engaging in treachery.

As the country has slowed ground to a halt, the sporting world has been the same.

Meanwhile, in today’s Irish Examiner, despite the present icy inertia, about two dozen of our staff writers and columnists have looked ahead to the events that will define the Irish sporting year. I can’t link to the website as it’s a graphic but check it out in the hard copy if you’re in Ireland. There’s some surprising calls.

In the meantime, here’s my effort:

Q1: Who’ll be a big winner in 2010?
Irish rugby and soccer, as a whole, who will open the redevoloped Lansdowne Rd as the Aviva Stadium (The Pallendrome anyone?) in August.

Q2: You’ll soon be hearing about…
Swimming talent Grainne Murphy is the real deal. The 16-year-old, who set an Irish senior and junior record for the 800m freestyle last month, is facing a vital season ahead of London 2012. Remember the name.

Q3: Your own wish for 2010?
Tiger Woods to face the music. For his own sake, he needs to go head-to-head with the world’s media until they run out of questions. And then get back to golf.

Q4: The defining moment of 2009?
I hate to say it, but from our point of view, it has to be Henry’s hand ball. We’ll never forget it.

Q5: Most bizarre moment of the 2009 season?
Watching an intimidated Lance Armstrong hop off his bike at the bottom of St Patrick’s Hill in Cork at the climax of the Tour of Ireland. Do the girls in St Angela’s know they go to school halfway up a more intimidating climb than l’Alpe d’Huez?

Q6: Who’ll win the FIFA World Cup?
The FAI’s first guests at the Aviva Stadium. Anyone who writes off a talented Argentina team with low expectations and led by Leo Messi is madder than Maradona. And wouldn’t it be some story if they won it despite/with him.

Q7: Who’ll win rugby’s Six Nations?
With Ireland having to go to London and Paris this year, it won’t be the defending champions. Decland Kidney’s charges will be very close however and I wouldn’t be surprised if they lost out to France on points difference – again.

Q8: And the Heineken Cup?
The pendulum has swung back in Munster’s favour again and having qualified from the pool, you wouldn’t then bet against them. With the scar tissue from last year’s defeat hardly healed, they have more than enough motivation to take the trophy again.

Q9: Anyone to beat Kilkenny and Kerry in the Championships?
I’d look to a Joe Canning-inspired Galway to at last rattle the Cats and rejuevenate the game. Kerry are by no means invincible and Tyrone will fancy their chances again with Sean Cavanagh especially having a point to prove.

Q10: The biggest Irish sports story of 2010 will be…
Rory McIlroy stepping into a Tiger-shaped hole in world golf and winning a major or two. What the boy lacks in fear, he makes up for in talent.