Happy New Year

Happy New Year, my friends and readers--here's wishing you good health and many blessings in 2011.

What will the new year give us? Let's look in the Goff crystal ball, shall we?

In the world of technology, 2011 will be the year of the tablet as a multitude of competitors enter the market, competing with the iPad. Also, look for more and more consumers to adapt the Android operating system with their wireless devices.

Social media will continue its meteoric usage rate, particularly in mobile usage, and Ping will become the next ubiquitous application. Advertisers will continue to look for the "it" campaign for their brand, hoping to duplicate the smashing, surprising success of Old Spice in 2010.

The University of Kansas will finally hire an athletic director but will lose Josh Selby and Marcus Morris to the NBA. Missouri will be a top ten preseason pick in college football, in columns written right after the bowl season, until Blaine Gabbert indicates his intent to enter the 2011 NFL Draft. And, Kansas State's basketball team will quit shopping and will begin playing, finishing second in the Big 12 and once again making the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

The Chiefs will win a playoff game, the Royals will not, and Tiger Woods will rediscover how to win a major golf tournament. In downtown Kansas City, at the Sprint Center, college basketball and an array of concerts and other events will help the arena continue it success as a top five U.S. venue, and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts will provide the skyline with an iconic architectural masterpiece

Don Draper will struggle with married life and AMC will announce that Season Five is the final season for Mad Men. American Idol will carry on fine, thank you very much, with its two new judges and the four major networks will fail, once again, to introduce a unique new program in the fall.

Finally, for all that will be new in 2011, there will be plenty which won't change--the Kardashians won't go away, nor will any of the Real Housewives; the Lakers will beat the Heat in the NBA Finals; Facebook users will still post too many public displays of affection online...and a shiny crystal ball will drop again on December 31 in Times Square in New York City.

Happy New Year, everyone!