Hubdub’s Hot Predictions this week, as decided by Hubdub users and staff, are selected based on their newsworthiness for the week. These stories are bound to be big news this week - and we have forecasts on how they’re likely to turn out. This week we’re going with a ‘holiday’ theme and on that note happy holidays to all!

Politics

People have differing views of President Bush, but during the holiday season we can all unite Democrat, Republican or Independent in wishing him and his family a merry Christmas! Last year George got Laura a purse and a small silver tray for Christmas, what will it be this year?

What will George W. Bush give Laura Bush for Christmas?

Business

Bernard Madoff should expect some coal in his stockings this Christmas. He’s been a naughty boy and stealing is certainly frowned upon by Santa. So what will happen to him? Hubdub forecasts by over 60% that besides the coal Bernard will be found guilty of fraud.

WILL Bernard Madoff be found guilty of fraud?

Entertainment

The economy’s faltering and it’s kind of freezing, but at least you still have the cinema to go to. This Christmas weekend Hubdubbers predict by 70% Marley and Me will be the most watched film in cinemas.

What will be the #1 film over Christmas weekend (Dec 25th - Dec 28th)

Sports

It’s Christmas day and you want to open presents? You obviously don’t know about the NBA game going on. This Christmas the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics play to win. It currently looks like the Lakers have a slight edge, but there’s still three days.

Boston Celtics vs LA Lakers - NBA on Christmas Day, Who will win?

The Weather

Winter may have just begun but for the past few weeks it’s been snowing heavily all across the US. Chicago always seems to get snow and this Christmas Hubdub forecasts over a 50% chance of the city having a white Christmas.

Will there be a White Christmas this year in Chicago?

Trading percentages given are at time of posting and may not match up with markets after the fact due to Hubdub users forecasting on said markets.

Popularity: 8% [?]

By Donal (Sports Editor)

A few weeks ago, I proclaimed that an MVP award would signal the redemption of Kobe Bryant. It would also top off a great story: the transformation of a me-first superstar into a mature, team oriented leader who inspired his team to best record in the Western Conference.

….and so it came to pass.

But last Sunday night against the Jazz, Kobe seemed to forget the script of this epic tale of redemption; going it alone in overtime as the Lakers lost 115-123 to tie the playoff series at 2-2.

So will Kobe’s regression to old ways continue and will this lead to defeat in Game 5 against  the Jazz? Hubdub puts a Lakers loss at 40%. Disagree? Make your predictions here!

NBA Playoffs- Utah Jazz at LA Lakers- Who will win on 5/14/2008?

Popularity: 7% [?]

By Donal (Sports Editor)

Gilbert Arenas will be one of the biggest names available in the NBAs 2008 free agent market but the Wizards want to keep him.

Wizards President Eddie Grunfeld stated summer priorities are to retain Agent Zero and Antwawn Jamison who would appear to be a package deal following Arena’s statement on his blog that he won’t return unless Jamison is re-signed.

On the face of it, the Wizards priorities would appear to make sense. They want to keep intact the trifecta of Arenas, Jamison and Butler who have led them to three successive playoff appearances and keep fans in seats at the Verizon Center.

But it must also be remembered that this “big three” has failed to progress the Wizards past the first round of the playoffs. They have twice been conquered by Lebron James and they certainly don’t match the luster of Boston’s big three or Detroit’s biggish four or five.

Is the status quo really worth maintaining when its good but not great?

Will the Washington Wizards re-sign Gilbert Arenas?

Popularity: 6% [?]

By Donal (Sports Editor)

Whenever there isn’t a consensus choice for the MVP award in a major American sport, much contemplation ensues over what exactly the title “Most Valuable” means and how it should be bestowed. With the NBA MVP debate raging, I could conceivably rattle off a few paragraphs on my own particular interpretation of the term.

But, I won’t …………and for two reasons:

1. MVP should mean whatever one wants it to mean (within reason)

MVP could mean the player who:

• has been the catalyst for a dramatic turnaround in his teams fortunes (Garnett).
• is transcendently talented, leads the league in scoring and carries his team almost single-handedly, in a spectacular fashion (LeBron).
• is the best all round player in the league, has had an another great season in an outstanding MVP-less career and its about time he won (Kobe).
• is the best player on the team with the best record in the superior conference and who is generally an outstanding candidate in terms of stats, leadership and importance to his team (Chris Paul).

Every year presents different circumstances and reasons for a particular MVP selection. As long as the reason is good (and I don’t count whoever voted for Brett Favre this year as having one), I’m not particularly bothered by which way any voter goes. Besides, if there was a strict definition of criteria for an MVP, it would make choosing one a lot less interesting.

2. This is Hubdub.

Ultimately we at Hubdub are more interested in the “Who will win?” as opposed to the “Who should win and why?”. As I write, Hubdubbers seem to prefer Chis Paul (although thats liable to change).

I will say however why I would vote for Kobe Bryant.

Yes, he has had an outstanding season and after an 11 year career its about time he won. But besides that; five years removed since the sexual assault accusations, 4 years after he had a major hand in the departure from LA of Phil Jackson and Shaq, and almost a year after his trade request, the MVP award would represent, for this maturing and increasingly team-oriented player some degree of redemption….

and redemption is always a good story.

Predict who will be named NBA MVP

Popularity: 8% [?]