The fate of '08

By Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan, Globe Staff  |  January 1, 2008

Our crystal ball is busted, so we turned to a few of Boston's best psychics to foretell the future. What surprises await us in '08? In past years, Alex Palermo, owner of the Original Tremont Tearoom, the nation's oldest psychic salon, has been our go-to guy. Sometimes, Palermo's predictions are rock solid (in 2003, he said Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez would break up) and sometimes his soothsaying's been silly (in 2005, he said Tom Reilly would be elected governor). This year, we were interested to know about the Pats' prospects for another Super Bowl title; whether Gisele Bundchen will catwalk down the aisle with Tom Brady; how former governor Mitt Romney will fare in the presidential primaries; and what big storms may be brewing in '08.

Alex Palermo
Original Tremont Tea Room, Boston
On the Patriots: They're definitely in the Super Bowl, but I'm not sure yet if they're going to win.
On Tom Brady: He won't marry the one he's with and he's not going back to the other one - what's her name? Bridget Moynahan? He might leave football soon and try something else, maybe acting.
On Mitt Romney: I don't see him winning. He's so busy telling people what he's not, he doesn't know what he is. Never mind religion, I don't think people want that hair in office.
Next president? Hillary Clinton will win. I'm just going to say it. I'm having a Shirley MacLaine moment. Transiting Pluto is entering her 7th house, and that'll seal the deal for Hillary.
On Britney Spears: She'll continue to be the train wreck that she is.
Natural disasters? I see water around the coast, maybe Georgia or Alabama. It could be a wave. Georgia's on the water, isn't it? It'll be on the level of Hurricane Katrina and, of course, there'll be a poor response by emergency management people.

Mystic morsel: O.J.'s going to prison.

Darlene
Regina Russell's Tea Room, Quincy
On the Patriots: They win the Super Bowl hands down. One of our readers here said there's going to be a riot at the Super Bowl, but I don't know about that.
On Tom Brady: No, honey, he's not getting married. There's a very good chance he gets back together with Bridget. She is a very good girl. He's still a kid, and she's waiting for him to grow up a little bit.
On Mitt Romney: He doesn't have a chance on God's green earth. Others call it flip-flopping, I call it lying.
Next president? I see John McCain. It will not be a Democrat, but Barack Obama will come close. Hillary will be asked to do something in the administration, but she'll refuse.
On Britney Spears: She is who she is.
Natural disasters? If there is one, I see it in China. I'm quite certain that it'll be a monsoon. I also see something in Europe, toward the coast, in February.
Mystic morsel: There will be a marriage in the White House before Bush leaves. His daughter Jenna will be married in the White House.

Barbara Szafranski
Angelica of the Angels, Salem
On the Patriots: I feel really good about the Super Bowl. Those boys have heart. The other teams have anger, but the Patriots do it with heart.
On Tom Brady: He will not settle down. He's a free spirit, and he's in a place in his life where he can pull all of the cards together.
On Mitt Romney: I don't get a lot of vibrations from him. Look at his eyes. He's stone-faced.
Next president? I'm feeling like Hillary has a very good chance. She's coming through very strong.
On Britney Spears: She's just growing up. You have to go to the bottom before you can reach the top. Marilyn Monroe, Anna Nicole Smith - they reached the bottom and never got to the top. I don't see that with Britney. She'll show the world this year.
Natural disasters? The world is evolving. There was a time when the world spun in a circle and now, energy-wise, it spins in an oval. There will be disasters this year, but it's because of evolution. It's not just about the big change of energy in the outer galaxies. That may not make sense to you.
Mystic morsel: The economy will improve after March 30. There'll be an influx of energy and people will get up and get out and build the economy.

Looking glamorous even in the rain, Pats QB Tom Brady and girlfriend Gisele Bundchen were out in New York Sunday night when the paparazzi snapped them hailing a cab. But do you ever see the supermodel at No. 12's games? Never. According to MSNBC.com, that's by design. Now, Brady has reportedly reached out to Dallas QB Tony Romo, whose gal pal Jessica Simpson was a ubiquitous TV presence when the Cowboys lost to the Eagles. "After that debacle of a game with Jessica being flashed on the screens during every play, Tom told Tony to put a stop to allowing Jess to come to games," The Scoop quotes a friend of Brady's as saying. "Think about it: How often do you see Gisele cheering Tom on? . . . Unlike Jessica, [Gisele] realizes football is more than just a game, it's his career."

It's been a good year for Jennifer Garner. She made her Broadway debut in "Cyrano de Bergerac" and looked breathtaking on the cover of Glamour magazine. Now, Ben Affleck's better half can add another accolade to the list: 2007's West Virginian of the Year. The Sunday Gazette-Mail chose the Texas-born Garner for her dedication, work ethic, and role as an "ambassador for West Virginia." The editors don't say how they choose the winner, but we suggest that next year's short list include Pats receiver Randy Moss, who was born in Rand, W.Va.

The stars were out in LA the other night to see the NBA-best Boston Celtics lambaste the Lakers and end their West Coast trip in impressive - and undefeated - fashion. Actor Adam Sandler was sitting with Wahlberg brothers Mark and Donnie in front-row seats normally occupied by Jack Nicholson and music producer Lou Adler. (Mark is on a break from filming "The Lovely Bones" in Philly, while Donnie just wrapped "Real Men Cry" in Boston.) Wondering about Sandler's modified mohawk? In the upcoming film "You Don't Mess With the Zohan," the New Hampshire native plays a Mossad agent who fakes his death and reemerges as a New York City hair stylist. Could that explain it? Also at the game were rapper The Game, actor Andy Garcia, former Celtic and Laker Rick Fox, and actress Sharon Stone, who wore a jacket with the World Peace One logo emblazoned on the back.

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