Tyler's Branch's cover story for The Atlantic last year was a watershed, bringing a flood of calls for change to the lie of amateurism. In 2013, the NCAA will see those waters rise. Especially in California, where a lawsuit against the organization is moving along nicely. The suit has 15 named plaintiffs including former college basketball stars Ed O'Bannon and Bill Russell, alleging that their names, images, and likenesses were illegally used by the NCAA. Newly opened court documents showed that the NCAA knew video-game manufacturer Electronic Arts made products with characters matching "as closely as possible the real-life characteristics" of players. The players, of course, get no cash for it. Just as they get no money from all the replicas of their jerseys sold, or the trading cards with their pictures on it, let alone the ticket sales and TV revenue. That's because the NCAA makes all student-athletes sign forms relinquishing any rights to compensation for their name or likeness. In perpetuity. The lawsuit alleges doing so is a violation of anti-trust. If the courts agree, the NCAA's house of cards could come down. The much-discussed ascendency of the super-conference will finally be at hand. Meet the new boss?

The NBA Finals will also be a rerun, kind of

Games are happening now, but the NBA season starts in earnest after the mid-February All-Star break, when teams begin pushing for the playoffs. When a champion is finally crowned in June, expect another party in South Beach. The Thunder will come out of the Western Conference again. This year, even without James Harden, OKC are better on both sides of the ball. OKC's offense is scoring more per possession, at a rate of 114.1 per 100 possessions. That's good enough to lead the league. The Thunder's margin of victory is also league-leading at 9.5 points per game. Defense? Oklahoma City allowed 96.9 points a game last year, but just 96.3 so far in this campaign.

But it's LeBron's world. Durant and company will find that out, just like last year. Why wouldn't the Heat repeat? James is the world's best player. Last season he finally got his ring, plus a Finals MVP, which knocked the monkey whispering "You can't win the big one" off his back. Besides, Dwyane Wade is looking ageless again. Ray Allen usually wakes up around payoff time. There's no one in the East to stop them; not woeful-looking Boston, not even the Knicks with Amar'e Stoudemire back. The Thunder should put up a better fight. But it'll be two straight for the king.

Tennis has a transition

Call it a changing of the guard. Roger Federer, 31, cut his schedule for 2013 because he's now at that point in his career where winning majors are all that matters. Rafael Nadal hasn't played since an injury at Wimbledon, missing the Olympics and US Open. Young stars like Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, both 25, are hungry to rule. The result is a blissful parity in the top ranks. That's why we are picking a different player to win each major. Federer, fresh early in the season, will win the Australian Open. Nadal will win at Roland-Garros and flame-out everywhere else. Currently ranked third in the world, Andy Murray will win at Wimbeldon. Because it's only right. In 2012, he got all the way to the finals but lost to Federer. A few weeks later at the Olympics, Murray won gold on those same grass courts. Then he went to Queens and beat Djokovic to win the U.S. Open, becoming the British man to win a Grand Slam singles title since before World War II. If he could win it all at Centre Court this year, in front of the Royal box, it would be bigger news than the birth of a heir to the British throne. Which, incidentally, might also come about the same time.

Dodger blue wins with cash green