GRAND RAPIDS - Greetings all, one last time. Being that this is the commemorative 5th season of the PICKS, shall we take a nostalgic walk down memory lane?

The PICKS was started in 1995, with 6 PICKers being a part of that memorable and historic season.  What makes that season even more worthwhile, is that all 6 of the original PICKers are still apart of this fine tradition!  That certainly speaks to the value of this enjoyable event:  that value being the core of why we are here... friendship!!!  One fine Sunday as the NFL was about to kickoff, many of these PICKers envisioned a comradery through PICKing NFL games...  That vision has been going strong for five illustrious years now!

In 1996, this league decided to expand!  The group nearly doubled from 6 PICKers to 11!!!  Does anyone remember a guy by the name of Brower?  He came, he won a title, set a record for most wins in a season, and then disappeared?!   One of the greatest PICKing gifts Brower may have given us that season could very well be David Seelye.  Mr. Seelye joined the PICKS family, and is vastly proving himself to be legendary in his PICKing styles!  That season also saw the coming of Jeff Nichols, Brent Van Wieren, and Nelson Aquino, a duo who have proven to be formidable PICKers, on a part-time basis.

In 1997, the league again continued to grow.  The season saw 18 different PICKers during that season.  That season was the first year we had a female within the group (Becky Chomos), who started a long-standing tradition that will hopefully be in place throughout the lifespan of the PICKS!  That season was also the birth of a powerful coalition that has come to be known as the Saturn Boyz!  Kevin, Doogie, Joe, and John all joined their brother Peter in the PICKS.  The fact that these gentlemen? continue to comeback year after year no doubt speaks to the core value of this league.  Jon Schulz, Kyle, and Kurt Hazlewood also joined this fine tradition that season.  Does anyone remember Michael Walton?  He PICKed for a week that season.

The 1998 season saw even more expansion.  Twenty-two PICKers, new and old, continued this annual event.  Dennis Harmor, Craig James-Heer, and Kent Fisher all joined in.  That season also saw the first and only LATECOMERS league.  Malea, Stevie V, Jamie M, and Matt and Nikki were that fabulous 5 who tore about that league.  That season saw David Seelye shatter Brower's old record of 159 wins with 170!  This record could last awhile folks!  If I remember correctly, this season offered a lot of controversy.  There was a huge scandal that attempted to impeach yours truly!  Does anyone remember why?  Did we ever decide what improper PICKS is?  Boy, those were the times!

Arguably, 1999 had to be the biggest season of change and progression in the PICKS!  32 participants joined, an all-time record.   The question was posed "How can we make it worthwhile for the majority of PICKers to participate for the entire season with something to shoot for?".  That question was answered with a revolutionary idea of going to divisions, and totally revamping the playoff format.  With PICKers separated into divisions,  and a select number making it to the playoffs, PICKers had more to aim for than just an overall title.  While the playoff process was admittedly frustrating and poorly organized (which I take full responsibility for), it has hopefully laid a foundation for how the PICKS will progress into the new millennium!

The PICKS has seen several champions over the years!  They are as follows:

Regular season champions:

1995- Al Bonn- 145 wins
1996- Kevin Brower- 159 wins
1997- Steven Nicolet- 155 wins
1998- David Seelye- 170 wins
1999- Peter Tadros- 165 wins

Playoffs champions:

1995- Steven Nicolet- 11 points
1996- Peter Tadros- 20 points
1997- Gary Bonn- 17 points
1998- Kevin Haranczak- 21 points
1999- Jon Schulz- first ever Super PICKS BOWL Champion!

Undoubtedly, this was one of the BEST Super Bowls in recent history!  And
what could be better than having an outstanding battle for first ever
Super PICK's Bowl champion!  It all came down to the final few minutes of the
game.  David Seelye and Jon Schulz were battling for overall points as they
both PICKed the Rams to win.  If 38 or more points were scored, Jon S wins.
If 37 or less were scored, David S gets another championship!

For the majority of the game, it looked as though David Seelye was going to
win!!! Miraculously, with a fourth quarter point explosion, Jon Schulz of the Hamilton Federation captures the first ever Super PICKS Bowl championship!!!

CONGRATULATIONS JON!!!!!  If ya'll have the opportunity, please send Jon an
email at: jschulz4.ford@e-mail.com give him a congrats!!!!

Congratulations to ALL of these Champs from years gone by!!!

The PICKS could not have achieved the success it has had without access to the world wide web.  No single person has revolutionized the PICKS like Steven Nicolet!!!  The website has been nothing but incredible, and on the cutting edge!!!  PICKS can be submitted in an easy fashion through the website, and PICKers can be kept up-to-date through this fabulous communication medium!!!  A BIG THANK YOU Steven!!!  The website takes A LOT of hard work!!!

Another revolutionary aspect of the PICKS, and quite exciting, is the advent of elections.  Never before has the PICKing community been able to have a voice like this year by actually being able to elect a Commissioner.  I encourage ALL PICKers to vote on election day, and let their voice be heard!

Let me just say that I have VERY much enjoyed being a part of the PICKS both recreationally and administratively the past five years.   With that being said, I made a decision about a month ago that was a long and difficult one.
I am withdrawing from the elections and turn Commissionership over to one of our PICKing comrades to continue to lead the PICKS throughout this new millennium!

If I can give any advice to the future COMMISSIONER of this outstanding league, it would be a request not to devalue the core of this league;  that being friendship!  If policies and procedures need to be in place, please be sure to include the input of the PICKing community!  This league will continue to grow, and I look forward to continue to be a part of the laughs,
the trash talk, and the sheer gut-wrenching PICKing!!

Good PICKins,

The COMMISSIONER (Soon to be former)