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GRAND RAPIDS -- Welcome to the first day of winter, fellow Pickers! There are merely two weeks, count them, TWO WEEKS left of regular season picking. I can feel much tension and nervousness in the air as people are scratching and clawing their way into the play-offs, and still nobody has clinched a play-off birth. There is only an 11 game separation from the first place picker to the last play-off qualifier. Who knows what bizarre happenings may take place in the PICKS as the year 2000 approaches! Did you heed my warnings all year long about the "Egyptian Magician"?? I knew Peter Tadros had a few tricks up his sleeve--He will stop at nothing to be king of the hill. It is week 15 and he has a 1 game lead over perennial power, Joe Thome. Thome has not forgotten last year, when he had that comfortable lead and then, out of no where, David Seelye flashed past him and nipped him at the tape. Maybe Thome has learned something from that heart breaking experience. Could it be that Joe Thome is simply setting Tadros up? Maybe he is giving Peter a false sense of comfort, only to speed past in the last week of the season!!?? Malea had a set-back this week. She finds herself three games out of first place. She too, has learned how tough it is to stay on top of the PICKS. She is still in third place and first place in her division and a sure bet for a high seed in the play-offs. Just when the door was left open for Kent Fisher to catch the womanly wonder, he tripped and finds himself right in the same place as last week--trailing her by merely one game. Kent (6th place overall) has vowed to catch Quimbach if its the last thing he ever does. Look what's coming out of the west! It's the return of Kevin Sandoval. He has secured his lead in the West Coast Division and looking to replace Malea as the Champion of the American Picking Conference. He is currently tied with ever-present Paul Landry for third place overall. There are two more division leaders to keep an eye on. Nichols and Bonn have flexed their muscles on more time as they sit in 8th and 9th place respectively. They are only 5 & 6 games back and are well within shooting distance from the top spot. Gary has held his Downtown lead for quite awhile, but Jeff is in a ferocious dual with Don Zysk....speaking of which, the PICKS headquarters has finally received a photograph of Mr. Zysk---could this really be him???
The "Haranczak Case" has really heated up. It appears that he did not receive a majority vote from the owners in the Big East Division to relocate his franchise. Rumor has it that over this past weekend, Haranczak moved his west coast franchise to Detroit in the middle of the night. Jon Schulz, a distinguished owner in the Big East Division, made this statement to the press: |
"I never received any notification of Kevin Haranczak moving to Detroit. It has never even been voted on! And to tell you the truth, I don't think there is any room for expansion in this division."
The league is anxiously awaiting the Commissioner's ruling on this case. In other news around the league, the Election 2000 is heating up. In dramatic fashion, Kent Fisher has pulled out of the Commissioner race. Fisher made this statement: "I am not a
candidate for commissioner. I repeat, I am not a candidate. I
will accept appointment and coronation as King, nothing less. Another candidate is around the corner. Could it be Paul Landry? Who are you planning to vote for next year: Bonn, Landry, Haranczak or Deep Throat? Make sure to check out the current Election 2000 developments. In the mean time, let's take a closer look at the Divisions:
Grand Valley: Malea is hanging on to a 1 game lead over Kent. Craig slips back this week and is 1 game out of the play-offs! Steven Nicolet moves up to a 6 seed in the brackets. Way to go Steven; you're awesome! Downtown: Yes...Gary Bonn continues to dominate the weak downtown pickers. He has stretched his lead over 2nd place Thomas Van Dyke to 11...yes, 11! It's a battle for third place between Kurt, Julie & Heather. West Coast: This division receives the highest "Power Rating" out of all divisions, but the Grand Valley is only 4 tenths of a rating point behind. Sandoval solidifies his first place over Chauv & Maatman but out of nowhere comes the defending champion, DAVID SEELYE!!! He is now in the Play-offs, watch out! Haranczak is not eliminated yet. He can proudly say that he has the best record out of all last place pickers. Big East: Landry is clinging to a 1 game lead over cross town rival Jon Schulz. Brent Van Wieren his holding onto a 7 seed. Will Haranczak be allowed to move into this division next year?? Saturn: Peter is in charge of the Saturn Division. Tadros & Thome form the most heated battle in the PICKS. There have been more lead changes in this division than anywhere else. Whatever happened to Zerfas?? Only two pickers qualify for the play-offs at this time. White North: Jeff Nichols dug deep and pulled out two great weeks of picking. Don Zysk is only 1 game back and has two more chances at Nichols. Jay Zink hasn't given up yet. He is back in the Play-off picture! The big question still remains: Will Al Bonn (PICKS Champion '95) make it into the play-offs?? --------------------------------------------------------- Keep in mind just how important seeding is. When the play-offs begin it will be one on one picking. If you haven't read the "play-off bylaws", please do so now. If you have any complaints about the play-off format, please send them to the Commissioner: gbonn@hotmail.com. Only two weeks left....Aaaaagggghh!! That
wraps up another walk on the "EDGE".
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