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ENLARGE
The San Francisco 49ers of the 1980s. The Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s. The New England Patriots of the early 2000s.
April E. Clark of the late Double Oughts?
Yes, folks, it's true. When it comes to predicting football games, April E. is the queen of the Roaring Fork Valley. She's put together quite the little dynasty for herself, winning the Glenwood Springs Post Independent's annual football picks competition in each of the past two years.
How she does it, no one knows. But, with a combined 195-105 record in 2008 and 2009, she's won back-to-back titles — much (very, very, very, very much) to the chagrin of the mostly male panel of prognosticators.
Now, as the GSPI picks feature enters its fourth year, the great April E. is gunning for a three-peat.
“I like the sound of a three-peat,” she typed in a recent e-mail.
Seeking to derail her bid is a football-savvy bunch led by Ron Milhorn, the voice of local sports for KMTS (99.1 FM). Milhorn, who once suited up for the football team at the University of Southern California, finished just three games back of April E. last season.
Right behind Milly in 2009's final standings was Paul Rice, whose jillion fantasy football leagues must have cut into his prognostication studies.
As for me, well, I finished up in fourth. I have no excuse, other than tossing up a few too many “Hail Mary” picks in a desperate attempt to catch Queen April.
Rounding out the 2009 panel were the Three Rivers Youth Football youngsters, The Johns (the GSPI's troika of like-named reporters), GSPI copy editor Collin “He's Worked Here For Like Two Years And I Still Can't Spell Let Alone Pronounce His Last Name” Szewczyk and “New Castle News” columnist Kay Vasilakis aka “The Toblerone Fairy.”
I'm happy to pass along that the entire panel is intact and back for 2010, including the wonderful young football players from Three Rivers. Thanks to Susie Kellogg for making that happen. She tracks down one of the league's players each week to participate.
Keep an eye out every Friday for the picks grid. Then, jot down April's picks and head to your bookie. Just kidding, folks. Gambling is bad.
Seriously, though, I wish this year's panel the best of luck. It should be a blast of a football season.
Jeff Caspersen is the sports editor of the Glenwood Springs Post Independent. He can be reached at jcaspersen@postindependent.com.
April E. Clark of the late Double Oughts?
Yes, folks, it's true. When it comes to predicting football games, April E. is the queen of the Roaring Fork Valley. She's put together quite the little dynasty for herself, winning the Glenwood Springs Post Independent's annual football picks competition in each of the past two years.
How she does it, no one knows. But, with a combined 195-105 record in 2008 and 2009, she's won back-to-back titles — much (very, very, very, very much) to the chagrin of the mostly male panel of prognosticators.
Now, as the GSPI picks feature enters its fourth year, the great April E. is gunning for a three-peat.
“I like the sound of a three-peat,” she typed in a recent e-mail.
Seeking to derail her bid is a football-savvy bunch led by Ron Milhorn, the voice of local sports for KMTS (99.1 FM). Milhorn, who once suited up for the football team at the University of Southern California, finished just three games back of April E. last season.
Right behind Milly in 2009's final standings was Paul Rice, whose jillion fantasy football leagues must have cut into his prognostication studies.
As for me, well, I finished up in fourth. I have no excuse, other than tossing up a few too many “Hail Mary” picks in a desperate attempt to catch Queen April.
Rounding out the 2009 panel were the Three Rivers Youth Football youngsters, The Johns (the GSPI's troika of like-named reporters), GSPI copy editor Collin “He's Worked Here For Like Two Years And I Still Can't Spell Let Alone Pronounce His Last Name” Szewczyk and “New Castle News” columnist Kay Vasilakis aka “The Toblerone Fairy.”
I'm happy to pass along that the entire panel is intact and back for 2010, including the wonderful young football players from Three Rivers. Thanks to Susie Kellogg for making that happen. She tracks down one of the league's players each week to participate.
Keep an eye out every Friday for the picks grid. Then, jot down April's picks and head to your bookie. Just kidding, folks. Gambling is bad.
Seriously, though, I wish this year's panel the best of luck. It should be a blast of a football season.
Jeff Caspersen is the sports editor of the Glenwood Springs Post Independent. He can be reached at jcaspersen@postindependent.com.
