Gorgeous Galena and great games get goofy group geared to grapple

A Galena girl and Frisbee-golfing guy didn't let their weekend activities distract them from finishing atop the leaderboard on opening day of the 24th annual Sunday Football Picks.  Nicki and Mark achieved identical 10-4 records after splitting four disagreements.

Nickster was assisted by St. Louis quarterback Kurt Warner, who fumbled the ball more times (6) than Nicki visited the fun-filled pool (5) during a two-day family getaway to WorldMark's Longhollow Point Inn in Galena.  The Rams' futility enabled her Giants to prevail 23-13.  Warner must not have fueled up with home-cooked French toast, eggs, bacon and tasty sausage like Nicki did that morning.  Or he simply forgot to wipe the butter off his fingers.

Mark reached double-digit victories despite an apparent miscommunication with the almighty Picks Gods, with whom he has been known to consult on a subconscious level.  After returning from an afternoon of disc-flinging at Madison Meadows, he sensed a major upset by one of the league's doormats.  He chose the hapless Bengals, but it was actually the hopeless Texans who rocked the football world with a 21-20 victory in Miami.  Bummer!  The mighty Dolphins, a 14-point favorite, had won 11 consecutive openers and 17 straight home games in August and September.  Next time Mark should give the Picks Gods his cell phone number.

Defending Picks champ D.J. started the month with strong showings of her own, both in the Picks (9-5) and behind the wheel (no fender benders).  The permit-carrying Girlie wants all her drives to be as successful as those displayed by the San Francisco offense, which thrashed the Bears 49-7.  It was the worst opening-day defeat in Bears history.  Hopefully the Saturn won't crash and burn like that.

Blaine (9-5) mentally picked the Vikings, but physically chose the Packers with everyone else because of his fear of going against Brett Favre on natural grass.  Wouldn't it figure that Minnesota then cruised in Green Bay, unfairly torturing Blaine's brain so early in the season.  Veterans should go with their instincts.  Veterans should go with their instincts.  Now repeat that 100 more times.