Pa exits Picks, but leaves many fond memories

It was with a heavy heart that the Sunday Football Picks entered the fifth week of the 2002 season.  The Picks was suddenly without one of its charter members after an unfortunate turn of events earlier in the week.  After 22 1/2 seasons, Pa was dropped from the competition.

Sure, the Sunday Football Picks is not a life or death matter, or taken as seriously as other things that really matter in life.  But the Picks had been a rare and refreshing constant in a roller-coaster family life that included the craziest moments.

Regardless of the varying circumstances week in and week out during the last three decades -- hectic schedules, arguments, changes in address -- the members of the Picks have always stepped into the huddle together on NFL Sundays.  And that group always included Pa, who never missed a single week since the league's inception in September 1980.

That's why a deep sadness surrounds Pa's removal from the Picks after more than 350 weeks of participation.  It was further evidence that festering family problems had reached a horrendous level.  The Picks came upon an unpleasant fork in the road, and the list of members was trimmed from seven to six.

Pa was a two-time Picks champion, but probably better known as a 17-time cellar dweller.  You could rest assured that his weekly selections were unpredictable and unconventional.  He always had the courage (or lack of good reason) to pick a winless team, or pin his hopes on the hapless Cincinnati Bengals.  Expect the unexpected.

He won his first title in 1988 in a tiebreaker to end Blaine's eight-year reign.  His second title in 1996 also was by a mere game, but that was good enough.  It kept him on an eight-year cycle that probably would have resulted in a 2004 championship.

Only six times has an undefeated week occurred in the Picks, and Pa owns one of them (yes, this stunning fact was triple-checked).  His 10-0 record in 1994 had the same odds as playing the Big Game, although one could argue that he had a better chance of winning the lottery.  In 1993, he almost became the first person to go 13-0, but he endured an ironic loss when the 0-10 Bengals finally won a game.  Not even Pa expected that.

Pa attempted to improve his performances in the late '90s by adopting a home-team strategy, but too often he wandered from that philosophy and got stung.  In fact, the home teams were 11-2 in his final week, but Pa was just 8-5.  Yep, he again had the Bengals, who got thumped 35-7.  His career record ended up 2,559-1,873, a winning clip of 58 percent.

Pa's unique style led to many laughs and entertaining moments, even a few silly victory dances with raised arms when his big underdogs delivered.  He'll certainly be missed.