Fighting Grim Reaper is back to work, and back in command of Sunday Picks

It was Halloween 1998 when the Grim Reaper first appeared in a workplace setting, haunting more than 200 people at Pace Suburban Bus.  That was also the year the Reaper, a.k.a. Blaine, excelled in the Sunday Football Picks, posting the league's all-time best record of 150-65.

Fast forward to Halloween 2005, where the Grim Reaper looks to be repeating his adventures of seven years earlier.  On Sunday, his unbeatable 9-4 record doubled his first-place lead to six games in the Picks, and on Halloween Monday he stalked a fresh work environment of more than 200 bodies at the NCH Business Center.  Has the Reaper returned in all his glory?

Success in both arenas hasn't come without a fight, including three shocking scuffles with an overzealous woman from the Finance Department who repeatedly attempted to unmask the Reaper during his second appearance that day.  The first battle lasted for almost a full minute after the woman grabbed the bottom of his nylon mask and wouldn't let go.  The two remained locked in a face-to-face struggle in front of several onlookers in a main hallway as Death worked to end the confrontation without taking the woman's life.  It nearly came to that.  The Grim Reaper finally broke the woman's grasp and fled.

Thinking the woman had learned her lesson, Death remained in the building to entertain everyone else who seemed to enjoy his antics while they tried to guess the mysterious man's identity.  But minutes later in the lunch room, the rude woman again attempted to snatch the Reaper's mask.  Death was chased through hallways by the crazy healthcare employee until she eventually realized the Reaper was much quicker and in better shape than what her body could muster.

The Reaper took one last shot at amusing his fans around the large one-story building, but the possessed woman again showed up as he posed in front of a friendly group of curious employees.  The woman forced a third round of physical contact and nearly unmasked the Reaper this time, but he made a quick break from her clutches and darted away with a twisted mask.  The woman was right on Death's heels as he juked and weaved through hallways, finally escaping through a side door.  A planned third appearance by the Grim Reaper for the end of the day was obviously called off.

Returning to the Business Center in his alternate Halloween attire -- a black and gray White Sox uniform complete with cleats, batting gloves, a mitt and Paul Molitor baseball -- Blaine finished his day as the main suspect among the few Reaper candidates being discussed.  It didn't help being in a workplace where only 15 percent of the employees are men, and most having been seen with the Grim Reaper.  But there will always be doubt without a confession from the masked intruder.