What a week! Every panel member .500 or better on the season
After week 13 when no one was above .500 and the panel went a combined 20-30, we had to hope week 14 would be better. In what appears to have been a wake-up call, the fearless panel of Prognosticators flipped the script, and all were over the .500 mark for the week. With a combined 35-15 record the panel produced one of the best weeks of the season as a group. After 14 weeks, no one is less than even for the season. Congratulations everyone!
In a week when the cream came to the top, the king of cream, sultan of swat, the Sammy Baugh of Porterville football (could not help but to throw in one of David’s all time favorite Redskin players), the Michael Jordan of sports betting, the Joe Namath of sports predictions, the most jeweled of jewelers (all of these may be going a little too far, but David promised me $5.00 for each one I got in my column), local jewelry store owner David Horowitz led the way in week 14. David rolled up a 8-2 week and continues to stand alone in first place for the seventh week in a row. With a record of 81-57-2, David now has a seven game lead.
Continuing his climb back up the leader ladder is Suncrest banker Gary Gostanian. After a hot start to the season, Gary went a little cold and has been trying to overcome his drop to the bottom several weeks ago. With a 7-3 week 14, Gary has now moved into a tie for second place. Even though he finds himself seven games back of David, Gary believes there is still hope and plans to narrow the gap during the next four weeks. Gary is 74-64-2 for the season.
Tied with Gary for second is long time Recorder staff member, Judy Hall. Judy slipped back a little with a week 14 record of 6-4. Judy sailed through the college games with a perfect 5-0 mark, but stumbled with the pros, only picking one game correctly out of five. Judy is also 74-64-2 for the season and still waiting for David to drop his guard. I feel certain Judy will be ready.
Still on the roll coaster, Recorder Editor Matt Sarr had another good week. Matt has been up and down all season, but was up in week 14 at 7-3. As I have said before, if Matt could put a couple of good weeks together, he would be near the top. At 71-67-2, Matt finds himself only three games out of second, but 10 games out of first. Hang in there Matt, it could happen. (It could, really it could). Maybe?
Last but by no means least is Porterville Mayor Milt Stowe. Milt proved he is not out of it by rebounding nicely in week 14 with a 7-3 record. Milt has now evened himself up for the 2018 season at 69-69-2. I said last week that Milt would be on the rise and he certainly proved it. I expect to see him continue to so during the next four weeks.
That is it for week 14, but week 15 looks exciting with mostly pro games on the list for this week. As the college season winds down, there will be a healthy diet of pro games the next four weeks. We will sprinkle in a few college games over that time span, just to keep things interesting.
Before I close this week, I just wanted to thank all of the fans that have been following the Prognosticators this season, and especially those that stopped by the office and picked up one of our little “Angels” from the tree in the Recorder front office. Since last Thursday, we have had 82 “Angels” adopted. We are so thankful, but we still have 52 more to go, and the deadline to help these special children is coming up quickly. We need to have all the gifts back by December 14th in order to get them delivered in time for Christmas. So please, if you have not come in and picked up your “Angel” please do so. We do not want to have any of the “Angels” not be picked.
We need your help. Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year, and what makes it even more wonderful are those that give so that others will have a Merry Christmas. I have seen how giving the Porterville area is just in the past few months that I have been the Publisher of the Recorder.
Because of your efforts, 82 boys and girls (and counting) will have a happier Christmas. Because you cared, these children will have a reason to smile on that most special of days.
Please stop by today, 52 more children need you. I know you will not let them down. My prayer is that your days will be brighter, your Christmas merrier and your life blessed because you cared enough to help those that could not help themselves.