Adams: Wesson a survivor? Not on this picks panel

Isaac, 11, will replace veteran picker Tina Wesson, who "lost her way," according to Adams, who emphasized the change doesn't mean this will be a rebuilding year for the panel. "This change isn't about potential," picks panel administrator John Adams said at Thursday's press conference. "It's about winning right now.

"We don't look upon Isaac as a project. We look upon him as someone who can come in and compete for the championship right away."

Adams said Wesson was dropped from the panel because of her "attitude more than her ability" although she was in last place after two weeks.

"I think she just lost interest," Adams said. "Sure, her star power and experience will be missed, but I would rather have someone who wants to be here. You should have seen the look on Isaac's face when I told him he was on the panel."

Adams wouldn't specify what Wesson did or said. The News Sentinel quoted sources as saying Wesson "flagrantly violated picks-panel procedure in an attempt to ridicule the picks panel administrator" and that Adams was deeply hurt by her actions.

The decision to add Isaac drew rare praise from News Sentinel sports columnist John Adams, who has been a persistent critic of picks panel administrator John Adams.

"The proverbial blind squirrel just found another acorn," Adams wrote in his column. "Or maybe, it's just the law of averages. After so many misguided and self-serving decisions, Adams finally did something right."

Not everyone agreed with the decision.

"It's not who you pick; it's who you know," outspoken picker Gary Lundy said in an Associated Press story by Elizabeth Davis. "I've got nothing against the kid, and I'm no fan of Tina Wesson. But at least she's an experienced picker. The only reason Adams wrote such a glowing column is because Isaac's father is Jack McElroy, who is the editor of the News Sentinel and John Adams' boss."

Davis asked Adams about Lundy's charges.

"As usual, Gary didn't let facts stand in the way of his commentary," News Sentinel sports columnist John Adams said. "I didn't take (picks panel administrator) John Adams' word for it. I researched Isaac's qualifications.

"He attended the Picks Panel Youth Camp this summer and scored higher than anyone since Tyler Summitt. He was selected from hundreds of young pickers."

Adams said he had no idea that Isaac was the son of his boss.

"Well, ask him if he has any idea about the $25,000 raise he got two weeks ago," was Lundy's quote in the AP story, which was not printed in the News Sentinel. "Don't you think the timing is interesting?"

Adams admitted he got a "small-percentage raise in the ballpark of $25,000" but that it was related strictly to job performance.

"I won several national awards for my investigative story on Dave Hooker, who was wrongly accused of stalking last year," Adams told the AP. "The raise was the News Sentinel's way of saying, 'job well done.' "

Picks panel administrator John Adams said he wasn't concerned about Lundy's comments.

"The Gary Lundys of the world are like bugs on the windshield of my life," Adams said. "What they do or say is of no consequence to me."

Say It And Spray It: Pickers Rick Russo, Jim Wogan and Steve Phillips will conduct a free seminar on sports announcing and hairstyling at a mall in West Knoxville on Saturday morning. They also will be available for autographs.

John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.