Picking has been the easy part for picks panel champion Ella Myers. Pickers have been the problem.

"They never accepted her," Ella's mother, Stephanie, said. "They were jealous, I guess. They just couldn't comprehend the fact that a 2-year-old could excel at such a high level.

Myers suspected another picker of sticking a sign in their yard last week that read: "Baby Freak." She said her family received a number of anonymous calls - probably from pickers - who poked fun at Ella and promised she would "choke under pressure."

Myers also believed disgruntled pickers were responsible for the Internet rumors, one of which claimed Ella was really a 27-year-old midget. Another one identified Ella as the Antichrist.

"It bothered us more than it did her," Stephanie said. "She just laughed about it and stuck to her picking.

"One night after an ugly call, Ella looked at me, smiled and said, 'They're not very mature, are they?' "

The precocious picker will return to the panel next year as the defending champion. She also plans to enter the University of Tennessee this spring after scoring in the top one percent nationally on her ACT.

Age Doesn't Matter: Ella proved that. So did 92-year-old picks panel runnerup John Adams.

The 90-year age difference between the champion and runnerup is the biggest in national picks panel history.

Myers will receive the coveted Arf Adams memorial trophy, given each year to the picks panel champion. The award honors former picks panel champion Arf Adams, who died only a few months after winning the 2003 championship.

Adams will receive the coveted Benny Adams memorial trophy, given annually to the panel's most improved picker. Benny, who died last March, was the brother of former picks panel champion Arf Adams.

The top dozen of the 24 pickers are assured of a berth on the panel next season, picks panel administrator John Adams said.

Welcome Back: David Chandler, who tied for 12th place, also has earned a spot on next year's panel. So have Charles Davis, who went 13-2 the final week, and former dunce diva Tina Wesson, who went 27-3 the last two weeks.

Picks panel administrator John Adams said the rest of the bottom-row pickers are all subject to dismissal

"We've got to make room for a number of new pickers next season," Adams said. "We've already selected several new pickers and we plan to add a female and male college student to the panel."

See Ya: Adams wouldn't announce what bottom-row pickers would be dismissed.

"We'll handle it internally," he said. "Some pickers will have a chance to compete as alternates next year. Others will have an opportunity to compete on one of the eight satellite picks panels, whose winners will compete in the picks panel Super Bowl next December."

Picks panel beat reporter John Adams asked picks panel administrator John Adams when and how he would dismiss the pickers.

"No news will be bad news," Adams told Adams. "Next season's schedule and rules will be e-mailed to the pickers August 1. If you don't get that e-mail, there's a pretty good chance you won't be on the panel."

So Sorry: Picks panel administrator John Adams has e-mailed an apology to all subscribers of pickspanelxtra.com for the panel's poor performance this year.

"Several pickers had outstanding seasons," Adams wrote in the e-mail . "But overall this was a disappointing season. It's unacceptable for our panel not to rank in the top 20 nationally.

"We'll get this turned around. I guarantee it."

Dr. Dunce: Udit Chaudhuri, who spent the season in steady decline, edged Sherry Draper for last place. Wesson, the former dunce diva, held last place until the last two weeks of the season.

Bottom-Row Standings: Chandler 121-72 (135 points), Davis 126-67 (134 points), Doug Anderson 117-76 (131 points), Lisette Legend 118-75 (130 points), Mike Strange 120-73 (127 points), Jeff Jacoby 119-74 (125 points), Dave Hooker 110-83 (121 points), Jim Wogan 117-76 (120 points), Tina Wesson 111-82 (120 points), Gloria Ray 115-78 (118 points), Andy & Allison 99-94 (117 points), Sherry Draper 109-84 (112 points), and Chaudhuri 111-82 (111 points).

Slim Pickings: Picker Mark Burgess has sued Hooker for injuries suffered when Hooker kicked Burgess in the shin with a hobnailed boot last September. Former alternate picker Brandy Fore, who is a photographer for pickspanelxtra.com, has sued Burgess for mental anguish stemming from a shoving incident last October. A second printing of Strange's book, "Strange Picks," already has sold out in local bookstores. Picks panel administrator John Adams has been named as one of 10 semifinalists for the National Picks Panel Association's national diversity award, which is given every five years by the NPPA to the picks panel administrator who does the most to promote diversity. The five finalists will be announced next September.

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