Picks panel administrator John Adams met with the people last week. Here's a sampling of the questions he answered in the popular pickspanelxtra.com chat room:

Chatter: I had an argument with my neighbor. He says there's no way a 2-year-old could pick games, that someone has to be doing it for her.

I said there's no way you could put something in the paper that wasn't true. Who's right?

PPA: Your neighbor is a moron.

Of course, you can't put lies in the newspaper. Reporters get fired for that. Newspapers get sued for that.

Granted, most 2-year-olds don't pick the winners of football games. But Ella isn't "most 2-year-olds." She's very gifted.

Chatter: I had a couple of questions about my favorite picker, Isabelle Youmans.

I understand pickers are required to e-mail their picks. Does someone do it for her, or is she that good on a computer?

Also, I would like to talk to her some time. Would you mind giving me her phone number?

PPA: No, she's not that good on the computer. After she makes her picks, her mother, Cathy, types them into the computer and creates a message. Isabelle then hits the "send" key with her paw.

As for the phone number, you obviously aren't familiar with our "freak-busters" policy. We don't give out pickers' phone numbers.

Chatter: There was a story about an early-season altercation between pickers Dave Hooker and Mark Burgess. I see they're both still on the panel.

Have they settled their differences?

PPA: Their hatred for one another is palpable, but that doesn't affect their work. They're both professionals.

Chatter: I'm curious. Picker Doug Anderson is an attorney, and Sherry Draper is an attorney's wife. Are they married?

PPA: Married and divorced. Sherry remarried another attorney; Doug also remarried.

Chatter: That must be difficult to be divorced and have to work together on the panel. Do they get along?

PPA: Their hatred for one another is palpable, but that doesn't affect their work. They're both professionals.

Chatter: Picker Lisette Legend has had her named changed twice. Last year, she was Lisette Champion. I remember her named used to be Lisette Kaczka.

The name changes suggests she has a big head. Right or wrong?

PPA: Does Mount Rushmore have a big head?

Chatter: I listen to Dave Hooker and Jeff Jacoby on the Sports Animal every morning. They're the greatest.

What are they like in real life?

PPA: They're just like most celebrities: inconsiderate, egotistical and self-absorbed.

Chatter: I can't believe that. Listening to them on the radio, they seem friendly and interested in other people.

PPA: Ted Bundy seemed friendly and interested in other people, too.

Chatter: I just read the exchange between you and the last chatter. How disillusioning.

Please tell me my favorite celebrity picker, Tina Wesson, isn't that way.

PPA: Her nickname on the panel is "Monster."

Records Of Alternate Pickers: Kathy Best 105-58 (122 points) John Pennington 98-65 (112 points), Chuck Williams 87-76 (105 points), Tim Harmon 95-68 (103 points), B. J. Wright 97-66 (100 points), Brandy Fore 97-66 (97 points).