A two-picker race for the championship between whiz-kid picker Ella Myers and former champion Jimmy Hyams isn't what the picks panel administrator had in mind when the 2005 season kicked off two months ago.

"I really thought this would be a highly competitive race for the championship," picks panel administrator John Adams told picks panel beat reporter John Adams. "At this point in the season, I expected 15 or more pickers to be in the running for the championship."

The rest of the interview between the picks panel beat reporter and the picks panel administrator is as follows:

PPBR: You said in preseason this was the most-talented panel you had ever assembled. What went wrong?

PPA: Obviously, the talent was overrated. But I also think the schedule has something to do with it. I don't think any panel in the country has had to pick tougher games.

And a number of pickers have failed to adjust to the new rules. We went over and over the rules in preseason.

They know the rules. They just haven't executed.

PPBR: Now that most pickers have nothing to pick for, what do you do? Wait till next year?

PPA: You obviously know nothing about competition. You pick for pride. That's what you pick for.

No one on this panel or in this administration is even thinking about next year. We just want to finish strong.

Big Changes For 2006: Expansion is on the agenda for next year, and you could be a part of it, according to picks panel administrator John Adams.

"We're looking for other picks panel administrators to start their own picks panels," picks panel administrator John Adams said in a press release.

If you want to start your own picks panel, just email John Adams at adamsj@knews.com.

"We're looking for eight 12-picker panels that will pick the same games as our panel," Adams said in the press release. "The winners of each panel and two wild-card pickers will then pick bowl games for an overall championship and the coveted Arf Adams memorial trophy."

Also, according to the press release, the picks panel will split into North and South divisions next year. Each division will have 12 pickers.

"We think this will add excitement and competition to the championship race," Adams said. "We're already looking forward to next year."

Chandler Bag-Free: Veteran picker David Chandler finally gets some face time. The picks panel's bag boy was de-bagged after his beloved Tide defeated the Mighty Vols last week.

"Sometimes, I wondered if this day would ever come," said Chandler, who was required to wear the bag as punishment for his team's embarrassing actions over the last few years. "Roll, Tide."

Not Funny: Picks panel upset coordinator Phil Kaplan was upset over a moving van being sent to his home as a joke.

"I can take criticism, but that was out of bounds," said Kaplan, who has been criticized by fans for the panel's lack of upset picks this year. "My 2-year-old son, Max, saw the van and started to cry.

"He asked me, 'Will we have to move, Daddy?' A child shouldn't be subjected to that."

Records Of Alternates: Kathy Best 73-47 (81 points), Tim Harmon 72-48 (81 points), Zack Theekat 77-43 (80 points), B.J. Wright 77-43 (80 points), Brandy Fore 76-44 (76 points), John Pennington 66-54 (72 points), Chuck Williams 63-57 (69 points).