Veteran picker Benny Adams ran out of lives last March.

Benny, the only feline picker in National Picks Panel history, died of heart failure. He was 12 years old.

"His heart was broken a year before it gave out," picks panel administrator John Adams said. "I don't think he ever got over the loss of his older brother, Arf."

Arf Adams, the 2003 picks panel champion, died in April of 2004.

"Arf wasn't just Benny's big brother," Adams said. "He was his best friend, role model and hero.

"After Arf died, Benny assumed a leadership role in the household. He became more of a mentor to his younger siblings, but I could tell he never stopped missing Arf."

Adams said he thought Benny's picking suffered last season, his first without Arf.

"But in the off-season, he dedicated himself to winning a championship," Adams said. "He said he wanted to make Arf proud of him.

"He didn't have to win a picks championship for that. Arf was always proud of Benny."

In honor of Benny, a Benny Adams Memorial Trophy will be presented to the most-improved picker each year.

Benny will be replaced on the panel by Isabelle Youmans, who was the third choice behind Baby Laura Adams (feline) and Christmas Adams (canine).

"They both declined," picks administrator John Adams said. "I think they were concerned about the family's recent track record on the panel."

Making Rules: The most significant rules change for this year is designed to reward pickers who pick upsets. If a picker picks two teams who are more than seven-point underdogs, he will only be penalized one point if he misses both games. It's the "pick two, get one free" rule.

Also, a picker will receive three bonus points for correctly picking an upset when the team is more than a seven-point underdog. Pickers again will be required to pick four underdogs, and the top picker each week -- if there's no tie -- will receive five bonus points.

Underdogs and point spreads will be determined by the Harrah's point spread published in Friday's News Sentinel.

The winner of the Arf Adams Championship Trophy will be determined by total points, rather than winning percentage.

If you have a question about a rule, you can always check the Web site, pickspanelxtra.com. If you aren't registered, you can sign up now at the discount rate of $885 a month.

Name Change: Lisette Champion, aka Lisette Kaczka, recently had her name changed to Lisette Legend. She said the name better reflects her persona.

"It wasn't a casual decision," said Legend, who changed her name from Kaczka to Champion last year. "Instead, it was made after a great deal of thought and prayer. Also, I sought input from my many fans, who were overwhelmingly in favor of the new name."

Kaczka has consistently contended for picks panel championships. She was runnerup for the 2003 championship, which the late Arf Adams won after an appeal to the NPPA.

Mystery Pickers: Picks panel administrator John Adams said this year's mystery pickers will be revealed the next two weeks.

"I won't give you any hints other than to say one of the pickers will be a national story, and that youth will be served," Adams told picks panel beat reporter John Adams in an exclusive interview.