Adams' picks panel: It's been a 'McNificent' two months for panel

As the 2009 picks panel heads down the stretch of the regular season, picks panel administrator John McAdams couldn't resist looking back.

"We're excited about next month's McOffs," he told pickspanelxtra.com beat reporter Johnny McAdams. "But we're just as excited about our anniversary.

"Today marks the two-month anniversary of our affiliation with McDonald's as a sponsor. Here's to many more months to come."

He then raised his Iced Mocha in a toast to the assembled media and McDonald's executives.

"What's so great about our affiliation is that McDonald's has been very content to keep the arrangement low key," McAdams told McAdams. "We both agree that the focus should be on the panel, not the sponsorship."

McAdams then provided the media with a press release, which listed McDonald's Picks Panel milestones.

Sept. 1 - McDonald's agrees to sponsor the picks panel.

Sept. 2 - Picks panel administrator John Adams (no relation to former picks panel administrator John Adams) has his name legally changed to John McAdams.

Sept. 5 -Picks panel administrator John McAdams announces that McDonald's will sponsor the picks panel.

Sept. 12 - Picks panel administrator John McAdams commemorates the first week anniversary of McDonald's corporate sponsorship of the picks panel.

Sept. 12 - Picks panel administrator John McAdams announces that "last week's results" will be sponsored by the McDonald's New Angus Third Pounders.

Oct. 3 - Picks panel administrator John McAdams commemorates the first month anniversary of McDonald's corporate sponsorship of the picks panel.

Oct. 17 - Picks panel administrator John McAdams announces that "Closer Look" will be sponsored by McDonald's Crispy Chicken Ranch Snack Wrap.

Oct. 24 - Picks panel administrator John McAdams announces that picker Mike Strange will autograph copies of his bestselling book, "Still Strange," at McDonald's throughout Knoxville the following week.

Oct. 31 - Picks panel administrator John McAdams commemorates the two-month anniversary of McDonald's corporate sponsorship of the picks panel.

Oct. 31 - Picks panel administrator John McAdams provides media with a press release, which lists McDonald's picks panel milestones.

Readers Write: One picks panel fan wrote: "I'm the mother of the fortunate family whose lives picker Tanya Belcher saved from a burning car. We were in such a state of shock after the incident that we didn't even get her phone number. Could you please give me her phone number, so I can thank her for myself and my little girl?"

Picks Panel Response: What's with you people? I don't care if she saved your family's lives or swiped their Halloween candy. We don't give out the phone numbers of pickers.

Last Week's Results: Brought to you by McDonald's New Angus Third Pounders.

Rookie picker Lauren Spuhler was the tough-luck loser on last week's panel. She lost out to rookie picker Dan Wright on the second tiebreaker (picker with the best record who has the closest affiliation to McDonald's).

Wright works for McDonald's. Spuhler doesn't.

Wright becomes the eighth picker to qualifier for the post-season McOffs. Other weekly winners are Mark Amy Burgess Smotherman, Mike Strange, Jesse Smithey, Daryl Hobby, Gregg Hampton, David Draper and Bill Howard. If the McOffs started today, Spuhler, Molly Brian and former picks panel champion Ella Meyers would qualify as the three wild-card McOff entries.

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

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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