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Wednesday, February 2, 2005
 James Blake serves up the victory
By Stacey Pressman
Special to Page 3

 It should come as no suprise that a tennis star aced Page 3's Celebrity Pick'em.

James Blake, who is currently down under preparing for the Australian Open, finished seven points ahead of Wilma McNabb to capture the Page 3 crown and even earned bragging rights over ESPN's NFL analysts.

James Blake
James Blake has found himself a career after tennis.
"It feels great to win the pool," said Blake. "Being off the tour for so long with injuries and illness, I could take plenty of time to check ESPN.com for all the pertinent information. So I feel like I may have had an unfair advantage. Although that doesn't excuse all the analysts for losing to me since it is their job.

"I'm also proud that I absolutely killed Andy (Roddick) and will be sure to remind him of that consistently on tour. Everyone else did great and it was a fun excuse to care about every game in the NFL."

On behalf of our winner, ESPN will make a charitable contribution to Shriner's Children's Hospital in Springfield, Mass. As a kid, Blake spent time there as a patient, when he suffered from severe scoliosis. If it wasn't for Shriner's, Blake says he would never be playing professional tennis.

Page 3 would also like thank our eclectic group of celebrity participants for making a full-on, 17-week commitment. It's hard enough to get 12 regular working stiffs who sit in a cubicle each day to get their picks in on time, never mind celebs with busy schedules.

So, in the words of Mrs. McNabb: "Congratulations to Mr. James Blake, he gave us all a competitive run. This has certainly been fun!"

Here are the final standings:

1. James Blake 186
2. Mama McNabb 179
3. Heather Mitts 173
4. Jermaine Dye 169
4. Luke Walton 169
6. Drew Lachey 168
7. Bow Wow 166
8. Steve Harris 158
9. Nick Lachey 156
10. Holly Robinson Peete 155
10. Pat McGee 155
12. Andy Roddick 153

WEEK 17 PICKS/RESULTS
 
MATCHUP Nick Lachey
Performer		 Drew Lachey
Performer		 Holly Robinson Peete - Actor Andy Roddick
Tennis player
Bengals-Eagles Eagles Bengals Eagles Bengals
Lions-Titans Titans Lions Titans Titans
Dolphins-Ravens Ravens Ravens Ravens Ravens
Saints-Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers
Steelers-Bills Bills Bills Bills Bills
Falcons-Seahawks Seahawks Falcons Seahawks Falcons
Colts-Broncos Broncos Colts Broncos Colts
Chiefs-Chargers Chargers Chargers Chargers Chargers
Browns-Texans Texans Texans Texans Texans
Packers-Bears Packers Packers Packers Packers
Vikings-Redskins Redskins Vikings Redskins Redskins
Jets-Rams Rams Rams Rams Rams
Niners-Patriots Patriots Patriots* Patriots Patriots*
Bucs-Cardinals Cardinals Cardinals Cardinals Cardinals
Jaguars-Raiders Raiders Jaguars Raiders Jaguars
Cowboys-Giants Giants Giants Giants Giants
WEEK 17/POINTS 11-5 (9) 9-7 (10) 11-5 (9) 11-5 (12)
OVERALL/POINTS 154-102 (156) 160-96 (168) 156-100 (155) 162-94 (153)

 
MATCHUP Heather Mitts
US Olympian		 Steve Harris
Actor		 Jermaine Dye
MLB outfielder		 Pat McGee
Singer
Bengals-Eagles Bengals Bengals Eagles Eagles
Lions-Titans Lions* Titans Lions Titans
Dolphins-Ravens Ravens Ravens Ravens Ravens
Saints-Panthers Panthers Saints Panthers Panthers
Steelers-Bills Bills Bills* Bills Steelers
Falcons-Seahawks Seahawks Seahawks Seahawks Falcons
Colts-Broncos Broncos Broncos Broncos Colts
Chiefs-Chargers Chargers Chargers Chiefs Chargers
Browns-Texans Texans Texans Texans Texans
Packers-Bears Packers Bills Packers Packers
Vikings-Redskins Vikings Vikings Redskins Redskins
Jets-Rams Jets Jets Rams Jets
Niners-Patriots Patriots Patriots Patriots* Patriots*
Bucs-Cardinals Bucs Bucs Cardinals Cardinals
Jaguars-Raiders Jaguars Jaguars Jaguars Jaguars
Cowboys-Giants Cowboys Giants Giants Giants
WEEK 17/POINTS 8-8 (6) 10-6 (8) 9-7 (10) 10-6 (11)
OVERALL/POINTS 169-87 (173) 159-97 (158) 155-101 (169) 154-102 (155)

 
MATCHUP James Blake
Tennis player		 Bow Wow
Performer		 Luke Walton
Lakers forward		 Wilma McNabb
Donovan's Mom
Bengals-Eagles Eagles Eagles Eagles Eagles
Lions-Titans Lions Lions Titans Lions
Dolphins-Ravens Ravens Ravens Ravens Ravens
Saints-Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers Panthers
Steelers-Bills Bills Bills Bills Bills
Falcons-Seahawks Seahawks Seahawks Seahawks Seahawks
Colts-Broncos Broncos Colts Broncos Colts
Chiefs-Chargers Chiefs Chargers Chargers Chargers
Browns-Texans Texans Texans Texans* Texans
Packers-Bears Packers Packers Packers Packers
Vikings-Redskins Vikings Vikings Vikings Redskins
Jets-Rams Jets Jets Rams Jets
Niners-Patriots Patriots* Patriots* Patriots Patriots*
Bucs-Cardinals Cardinals Bucs Bucs Cardinals
Jaguars-Raiders Jaguars Jaguars Jaguars Jaguars
Cowboys-Giants Giants Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys
WEEK 17/POINTS 8-8 (9) 6-10 (7) 9-7 (7) 8-8 (9)
OVERALL/POINTS 175-81 (186) 158-82 (166) 155-85 (169) 159-81 (179)

The rules:
  • Games are picked straight up
  • Poolers pick one lock-of-the-week, indicated by an asterisk*
  • Every other game is worth +1 if won and 0 points if lost
  • Lock is worth +2 points if won and -2 points if lost
  • Five points added to overall score for a perfect week
  • In the event of a tie, pool will extend to postseason

    Stacey Pressman is a freelance producer for ESPN as well as contributing writer to ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine's "The Jump" She can be reached at StaceyPressman@aol.com.