Manny Rovithis, right, owner of Manny’s TV and Appliances in Westfield, and Westfield News sports editor Chris Putz, center, present Matt Kidrick and his fiancée Jen Balukonis, with a 32-inch Sony television as part of the Westfield News football contest Beat the Putz. Joining in the presentation are Manny staff members, left-right, David Loughman, Patrick Barrett and Mike Pelter. The television was actually won by Robert Kidrick Sr. who was not available at the time of this presentation. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield News has crowned its 2014-15 “Beat ‘The Putz’” pro football contest grand prize-winner, Bob Kidrick, Sr., 75, of Westfield.
Bob’s 21-year-old grandson, Matt, and his fiancé, Jen Balukonis, 21, both of Westfield, accepted the prize, a 32-inch Sony flat screen television, donated by Manny’s TV & Appliances, in lieu of their grandfather who was unable to attend. Manny, himself, was on hand to present the award at his Westfield store located in the Little River Plaza.
Bob Kidrick noted his disappointment in failing to win a weekly prize – The Tavern Restaurant sponsored all 17 weekly prizes – for the first time, but expressed his enthusiasm for capturing the top prize at season’s end.
“I can use that TV in my sports room,” he said.
Bob said his key to victory was purchasing several newspapers, and submitting multiple entries every week.
“More than one entry helped I guess,” Bob said. “I would fill out one sheet according to the experts, and then deviate on each one after that.”
Every entry better than “The Putz” was entered into a random grand prize drawing.
Bob, who was born in Wisconsin, is a fan of both the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots. With both teams winning in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs this past weekend, and a new television to watch the games on, he is feeling somewhat super these days.
“I’m just hoping for the Patriots to make the Super Bowl,” he said. “If they wind up there together (with Green Bay), that would be wonderful.”
Manny’s prediction for this weekend’s AFC/NFC Championship games: “The Pats. It’s going to be a tough fight, a close game … and Seattle.”
Manny said New England is more likely to survive a showdown in the hot Arizona desert than the Seahawks, should the two meet in Super Bowl XLIX.
I have predicted all along that the Patriots and Seahawks will collide on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1. I am sticking with that prediction heading into this weekend’s AFC title game between New England and Indianapolis, hoping that (Andrew) Luck does not play a factor.
