I spent countless hours pouring over every pro football team’s statistics, rankings, records, and the latest lines to try and outduel the people of the city of Westfield, Southwick, the hilltowns and beyond.
I agonized over the impact of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s absence as he served a suspension to begin the 2016 National Football League season. I pondered the team’s future playing with a backup to a backup after Jimmy Garoppolo went down to injury, paving the way for rookie Jacoby Brissett.
At every turn, every corner, and every challenge or obstacle thrown in their path, the New England Patriots, like they had done for nearly 17 years prior, responded with resounding results.
I sometimes underestimated their resilience, questioned their moves (a trade of Jamie Collins/benching of Jabaal Sheard), all the while they kept piling up win after win.
They lost Gronk, my faith wavered again.
Beat the Putz 2016-17 winner Rita Hurt, second from right, accepts the grand prize, a flat screen television from Manny’s TV & Appliances local store manager Patrick Barrett, second from left, Wednesday. Westfield News sports editor Chris Putz, right, and sales director Flora Masciadrelli were on hand for the award presentation. (Staff Photo)
As Brady’s bunch ran roughshod over the rest of the National Football League, I attempted to break down plays, tendencies, and incredible amounts of data to predict the rest of the league’s winners and losers on a weekly basis for our pro football contest, “Beat ‘The Putz’”.
At times I found it downright daunting.
While I took head-spinning measures to come up with a winning formula, along came one local resident, Rita Hurt, whose focus and determination to concoct the right mix led to stunning results.
In Week 13 of the National Football league, Hurt managed to come up with 11 winners. She lost just two games. Unbeknownst to everyone at that time, that entry would end up, not only netting her the week’s top prize to the Tavern Restaurant, but lead to her winning the ultimate grand prize, a flat-screen television, courtesy of Manny’s TV & Appliances.
So what did Hurt do to come up with an 11-2 record in Week 13, leading to her grand prize win, following a random drawing of the 17 weekly winners, who each received a gift certificate to the Tavern Restaurant.
“I don’t want to offend all the people who spend lots of time looking over the games, but I just pick them,” Hurt said after receiving her prize Wednesday at our office on School Street. “I’m just lucky. I haven’t watched a whole game all year.”
Hurt was awarded the prize by Manny’s TV & Appliances local store manager Patrick Barrett on Wednesday after a random drawing of all 17 weekly winners produced her name late last week.
Hurt admitted that she is not a diehard fan, but has a rooting interest in the Patriots and even more so, the Packers.
If I were a betting man, I would now take Hurt’s words to heart. A Patriots-Packers Super Bowl in February? The way Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are playing, that is quite likely. Hmmmm…
