The family and friends of Bryan firefighter Ponch Gonzales got a nasty anonymous email last week saying that Ponch had been removed from The Eagle's 18-mammal Prognosticator Panel and wouldn't be picking the bowl games and state championships.

The email, which came from someone calling himself iaminchargeagsnotu, said Gonzales' last-place status on a panel of "twerps" was unacceptable and that allowing a half-breed dog to build a double-digit lead on him was embarrassing.

Ponch found out about the email via a phone call from his wife while he and his crew were on the way to get a cat out of a tree in Sue Haswell Park. Even though Ponch was distressed, he was able to climb the ladder and rescue the stray that they took back to the firehouse. They've nicknamed him "Shermy."

Luckily, I was able to call Ponch and assure him that he was still on the panel. The email must have originated from one of the firefighters who we passed over when the panel was formed. I assured him that kind of behavior is expected in Austin and many parts of the country, but not here in Aggieland where people have principles.

Fire someone via email or with a phone call? Question someone's integrity under a fictitious name?

Nope, we deal with things face-to-face around here, especially on the Prog Panel.

And one person not afraid to speak up has been KZNE SportsTalk host Chip Howard who is trying for an unprecedented eighth Prog title. He's the Bob Stoops of pickers having won almost a third of the prog titles.

He's two picks behind leader Robertson County volunteer firefighter Bobby Richardson heading into our bowl games extravaganza in which we pick 30 games. That means Bryan firefighters Randy McGregor and Kord Bratsen along with Eagle sports writer David Campbell and sponsor Paul Atkinson of Atkinson Toyota also have a chance to slip in and win. They've proven to be the best in a rugged season of picking.

But if you listen to Chip, his coronation is only a formality. He also had decided to grace us with his annual Christmas poem.

"Twas the night before game time and all through the place

"Not a picker was stirring, couldn't show his face.

"The trophy was sitting by the chimney with care

"In hopes that Chip SportsTalk soon would be there.

"On Wildcats! On Bearkats! On Tigers! On Gators!

"You know I am winning. Take that all you haters!

"And I heard him exclaim when he rode out of sight,

"Number 8 on the mantel, all the rest good night!"

Chip's words struck a nerve with Bobby who has been in the lead or tied for it since the middle of October. You know how long ago that was? A&M was 4-2 coming off a 55-28 victory over Baylor and quarterback Robert Griffin III. So without a doubt, Bobby's earned the respect of being No. 1.

"I have some mixed feelings submitting these last picks," Bobby said. "I think I am going to miss the weekly banter but not the extra attention.

"Speaking of extra attention, I was a brief topic of discussion on Chip's show yesterday. Although I usually direct my comments towards my fellow firefighters, I think I need to return a few zingers Chip's way after his show. Since Chip thinks he is going to take home the trophy, I think it's only fair that I remind him that there are two other firefighters still on the top row -- Kord, who jumped from the bottom row, and Randy, who sits comfortably in third. Since we firefighters do not know what it is like to choke, crumble or succumb to pressure, Chip may find that trophy hard to grasp."

Chip finds a lot of things hard to grasp, like reality.

He also would have trouble defining the word "humility," something he could learn about from College Station fire department lieutenant Pat Quinlan. Pat seemed destined for the basement but has climbed to 16th place and feels 16 again.

"I can't believe I am no longer in the basement," Pat said. "I do have one more week to go back down, especially with 30 picks. I wish we could have ended it right here. I tell my family that I picked poorly on purpose to help the esteem of the other pickers, but I think they see through my charade."

By the way, Chip, charade means make-believe. You've heard the word used to describe many things concerning Texas A&M recently.

Things are much more concrete here on the Prog Panel where Wonder Dog Buddy is ahead of five mammals including Eagle publisher Jim Wilson, who only wishes he had as much power as Texas A&M Board of Regent James P. Wilson. Our Jim can forget about hiring or firing a coach. Not only does our Jim Wilson struggle to pick winners, but his Texas Tech Red Raiders are in disarray and could use an anonymous emailer or message-board poster to make things right on the South Plains. We usually don't condone that, but things can't get any worse. Having said that, I will be writing my Meineke Car Care Center Bowl advance from the tool shed just off the publisher's office.

Jim does have a chance to finish ahead of Eagle editor Kelly Brown, who like the Aggie football team nose-dived this season. She was second in her maiden season but has been awful this year. Unless she pulls off a miracle on Briarcrest Drive in the bowl picks, she'll owe a dinner to Paul who has been a gracious winner.

KB, as I call her, still is having fun with the picks.

"I didn't get any other work done today, nor did I take gifts from The Eagle to the Salvation Army because I devoted my life to this," she said.

Of course I love her notes on the picks. Enjoy her ramblings on some games.

Spring Dekaney vs. Cibolo Steele "Awesome name for a high school."

Belk Bowl: "WTH is a Belk?"

Air Force vs. Toledo: "Shouldn't Air Force beat Toledo in the Military Bowl? Wait! Toledo's mascot is the Rockets. Interesting."

Rutgers vs. Iowa State: "It's the Pinstripe Bowl. The most famous team in the world that wears pinstripes is the New York Yankees. Rutgers is in New York. Coincidence?"

Texas A&M vs. Northwestern: "Texas A&M -- The M stands for 'Mechanical.' Mechanics take care of cars. This is the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Coincidence?"

GoDaddy.com Bowl, Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois: "Can't wait for the commercials and to go to godaddy.com to see more!"

Vanderbilt vs. Cincinnati: "Vanderbilt, S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!"

Virginia vs. Auburn: "Auburn, S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!"

Nebraska vs. South Carolina: "South Carolina, S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!"

Georgia vs. Michigan State: "Georgia, S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!"

Florida vs. Ohio State: "Florida, S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!"

Kansas State vs. Arkansas: "Arkansas, S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!"

LSU vs. Alabama: "Alabama, S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C! No wait, LSU, S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C! I'll go with Alabama."

I gotta get her off the internet, away from the maroon Kool-Aid and have her start drinking eggnog.

And with that, we come to the end of another season. Representing all the Prog pickers current and past, I'd like to say Merry Christmas and a blessed new year to all.