PALMER CLAIMS TITLE OF MEDIA GRID PICK CHAMP

In a battle that went right down to the final week, Brad Palmer is the champion of the 1997 Southeast Missourian Weekly Media Grid Picks competition.

Palmer, the voice of the Cape Girardeau Central High Tigers on KZIM, bolted to a commanding early lead and held off a spirited challenge from Southeast Missourian sports writer Marty Mishow.

Entering the final week of the picks, Palmer and Mishow were tied and they differed on only one game: Cape Central vs. Sikeston.

And fittingly, perhaps, since Palmer broadcast their games, Central's Tigers handed him the Grid Picks title by beating Sikeston.

Palmer went 10-0 last week and finished an impressive 83-17 overall.

Mishow, after a 9-1 week, wound up at 82-18.

Southeast Missourian sports editor Jeff Breer went 9-1 and finished in third place at 80-20.

Southeast Missourian sports writer Rus Baer and Mike Legg, the voice of the Southeast Missouri State University Indians on KZIM-KEZS, wound up tied for fourth at 79-21. Legg went 9-1 last week while Baer was 8-2.

KFVS sports director Randy Ray finished in last place with a 75-25 record after going 8-2.