By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com
For as much as they like to believe they are different, Julie and Lisa Wagner are very much the same. They are both better golfers than everyone on this panel except for Jim, they both cheer for the Minnesota Vikings, they are both stubborn when it comes to admitting that the other is right and they both agree that they are very different for being sisters.
But sometimes it is the little things that brings people closer, things that shows them that they aren't so different.
Maybe it is a hardship, maybe it is a mutual accomplishment and just maybe it's the story of four single, young-at-heart, old-in-age women, who share a home in Miami Beach, Florida.
Yes, this uniting force that is bringing these two sisters closer together is you guessed it: "The Golden Girls."
"My sister and I are obsessed with the same show," Lisa said. "I was reading about her earlier in the year and you mentioned that she watched "The Golden Girls" all the time. I couldn't believe it. I love that show. Sometimes I'll watch it three times in a day when I don't have school."
Ahh, Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, Sophia and their comic escapades. It's so heartwarming. Don't forget about the catchy theme song. Everybody sing along:
Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down the road and back again
Your heart is true you're a pal and a confidant.
And if you threw a party
Invited everyone you ever knew
You would see the biggest gift would be from me
And the card attached would say thank you for being a friend.
Okay, I've just lost a few years of manhood from typing the last few paragraphs. But whatever I can do to help out has to be done. We're not just about football picks here at Armchair QBs. We're about people, and more importantly making fun of those people, even it means me.
Still, the real reason we brought in Lisa to be a guest is that first, she volunteered, and second, we're hoping she can help bring Julie down to earth.
If you look closely, Julie sits in the overall lead, one game ahead of George. Never in my wildest dreams did I figure Julie would be winning this contest. Even Lisa isn't quite sure how her sister is doing it.
"I think she is guessing her way through it," Lisa said. "But she might be getting some help."
Lisa was the first to admit that she used the guessing formula. With the exception of a few picks, she said she followed her instincts and got some help from her boyfriend Andy Anderson, who plays basketball for Montana Tech.
"I really don't know a lot about the big college games so he helped me out," she said.
Some of the other picks were pretty easy, like taking the Ponies, who are quarterbacked by her younger brother, Gary.
"This group of seniors have worked so hard," she said. "I'm just so excited to see them play."
Lisa will take time off from her duties as a math and computer teacher as well as cheerleading advisor at Missoula Loyola to come home for Saturday's semifinal game.
"It's been so long since I've been home," she said. "I haven't even seen the changes at the stadium. I've been counting down the days."
If her mother had her way, Lisa would be here permanently.
"She wanted to me to apply for a job in Havre," she said. "That way we could have Mrs. Wagner and Ms. Wagner teaching math in the same school. I don't know if I could teach my brothers (Gary and Billy)."
Still, Loyola is a good school too, and her job may pay dividends for Gary.
"All my cheerleaders are in love with Gary and they've never even met him," she said. "I have great girls. But I had no idea there would be so much drama when it came to coaching cheerleaders. Maybe it was around when I was a cheerleader and I just don't remember it."
High school cheerleaders and drama? Never.
Besides the Ponies, Lisa followed the family creed and took the Vikings to defeat Green Bay at Lambeau Field.
"If I didn't pick the Vikings, I'd probably get cut off," she joked.
Other picks were also simple, like taking Missoula Big Sky to upset CMR.
"I don't like CMR much," she said.
Still, the question remains can she bring Julie down for the rest of the panel? The two are extremely competitive with each other, especially on the golf course. But things are changing now.
"I used to be able to beat her pretty consistently," she said. "But now Julie is golfing on the golf team and playing all the time. I hardly ever play. She should be able to beat me, she is a college golfer."
So does that mean she always wins?
"No, golf is the one thing where I can totally get into her head," she said. "There is some trash talking going on out there."
How about football picks?
"I don't know," she said. "Julie tried to help me with the picks, telling me I had to look at who is playing at home, what their record is and who they've beaten. But honestly, does she think she's knows more about football than me?"
I guess we'll find out. But remember, you two will always have "The Golden Girls."
Theme song anyone?
Last week was a decent one. Julie and Wells finished with 18-5 records, while Jim and George came in at 17-6. Harvey was 16-7. Last week's guest, Scott Larson, and myself finished last with 15-8 records. I hate football. I absolutley hate it. It has to be over soon, kind of like this column will be if I finish last.
