Posted on: Wednesday, November 3, 2004

PIGSKIN PICKS
It's true, everyone loves a winner

Advertiser Staff

In the past few days, Pigskin Picks winner Roger Tamai of 'Ewa Beach has become everyone's best friend.

Tamai, whose perfect ballot was randomly selected from several other entries with 15 out of 15 correct picks on college and NFL games, has been the target of friends who have jokingly pushed to accompany him on his free trip for two to Las Vegas.

"If you don't have no one to take," his friends told him. "Consider me, I'm available."

Sorry guys, but Tamai has already promised to take his wife, Lori, on the trip.

As the Pigskin Picks winner, Tamai wins a trip for two to Las Vegas from Worry-Free Vacations and Non-Stop Travel and the Golden Nugget Hotel, and $500 from The Advertiser.

He also is entered to win a year-end prize of free use of a Hyundai Tucson for a year, courtesy of Tony Hyundai.

"I feel lucky," said Tamai, 43, who works in road maintenance for the state Department of Transportation. "I knew I had to get a perfect score (to have a chance). I feel grateful that I got it all."

Tamai said he entered six ballots last week. It was his first Pigskin Picks victory after playing the contest off-and-on for the past several years.

Tamai said his strategy is to anticipate a couple of upsets in college and NFL games. Last week, he picked upsets such as Maryland over visiting Florida State, the Kansas City Chiefs over the visiting Indianapolis Colts, the New York Giants over the host Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons over the host Denver Broncos.

Tamai said he plans to spend the $500 in Las Vegas, a city he's visited four or five times, including last month.