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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, October 13, 2004

PIGSKIN PICKS
Winner makes picks on the fly

Advertiser Staff

Fittingly, as a retired Aloha Airlines employee, Kenji K. Marugame lets his Pigskin Picks selections fly.

"I just pick it," said the 67-year-old former Aloha Airlines senior customer service agent from Kaua'i. "I don't do that much studying. Maybe 15 minutes. That's it."

Marugame correctly picked 13 of 15 college and NFL football games. His only misses were picking Georgia to beat visiting Tennessee, and the host Seattle Seahawks to defeat the St. Louis Rams. Marugame's ballot was randomly selected from several other entries with 13 correct picks.

"It's unbelievable," said Marugame, who added that he glances at team standings and often chooses favored teams on his selections. "I never did win anything like this."

Marugame won with just his second ballot entered this year. He said he's been playing the contest "on and off" for a couple of years.

Marugame said he had no idea on how well his selections fared, and that he was surprised to get a 5:30 a.m. Monday telephone call from the Perry and Price radio show telling him that he had won.

"I didn't have a copy of the teams I picked," Marugame said. "I was thinking I didn't win anything again."

Marugame 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 a free use of a Hyundai Tucson for a year, courtesy of Tony Hyundai.

Marugame said the Las Vegas vacation package will come in handy. He calls Las Vegas one of his favorite vacation destinations.

"I'm going on Nov. 1 with a friend of mine that I used to work with in Lihu'e," Marugame said. "This is my third trip to Vegas this year, just to get away and get some vacation."