Vic’s Picks began in 1998 with a gathering of friends at the Pork Pie Palace, home of the greatest pork pies in the United States, which at that time was located on North Central in Phoenix. Among the early participants were

• the Vic, a lawyer in Phoenix;

• Alice “The Wrench,” who worked in the Maricopa County Motor Pool;

• Abe “The Professor,” a retired ASU prof

• Louie “The Hat,” a bookie who always wore a straw hat and was forever handicapping the Green Sheets,
  

• “Able Mabel,” an extraordinarily competent retired secretary who kept notes and did the printing.

  In those early days, ThePicks were photocopied and were distributed by hand and mailed to folks whom we thought might be interested. The PorkPie Palace was our hangout and over the years more people would show up for the lively chatter, political discussions, and perhaps to place a bet. After the Pork Pie Palace fire, the gang broke up, but we keep in touch, and today’s Pick’s remain a joint effort by a slightly older, perhaps no wiser, and still cranky group of political skeptics. So enjoy this year’s Picks and tell all your friends about Vic’s Picks!