BLOG: The Leopard versus the Groundhog

Sure, I hear ya, "Punxsutawney Phil" has all that "history" on his side when it comes to seasonal "prognostication."

However, he also has several strikes against him:

1) Rodent  (somewhat ugly, also, small, easy "prey" for other wild animals)

2) Pessimist (depending on where you do your research, he has predicted an "early spring" only 15 out of roughly 115 times.

3) Steelers Fan  (his home, Punxsutawney, is smack dab in the middle of western PA).

4) Detached from Reality  ("6 *more* weeks of Winter it shall be..."  Really?  Exactly what Winter have we already had to "get 6 more weeks of?"  Now if he had said "6 more weeks of Spring...")

Contrast that with Baltimore's own "powerhouse prognosticator"  - "Amari.  Who you say? Oh, just a magnificent looking nearly 20 year-old Leopard at the city Zoo - who predicted an "early spring" by plunging on the "Early Spring" box of meat! 

In the battle for animal forecast supremacy, I don't even think this one is close!  Consider Amari's obvious advantages:

1) Wild Cat (large, beautiful predator of the wild. Could easily swallow a groundhog)

2) Optimist (bring on the warm!)

3) Ravens Fan (well, at 19 years old, maybe a "Colts" fan from back in the day)

4) Realist  (it was after all 70 degrees the day before Groundhog Day here in Charm City for cryin' out loud...)

So for my money, in the battle of the "Leopard vs. the Groundhog" - I'll take the Leopard!  (Then again, Phil did prove resilient by coming back even after Bill Murray drove him off a cliff.... hmmm).