Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Rudner wins Golden Nerf

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Jan. 30, 2004 | 10:06 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at sal@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4076.

Rita Rudner didn't grow up a football fan. In fact, some of the material in the comedian's nightly stand-up act comes at the expense of her husband, Martin, a devoted NFL fan.

But during the final week of the regular season, with a chance to win the (ahem) prestigious "Sal Celebrity Selectors" contest on the line, Rudner was glued to the set.

"We were sitting in a little room, watching, cheering, crying all day, hoping to sneak up on everyone and win," Rudner said.

By posting a 3-0 record in the final week for a season mark of 30-21 against the spread, Rudner went from fifth place to the winner's circle, topping the field of 10 celebrity contestants and winning my traveling trophy, the Golden Nerf.

Rudner is the third person to win the title, following the 2001 champ, master magician Lance Burton, and last year's winner, Harrah's headliner Clint Holmes.

Holmes presented Rudner with the ball Wednesday outside the Cabaret Theatre at New York-New York, where Rudner performs.

"It hurts inside, but I'm proud to relinquish the throne to someone so intensely into football," Holmes joked.

Rudner readily admits that her husband and a New York-New York sports book employee named Raphael pitched in on her picks, but when asked about the Super Bowl, she had her own opinion.

"I want to see Carolina win, because they're the underdog, and I definitely like them with the spread. New England might win the game, but they won't cover."

Hard to believe that a few seasons ago "Martin would just tell me what color pants to root for and I'd root for the team with that color pants. I never thought I'd win anything even remotely relating to football."

Rudner said the Golden Nerf will be on display in the New York-New York sports book.

"Some performers want to win an Oscar," Rudner said. "All I ever wanted was a spray-painted gold Nerf football."

Holmes vowed to compete for the ball next season, and he and Rudner share a common goal: Beat friend and KLAS Channel 8 meterologist Kevin Janison.

"I'm so glad Kevin didn't win, because he tries hard and uses his computer and the Internet and puts so much into it, it's sickening," Holmes joked.

"Weather Boy and I have a rivalry," Rudner added, laughing as well. "I've gone on the air with him a few times -- he calls me Comedy Girl and would always point out how well he was doing in the contest. He got under my skin. But who's got the ball now?"