If it wasn’t for a text message sent to Mr. Albano at 1:30 p.m., then I would still be sitting and waiting for him to make his selections for our staff contest here in Week 7.

That’s what I get for dealing with the media superstar.

(Note, he didn’t respond until 4:17 p.m.)

Even Jason Eichelberger sent his picks in before Albano. Amazing.

Also, apologies to Jonathan Kay. He actually went 7-1 last week and not 6-2. Props to Kay. He’s still in last.

Now the picks …

WEEK 7 LINEUP

Edison-Los Alamitos

Cypress-Valencia

Tesoro-San Clemente

Tustin-Canyon

Santa Margarita-Servite

St. John Bosco-Orange Lutheran

Anaheim-Santa Ana Valley

Corona del Mar-Irvine

THE PICKS

Albano (31-17, 4-4 LW):

Los Alamitos, Cypress, Tesoro, Tustin, Servite, Orange Lutheran, Anaheim, Irvine

Arias (29-19, 4-4 LW):

Edison, Valencia, Tesoro, Tustin, Servite, St. John Bosco, Anaheim, Corona del Mar

Casas (33-15, 5-3 LW):

Los Alamitos, Valencia, Tesoro, Tustin, Servite, St. John Bosco, Anaheim, Corona del Mar

Comment: “Why am I no longer a guru? … Being tied with Fryer worries me – a savvy vet versus a know-it-all rookie. Sounds like I’m the underdog in this one.”

Eichelberger (31-17, 5-3 LW)

Edison, Valencia, Tesoro, Tustin, Servite, Orange Lutheran, Santa Ana Valley, Irvine

Fryer (33-15, 6-2 LW)

Los Alamitos, Valencia, Tesoro, Tustin, Servite, Orange Lutheran, Anaheim, Irvine

Comment: “I went against my own rankings on Edison-Los Alamitos and on Corona del Mar-Irvine — playing some hunches here. And I learned long ago how foolish it can be to predict Irvine coach Terry Henigan will lose a football game.”

Kay (28-19, 7-1 LW)

Edison, Valencia, Tesoro, Canyon, Servite, Orange Lutheran, Santa Ana Valley, Corona del Mar

Comment: “Does the guy in last place have the right to gloat a little? Heck, yeah. Who else, besides me, picked Mater Dei last week? That’s right. No one did. For my next act of prediction magic: My Yankees (I’m from NY, it’s allowed) will not touch Manny Ramirez this offseason.”

Tulabut (29-19, 6-2 LW)

Los Alamitos, Valencia, Tesoro, Tustin, Servite, St. John Bosco, Anaheim, Irvine

Calhoun (31-17, 5-3 LW):

Edison, Cypress, Tesoro, Tustin, Servite, Orange Lutheran, Anaheim, Corona del Mar

Comment: “Dan is still my favorite water polo writer.”

THE CREW

Rambo “Aqua” Dan Albano – Our boys and girls water polo/swimming/diving/Hawaiian shirt guru

Carlos “Los” Arias – Our boxing/mixed martial arts/girls softball/girls basketball/Las Vegas road trip guru

Damian “DC” Calhoun – Former L.A. Galaxy beat writer

Steve “The Boss” Fryer – Our all things prep sports/classic rock guru

Jason “J-Eich” Eichelberger -Our boys and girls cross country/boys and girls track and field/girls soccer/South County/hip-hop and R&B guru.

Artie Casas – Might return to guru status by Week 9.

Jonathan “JK” Kay – The New Guy.

Erlina Tulabut – OCVarsity web editor guru

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