Football Predictions - Dave’s Midwestern Ohio Memories

A Series of Guest Blogs by an out-of-state Fish Report reader originally from this area about fond memories of growing up in Midwestern Ohio during the 50’s & 60’s.

Football Predictions

Paul Stukenborg (1929-2012)

With football season about to start, the prognosticators are making predictions of the rankings and records of local teams, which brought to mind the weekly, sometimes wacky, predictions of Paul Stukenborg in the Community Post. I got to know Paul when he was in Heritage Manor nursing home at the same time as my Dad from 2005-08. In fact, their rooms were right next to each other, so they spent a lot of time together watching baseball on TV. Stukie was a die hard Cubs fan and Dad loved the Reds. The two of them especially enjoyed watching when the two teams faced each other.

Paul died in 2012 and one of the on-line tributes made to Paul came from Ed Ahrns and reads as follows:

"One of my favorite memories of Stuke was back in the seventies when his brother Vernon told me he had 4 tickets for a Reds/Cubs game in the front row by the Reds dugout. He asked me to take one of my boys and drive them to Riverfront. It was raining and the game was being delayed. As we got near our seats we had to pause as the TV lights were on Manager Sparky Anderson and the starting pitcher was being interviewed. When finished the TV lights went off and Sparky looked up at the crowd coming and said.......Hey Paul, what are you doing with that Cubs hat on? We turned around and there was Stuke, a beer in one hand and a brat in the other. Stuke says, Hey Sparky, you know after my Cubbies I like you guys best."

No doubt Paul was in “seventh heaven” with the Cubs finally winning the World Series last fall. Meanwhile, Dad’s still waiting for the Reds to win it all.

In addition to the Cubs, Paul was without a doubt, Minster’s biggest sports fan as well. Plus, he loved the Buckeyes. I don’t ever recall him predicting a loss by either the Wildcats or the Bucks; however, while researching the Community Post archives on the Minster Historical Society website, I found that Stukie did predict the Wildcats to lose 49-0 against Coldwater in 2009 as shown below. True to form, he did predict the Buckeyes to win and as always was the case, the Michigan Wolverines to lose. No doubt, Dad never did tell Stukie I graduated from that “school up north”. Hum, maybe from above, Paul masterminded that cockamamie 4th down spot in OT last fall?

Turns out Minster did lose 35-0 to Coldwater in 2009, meanwhile as predicted, the Bucks won 45-0, and Michigan lost 34-13. He was uncannily accurate most of the time. Paul always pulled for the underdog and typically picked an upset or two each week. In fact, to this day, there is a website called the Men of the Scarlet & Gray that picks the college football underdog of the week in Stukie’s honor. 

Here’s Paul’s obituary that appeared in the Community Post after his death:

Long-Time Sports Contributor Passes

MINSTER — Paul M. Stukenborg, 83, of Minster, a long-time contributor to The Community Post sports section, passed away on Sunday, May 27, 2012, at Heritage Manor Nursing Home.

Stukenborg was well-known for his high school sports predictions, “Stukenborg Says,” which residents looked forward to reading each week for many years.

Naturally, Stukenborg was an avid sports fan, and he was also a member of the Minster Athletic Boosters.

The Community Post staff would like to recognize Stukenborg for his talents and contributions through the years, and extends condolences to family and friends.

Other On-Line Tributes:

Stuke and his brother Vernon were our back yard neighbors growing up. I can distinctly remember many a summer days listening to the Cubs on radio while drinking a Pepsi. His ability to remember every detail of games long gone were astounding for a little boy who loved the game. In high school Stuke was always the main attraction at pep rallies with his predictions and good luck poems. A sad week with his passing but the memories of Stuke and my childhood bring a smile to my face. RIP Stuke!

Posted by Wes Farno - Minster, OH - Neighbor   May 30, 2012

So many memories about Stuke. One is how he waxed my tail in a machine bowling tournament at the Eagles years ago. Another is watching him roll a 600 series at Community Lanes long before the new balls came about. Quite an amazing man.

Posted by Jay Purpus   May 29, 2012

Paul was a legend among area high school sports fans for his support of the Minster Wildcats. I also recall his "fearless predictions" of sporting events in the "Community Post." Whenever I would broadcast a Minster basketball game, I'd mention his prediction on the air. I also remember his fondness for the Chicago Cubs. He once introduced me to their manager, Don Zimmer, at River Downs in Cincinnati. While I'm sad that "Stuke" is gone, the mention of his name still brings a smile to my face.

Posted by Dave Ross - Ft. Loramie, OH   May 28, 2012

Paul will be remembered by me as the most loyal Minster Wildcat Sport and Cub fan that I ever knew. Sports was his life, also as a softball player. He had uncanny memory of folks in this area, he could almost always remember the date of someone's passing. Many good memories of Paul.

Posted by Ed Lachey - Minster, OH - Friend   May 28, 2012

Rest in peace, Paul, and thanks for the memories!