He was at PNC Park in late June, boorishly heckling Ronny Paulino. Though Paulino had been a target of disgruntled fans, he got a standing O after lining a foul off the prognosticator's nose.

Six weeks later in San Francisco, The Fumbler was hit in the chest by Barry Bonds' 756th home run ball. He reached again for it, but was pummeled by avaricious souvenir hunters, who broke his right thumb and forefinger.

Then Sunday, after the Geibel-Frazier game nearly caused him to miss his flight the previous evening, The Fumbler attended the U.S. Open men's final. At match point, Roger Federer triumphantly smacked a ball into the stands -- and off the forecaster's beleaguered nose.

The Fumbler's face is taped, but he is probable for Week 3. His records are good looking. He went 51-13 last week (.797 percentage) and is 101-33 (.754) overall.

Here are his thoughts on this weekend's top matchups:

Hopewell (2-0) at Ambridge (2-0), 7:30 p.m. today -- Ambridge has been one of the WPIAL's surprise teams, going 2-0 for the first time since 1989. The Bridgers have scored 81 points in two games, so the pressure is on Hopewell's defense. Winner: Ambridge.

Mt. Lebanon (2-0) at Central Catholic (2-0), 7 p.m. today -- This game is being played at Woodland Hills' Wolvarena in Turtle Creek because Central Catholic does not have a home field. Mt. Lebanon also opened the season at the Wolvarena and defeated Woodland Hills. This trip to Turtle Creek won't be as nice. Winner: Central Catholic.

Norwin (2-0) at Bethel Park (1-1), 7:30 p.m. today -- Unheralded Bethel Park coach Jeff Metheny again has the Black Hawks playing competitively against some of the best teams in Class AAAA (North Allegheny and Penn Hills). Norwin still has to prove it can play with the best. Winner: Bethel Park.

Ford City (2-0) at Kittanning (2-0), 7:30 p.m. today --Both teams have allowed only seven points, but Ford City has one of The Fumbler's favorite names -- Carter Haponski, a standout running back. That's enough reason to pick the Sabers. Winner: Ford City.

Peabody (1-0) vs. Brashear (2-0), 3:30 p.m. today -- Can anyone seriously challenge Brashear in the City League this season? The Fumbler doesn't think so. Winner: Brashear.

And now the rest (home teams in capital letters):

Tonight

CITY LEAGUE -- Allderdice over Langley (Cupples Stadium)

WPIAL CLASS AAA -- (Big Seven Conference) Chartiers Valley over PETERS TOWNSHIP; THOMAS JEFFERSON over Elizabeth Forward; West Mifflin over KEYSTONE OAKS. (Greater Allegheny) HIGHLANDS over Indiana; Knoch over GREENSBURG SALEM. (Keystone) UNIONTOWN over Albert Gallatin; DERRY over Laurel Highlands; Mount Pleasant over RINGGOLD. (Parkway) New Castle over MOON; West Allegheny over MONTOUR.

WPIAL CLASS AA -- (Allegheny) NORTHGATE over Deer Lakes; Freeport over VALLEY; BURRELL over West Shamokin. (Century) Brentwood over SOUTH ALLEGHENY; Burgettstown over CARLYNTON; SOUTH PARK over Charleroi; Steel Valley over SETON-LASALLE. (Interstate) GREENSBURG CENTRAL CATHOLIC over Brownsville; Southmoreland over WAYNESBURG; EAST ALLEGHENY over Washington; JEANNETTE over Yough. (Midwestern) Aliquippa over FREEDOM; BEAVER FALLS over Center; BEAVER over New Brighton; ELLWOOD CITY over Quaker Valley. (Tri-County North) RIVERSIDE over Cornell; MOHAWK over Neshannock; LAUREL over Union.

WPIAL CLASS A -- (Big Seven) MONACA over South Side Beaver. (Black Hills) BENTWORTH over Chartiers-Houston; FORT CHERRY over Frazier; Serra over AVELLA. (Eastern) Clairton over APOLLO-RIDGE; SPRINGDALE over Wilkinsburg. (Tri-County South) MAPLETOWN over Geibel; Jefferson-Morgan over WEST GREENE; Monessen over CARMICHAELS.

NON-CONFERENCE -- BETH-CENTER over California; BLACKHAWK over Belle Vernon; CANON-MCMILLAN over Latrobe; FOX CHAPEL over Butler; Erie Cathedral Prep over HEMPFIELD; GATEWAY over Baldwin; HAMPTON over Trinity; Kiski Area over SENECA VALLEY; McKeesport over PENN-TRAFFORD; NORTH ALLEGHENY over Woodland Hills; PENN HILLS over North Hills; Rochester over RIVERVIEW; Schenley over LEECHBURG; Shaler over PLUM; SOUTH FAYETTE over McGuffey; Upper St. Clair over CONNELLSVILLE.

Tomorrow afternoon

CITY LEAGUE -- Oliver over Carrick (Cupples Stadium); Perry over Westinghouse (Cupples Stadium).

WPIAL CLASS A -- (Big Seven) North Catholic over WESTERN BEAVER.

NON-CONFERENCE -- SHADY SIDE ACADEMY over Summit Academy.

Tomorrow night

WPIAL CLASS AA -- (Tri-County North) Mars over Shenango.

WPIAL CLASS A -- (Big Seven) BISHOP CANEVIN over Avonworth.