This Sea Lion’s NFL Picks Are Better Than Yours
photo credit: RedEyeChicago.com
Laguna is a rescued sea lion living at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago – and no big deal, but he’s a huge football fan.
At the beginning of this football season, Laguna and the staff at Shedd have been making picks for Chicago Bears games. His record is currently below .500, casting doubt on a successful Fan Duel and Draft Kings future.
At Timothy O’Toole’s Pub in Streeterville, Bears fans have been keeping tabs on Laguna’s picks.
“As long as his accuracy is on, it’s cute,” said James McGinn, who works at the pub. “He’s gaining momentum as he goes.”
Laguna has been at Shedd since 2013 after he was rescued along the Southern California coastline. When he arrived he weighed only 70 pounds. He’s now up to 140 pounds.
Laguna was eager to interact with staff, said Madelynne Hettiger, a marine mammal trainer who works with him.
“Everything is positive,” she said. “He knew there was food every day and that there was playtime.”
During playtime is when Laguna’s skills got noticed. One of the first things he learned was to recognize a shape – a flat, blue-and-black, plastic board shaped like a football – that trainers used to lure him to the training and feeding area.
For the game picks at the aquarium, a trainer holds two footballs – one representing the Bears and one the opponent. Laguna makes his pick in exchange for some fish, all while music is playing and people are cheering.
His selection is videotaped and posted online midweek by RedEye, a free local newspaper that gave Shedd staff the idea for the football predictions.
The 3-year-old sea lion has become a weekly must-see on RedEye’s website.
The Bears have even taken notice of Laguna’s picks.
“It’s great to see him doing so well,” a Bears team spokesman said in a statement. “We hope to prove Laguna’s prediction correct (today) so we can both get to .500 heading into our bye weekend.”
