This morning Staten Island Chuck, in a new Plexiglas enclosure made his prediction. Chuck said we would have an early spring. I want to take the word of  Chuck, really I do, but I saw some shadows under him on the video replay.  The prediction of early spring is a bit ironic on the day of the first major blizzard we have seen this year.

It is snowing like crazy outside right now, so Chuck’s prediction was very welcome, not sure how realistic though.  However, I decided to embrace Chuck’s prediction.  That was until Punxsutawney Phil had to see his shadow and predict 6 more weeks of winter.  I should share that old Phil has quite a track record of calling for more winter, he has predicted more winter 102 times and early spring a measly 17 times.  Chuck has a track record of being right for the last 5 years.

So while I want desperately to believe Chuck, that negative Nelly Phil is probably right.  On a side note the new enclosure for Chuck was thought to be a safer alternative given what happened last year when Mayor de Blasio dropped Charlotte (the unlucky Chuck stand in), several feet.  Poor Charlotte died a week later of internal injuries, however the Staten Island Zoo has not officially declared that it was a result of the fall.  Come on now, we all know that Mayor de Blasio has Charlotte’s blood all over his hands.  Speaking of hands, back in 2009 Chuck bit then Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the hand.

Not to throw any more puns in but back to the question at hand. Who do I believe, fellow New Yorker Chuck or my friend in Pennsylvania Phil?  Phil or Chuck, Chuck or Phil?  I think I will go with Phil and hope to be pleasantly surprised to learn that Chuck was right.  I just can’t get those shadows I saw under Chuck out of my mind.

What do you think?  Let me know who you think is right.