By Steve Ahlberg
Washingtonpost.com Correspondent
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2000; 2:30 p.m. EST

Michael Torcisi of Laurel became the grand prize winner of the Tony and Mike contest by defeating two of America's toughest sportswriters, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon.

The contest spanned Weeks 2-17 of the NFL season and challenged fans to beat or match Tony and Mike's picks in five games each week. Spurred by his four-for-five performance in Week 5, Torcisi earned an entry in the grand prize drawing for a trip to Super Bowl XXXIV.

Torcisi and a guest will not only travel to Atlanta for pro football's ultimate game, but the two will also receive tickets to play in the Franco Harris-Lydell Mitchell Gridiron Golf Classic. Torcisi beat more than 7,000 contestants nationwide through the rigors of a football season that puzzled even professional forecasters as parity set in throughout the league.

"It feels good to have won, but more importantly I'll now have an opportunity to give Tony and Mike a piece of my mind," a surprised Torcisi said of winning. "The season ultimately disappointed me [with the Redskins' loss in the playoffs], but I guess the trip to the Super Bowl makes everything seem somewhat better."

The trip to Atlanta marks the first time that Torcisi, a lifelong Redskins fan, will attend the NFL's annual classic. "I guess that I have to be pulling for St. Louis to win the Super Bowl. Not only do I think they're the most talented team out of the four that are remaining in the playoffs, but I just don't have the heart to root for Tampa Bay after how they beat the Skins."

Torcisi, who plans to attend the festivities in Atlanta with a friend, feels bittersweet about going to the Super Bowl. "It's going to be fun, but ultimately I'm just disappointed that my beloved Redskins aren't going to be participants."