Flashback: Midwest Groundhogs Are Cranky When Awakened

In case you weren't paying attention yesterday morning, Thursday was Groundhog Day, the one day a year that we Americans come to our senses, stop paying attention to computers, forecasts, and maps, and let a sleepy, harassed rodent tell us how to dress for the next 6 weeks.

The famous Punxsutawney Phil, out there in Gobbler's Knob Pennsylvania, saw his shadow yesterday, which of course...meant something to the guys wearing top hats as they surrounded Phil. Woodstock Willie (nearby in Woodstock, Illinois) also saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of longing for a sequel to Bill Murray's movie to be shot in their town.

So, how many groundhogs are having TV cameras shoved in their faces as they're forced awake on February 2nd each year? A lot more than I thought.

You've got:

• Punxsutawney Phil (Gobbler's Knob, Pennsylvania)
• Woodstock Willie (Woodstock, Illinois)
• Wiarton Willie (Ontario, Canada)
• Pierre C. Shaddeaux (New Iberia, Louisiana)
• Murray (Cumberland, Maryland)
• Grover the Groundhog and his wife, Sweet Arrow Sue (Pine Grove, Pennsylvania)
• Sir Walter Wally (Raleigh, North Carolina)
• Charles G. Hogg, also known as Staten Island Chuck (Staten Island, New York)
• Buckeye Chuck (Marion, Ohio)
• General Beauregard Lee (Lilburn, Georgia)
• Shubenacadie Sam (Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia)
• Smith Lake Jake (Smith Lake, Alabama)

And, who could ever forget, just 79 miles directly north of Rockford, Sun Prairie Jimmy. Okay, maybe you and I can forget about Sun Prairie Jimmy, but the mayor of Sun Prairie is not about to forget him, especially after the "2015 Incident."