Bob Weir and RatDog | RatDog.Org

Most casual classic-rock fans are familiar with the bizarre world of the Grateful Dead. But only the seriously Dead-icated care enough to follow the explosion of side projects that has fallen out after the demise of head Deadhead Jerry Garcia. RatDog is one of the more popular spinoffs, the former-side-turned-full-time band of Bob Weir, the Dead´s resident heartthrob and crooner.

For the gamblers in the crowd (we know you´re out there — we saw you try the brown acid), there´s Fantasy RatDog, sort of a cross between fantasy football and a Dead pool, wherein each tour season, faithful ´Dog fans make picks regarding what songs ol´ Bobby will play and in what order he´ll play them. Winners are decided by a point system way too geeked-out for Outtakes to handle. Seriously. (Full details can be found at www.ratdog.org/fantasy/index.php.)

The Fall 2005 Fantasy ´Dog season is well under way. Currently, the top three players are Chez, with 92 points, JackStraw with 91, and unclejohn65 with 90. These guys have seen more shows than you´ve taken showers (wherein lies a correlation, we assume). Don´t mess with them.

Outtakes´ prognosticator, Cosmic Charlie, has been steadily picking winners all tour, so we´re proud to shake down his tips for all those who are here for Weir and ready to play.

Disclaimer: These are estimated prophecies and are not meant to be considered professional advice.

With close assessment of time of year, home-field advantage, and win/loss record, Charlie´s picks for RatDog´s Boca blowout are as follows:

First Set Opener: ¨Jack Straw¨

First Set Wild Card: ¨Help on the Way¨

First Set Closer: ¨All New Minglewood Blues¨

Second Set Opener: ¨Loser¨

Second Set Wild Card: ¨Estimated Prophet¨

Second Set Closer: ¨Eyes of the World¨

Potential Upset: ¨Looks Like Rain¨

Hail Mary: ¨It´s All Over Now, Baby Blue¨

Sudden Death: ¨El Paso¨

Overtime Encore: ¨Ripple¨

Charlie tells us that the RatDog Fall ´05 lineup continues last year´s trend toward offense and aggressive rock ´n´ roll. Style of play has shifted away from the traditional, acoustic-based, nickle-slot incarnation of teams of yore. Manning the helm is team captain Bobby Weir; a wily veteran, the once-teenybopping guitarist has found his arm and is strumming with the best of them. He continues to borrow heavily from the classic Dead playbook, and this show promises to be no different. Look for a heavy barrage of songs performed in an improv formation with a blues-based backfield.

Now get out there and win one for the tripper.