Phil not the only shadow around

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When Punxsutawney Phil toddles forth to seek his shadow and predict winter's longevity this morning, the celebrated groundhog will have much competition.

There are more than 25 other assorted groundhogs also offering opinions today, not to mention one upstart pig and a llama with weather on their minds.

General Beauregard Lee of Georgia, Pierre C. Shadeaux of Louisiana, Pee Wee of Vermont, French Creek Freddie of Nebraska and Buckeye Chuck of Ohio are among the many contenders for alpha-groundhog -- poised to predict if the nation must endure six weeks more of winter or an early spring.

To the north, Wiarton Willie and Chilly Charlie of Ontario, Balzac Billie of Alberta and Shubenacadie Sam of Nova Scotia also are chittering in anticipation.

But the good folks of Punxsutawney, Pa. -- where famed Phil has been predicting for more than 118 years -- will have none of it.

"Phil is the one and only true weather-prognosticating groundhog. The others are just imposters," said Alan Freed of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, which organizes the annual showcase of groundhog, shadow and human hubbub.

Few can fault the Punxsutawneyites. Phil has become, well, larger than life.

This year, Groundhog Day has swelled into six days of celebration. Gates to "Gobbler's Knob," where Phil lurks before his big moment, open today at 3 a.m. to accommodate thousands of visitors and the national press. Phil has 46 official sponsors, a namesake Beanie Baby and a wedding chapel -- Phil's Wedding Chapel, of course, where the town mayor will marry happy couples until midafternoon.

"Well, you've got to pay homage to Phil. He was the first. But he's wrong most of the time. Besides, weather is different around the country, so we need separate opinions," said Rich Hosek of California-based Groundhogs Central, which tracks would-be Phils, offers a fan Web site (www.groundhogsday.com) and sells groundhog-ian merchandise of all kinds.

"Groundhog Day is a fine celebration. And that's our mission -- to help people celebrate. And we've made it truly American. We've commercialized it," Mr. Hosek quipped.