July 24, 2011: Sunday Showdown!

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Clockwise from the bottom left:

• Loretta displays both her tech savviness and lack of amusement over whatever Leroy is displaying on the old home computer. Judging by the completely opposite nature of the reactions by both Lockhorns, I'm going to assume whatever website/image/video/etc that Leroy is so thoroughly enjoying must be at the expense of Loretta. Perhaps he's logged onto "Lockhorn Vs. Lockhorn" and is gloating over how he has retaken the points lead for the year. He has been heating up as of late. Leroy gets the first point.
• The Lockhorns look to cool off from the current heatwave at their local beach (which continues to maintain a strict black bathing suit only policy). As is often the case when the Lockhorns are in crowded public places, they start to digress into bitter reactionary complaints about the changes in modern society. No one with a mobile device is spared from Leroy's crankiness, not even the lady in the back with the 1980s cellphone. It's a push, Leroy still leads 1-0.
• As it turns out, the party that Leroy thought he was invited to was actually a secret meeting for the ancient mystic society of No Leroys (I must say their No Leroys sign is pretty well done). We can only speculate as to who their one permitted Leroy could be. I'm going to go with former gold medal winning U.S. sprinter Leroy Burrell. Leroy probably isn't all that disappointed by the rejection, it just means more mysterious mummified wine for him. No doubt Loretta will be eager to apply for a full membership. It's another push and Leroy remains ahead 1-0.
• I'm not sure what criticism Leroy is trying to levy on Loretta's cooking with his suggestion of "gesundheit" for the blessing. Is there so much pepper in the meal that it's liable to cause a sneezing fit? Does it look like something somebody sneezed out? Maybe since "gesundheit" means "to your health", it's meant to be a short prayer to survive the meal? Perhaps the food is alive and it just sneezed? It really could be any of those scenarios and more, but the point still comes across. Leroy locks up the showdown by going up 2-0. Can Loretta avoid the shutout?
• Loretta does in fact manage to save a measure of pride for herself and avoid a rare shutout loss by salvaging the final panel. She goes after some relatively low hanging fruit by mocking Leroy's rampant alcoholism, but you get your points where you can find them. Leroy seems to be in such singular bliss, loading his car with as much alcohol as it can carry, that he doesn't even appear affected by Loretta's comments about his drinking issues. As for the store employee, he can only stare in dumbfounded shock at Leroy's grotesque display. Loretta gets the point, but Leroy takes the day 2-1.

Official Count:

Leroy - 79
Loretta - 77

Push - 49