People,
Work has interrupted, as it so often does, the things that really matter - things like compiling the final standings, I mean. Hold tight, and I'll be there asap.
In the meantime, occupy yourselves by contemplating whether my Hawkeyes should have been invited this year, and whether they'll be in the big dance next year. Talk among yourselves.
C
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Monday, April 01, 2013
60/63
Dudes and Dudettes,
Well, well. We're through 60 of our 63 tournament games. I missed the horrific broken leg in yesterday's game (did any of you see it? Are you still barfing?), but apart from that, it's been an eerily quiet tournament. A strange collection of teams in the Final Four, but it should be fun to watch it all play out.
A couple of shout-outs are in order. The only one among us to pick Michigan into the Final Four was my big brother, Jonathan. Years of blind allegiance to the hapless Big 10 are finally paying off - at least a little. Good picking, bro. Lots of people saw the Louisville win coming. The only one among us, though, to pick two Final Four teams correctly (that's weird, right?) is our own H Dayle Kendall Zelenka. Take a bow, HDKZ!
The stage is set. 14 of us have Louisville winning one more, 4 of us think they'll win two (and the whole chimichanga.) Nobody has Michigan (Jonathan's nerve failed, evidently) or Wichita State winning another, and only Rosalie has Syracuse winning another game. The die is more or less cast, but we'll play out the possibilities as we go. I know you're all hanging on, waiting to find out where you might land. You'll just have to wait; I have a life to live here, eh?
Here, then is the blah after blah, so you can see that blah. Don't forget blah and blah, and have a blah blah blah. (Can you tell I'm bummed that I won't win? Well, I am. Dangit.)
Moochas smoochas from me,
C
Well, well. We're through 60 of our 63 tournament games. I missed the horrific broken leg in yesterday's game (did any of you see it? Are you still barfing?), but apart from that, it's been an eerily quiet tournament. A strange collection of teams in the Final Four, but it should be fun to watch it all play out.
A couple of shout-outs are in order. The only one among us to pick Michigan into the Final Four was my big brother, Jonathan. Years of blind allegiance to the hapless Big 10 are finally paying off - at least a little. Good picking, bro. Lots of people saw the Louisville win coming. The only one among us, though, to pick two Final Four teams correctly (that's weird, right?) is our own H Dayle Kendall Zelenka. Take a bow, HDKZ!
The stage is set. 14 of us have Louisville winning one more, 4 of us think they'll win two (and the whole chimichanga.) Nobody has Michigan (Jonathan's nerve failed, evidently) or Wichita State winning another, and only Rosalie has Syracuse winning another game. The die is more or less cast, but we'll play out the possibilities as we go. I know you're all hanging on, waiting to find out where you might land. You'll just have to wait; I have a life to live here, eh?
Here, then is the blah after blah, so you can see that blah. Don't forget blah and blah, and have a blah blah blah. (Can you tell I'm bummed that I won't win? Well, I am. Dangit.)
Moochas smoochas from me,
C
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday results
Poolies,
All right, things are really shaking out now. Nobody picked yesterday's Wichita State win, and only four of your geniuses (Rosalie, Dayle, Henry, Acy - i.e., the young and young at heart, I guess) picked Syracuse and their coach, Fishface Boeheim, to win. That means only 16 points total handed out yesterday, four each to the Nostradamus brigade.
Here are the standings after yesterday, Round 4, Day 1:
Here are the standings after yesterday, Round 4, Day 1:
Saturday, March 30, 2013
???
Gang,
Check out this inexplicable story:
You may now feel free to root and bet against UCLA until the sun grows cold.
Turncoats, indeed.
C
CPD rises again, chasing Harry
All and sundry,
Well, geez. I was all proud of myself for getting 3 of yesterday's 4 games right, then I see that our own Chris Dykes, our Oklahoman, ex-lavender rancher, knitting business tycoon, and so, so much more, got all 4 games right. 12 big points. (I just couldn't bring myself to root for or pick Duke. I just can't).
Young Master Harry had another good day (after a rough Thursday) and is back atop the standings. The usual suspects following close behind. Round 4, today and tomorrow, is where we really start to see separation. The good pickers escape in their smug, superior peloton, while the also-rans (that's me, by the way) sink dejectedly into the middle and bottom of the pool, muttering about next year.
Here's where we stand. Have a safe Round 4 out there, people.
C
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Thursday, March 28, 2013
Two Turncoats
Is there a way that both Arizona and Ohio State can lose this game? No love whatsoever for for coaches who leave XU high and dry.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Harry! Harry! Harry!
Friends,
All hail young Harry Lewis, the only one of us to pick 15. FGCU to make it into the Sweet Sixteen. Congratulations, young man. You've made your mom and pop proud.
Wow.
C
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Harvard, FCSU, How Does She Do It?
What's my secret, you ask? Well, Chris had part of it right: Messers Tanqueray, Citadelle, and yes, even Gordon, provided me with the inspiration to ignore shallow numbers and rankings and decide my teams based on their mascots, and when that failed, based on their team colors. Thank you, Slate Online, for providing brackets set up for us visual learners.
I know I will still lose.
But you can imagine the sweet sweet sense of vindication that would pervade our half-Hoya household--IF I were a gloating person.
I know I will still lose.
But you can imagine the sweet sweet sense of vindication that would pervade our half-Hoya household--IF I were a gloating person.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Liz Rambeau, take another bow...
...as you were the only person in the pool to pick the La Salle win over Kansas State!!! What gives, LR?
Uh oh...
Harvard beat New Mexico??? What in the freakin' hell is that all about? Can I have a do-over?
dejectedly,
SP
dejectedly,
SP
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Wait, who won the dingdang pool?
Mon fritos,
Sorry to leave you all hanging, there. I have no excuse, I guess I just wore out. Also, if I'm not winning it just seems like, you know, what's the point? Now that's a bad attitude, I'll grant you, but I never pretend to be a better fellow than I am. I find it very, very useful to keep your expectations low.
Anyhoo, if you can cast your collective minds back a few weeks, Kentucky was making other teams look like the Washington Generals. (Ever see the Simpsons episode where Homer is sitting on the couch watching tv (as I am now), when he says, "Ah, the Luftwaffe, the Washington Generals of the History Channel." Makes me tear up just remembering it.) Back to the point - Kentucky. The short answer is that the people who, like John Coleman, picked Kentucky to win the whole dang thing got themselves 6 big points for the final game. There was a lot of shaking going on up and down the standings, as you'll see below.
So, Obama didn't win, which would have been embarrassing. Ruth wound up tied with the President, which strikes me as funny for reasons I can't explain. Dana lost out by a point. Liz beat Matt by a point and her children by more, which must be going down hard in Pittsburgh. BUT THE REAL NEWS HERE IS THE JOHN COLEMAN IS YOUR WINNER!!! Last year it was John's daughter, the fair Rosalie. Can the Prown Colemans four-peat, with Sarah P and Willow winning the next two? Seems likely, to be frank. But this year belongs to John. John Coleman, come on down, you're queen for a day!
Remember, now, everyone's a winner (except for the 29 of who damn well lost). A trophy for John, and a participation ribbon for the rest of us. We'll get you next year, Prown Colemans. [Poolmeister shakes fist with determination and anger here.]
Be well, dear friends.
C
Sorry to leave you all hanging, there. I have no excuse, I guess I just wore out. Also, if I'm not winning it just seems like, you know, what's the point? Now that's a bad attitude, I'll grant you, but I never pretend to be a better fellow than I am. I find it very, very useful to keep your expectations low.
Anyhoo, if you can cast your collective minds back a few weeks, Kentucky was making other teams look like the Washington Generals. (Ever see the Simpsons episode where Homer is sitting on the couch watching tv (as I am now), when he says, "Ah, the Luftwaffe, the Washington Generals of the History Channel." Makes me tear up just remembering it.) Back to the point - Kentucky. The short answer is that the people who, like John Coleman, picked Kentucky to win the whole dang thing got themselves 6 big points for the final game. There was a lot of shaking going on up and down the standings, as you'll see below.
So, Obama didn't win, which would have been embarrassing. Ruth wound up tied with the President, which strikes me as funny for reasons I can't explain. Dana lost out by a point. Liz beat Matt by a point and her children by more, which must be going down hard in Pittsburgh. BUT THE REAL NEWS HERE IS THE JOHN COLEMAN IS YOUR WINNER!!! Last year it was John's daughter, the fair Rosalie. Can the Prown Colemans four-peat, with Sarah P and Willow winning the next two? Seems likely, to be frank. But this year belongs to John. John Coleman, come on down, you're queen for a day!
Remember, now, everyone's a winner (except for the 29 of who damn well lost). A trophy for John, and a participation ribbon for the rest of us. We'll get you next year, Prown Colemans. [Poolmeister shakes fist with determination and anger here.]
Be well, dear friends.
C
Monday, April 09, 2012
Monday, April 02, 2012
Who's watching tonight?
Anyone? Anyone? [Sound of crickets.] I guess, on balance, and now that it doesn't matter poolwise, that I'm rooting for Kansas. I just can't forgive Adolph Rupp, and I suppose I never will. Go Kansas!
Who else?
C
Who else?
C
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Alas, poor Dana...
All,
Well, the ball bounces the way it bounces, and that's all there is to it. Deep, no? With Kansas beating OSU, Kentucky over Louisville, and all of a sudden, the pool standings are kind of upside down. That's a long way of saying that Dana isn't going to win (and much, much, more importantly, neither am I). How does the world look going into Monday night's final, you ask? Check it out below.
Yesterday's games were pretty fun, although I'll admit to watching them both with one eye. I really thought until the very end that OSU would pull it out. Kentucky looked pretty unbeatable for much of its game. I'm probably as good as that Davis kid on Kentucky, he's just a hair taller, and I guess that makes all the difference. Two geniuses to congratulate: HENRY and JOHN are the only two people in the pool who picked both teams in the final game. Nicely done, fellows.
The short answer is, though, that if Kentucky win, Chris P. Dykes, a/k/a/Oklahoma Slim, is our winner. If Kansas wins, the Dewitts all poop themselves with excitement, but John Coleman, the Nebraska Mauler, takes home the prize, edging out DD by a mere point. I believe I'm right in saying that JC is the only actual Kansas grad in the pool, so he's entitled. My (admittedly failing) memory tells me they've both won before, but that memory could come from one of the many parts of my brain now seriously misfiring. So, it's an Oklahoma guy or a Nebraska guy winning the pool by picking a Kansas team or a Kentucky theme. Is that much red state stuff disturbing to anyone besides me? Can't someone in, say, Vermont, win by picking Amherst to win the whole thing? Why can't that happen? Red states, bah. And don't bother reminding me that John lives in Connecticut with the rest of the Prown-Coleman clan, and that Chris Dykes is a fine, blue fellow in a wacky red state, it just isn't the same.
So, we're down to KS v. KY, John Coleman v. Chris Dykes, for all the marbles. Good luck to you all.
See you all at the blog tomorrow night for the big showdown.
C
Well, the ball bounces the way it bounces, and that's all there is to it. Deep, no? With Kansas beating OSU, Kentucky over Louisville, and all of a sudden, the pool standings are kind of upside down. That's a long way of saying that Dana isn't going to win (and much, much, more importantly, neither am I). How does the world look going into Monday night's final, you ask? Check it out below.
Yesterday's games were pretty fun, although I'll admit to watching them both with one eye. I really thought until the very end that OSU would pull it out. Kentucky looked pretty unbeatable for much of its game. I'm probably as good as that Davis kid on Kentucky, he's just a hair taller, and I guess that makes all the difference. Two geniuses to congratulate: HENRY and JOHN are the only two people in the pool who picked both teams in the final game. Nicely done, fellows.
The short answer is, though, that if Kentucky win, Chris P. Dykes, a/k/a/Oklahoma Slim, is our winner. If Kansas wins, the Dewitts all poop themselves with excitement, but John Coleman, the Nebraska Mauler, takes home the prize, edging out DD by a mere point. I believe I'm right in saying that JC is the only actual Kansas grad in the pool, so he's entitled. My (admittedly failing) memory tells me they've both won before, but that memory could come from one of the many parts of my brain now seriously misfiring. So, it's an Oklahoma guy or a Nebraska guy winning the pool by picking a Kansas team or a Kentucky theme. Is that much red state stuff disturbing to anyone besides me? Can't someone in, say, Vermont, win by picking Amherst to win the whole thing? Why can't that happen? Red states, bah. And don't bother reminding me that John lives in Connecticut with the rest of the Prown-Coleman clan, and that Chris Dykes is a fine, blue fellow in a wacky red state, it just isn't the same.
So, we're down to KS v. KY, John Coleman v. Chris Dykes, for all the marbles. Good luck to you all.
See you all at the blog tomorrow night for the big showdown.
C
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Today's picks
My beloveds,
Two of the last three games are being played this evening. You can cut the pool tension with a knife, right?
Here's a list of who picked whom. Good luck.
C
1. KY - Everybody else
4. LVille - DD (could be the genius pick of the tourney)
----------------------------------------------------------
2. Missouri - Maggi, Dykes, Kate, Sarah B, Tim
3. Marquette - Acy, Willow, Gena
2. Duke - Alexander, Bill, Sophie
1. Mich State - Calvino, Matt, Dayle, Steve, Cal, Jonathan, Ellie, Sarah P
2. Ohio St - Knott, Calvino, Jonathan, Sarah B, Liz
2. Kansas - Dykes, Willow, Henry, Cal, Sarah P, John
---------------------------------------------------------
5. Vandy - Sophie
3. GTown - Gena, Ellie
3. Florida St - Kate, Matt
1. Syracuse - Alexander, Wrinkler, Rosalie
1. UNC - Maggi, Acy, Obama, Ruth, Scott, Harry, Bill, Dayle, Steve, Dana, Tim
And that's that. There is, I think, a surprising variety of picks in these games. I do feel a little bad for those who picked UNC. Losing a point guard is pretty tough to bounce back from in the pool. I'm also surprised that only three of us had Duke making the final game. Kentucky looks tough, but this seems like anyone's tournament. Dana's still likely to walk off with the pool, especially if Louisville wins tonight. I don't know about you, but a Dana Duffy victory suits me just fine. If she does win, we can buy any old trophy off the rack, from any sport. She won't mind, right, DD?
Later dudes,
C
Two of the last three games are being played this evening. You can cut the pool tension with a knife, right?
Here's a list of who picked whom. Good luck.
C
1. KY - Everybody else
4. LVille - DD (could be the genius pick of the tourney)
----------------------------------------------------------
2. Missouri - Maggi, Dykes, Kate, Sarah B, Tim
3. Marquette - Acy, Willow, Gena
2. Duke - Alexander, Bill, Sophie
1. Mich State - Calvino, Matt, Dayle, Steve, Cal, Jonathan, Ellie, Sarah P
2. Ohio St - Knott, Calvino, Jonathan, Sarah B, Liz
2. Kansas - Dykes, Willow, Henry, Cal, Sarah P, John
---------------------------------------------------------
5. Vandy - Sophie
3. GTown - Gena, Ellie
3. Florida St - Kate, Matt
1. Syracuse - Alexander, Wrinkler, Rosalie
1. UNC - Maggi, Acy, Obama, Ruth, Scott, Harry, Bill, Dayle, Steve, Dana, Tim
And that's that. There is, I think, a surprising variety of picks in these games. I do feel a little bad for those who picked UNC. Losing a point guard is pretty tough to bounce back from in the pool. I'm also surprised that only three of us had Duke making the final game. Kentucky looks tough, but this seems like anyone's tournament. Dana's still likely to walk off with the pool, especially if Louisville wins tonight. I don't know about you, but a Dana Duffy victory suits me just fine. If she does win, we can buy any old trophy off the rack, from any sport. She won't mind, right, DD?
Later dudes,
C
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