11/05/24
March 13, 2005
Bracket?: Will we have a bracket again this year? [And who will be energetic enough to actually do a front page post about the tourney? NOT IT. (touches finger to nose.)]
Thanks smithers. I'm in. No FPP from me either.
posted by 86 at 08:36 AM on March 14, 2005
I'm in ("Terps All the Way"). My first pass puts Ill, Wake, NC and Syracuse in the Final Four.
posted by danostuporstar at 09:30 AM on March 14, 2005
dano, mine is similar to yours, except for having Wake in the final 4.
posted by jasonspaceman at 10:09 AM on March 14, 2005
I'm in (The right stuff). Go Heels!
posted by trox at 10:50 AM on March 14, 2005
I'm in. Reluctantly, I've picked the heels to beat Duke in the FF. Probably this will get me thrown out of the alumni association.
posted by tieguy at 07:25 PM on March 14, 2005
I started a new gig today so will not be taking the time for this amusement. However, I think Duke is being underrated and will be playing in the final game.
posted by billsaysthis at 10:23 PM on March 14, 2005
billy, that is weak........in the time it took you to post that cop-out, you could've had the Albuquerque bracket filled in. ;)
posted by smithers at 10:48 PM on March 14, 2005
and btw, I think Duke is overrated, fwiw. Daniel Ewing will blow a game down the stretch for them at some point, mark my words.
posted by smithers at 10:50 PM on March 14, 2005
I'll say that Duke's margin for error is very thin, and they have lots of different ways to blow a game- Ewing is just one. But they are playing well enough that they'll have to blow it. However, if UNC doesn't play harder, at some point, they won't have the opportunity to blow it; they'll just get flat out beat, just like Clemson nearly did and Tech did. I think the same is true of Illinois- they are very susceptible to another OSU-type game if they aren't careful, where they play lax for a while, scramble to catch up, and don't quite make it over the hump.
posted by tieguy at 12:52 AM on March 15, 2005
bill, if your new gig does not include an NCCA basketball office pool then perhaps you should reconsider.
posted by gspm at 07:00 AM on March 15, 2005
gspm, this is a startup and there aren't enough people to do a pool.
posted by billsaysthis at 10:33 PM on March 15, 2005
Come on, gang: we only have 19 people so far in the March Madness pool. Last year we had 40, and the year before we had 21. With the membership upsurge we've had, we cannot regress this badly!!! http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/men/, Group ID#: 52715, Password: spofi22.
posted by smithers at 01:08 PM on March 16, 2005
Okay, I know nothing about college basketball, but I'm in. Waitaminute, do I have to make my picks for the whole tournament all at once?
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:18 PM on March 16, 2005
Niagara has been getting lots of coverage in the Toronto Star recently. Therefore they are going to win.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:23 PM on March 16, 2005
nope, you can start them and save them, but they have to ALL in by tomorrow at Noon EST.
posted by smithers at 01:24 PM on March 16, 2005
OK, fine, I did it. Slackers.
posted by tieguy at 02:21 PM on March 16, 2005
We're doing an OK job of getting around the obscene name rule. We've got a goddam and a Matt Boner. tee hee...Boner. OK, that may very well not be intended to be obscene, but the sixth grader in me finds it funny. Love, Fuck...er...Phugh Oh, and we're up to 22. Maybe one of us has the Zags winning it all?
posted by NoMich at 02:56 PM on March 16, 2005
Random Redefined is in the hizzouse.
posted by dusted at 03:44 PM on March 16, 2005
I don't like the idea of having two "Sammy" teams in our bracket. Or the idea of Milhouse having two spaghetti meals in one day.
posted by Samsonov14 at 04:39 PM on March 16, 2005
I'm in (Fantasy Baller). Every year, I pick Illinois for the final four and this year it might actually not totally screw my chances of winning.
posted by gyc at 09:34 PM on March 16, 2005
yeah yeah, I'm in. tieguy....I have Duke losing to Kentucky. We can form the spofi Duke alumni association when we both get kicked out.
posted by mbd1 at 08:34 AM on March 17, 2005
UNC, for my homie
posted by garfield at 09:57 AM on March 17, 2005
I have come back to win once again. Titter's Twofer!
posted by tittergrrl at 10:41 AM on March 17, 2005
Duke's way too vulnerable this year. Especially since JJ's whiny poetry has been published, exposing it to the world for riducule.
posted by trox at 11:01 AM on March 17, 2005
My god. Admitting he writes those poems was the dumbest thing he's ever done.
posted by tieguy at 02:26 PM on March 17, 2005
I'm off to a great start, thanks to Bama.
posted by dusted at 03:07 PM on March 17, 2005
ditto.
posted by garfield at 03:27 PM on March 17, 2005
OK.....5 for 8 for the afternoon session, and two of my misses were stupid heart-instead-of-head picks.
posted by smithers at 04:45 PM on March 17, 2005
7 of 8 so far and I see that the margin of the one game I missed (UTEP/Utah) was 6 but the team I picked was tied in the last minute. so close.
posted by gspm at 06:19 PM on March 17, 2005
It wouldn't put me near the top anyway, but I had the UAB win over LSU and then changed based on the opinion of some local radio hack. Every year, I change a few games at the last minute....do they never work out or does it just seem that way?
posted by danostuporstar at 09:52 AM on March 18, 2005
Hey, it turns out I only changed it in the SpoFi pool, not the money offi$e pool....yippie.
posted by danostuporstar at 10:02 AM on March 18, 2005
Oh my I hope no one picked Kansas to go deep in the tourney.
posted by gyc at 12:54 AM on March 19, 2005
Well, considering I had Kansas beating Syracuse in one Final Four game, I'd say that was pretty deep. However, seeing Bill Self lose in the first round to Bucknell might be even sweeter than what I was hoping for -- seeing him lose to the Illini in the final. Hey Bill -- C U Next Tuesday!
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:42 AM on March 19, 2005
I wonder if any more "big boys" will go down this weekend.......I am sitting pretty good--My pick of the Bulldogs going all the way doesnt seem as stupid anymore....
posted by daddisamm at 10:41 AM on March 19, 2005
Bulldogs going where, exactly?
posted by tieguy at 03:15 PM on March 19, 2005
Some serious upsetting in the first three days, that's for damn sure.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:15 AM on March 20, 2005
my bracket's broke
posted by jasonspaceman at 07:51 AM on March 20, 2005
Next year, I'm using a newer coin.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 02:27 PM on March 20, 2005
dammit, of course i would wimp out and pick wake over wv in the only bracket that i actually have money on.
posted by goddam at 02:41 PM on March 20, 2005
goddam, you are looking in great shape regardless....
posted by smithers at 08:35 AM on March 21, 2005
yeah, for this bracket i am. the one that i actually put money down on is all sorts of busted though.
posted by goddam at 09:38 AM on March 21, 2005
I hear ya......talk about great shape, though, how about the Yahoo leader?
posted by smithers at 10:27 AM on March 21, 2005
"smitty's jagbag"...is that you, smithers?
posted by danostuporstar at 10:34 AM on March 21, 2005
I wish I had a bracket that looked that sweet....
posted by smithers at 12:30 PM on March 21, 2005
Man, NC State and Carolina are only a game away from facing each other in the Gang of Eight (or whatever that level is called these days). How awesome would that game be? Wait, I'll tell ya: It'll melt your face like a 'Rocky IV' guitar solo.
posted by NoMich at 02:52 PM on March 21, 2005
NoMich: it would certainly enflame passions in the Triangle (where the lucky bastards are going to get extra channels of basketball just to deal with all the games on Friday) but State hasn't exactly looked competitive against Carolina this year. The potential matchup that will really be hell on earth if it happens is Duke-Carolina in a Final Four. That game scares me enough that I plan to flee the country that weekend just in case.
posted by tieguy at 09:55 PM on March 21, 2005
Derail: NoMich, is that you in the wedding photo??? If so, congrats!!!!
posted by smithers at 09:57 PM on March 21, 2005
Derail: NoMich, is that you in the wedding photo??? If so, congrats!!!! Excellent photos and congratulations NoMich! Looks like it was a great time.
posted by jasonspaceman at 06:10 AM on March 22, 2005
tieguy: State has improved by leaps and bounds since they last played Carolina. In fact, Hodge is actually being a leader and is hitting free throws again. Remember, Coach K said that State was playing the best basketball in the ACC when March hit. That being said, I'm sure they'll lose their next game. *sigh* smithers and jasonspaceman: yep, that's me. We did the deed in Asheville's botanical gardens. A more pleasant space on this earth could not be found that day. We then had our reception at Oliver and Annabelle's. It's a pretty cool little restaurant featuring (for the lack of a better word) nouveau southern cuisine. The madness started at a bar named the Flying Frog. My head still hurts from that night. If anybody wants to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains, you should really consider spending at least a night in Asheville, NC. It's such a great little city with a vibrant downtown restaurant and bar scene with excellent food and locally brewed beer. I love the scene. You've got local rednecks, tourists, street hippies and gutter punks all rubbing elbows. It's sorta like a mini and affordable San Francisco. HA!
posted by NoMich at 09:59 AM on March 22, 2005
Congratulations. But what photo, I don't see any links, I am blind!
posted by billsaysthis at 01:45 PM on March 22, 2005
Click on my name and you'll see a link to my Website. On that site are links to wedding and wedding related events. This one will get you going. It got me going OK. That would be Woodford Reserve bourbon in a KGB flask.
posted by NoMich at 02:25 PM on March 22, 2005
Ofoto no likee direct links to the picture files. But I saw from your site. Lovely wedding, nice and informal like mine.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:48 PM on March 22, 2005
Just click on the link, then hit refresh. That will get past the .htaccess gatekeepers every time. Congrats, NoMich!
posted by dusted at 12:19 AM on March 23, 2005
Did somebody say Woodford Reserve? *get down on all fours, pants, whines* Congrats, NoMich!
posted by rocketman at 10:13 AM on March 23, 2005
with one spot left in the Final Four yet to be decided it looks (according to the scenario generator) as though... if Lousville makes the final (ie beats Illinois) then I win the pool no matter what else happens. Hmmmm. So, it comes down to one game for me.
posted by gspm at 06:05 PM on March 27, 2005
I am rooting for you, gspm, because I'd love to see a Kentucky-Louisville clash. Wouldn't have had to be in the final to be so interesting but... Also would make me happy (why I cannot tell you because I do not know) to see RoyW with another close but no cigar.
posted by billsaysthis at 06:47 PM on March 27, 2005
Sorry about the above, I misunderstood what I read about the Michigan State-KY. Guess it's the jelly for me tonight ;)
posted by billsaysthis at 10:51 PM on March 27, 2005
Sigh... if Illinois beats Carolina in the FF, I'll be second or third in every bracket I'm in. Close, but no cigar...
posted by tieguy at 12:10 AM on March 28, 2005
Did Niagara win?
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:01 AM on March 28, 2005
Did Niagara win? In the NCAAs? Not so much. But they're looking good in this summer's Waterfalls World Cup, given the weakness perenial champ Victoria is showing in pre-conference play.
posted by billsaysthis at 06:42 PM on March 28, 2005
So I've been sitting on top of the bracket for awhile, and if NC wins tonight, I'll win this one and the one at work too. This is very bad. I haven't ever picked a decent bracket, now I'll be cocky next year and be tempted to put money on the darn thing. Also, I sat on top of the SpoFi Fantasy Football league for a long time, and ended up third. . .so history says I'm a choke artist. Here's hoping for a good game tonight!
posted by rainbaby at 08:24 AM on April 04, 2005
Victory! Alrighty, I'm off to the OTB!
posted by rainbaby at 07:58 AM on April 05, 2005
I picked the winner and 3 of four teams in the final four... finished 8th. If only Louisville...
posted by gspm at 10:04 AM on April 05, 2005
You all got beat by A GIRL. I mean, I did too, but at least I was tied for third. Congratulations, Rainbaby.
posted by Samsonov14 at 10:24 AM on April 05, 2005
Thanks. One of those girl people won last year too, apparently.
posted by rainbaby at 10:52 AM on April 05, 2005
Congrats to rainbaby! (does that mean interview?) Also, might as well print the results gere so we will have them archived for posterity: 1 throwing darts 149 2 sifting kitty litter 137 3 blarp montross 136 3 Terps All the Way 136 3 Samsonov plays hoops 136 3 hootch 136 7 Lindser4 135 8 Crap City Collegiate 126 9 Trox's picks 111 9 Holden 111 9 Fantasy Baller 111 12 tieguy 110 12 Chris2sy picks 110 14 JasonSpaceman 107 15 Terrapin's Tripe 103 15 Random Redefined 103 17 titter's twofer 102 18 Phugh 100 19 usfbull 87 20 Tolbert's Lovechild 86 21 goddam 85 22 5alive 79 23 4 banners in Cameron 75 24 Dave's Unstoppable Picks 70 25 Matt Boner 69 26 The Jock of Rick Majerus 68 27 Chris's Coin Flips Part Deux 65 28 JJ drinks Fresca 63 29 Instant Lunchroom 57 30 Prime Timers 54 31 Sammy's right 51 32 Sichuan Snipers 0
posted by smithers at 11:39 AM on April 05, 2005
I'm No. 26! I'm No. 26!
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:02 PM on April 05, 2005
congrats rainbaby. and yes, it should mean an interview. as for kitty litter, no.2 ain't bad for a puck head. gotta fill the void somehow.
posted by garfield at 12:28 PM on April 05, 2005
You may be #26, but you've got the best team name for sure. Interview? Sure. Everyone loves to talk about themselves.
posted by rainbaby at 12:34 PM on April 05, 2005
Somebody call WC2002. It's been too long since our last interview.
posted by Samsonov14 at 03:10 PM on April 05, 2005
OK.....the SpoFi Yahoo! pool is set for those who want to join. Group ID#: 52715, Password: spofi22. FPP? Not it.