Are we doing the March Madness tourney again this year?

[jbbama]

Just curious, it starts next Thursday right?

JB

[Rob D.]

I'd be happy to coordinate the bracket this season and provide updates throughout the tourney. Here's a link to a group I created on ESPN.com:

http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/en/group?groupID=12092

The name of the group is: Net54

The password is: cardboard

I think you can create a max of three entries. (If you don't already have an EPSN.com account, you'll need to create one before you can join the NET54 tournament group. This is a pretty painless procedure and takes little time at all.)

No money involved in this pool, though the top-three finishers will receive prizes. Let's keep it simple and say the first-place finisher gets his or her choice of one of the three cards below. Second place gets to choose one of the two remaining cards, and third place gets what's left. First place also gets the traveling trophy card that Rhett mentions below in post No. 12.

[jbbama]

You got my vote.................thanks!

[Jacklitsch]

I'm in.

Thanks Rob!!

P.S. Get my check? Card arrived...very nice!!

[Section103]

There's very little I enjoy more than acting like I know a lot about something I know almost nothing about.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Section103

There's very little I enjoy more than acting like I know a lot about something I know almost nothing about.

The beauty of the tourny is that even folks who don't follow college basketball have a decent shot of winning due to the format.

[T206DK]

I always enjoy trying to pick the underdogs. I'm personally a Pitt and University of Dayton fan though when it counts ! I'm joining the net54 group today

[mybuddyinc]

I can't decide this year to go with the team with the prettiest uniform or best mascot. Either way, it'll be better than actually using any sporting knowledge I have shown in past tourneys.

[GoldenAge50s]

I'm in Rob--Thanks for getting it going!

[Bill Stone]

Thanks Rob ---I'm in !

[JP]

Thanks, Rob -- I'm in.

Unfortunately my huskies are NIT bound...bummer.

[rhettyeakley]

Hey Rob, there has been a "traveling trophy" here on Net54 for the past several years for the guy that wins the tounament picks.

It is a T206 Hal Chase holding trophy mock-encapsulated in a PSA slap with the title of Net54 Champion. I won the thing last year so I guess you can add that to the winner...obviously that person would need to relenquish the trophy this time next year.
-Rhett

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

Hey Rob, there has been a "traveling trophy" here on Net54 for the past several years for the guy that wins the tounament picks.

It is a T206 Hal Chase holding trophy mock-encapsulated in a PSA slap with the title of Net54 Champion. I won the thing last year so I guess you can add that to the winner...obviously that person would need to relenquish the trophy this time next year.
-Rhett

Thanks, Rhett. That rings a bell now that you mention it. After the pairings are announced Sunday night I'll start a new thread that will reiterate what's posted above and will serve as the home for tourney/standings updates. If you want to e-mail me a scan of the "trophy," I'll include it.

[Rob D.]

Bump to say that prizes have been posted above in Post No. 2.

If anyone has trouble registering on ESPN.com or joining the pool, let me know.

[sox1903wschamp]

Thanks for handling Rob. Looking forward to it.

[Dustanh1]

Rob,
Thanks for coordinating this. I'm all signed up.

[Jacklitsch]

Are we limited to one entry or may we have the max of three?

[vintagebaseball]

Thanks!! Just signed up

[rhettyeakley]

Rob and everyone else, here is the highly coveted Net54 NCAA Basketball Tourney trophy.

Someone who has the ability should record the names of past winners on it or something (a la the Stanley Cup). I will be sending it to whomever wins it this year (unless I repeat of course), just as Tbob sent it to me.



If I remember correctly this has been circulating for the past 3-4 years spending a year w/ each winner, and was originally donated by Lee Behrens (Thanks Lee!)
-Rhett

[Rob D.]

To whomever wins the Chase trophy card: no trying to flip it on eBay or the B/S/T within a week after receiving it (or within a year, for that matter).

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by Rob D.

To whomever wins the Chase trophy card: no trying to flip it on eBay or the B/S/T within a week after receiving it (or within a year, for that matter).

YOU... are a cynic! I don't believe anyone would do something like that!

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

YOU... are a cynic! I don't believe anyone would do something like that!

Stop bothering me. I'm trying to focus on this Hal Chase collection I'm starting for my daughter.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by Rob D.

Stop bothering me. I'm trying to focus on this Hal Chase collection I'm starting for my daughter.

Good idea. Better to be collecting Chase than some French-Canadian dude whose name nobody can pronounce.

[barrysloate]

Doesn't Lajoie rhyme with Piscataway?

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Doesn't Lajoie rhyme with Piscataway?

That is certainly the prefered pronunciation. Others think it rhymes with Almond Joy.

[barrysloate]

There is also Laj- WAH.

[tbob]

I think the traveling trophy has been around for more like 5-6 years. I know I have won it twice, Rhett has won it and at least two others have won it also.

[tlwise12]

I won it one year and if im not mistaking i sent it to tbob...

Travis