BCB March Madness Pool

by Jed Taylor on Mar 16, 2009 2:43 AM CDT Comment 74 comments

No community is complete without a March Madness pool, and as I have done in previous years, I have created a pool on espn.com for all BCBers.

The group name is "BleedCubbieBlue" and the password is "BCB2009".

Click here to jump to the group.

I believe you can submit up to three entries in the group.

I'll post updates after each round of the tournament to this thread - Al bumps it back up so it's easy to find - and let everyone know whose crystal ball seems to be working.

Good luck, and have fun!

And maybe Al can find some trinket with which to recognize the winner.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

17 recs | Comment 74 comments

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I'll see if I can come up with a trinket.

Please recommend this post so it’ll stay in the rec list at least until the tournament starts.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 16, 2009 4:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Just to keep it interesting, I too will come up with some sort of trinket

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 16, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now that the polls are closed, i.e. no more entries can be submitted

my trinket will go to the entry with the lowest number of points, assuming of course, it’s not an obvious sandbagger. haven’t looked through all the entries yet.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 19, 2009 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am in

yet know nothing about NCAA BBall, since I do not follow it, so if I win, you should all feel shame

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 16, 2009 8:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

REC

GO CARDS! The one time of year I can say this without getting ripped on a CUBS blog!

by KyCubsFan on Mar 16, 2009 9:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

One change:

I think each person should only be allowed one entry, and it would help if people named their entries by their BCB names. Just a few suggestions that I think will improve the group.

Ron Santo should sing TMOTTBG everyday. Period.

by Schwa on Mar 16, 2009 9:29 AM CDT reply actions 6 recs

agreed

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 16, 2009 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

rec'd

if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand

by N Oakley on Mar 16, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re

That’s a good idea for people to name their entry – at least their primary one – using their BCB screen name.

As far as allowing just one entry, I’m of the school that part of the tradition of a March Madness pool is submitting multiple entries and the ESPN software is what makes the limit three. That seems like a reasonable compromise between unlimited entries where there’s no increase in the prize pool for them and making people live and die with just one bracket, especially since the tournament is so balanced this year.

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on Mar 16, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, it's a SHEET of integrity

not what MIKE – a few dozen sheets – Golic does, or at least what he claims to do.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Mar 16, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

rec'd

go ou sooners

I dont care who the new owner is as long as he/she/them come equipped with a Jake Peavy and a Joe Beimel!!!

by cubsluver22 on Mar 16, 2009 9:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

BOOMER....

SOONER

by KC in OK on Mar 19, 2009 12:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who's the wise guy that picked TBD to win the National Championship?

source

"I knew we were in for a long season when we lined up for the national anthem on opening day and one of my players said, 'Every time I hear that song I have a bad game.'" - Jim Leyland

by flachimesa on Mar 16, 2009 11:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know if I can do this with a clear mind

I want to pick Mizzou to win it all, but I know they won’t.

www.talkingchicagobaseball.blogspot.com

by nji232 on Mar 16, 2009 12:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

how about anyone who does not win

makes a $10 donation to Project 3000

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 16, 2009 2:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

so the reward of the winner

is not to donate to a charity?

by gocubs526 on Mar 16, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the donations can be in his honor? i was just tossing out ideas

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 16, 2009 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

his or her

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 16, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

For those who have already signed up...

… if your bracket name doesn’t match your BCB user name, please change it so we know who belongs to which entry.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 16, 2009 4:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

someone took my bcb name

rotten rascals

If the world didn't suck we would all fall off.

by carolinacub on Mar 19, 2009 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will avoid

saying “Shut up” to the winner for 24 hours of that person’s choosing. Playoffs are exempt.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Mar 16, 2009 4:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Do I get a prize if I finish last?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 16, 2009 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Louisville all the way!

My Final Four

Louisville, Pitt, Memphis and Gonzaga

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Mar 16, 2009 4:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I accidently added two teams.

Anyone know how i can delete one?

Bleeding Cubbie Blue since 1985.

by Bricks and Ivy on Mar 16, 2009 5:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My better half and her kid submitted entries under my ESPN account

They aren’t BCBers but want to play. They are not interested in the prize if they win. Can they still play or do I delete their entries?

They could create BCB accounts.

"I knew we were in for a long season when we lined up for the national anthem on opening day and one of my players said, 'Every time I hear that song I have a bad game.'" - Jim Leyland

by flachimesa on Mar 16, 2009 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re

Everyone’s welcome to play. The more the merrier.

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on Mar 16, 2009 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome

i love march!

The shortest distance between two points is under construction.

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Mar 16, 2009 6:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes

I am in first

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift"
Steve Prefontaine

by cublee on Mar 16, 2009 10:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You're tied with me

and I know NOTHING about college basketball

"I knew we were in for a long season when we lined up for the national anthem on opening day and one of my players said, 'Every time I hear that song I have a bad game.'" - Jim Leyland

by flachimesa on Mar 16, 2009 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hooray for more BCB competitiveness

BCB Fantasy leagues are awesome fun… this is awesome too. Good luck everyone. Even though Pittsburgh is gonna win it all… at least the other teams will be on TV!

by lswaidz on Mar 17, 2009 12:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm in

I am not a Pirate! I am a Pre-Salvage Engineer. I get things before they get wet.

by horp the reckless on Mar 18, 2009 11:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm in as well

And you know, when I was doing my picks, I couldn’t help but feel like this was one of the most predictable tournaments I’ve ever looked at.

by Craig in South Bend on Mar 18, 2009 2:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Just when you thought it was safe to go with the chalk....

North Dakota State upsets Kansas (bold prediction)

"I knew we were in for a long season when we lined up for the national anthem on opening day and one of my players said, 'Every time I hear that song I have a bad game.'" - Jim Leyland

by flachimesa on Mar 18, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I took

University of Pheonix to go all the way….

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 18, 2009 4:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I like

The Screamin’ Easels of the Art Institute

churchofbaseball.com

by MJMars on Mar 18, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Screamin' Easels" LOL

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 18, 2009 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Get your picks in

Just a reminder to everyone that the Dance starts tomorrow morning, and the first tip-off is the deadline for entering the BCB March Madness Pool.

So – finalize your brackets and get your picks submitted!

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on Mar 18, 2009 8:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And we're off!

The big Dance has begun, and we’ve got over 100 entries in the Pool. Good luck everyone.

I’ve added an entry called “Obama’s Bracket” so everyone can see how they stack up against the Leader of the Free World. Even if you don’t win the Pool, you may still be able to say you schooled The One on filling out a bracket.

I’ve also added a bracket called “By Seeds”, which makes all the picks simply by choosing the better seed in the matchup. We’ll see how good of a job the NCAA Selection Committee did in slotting teams.

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on Mar 19, 2009 12:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What happens if "Obama's Bracket" wins our pool?

Do I have to send him the trinket?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 19, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re

He’d be the man. But he’s a Sox fan, so he’s automatically disqualified. And his is pretty conservative, so I doubt he’ll wind up on top. If you take a look at the .jpg ESPN posted, you see he even marked games he wasn’t sure about with a “?”. And they preserved his edits.

I just think it’s pretty cool that a guy this accomplished and intelligent is also well connected to pop culture and can knowledgeably discuss the bracket while he’s filling it out live.

But about the Cubs trinket – f*&k him.

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on Mar 19, 2009 8:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My brackets are still perfect.

Just wanted to get that in before the BYU game is over.

Harry Caray: Marshall is going back to LA to get cocaine for his injured foot.
Steve Stone: Harry, that’s Novocaine.

by Julio Zuleta's Voodoo on Mar 19, 2009 1:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

how is everyone doin so far?

I filled out a couple of different brackets but not sure if they are in any groups but I have one that is perfect so far with all 3 upsets so far…. Anyone know how to tell if it is in a group? Do all the brackets go into a group when you create them? I checked and it just shows that my worst one has the bleed cubbie blue group on it the other say join group by them…?

by bizzle4 on Mar 19, 2009 8:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i am 11 of 12, good for 9th place tied

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 19, 2009 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Same

I could end up with 2 misses though, if Illinois doesn’t start rolling.

by Craig in South Bend on Mar 19, 2009 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

update

15 of 16, tied for 3rd

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 20, 2009 7:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I should just quit now...

16 for 16

Probably my single greatest athletic achievement.

by Zonk on Mar 20, 2009 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think 16 out of 64 will win it...

But good luck if you do :-)

by lswaidz on Mar 20, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i basically pissed in the wind with my picks

i have not watched 10 total minutes of college basketball the past 5 years. I just guessed with reasonable hope.

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 20, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sitting in 3rd

Had Illinois over W. Kentucky… too bad the Illini absolutely phoned it in. Pathetic. They shouldn’t have been a 5 seed anyway. They played like they were the 12 seed. Oh well. 15 out of 16 ain’t bad. We’ll see how today’s games go.

by lswaidz on Mar 20, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hate Western Kentucky

They’re totally the new Gonzaga…Fitting that they’ll be playing them.

by Craig in South Bend on Mar 20, 2009 4:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I hate day two.

Epic fail…

by lswaidz on Mar 21, 2009 12:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just because I'll never be this high on the list again

“woohoo!! tied for 3rd!!” Yay!! :-)

The shortest distance between two points is under construction.

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Mar 21, 2009 1:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And I'm not last!

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 21, 2009 4:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're ahead of me

and I was proud that I picked #13 Cleveland St to upset #4 Wake Forest.

Not so proud that my pseudo-Cinderella #6 West Virginia (I had them going to the Final 4) didn’t make it out of the 1st round (beat by #11 Dayton).

I suck at this but it’s fun to follow

"I knew we were in for a long season when we lined up for the national anthem on opening day and one of my players said, 'Every time I hear that song I have a bad game.'" - Jim Leyland

by flachimesa on Mar 21, 2009 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least I'm tied with my own son!

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 21, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interestingly enough...

I’m comfortably in the middle of the pack (tied for 53rd with 230 pts), yet I have the highest PPR number (1600) in the group. I’m not sure exactly what PPR stands for, but I assume it means the highest possible point one can still achieve. Plenty of folks right behind me at 1580 and 1560, but no one else at the 1600 level.

So for those of you down in the ranks, take a look at your PPR. I’m no sabermagician but I’m thinking if it’s higher than those around you (the PPR, not the sabermagician), things could be looking up for your entry.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 21, 2009 12:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

ahh.... figured it out.

I’m perfect so far today, yet my PPR went down from 1600 to 1540. I thought that was odd but then noticed that everyone else’s PPR went down as well, so came to the conclusion that PPR stands for Possible Points Remaining.

Same concept – the higher the PPR number, the better your chances are of moving up in the standings. At least until your champ pick goes down…

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 21, 2009 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well I'm still ranked high for some reason

but wake losing really ruined by bracket… Oh well I know my SOONERS are still going to win it all ;)

by KC in OK on Mar 21, 2009 5:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

ditto

had Wake in the final four

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 21, 2009 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honesty compels me to say,

I’d sure hate to be in my shoes. Whatthehell was I thinking when I made these picks??

Hey Lou, we're long overdue.

by deadcatbounce on Mar 21, 2009 7:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+ losing

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 21, 2009 11:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think this is the best I have done in a long time...

Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Mar 23, 2009 2:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

did anyone NOT have Wake going deeper?

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 23, 2009 3:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I had them losing in the first round

Course I had Siena beating Louisville (which almost happened but unfortunately almost only counts in horseshoes and grenades).

Boiler up! :-)

The shortest distance between two points is under construction.

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Mar 23, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I picked Cleveland St for the 1st round upset

…but then again, I’m old enough to remember when Kenny “Mouse” McFadden led the Run ‘n Stun offense back in ’86 when the Vikings made their run to the Sweet Sixteen. They upset Bobby Knight and Indiana in the first round, and took care of St. Joseph’s in the second round. Only a last-second tip-in by David Robinson of Navy kept Cleveland St. from going further that year.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 23, 2009 7:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sigh.....

Yep, I had Wake going deep……….Way too deep.

Hey Lou, we're long overdue.

by deadcatbounce on Mar 23, 2009 11:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had 'Zona

beating them in Round 2…

Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Mar 24, 2009 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm the worst

bracket picker on this site.

I didn't get the players I wanted in the offseason!! Hopefully I get what I want in the Regular Season---The World Series Trophy!! Go Cubbies!!

by cubsluver22 on Mar 23, 2009 9:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm in last, I believe...

Free Ronny Cedeno

by Kansas25 on Mar 24, 2009 10:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Good news and bad news

Bad news first. Yes, you’re in “last place” – well technically tied for last with a few others.

Good news. That’s only the first page – there are three pages of entries. So you’re actually doing pretty well.

As self-noted above, Cubsluver22 is bringing up the rear at this point. Still lots of games to play though.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 24, 2009 10:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ahhh....

I noticed that the second time I checked. Power to the 48th best!

Free Ronny Cedeno

by Kansas25 on Mar 28, 2009 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

After the first weekend

The first two rounds of the tournament are in the books, 3/4 of the teams are gone, and our pool is beginning to sort itself out.

Tied for first is Van BRuggen 1 and uwwrunner with bclark1989 3 alone in third. Seven more entries are tied for 4th.

Obama’s Bracket started very slowly – at one point he was 107th out of 112 valid entries – but his selections of solid seeds have paid off to move him into the middle of the pack.

Even with the upsets, simply picking a bracket based on seeding has that bracket at the 82nd percentile.

March Madness picks up again Thursday evening and by Sunday evening, we’ll have a Final Four and a very good idea who’s in contention in our pool and what they need to have happen to come out on top.

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on Mar 24, 2009 10:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs