Newcomer Steals The Show... And Our Money!

This is Jack S. He just won the 25th Annual Final Four Extravaganza.

Twenty four years after his father convincingly dominated and won the inaugural Extravaganza (taking home a breathtaking $75 in prize money) back in 1990,  Michael S.'s son Jack S. followed in his father's footsteps. When reached for comment, Michael S. said, "This is one of the proudest days of my life." After thinking the microphone was turned off and the interview over, Michael S. could be heard saying, "It's about time this kid started carrying his own weight around here. All he's been doing this last nine months is eating, sleeping, and costing me money. I've got big plans for this sudden influx of dough I'm about to receive." When reminded that HE technically didn't win , Michael S. then chimed in with an indignant, "Oh yes I did. In a very real and legally binding sense!"

This is Jack S. when Kentucky sank a 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left to win the game.

To complete this story, we went to some family friends of Jack S. to see what they had to say. Corey W. offered this, "I'm happy for my little buddy, joining me in the Hall of Champions. Picking a #8 seed in the Final Four and accumulating 7.5 points is nothing to sneeze at. The only thing that chaps my hide is that my own daughters, Lucy/Anabelle, were rooting for Jack S. and not me!" When asked what she had to say, Lucy responded, "What, baby Jack won!?! So what, everyone has to pay him? Does he even have a piggy bank?"

While we here at the Extravaganza offices congratulate our newest champion, there have been some as of yet unsubstantiated rumors of foul play. Unconfirmed reports state that money may have been paid to a certain Kentucky Senator prior to game time. Strings may have been pulled, officiating may have been influenced, and a stuffed turtle looking much like the artist's rendering below may have come into play. Again, it is unclear right now, but stay tuned, a scandal could be in the works. 

Finally,  as we all mail in our checks, slink back in our chairs, and wait for next year, it appears that as of now, Jack S. will have the last laugh (see video below).

And then there were six

This is David G. and Charlie F. . Arizona just went down... and so did they.

After a tough day in Ganzaland, eight more unsuspecting contestants went down. The way it's looking now, if Kentucky wins tomorrow, we have a winner in first time contestant (and almost 1 year old) Jack S. . If Michigan wins, we have a 4 or 5 way tie, depending on if UConn upsets Michigan State or not. So other than determining Mo/Lucas's fate, the UConn/Mich St game has no other impact on who will win this year's Final Four Extravaganza. The final six, pictured below, are Jack S., Phillip P., Mo/Lucas, Corey W., Curt J., and Ann G. . Check the side of the blog for tie breaker details if Michigan beats Kentucky tomorrow, and best of luck to the final 6.

Louisville goes down and takes the Unimaginative 7 with them!

This year's hard luck Ganza participants are the 7 poor souls who all chose the same exact teams. Even though they all had 3 teams make it into the Elite 8, which is no small feat, the Unimaginative 7 could not survive a lone defeat and when Louisville lost, they were out. That's right, 7 in one blow! That's what can happen when you pick what is essentially chalk.

Andrew C., Michael F., Pappy D., Josh G., Frank L.A., and the Sad Sack Brothers S. ( pictured above, yes these sorry fellows also happen to be Bills fans) are done. Finished. Kaput.

But they aren't the only ones. There was much carnage in the round of 16. A total of 18 participants didn't make it to the weekend and it would have been worse were it not for the presence of Dayton and UCONN in the Elite 8, teams that no one in the Extravaganza had the foresight to select.

The others who now have no hope are: Michael S., Natalie/Hannah, Lee L., Jon T., Ed L., Ellen D., Shelby W., Evan B., Steve P., Goose, Ann G., and Ryder G.

Ganza Field Whittled Down by 11!

This is Tim S. after Witchita St missed a last second shot, went down in flames,  and eliminated him from the 25th Annual Final Four Extravaganza.

In an exciting weekend of upsets and good games, 11 Ganzans are now officially out of the running. Some are obvious, and some take a little mathematical cunning to deduce, but this year's opening weekend losers are: Ryan C., Anabelle/Lucy, Peter B., past champion Julie G., 2 time past champ Trevor G., Paul P., Long time participant and Ganza Organizing Committee favorite Dawn F., Daskull, Rose F., and Prune. When 7 year old Lucy was reached for comment she said, "What!?! I  got screwed! I didn't even get to choose my teams!". Her 5 year old sister Anabelle added, "What's the Ganza?"

This is Andrew C.. He still has all his teams.

Andrew C. and his crew of 7 (Josh G., Eric S., Adam S., Michael F., Pappy D., and Frank LA) all have FLA-ARIZ-MICH ST-LOUISVILLE. Meanwhile, lurking along side them are a smaller group of 3 (Phillip P., Corey W., & Ann G.) who have FLA-WISC-MICH ST-LOUISVILLE. Needless to say, if Michigan St and/or Louisville go down, these two crews will be in a world of hurt. While there are many people still in it with some great picks, one dark horse newcomer is lurking in the shadows with four teams of his own still left... Jack S.. When contacted, 1 year old Jack S.'s dad Michael S. said, "Yeah, he doesn't say much, but he knows his college hoops. He's been stealing my money in our weekly bets all year long."

 This is Jim Harbaugh again. He is still a loser.

The picks page has also been updated.

------------------------------LOSERS!--------------------------------

This is Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Harbaugh. They are losers.

The first two days of the 25th Annual Final Four Extravaganza were filled with upsets. #3Duke, #5VCU, #6Ohio St, #7NM and #5Okla all went down, taking Jon T., Ryan C., Lee L., Anabelle/Lucy, Kristin S., Julie G., Ryder G., and David G. down a notch with them. While these fellow ganzans may have a tougher road ahead than most of us, they may not have as tough a time as Steve P. . Steve P. has just two teams left after the first round. If we really wanted to be mean, we could add Steve P.'s photo to those above. But being a long time upstanding patron of the ganza does have it's perks, and this is one of them. Then again, if we had a photo of Steve P., it might not be. Regardless, we here at the Ganza offices wish Steve P. the best of luck moving forward. 

The Seattle Seahawks are World Champions!

Those of us at the 25th Annual Final Four Extravaganza Organizing Committee wanted to take a moment to remind all of you that the Seattle Seahawks are World Champions. Of course, there's also this matter of the NCAA tournament which begins tonight and there are some interesting facts to point out about your selections. 

This year 44 people have entered, which means the winner will walk away with $2,200. Of these 44 entrants a staggering 28 of them have chosen Michigan State and 23 have selected Louisville. What's even more remarkable is that 19 people have tabbed both Michigan State and Louisville. If those teams go down early there are going to be many people in a world of hurt.

But what's truly amazing about this year's Extravaganza is that we have a record 7 people with the exact same picks! Yes, Andrew C., Michael F., Pappy D., Frank/Rowan, Josh G. and the sad sack S Brothers, Adam and Eric, all find themselves in the position of having to root for a 7 way playoff and that before one game has been played!

But fear not, you Magnificent 7. For remember, the Seattle Seahawks are World Champions. May this fact help warm you during the following fortnight. 

Good luck everyone. 

This is Lorenzo Romar. Yes, he looks befuddled. His Washington Huskies are not in the NCAA Tournament for the 3rd consecutive season and thus he has invited ridicule from the 25th Annual Final Four Extravaganza Organizing Committee.

Two years ago he couldn't make the tournament with two NBA first round draft picks on his roster. Last year his team merely stunk. This season they were unwatchable. One more year out of the tourney and we won't have Lorenzo Romar to kick around anymore. (Those of you under 50 should use the tubes of the internets to google this phrase. Learn something. Life isn't all snapchats, tinders and twittering or tweeting. Or whatever.)

Now, on to the tournament.

Welcome back everyone to the Extravaganza! This is our 25th year! Who'd have thunk (again, use the google) that we'd ever make it this far or grow this old. I can remember our first year when 3 headstrong lads (Corey W., Mike S. and Shelby W,) decided to give this March Madness thing a go and a quarter of a century later we're still going strong.

Thanks to all of you, the little people, for making it possible. And me. Nothing could happen without me. You'd all still be sending faxes and using the postal service were it not for me.

Get your picks in by 8pm PDT, Wednesday March 19th and may God have mercy on your souls.