We Have A Champion!

                         This is Ed L.. He is the 2015 Extravaganza Champion
In an exciting finish to this year's festivities, Michigan State's overtime victory over Louisville clinched the crown for Ed L. (seen above with one of his many grandkids not named Jack S.). Ed L. chose three of the final four teams, including 7th seeded Michigan State for a whopping total of 7 points in this year's contest, narrowly outscoring Goose, Jack S., Adam S., Eric S., Corey W., and Flo W., who all had 6.5 points and another year of misery. When asked what he was going to do with the prize money, Ed L. replied,"I will selflessly give this blessing of unforeseen cash that has rained down upon me to my grandchildren, errrr, at least most of them anyway. I hereby declare that Jack S. will not get one penny of this. That little guy has been such a pain in my neck, endlessly giving me shit about his victory last year, that I vow to buy every kid in sight an ice cream cone, except him, every time I see him this coming year. That'll teach him to mess with me." When asked for his thoughts about this, Michael S. (Jack S.'s dad and Extravaganza co-founder and co-chair) had this to say,"I have long looked to Ed L. for family and fatherly advice, and appreciate him helping us put that little guy in his place."

                                                      This is Daskull
In other news, Daskull (seen above), was in such shock after a Louisville player missed a free throw with 4.9 seconds left in regulation to potentially win the game, that she didn't even notice her mom (Dawn F.) putting on that set of ears. Poor cat. Daskull goes from possibly being the first cat in history to win the Extravaganza, to the utter humiliation of wearing Michigan State colored bunny ears. Better luck next year Daskull.

Finally, the last order of business for this year's participants will be to please mail in your checks (with the payee left blank) as soon as possible to:

Corey Waggoner
PO Box 162
Mercer Island, WA 98040

Note: This is a different address than recent years when Michael S. was collecting checks. Michael S. is currently out of the country, and out of touch with reality, so there has been a change to our regular procedures. Thank you for your patience.

----------------------------------Wow!---------------------------------

                                                  6 of 9 go down in flames
As Arizona and Notre Dame crashed and burned today, so did the hopes of 6 of our 9 finalists. Goose, Adam S., Eric S., Flo W., Corey W., and Keller B. will all have to wait another year. Better luck next year, losers.

                                                  And then there were three
Past champion Phillip P., 2 time past champ Ed L., and Daskull are the three remaining ganzans to have a shot at the 2015 title. These three will be on the edge of their seats tomorrow as Louisville takes on Michigan State and Duke battles Gonzaga. If Michigan State wins, no matter who wins the other game, Ed L. will be only the second 3 time champ in Ganza history. If Louisville and Duke win, Phillip P. will be a 2 time champion, having chosen all four teams correctly. And if Louisville and Gonzaga win, we will crown a new champion in Daskull. No ties. No tie-breakers. No crying. We will have a victor tomorrow. Good luck you three!

Oh My......

                                                    A stunned Lisa L.
There was major carnage in Ganzaland Friday and Saturday. The fireworks began Friday when Natalie/Hannah, defending champ Jack S., Rae G., Tracy W., Murray S. and Ellen D. saw their demise. Saturday was even worse. 14 of the 17 who went down Saturday did so at the hands of Michigan State. When Dawn F.'s Oklahoma team lost to the Spartans, all those high seed picking hangers on were out. This batch included Otto G., Julie G., Ryan C., David G., Josh G., Lee L., Lucy/Anabelle, Tim S., Ryder G., Rose F., Dawn F., Prune, Michael B. and Michael F.. The other Saturday losers were Trevor G., Lisa L. and Andrew C.. When Lisa L., seen above, was reached for comment, she had this to say, "What can I say? I'm a little shocked I'm out, despite my 4th seeded Louisville team winning. At least I wasn't one of those high seed picking clowns, who in my opinion, got what they deserved. Really, there should be some sort of extra penalty for people like that. Would you want them living in your neighborhood? I sure wouldn't."

                                                       This is Goose
Goose is one of the Fab Five left in this year's Extravaganza who still have all four of their teams left in the Elite Eight. The others are Ed L., Flo W., Phillip P. and Adam S.. The other three contestants still in the running with the Fab Five are Eric S., Corey W., Daskull and Keller B.. Good luck to all.

9 Down, 9 Still Perfect ...Now let's get some BBQ!

           This is Flo W.. She is 91 years old... and co-leads this years festivities.
     In a somewhat quiet weekend by Extravaganza standards, 9 ganzans were left with all four of their teams heading to the Sweet 16. Flo W., seen above celebrating Notre Dame's overtime victory over Butler, joined Natalie/Hannah (sisters of reigning champ Jack S.), reigning champion Jack S., 2-time past champ Trevor G., Goose, past champ Phillip P., 2-time past champ Ed L., Adam S. (isn't he one of the Buffalo Bills fan guys?), and 3-time past champ Corey W. as the unscathed 9.

                                                        This is Frank G.

                                     This is how you're supposed to eat ribs
     Frank G., seen above eating ribs soon after being the first contestant eliminated in this year's Final Four Extravaganza, is a long time Ganza participant and has the sympathy of the Organizing Committee. When reached for comment, Extravaganza co-chair Michael S. (who was also eliminated today), had this to say about Frank G., "While I feel for him and appreciate his years of allegiance to the festivities, he's got to learn how to get down and dirty. Staying neat and clean is no way to eat ribs, and quite honestly, a disgrace to anyone who has ever partaken of the delightfully scrumptious delectable sacred ritual."
     Joining Frank G. and Michael S. in this year's first round of losers are Evan B., Jon T., Pappy, LA Frank G., Mo/Lucas (who foolishly chose their newly adopted "hometown" team Ohio St.), Danny D., and Shelby W. (ahh, poor guy). Better luck next year, losers!

         

                                                               Genius

                                                               Genius

                                                               Genius

                                                               Genius?
Andrew C. drops 2 teams and still has a chance to win!?!
     Two time past champion Andrew C. flirted with history today. He nearly became the first and only Ganzan to ever lose all four teams the first day. First it was Iowa State that went down in flames. Then it was Baylor who screwed the pooch. Seeing the writing on the wall, the Extravaganza Selection Committee was pulling for Mr. C. to make history... but it was not to be. His 6th seeded Butler team held on down the stretch, and his 8th seeded NC St team made a last second shot to beat LSU (who missed it's last 12 shots, 6 crucial free throws, and blew a 16 point lead in the last four minutes). Suddenly Andrew C. was in a position to potentially make history in a different way, by joining Corey W. as only the second three time champion in Extravaganza history. When asked for his thoughts, the confident yet delicate genius of Mr. C. shone through in these subtle musings:  "It's really working out just as I planned. Everything is falling right into place. It's like Lao Tzu once said, 'A couple more wins, and I'll be able to buy you. Now get out of my face.'"
     In other happenings, SMU got the short end of the stick to UCLA on a questionable last second goaltending call, causing two Ganzans, including Michael S. (who's only hope now is a tie with five other people), to drop a team. The first day totals were:
Iowa State - 11 people
Baylor - 3 people
SMU - 2 people
     Get out your sharpies and let the slashing begin. Good luck tomorrow everyone!

Scandal Rocks the 'Ganza and We've Only Just Begun!

This is Kristin S. She's the first casualty of the 26th Annual Final Four Extravaganza. I know what you're thinking. How can someone be knocked out of the tournament before it's even begun? Well, it appears that Ms. S. has been a longtime customer of Shelby W.'s and he's been steadily raising his fee on poor Kristin S. leaving her with no recourse but to bow out of this year's 'Ganza. "It's very hard on me, as I love participating in the Extravaganza, but I simply can not make the finances work this year. Shelby W. has nearly bankrupted us," Ms. S. said.

But when this reporter questioned her further, following up on a lead that the real reason for Kristin's withdrawal was her over-competitive nature, a malady common to short people, and the fact that she has never won the pool after participating steadily for over a decade she responded thusly:

Regardless of any obscene gestures from Ms. S. we are certain she has a point regarding Shelby W. He has been at the center of virtually every scandal in Extravaganza history so it comes as no surprise to us that he's finally caused someone to eliminate themselves from the tournament. Here's a shot of him after he finished with Kristin S.

Shameful, no?

Well, on to the tournament. This year we have 41 participants challenging for the right to $2050. Please send your checks in right away to the address to the left. Remember to leave the payee blank. Good luck everyone!

Stop This Little Shit Before He Wins Again

Since winning the 25th Annual Final Four Extravaganza, Jack S. has become full of himself. He refuses to take his sunglasses off, no matter the occasion and when the subject is broached he shrugs and says, "I gotta be me, babe". Of course, his behavior is somewhat understandable. After all, in his 22 months of life all he's ever known is that the Seahawks play in the Super Bowl and that he's Extravaganza Champion.

Which is why, as his father, I'm begging you: Don't let him win again. It's tearing our family apart. Every day he taunts his sisters, rubbing their noses in the fact that he won in his first try while they have been playing for years with nothing to show for it. He's insufferable and I'm afraid that one of these days Natalie or Hannah are gonna make him disappear. 

As understandable as that would be, we can't let it happen. His mother and I have grown quite attached to him and so, we need your help. Enter the 26th Annual Final Four Extravaganza. Hell, enter two or three times, if you like. Just make sure you pick wisely, because we can't bear the idea of this little S.O.B. winning again. Our family may not survive another year of Jack's dominance. 

Please. We're begging. Help Stop the Madness.

Call or email your picks in by an hour after the last play-in game Wednesday night, March 18th. Good luck everyone. We must stop Jack S. 

Think of the Children.