Bracket Challenge Wrap Up!

Ashton's Bracket Challenge '10 has been over for a couple of weeks. First, let me congratulate Crayson for winning in his rookie year! Here are the final standings:

1. Crayson 119 (Duke and Butler, who knew? Apparently, you!)

2. Blake 104 (Duke Finally did it for ya!)

3. Leigh 74 (One upped your wife, could you make it any closer?)

4. Michelle 73 (So Close to beating Leigh, so close)

5. Ashton 67 (Stinkin Kansas!)

6. Bryan 65 (Curses to Georgetown!)

7. Eric 64 (I thought you were going to take it!)

8. Ali 63 (What? No mascot fights this year?)

9. DeeAnn 62 (all top seeds? It'll never happen)

10. Tyson 59 (beat by DeeAnn, nothing more to say)

11. Ashlee 57 (It is more fun to watch the games with something on the line, isn't it?)

12. Curtis 56 (We will chalk this one up to being too busy with your Master's degree)

13. London 52 (Someday Pittsburg will win it for you, someday)

14. Devon 48 (two years in India is apparently too much time away from basketball to do well here)

15. Dexter 42 (you can only go up from here little guy)

16. Kevin 32 (If only you had picked odds instead of evens, maybe next year)

17. Stratton 27 (Rookie year winner of the “Better Luck Next Year Award”)

As you can see, Crayson took home the victory with Blake being the only one near him. We had quite a few newcomers this year including Crayson, DeeAnn, Ashlee (a friend from school), Dexter (he picked by his favorite toy), Kevin (also a friend from Pharm school), and Stratton. Hopefully it will continue to grow next year. Ali and I decided that Devon and I get to add duct tape to the trophy from the years we won, so, mine is now on there and Devon will have to add his after he gets home. As for last year's winner, here is what Ali added to the trophy:

As you can see she added a nice jersey to the bowling man (she says she can't make pants until she wins again) Here is the official hand off photos (unfortunately, we couldn't be together, so, they aren't actually handing it off, it will be in the mail soon):

Way to go Crayson! This year's Better Luck Next Year Award goes to Stratton! I have decided to make this award permanent and what good is an award without a prize? I am proud to unveil the official Better Luck Next Year Award! (Hopefully, it will help):

They are kind of blurry. The front says; Ashton's Bracket Challenge and the Year. The back says: March Madness, Better Luck Next Year Award, and in the middle Flip It, to Win It. Thanks to everyone for playing, I hope to see you all next year!

"The Big Dance"

Well March has come and gone and so has college basketball. Last night we had "The Big Dance" bash. The game between North Carolina and Michigan State was a bit disappointing to watch. Nobody likes to see a game where one team just gets slaughtered, especially in such a big championship. However, the pizza was good, the cupcakes were great, but to top the night, Alison won the trophy! That is right! She took down the powerhouse Castillo family and pulled a win for her husband. Now he finally has the trophy in his house. Here are the final standings:

1. Alison
2. Eric Quinney
3. Blake Higley
4. Elder Dex (Devon)
5. Tyson Johnson
6. Michelle
7. Leigh
8. Ashton
9. Brian Jenks
10. Curtis
11. London
12. Dallas

It was a lot of fun and our newcomers proved to be quite the contenders. Alison's new strategy of picking the winning team was a great success. She determined the winners by their mascots, which animal/thing would win in a fight in real life. Apparently, it matters what your mascot is and apparently North Carolina's Tar Heels(a ram) are the dominant animal.

Here are the pictures of the trophy "ceremony"..

Michelle passing on the trophy...

The winner

And here is Ashton's bracket door. He just couldn't leave Yahoo! in charge of determining the winner, he had to do it manually as well.


This bout of madness was fun and thank you to all who participated in it this year!

March Madness

As February is winding down, our household is nothing but a buzz of basketball. You see March is coming and that can only mean one thing: College Basketball. Oh yes, it is that time of year again. The time for everyone to fill out their brackets for Ashton's Bracket Challenge and hope that they picked the right teams. The prize for all of this madness, the "Big Dance" party put on by the Jenks where the winner of the challenge is awarded the bowling trophy with duct tape at the base for your name. Haaa, life can't get much better than this.