Final Four is set, Ostertag Plaque in the Balance

What an exciting final four this will be. The absolute BEST thing about the 2009 Final Four is that for the first time in I don't know when, I will best my fellow Brassmates in the standings, no matter what the outcome!

:P

That little doo-hickey above is me sticking out my toungue at Dan and Bill.

Anyway, North Carolina, Michigan St, Villanova, and Connecticut should provide us many thrills next weekend.

We will do our best to get the next issue of the Gazette out this Friday, along with the popular final four reference, the Scoring Possibilities Matrix!

Michigan St. 64, Louisville, 52

See picture below to see what Pooh-Bah looks like as he loses his third final four team. And no, Pooh-Bah doesn't look like a star player from NDSU or a bunch of balloons.

Pooh is Blue

This is what somebody looks like after they lose two of their final four teams in a span of five minutes.

Wimp Factor to the Rescue

The Sweet 16 in this year's tournament contains only TWO teams seeded higher than 4th: Purdue in the West (a five seed), and Arizona in the Midwest (a twelve seed).

This will likely drive scores of 'Ganza Prognosticators in the same direction of the next Pixar movie that the Pooh-Bah can't wait to see, since we are typically high in the wimp factor category in the 'Ganza.

The first round jinx may just take the year off, with both Patricia Thomas and Bruce Hammersmith in the top two spots on the standings, after leading the pack with 28 points after the first round.

I'm happy to report that, at least for now, I am ahead of both my Brass Counterparts. But as all you veterans know by now, a few games either way can cause drastic changes in the standings.

Let us know what you think by posting comments -- see related Blogging 101 message sent separately.

Blahg about who's going to emerge from the Sweet 16 to the Final 4, or better yet, Blahg about the BGP Brass!

Pooh-Bah Wants to be Ben Woodside when he grows up

KU 84 - NDSU 74

Great game for sure. Was tough rooting against my old fave the Jayhawks, but not too tough. I was happy to see that we (and yes, I can say "we" because I'm an alum) held our own in our first game on the big stage, forcing one of the best teams in the nation to play an excellent game in order to beat us.

The picture is how I might have turned out had I any athletic abilities.

The 2009 'Ganza is LIVE and accepting entries !!!

We are pleased to announce that the 2009 Basketball Tournament Prediction Extravaganza is underway! Dan and I have been feverishly coding the bracket with the correct teams while Bill was sipping a latte in the West Coast BGP Office.

To make your picks, head over to our home page at www.ganza.com and follow the links. Remember to correctly enter your ID number – you will be directed to a page to find your ID number before you get to the bracket.

Don’t forget to invite your friends – but tell them to hurry to get their picks in, as we are only accepting 150 new prognosticators this year. Remember that if you have been in the ‘Ganza before, you are automatically reserved a spot in the 2009 ‘Ganza.

While you’re on the web site, you’ll want to download the latest edition of the critically acclaimed ‘Ganza Gazette, which is here:

www.ganza.com/files.htm

You’ll also want to order the 2009 ‘Ganza T-Shirt, which is a lovely purple and gold in honor of the Whittier College Poets! Unfortunately Whittier College was one of the last bubble teams that didn’t make the field of 64. We here at BGP Enterprises don’t count the lame play in game as a team.

The last link on our web site you’ll want to check out is the auction for the unclaimed 2008 Ostertag Plaque. As documented in the ‘Ganza Gazette, the BGP Brass are auctioning off a chance to be a part of ‘Ganza history by winning your own Ostertag Plaque! The auction is open until Wednesday night, March 18th, and a bidding war has already begun! Add your bid to the fray here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320349128105

Finally, as you can see the Tournament Selection Committee thought they’d play a nasty joke on Old Pooh, by matching up his beloved alma mater, the North Dakota State Bison, and his boyhood favorite team the Kansas Jayhawks, in a first round game. I’ll let you guess who I’ll have winning on my bracket.

Pooh, Jayhawks, Bison oh my...

Hello Ganza fans, our beloved Pooh is going to be sweatin' in the first round. Who to pick? His beloved Jayhawks or his heart team; the Bison. Please let me know "who the Pooh will send through"

It looks the Director will be making a road trip to the 1st Round in Portland, Or. A fellow Ganza prognosticator just gave me a ticket. I will blog from there and will be wearing my Gonzaga and Ganza shirts proudly. It would seem that the similar pronunciation of the Zags and Ganza may mean some destiny? You hear the similarity, right?

Win Yourself An Ostertag Plaque

As documented in Volume 17, Number 1 of the critically acclaimed 'Ganza Gazette, the auction for the unclaimed 2008 Ostertag Plaque is now LIVE !!! Here's the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320349128105

Bid early, bid often, and prepare to enter 'Ganza History!!!

Bloggin Bout the Bison !!!!!!

It is with great pride that I announce the happy news that my alma mater, the North Dakota State Bison, have reached the BIG DANCE in their first year of eligibility! I am so proud -- they couldn't've done it without me and my tuition money on which the baskeball program was built all those years ago.

Look for the Thundering Herd to receive a 13 or 14 seed this Sunday. Then watch in the subsequent weeks to see the first ever 13 or 14 seed win the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!

Ah, March -- Indeed!

Orders for 2009 'Ganza T-Shirts are now being taken!

For 2009, the BGP Brass have caved into the pressure of the many local prognosticators who have been WHINING for a ‘Ganza shirt with colors similar to their favorite NFL football team, the Minnesota Vikings. The end result is a smashing Purple and Gold ‘Ganza shirt! This could also be a favorite of Los Angeles Lakers fans, LSU alumni, or all of you who follow the Whittier College Poets!

Of course, this year’s model will still have our world famous catchy slogan on the back. Shirts cost $25.00 for most sizes (including shipping & handling). To get an idea what this shirt looks like in real life, look at the many photographs in the multimedia archives. Orders will be accepted up until the day after the championship game.

Head over to the 'Ganza Shopping Boutique to order your purple and gold 'Ganza T-Shirt TODAY!!!