BUTLER, BUTLER, BUTLER!

Big Dance News
Vol. 27 No. 5 March 29, 2010

BUTLER, BUTLER, BUTLER!
SONNY JOEL LEADS THE PACK
Chapple One Point Back in 2nd
Schirk Squeezes Past Psaros to Lock Up Last

"Hoosiers, The Sequel" is playing on a television set near you. Tune in this weekend, even if your bracket has been deep sixed, to witness the Bulldogs' historic run - your grandchildren will ask you about it years from now.

And in The Biggest dance, first time Dancer Sonny Joel carries the slimmest of leads into the Final Four, having parlayed successful picks of Duke and West Virginia to the top of the pack and locking up the number 1 spot in 50% of possible outcomes. Ken Chapple, currently a single point behind Joel, will take the gold in 3 of 8 scenarios and, remarkably, Chapple's 2nd entry (the lone entry selecting Butler as National Champ and the only Dancer to pick 3 of the Final Four) will finish first should Butler beat Duke in the final. In all, twenty Dancers remain in the battle for money finishes in this year's upset-laden Big Dance.

Among those with serious money in their sights is none other than Big Dance veteran, Max Kern, who achieves a payday if West Virginia wins their next game. Max, currently in 21st, is a battle-tested Big Dancer who has a multi-year history of leaving father Peter (now in 85th) and mother Kirsten (201st) in his dust. And at the advanced age of 10, Max has put most of the rest of us to shame as well.

The sad truth is that, by and large, this year's winner is the Dance itself. Upsets galore, two 5th seeds in the Final Four, the power conferences taking their lumps early and often - a combination that left many experienced Dancers (as well as many neophytes) scratching their heads and waiting for next year. Bob Mendelsohn, a 27 year veteran of The Dance, escaped the curse and has positioned himself out-of-the-money but ina very respectable 29th position. Last year's winner, Morgatu, has also managed a respectable showing and is currently seated in 69th. But others, none more noteworthy than Jack Nusbaum, (except for perhaps The Commissioner himself), struggled to stay out of the caboose. Speaking of the caboose, in a race as exciting as the competition for the top spot, Master Schirk pulled a rabbit out of his hat to barely squeeze past Mike Psaros into last place, where he is certain to remain until next year.

DEADBEATS: PAY NOW, OR SLEEP WITH ONE EYE OPEN. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.