MARCH MADNESS 2014 FINAL UPDATE
“Ollie, Ollie In Come Free”
Youthful coach guides Huskies to championshipWildcats “K.O..ed”
UConn 60 Kentucky 54
Monday night, April 7th, the Connecticut Huskies removed all doubt. Needing overtime to just get by their first round game against St. Joes, the boys out east lived the fighter’s creed of their never doubting coach, KO, Kevin Ollie, Monday night to take the #7 seed over the maturing Wildcats of Kentucky. Shabazz Napier named the tournament MVP and as scripted, fabulous guard play wins tournaments. Napier and his back court mate, Ryan Boatright, combined for 36 points in the game. Free throws were the key with Connecticut 10 of 10, and Kentucky a paltry 13 of 24. Although there were some tight moments, the Huskies never trailed. And to top it off, on Tuesday night, the lady Huskies defeated Notre Dame to capture the NCAA womens championship. Impressive.
Congratulations to our 2014 March Madness Champion
***Michael O.Connor***
Team O.Connor blew away the field with a combined 588 cumulative points, more than 25% over our second place finisher. Of course, as it is stated below, he was the only one to choose Connecticut in thefinal four and beyond, correctly choosing the Huskies as Champions. Michael is a newcomer to the March Madness tournament, friend of Chris Jesop, and a contractor for Fences Unlimited. Call 812-455-4854 for your free estimate!. Can’t say I know much more than you do at this point, but we welcome Mike to this elite group, and hope he won’t be a one and done, like those freshmen phenoms from the Bluegrass State. Hope you had time to read all about it Mike! Let’s get it on! Prophetic smack!!
Runner up is Les Bumm, the generous one. Less we not forget, a die hard Kentucky fan always takes their team, right Rowdy Gowdy?, but it must have been a total bummer for Les to watch the agonizing 40 minutes. Always next year however, with a fresh crop of freshman! Show me the money! But going with the heart was the wiser choice.
Third place to Craig Carter, another rookie in the field. Loyal member of the big blue network. Florida was his downfall had Kentucky won. Nevertheless, hands down, a great performance. Welcome Craig to the March Madness community. Now what is it again that you do? Just a little MM humor. Don’t know the Irishman above well enough to razz, but shur and begorrah what a show.
Fourth place and top female contestant, the ever inspiring and MOST generous Susanna Burkhead. Thank you again for your MOST kind donation!!!
Fifth place to John Anoskey, one of our MM originals. Best final four bracket with 3 of the finalists.
Sixth place to Dee Sanders. Take that Bengal Dave. I hope Dee did not have to endure watching the final game with you!
Seventh place to John Lamb, stung by Florida, but wasn’t enough. Good to have the rec however.
Eight place to Lebra Winiger. Glad we talked you into entering!. Also a Kentucky fan to the end, but I did not know you were such the prognosticator.
Ninth place to Greg Meyer. Picks did the talking and an electric performance until the bitter end.
Tenth place goes to Susan Sublett. Simply shocking. I think Susan does know the basketball is round, and usually orange. But for those of you who don’t know Susan, she is the face of the Warrick County Community Foundation and thanks to Susan’s efforts many years ago, we were able to start our March Madness Endowment Fund. Thanks for all your efforts for our community Susan!
Bridesmaid (eleventh place): Phil Gilson. Front runner til the Big Ten collapse. It was a lock.
Goat Award: Corey Greening. Yep, worst bracket in the field of 400 plus. 404th place trying to win and not trying to lose. Actually I am glad you won. Your arrears will be deducted. You are now in the clear, and back in good standing. Contact administration for any questions.
114th place (Championship game score 60-54=114 points=114th place. A tie. Michael Cleary and Steph Cooper split the hundred bucks
Last place: Your webmaster, Gary Gurtcheff
Semifinals recap
April 5th, 2014
UConn 63
Florida 53
They say a #7 seed has never been in the championship game. I say what’s in a number? Who legitimized the #7 seed anyway? A bunch of grey bearded soccer AD’s? UConn has tremendous talent, discipline, and a history of winning championships. Would people have been surprised had Connecticut say been a #3 or #4 seed? Anyway, the smart bet was on the Huskies, just as Michael O’Connor who vaulted from 209th place in our pool a few games ago, to the threshold of being crowned March Madness Champion, and a position of infamy. It’s almost comical, NOBODY took UConn to make it to the final four let alone win. Back to the game, Shabazz and his band of razamatazz continue to impress. Many would say Florida was the best team in the land this year, but not a chance when 2 of your 3 losses came at the hands of one team who denied you the championship game and placed themselves there instead. Scott Wilbekin of the Gators, the supposed next coming of Michael Jordan, was held to 4 points and frankly looked hapless, hapless, hapless.
Kentucky 74
Wisconsin 73
Now THIS was a game! In standard fare for the tournament, Aaron Harrison knocks down another game winning three point shot, this time from Fiesta, Texas! What was it a 30 footer with one foot nearly on the sideline? Absolutely incredible. And then on a great look from Traevon Jackson for the Badgers, the buzzer beating last effort bank shot was just a touch too much as the ball bounced off the front of the rim instead of through the nylon. What was to be was not to be. Wisconsin was right there, giving Kentucky a game few expected. A tournament record 19 of 20 from the free throw line and some fine 3-point shooting kept Kentucky on the ropes throughout. Kentucky’s brute force and street ball to the rim was nothing shy of frightening. For Wisconsin, ironic that only one free throw was missed, but that my friends was the first of three which would have put the Badgers up by three in the waning seconds of the game. Oh well, hard to say either team deserved this one more.
Administrative News
The Official Total paid pool entrees is 420. Your committee does their best to ensure integrity to the prize pool and covers several unpaid, or yet to be paid entries at this the time of final accounting, with additional personal donations to the charities to more than compensate. Curses to the slackers. Prize winnings will be based on this number. 80% of the entry fees goes to the prize pool, in the breakdown as listed in the opening letter at the start of the tournament. See the website for original details. WWW.GARYGURTCHEFF.COM We pay out the top ten and last place in addition this year to the GOAT and the place of finish of the totalscore of the championship game.
Charity News
20% of the original fees go to the charities in addition to the benevolent donations. This year we had a record 142 generous participants giving additional money to the charities!! Were you one of them??? Never to late to donate my friends! We would like to again, and again, thank the following top dollar donors this year for their very generous additional contributions to the March Madness tournament: Always look forward to opening these envelopes!!
Susanna Burkhead
Gary Gurtcheff
Lance & Stacy Payton
Mark Erickson
Jack Cleary Tom Waits Phil Gilson
Travis Farhar Mike Cleary Les Bumm
Dan Brown Rae Higdon Jim Heinrich
Joe Smith Patty Gowdy Ron Hall
Sammy Garau Steve Carter Colleen Martin
Dale Todd Patty Dewey Mike Cleary
Susan Gabel Brian Schymik Greg Willming
Keith Bratton Eric Miller Jim Wilsbacher
Further sizable donations were received from the following individuals:
Jim Heinrich Chris Combs Karen Rush
Alan Newman Rick Zeiher Randy Braun
Julia Leaf Pat Wempe Kenny Graves
Steve Warren
And the following:
Joel Bowers Keith Emge Judy McDonald
Amy Berkley Steve Warren Don Apple
S Joe Smith James Smith Scott Elliott
Paul Perry Lynn Sanders David Carlson
Jim Hall Gene Burnett Danny Winn
Amber Anslinger Dee Sanders Mike Head
Ross Whitacre Kevin Kalb Rob Wathen
Ann Morgan Lebra Winiger Tim Appell
Nick Beckort Steve Gilliam Bob Graper
Chris McConnell Dave Machisko
And thanks to all the rest of those listed below for your additional contributions:
Todd Herrenbruck Susan Sublett Pat Wempe
Danny Winn Larry Renschler Steve Ward
Mike Pyfferoen Bill Papineau Dave Massengale
Ron Tucker Chad Crislip Skip Oliver
Greg Meyer Lee Wagmeister Ashley Cissna
John Lamb Steve Anderson Wayne Hoskins
John Willis Steve Mank Brian Goffinet
Michael Lightner Melissa Wideman Diane Krug
Terry Roudenbush Dan Baumann Tom Weber
Chad Sander Bill Papineau John Miles
Paul Kainrath Wayne Hentrup Joe C. Smith
Brad Smith Matt Kern Lee Cissna
Jeff Smith Chris Tilley Ashley Cissna
Keith Emge Ron Eaton Bruce Fowler
Vince Prop Lois Davidson Tom Weber
Keith Miller Greg McComis Bev Marshall
Donnar Preziotti John Willis Don Barry
Ken Marshall Kevin Kalb Rae Higdon
Jeff Rhymer Kristen Mitchell Kevin Wetzler
Ervin Aeschliman Rick Wepsic
Wilma Herrenbruck Brian Wellman Terry Iafrate
Drew Bender Brandon Iafrate Ty Weber
Jim Pearson Chris Maynard Steve Elliott
Lisa Seitz Tom Rose Doug Petitt
Diane Paschall Chris Lowe Oscar McGee
...... $1680 was garnished from the entry fees to devote to our charitableendeavors. $6720 goes to the prize pool, plus another $100 for the Goat and $100 for the place of the total score of the championship game, compliments of your poolmaster. Thanks to your outstanding generosity, and some help from your administrators.................... $6520 has been received in additional donations.
For March Madness 2014...... Our GRAND TOTAL of CHARITABLE GIVING is:
............... $8200 to be donated this year. Yet another record!!!!
Thank you all for participating.
$5200 will be granted to the March Madness Endowment Fund administered through the Warrick County Community Foundation.
$1500 will go to Patchwork Central of Evansville
$1000 will go to the Covenant House in St. Louis as a one time additional donation.
$500 as a last minute decision, has been forwarded to Kuddles for Kids, administered by local GirlScout Troop 54. “We as a troop want to bring kuddles and comfort to children in the hospital, bringing a smile to brighten their day.” GSA Troop 54 is working on their Silver Award. They plan to make 500 fleece blankets this coming year for children at St. Mary’s hospital in Evansville and Riley Hospital in Indianapolis. Check out their website at kuddlesforkids.weebly.com Their efforts are to be commended and go along with the philosophy of the March Madness Endowment Fund, benefitting children and youth services in the Tri-State area.
We have now completed our eighteenth year of March Madness. Over the years, we have now generated over $80,000 in total giving. Should you so desire sometime this year, drop us a line or perhaps consider our funds for your future gifting. I would like to emphasize the latter. For better, for life! We have made three small grants in the past few years from investments. The endowed fund will always be there. The principal stays. The monies granted come from the investments administered through the Warrick County Community Foundation and the surrounding nine county alliance. Please keep us advised of any email changes. Email your comments and parting remarks...
JPMORGANMD@MAC.COM or GARYGURTCHEFF@MAC.COM
Winners. checks will be sent out by mail within the next couple of weeks. Charity proceeds will also be forwarded within the next few weeks. Be advised that your individual charity directed checks havenot yet been cashed to date.
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Congratulations to our Winners.
THE FINAL TALLY
2014 Top Ten Winnings
1st place Michael O’Connor (Evansville, IN) $2688
2nd place Les Bumm (Owensboro, KY) $1344
3rd place Craig Carter (Newburgh, IN) $672
4th place Susanna Burkhead (Gross Pointe, MI) $470
5th place John Anoskey (Evansville, IN) $336
6th place Dee Sanders (Louisville, KY) $269
7th place John Lamb (Evansville, IN) $202
8th place Lebra Winiger (Mt Vernon, IN) $202
9th place Greg Meyer (Haubstadt, IN) $134
10th place Susan Sublett (Boonville, IN) $134
LAST PLACE Gary Gurtcheff (Newburgh, IN) $269
Bridesmaid Phil Gilson (Evansville, IN) No Money
Goat Award Corey Greening (Newburgh, IN) $100
114th place Mike Cleary (Wichita, KS) $50
(tie) Steph Cooper (Carmel, IN) $50
420 Paid Entrees
“Be daring, be different, be impractical. Be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the common place, the slaves of the ordinary.”
--Cecil Beato