After a rough opening day to the 2015 Tournament, we are back!…..with a vengeance. Another 12 folks are stepping to the plate today, only 6 of which will be advancing to the next round in this year’s Tournament (sparing calling Dibs on a forfeited advancement, that is).
But first, to honor America, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing our National Anthem:
Just like yesterday, each of the 12 competitors were posed the same request — Name something people do to cool down on a hot summer day — but, unlike yesterday, most folks submitted responses. (#HateHateHate) 😉 That said, let’s get to the game play with the first match-up of this, the second day, of the first round, of the 2015 May Mayhem Tournament of Champions.
Kristen vs. Erin
Kenton Region
I’ve known Kristen since back in the UP days when we were both RAs. Since that beginning, though, I’ve had some great memories with her — like meeting the GOAT (Jerry Rice), as well as attending the final (flag) football game to be held at Candlestick Park, prior to its demolition. All the while, her fanfare of all things British, her penchant for parody songwriting, and being an exceptionally good person (a regular name in the Ryan Awards – Most Benevolent category); Kristen is great. While I’ve known Erin for far less amount of time than Kristen, Erin is probably one of the few people, that I know, who is likely as excited as I am for “Jurassic World”, haha. Additionally, Erin is also an incredibly kind person, with a great sense of humor, and (when I worked with her) was always great to chat with the few times she was in my building. But let’s see how both these awesome people play the game!!
I have my first three responses on the board…
Kristen and Erin were asked the question: “Name something people do to cool down on a hot summer day” …
Kristen is up first and she responded with…….
No answer. That’s how it goes sometimes. So, let’s turn to Erin and see what she has in response to: “Name something people do to cool down on a hot summer day”…
Ooo, another no answer. Well, we will turn to the coin toss to determine the advancing party — with Kristen, as the higher seed, being “Heads” and, Erin, thus, being “Tails”. And the Just Flip A Coin advancement goes to……. Kristen! (Heads) While Kristen advances to the second round of the Tournament, her spot is vulnerable to be stolen on the Dibs!
Nicole vs. Jay
Arbor Region
While I went to the U with Jay, I mostly only knew “of” him back in those days, as we didn’t have much of a social overlap. However, being one of the few 49er Faithful that still reside in this fair city (that I know of and enjoy being around), I’m very excited to get back to football Sundays in the next few months. Nicole, on the other hand, I know really well from a few years back, and she has — in addition to a collection of Ryan Awards — the lone experience of what it takes to win this Tournament multiple times (as a 2x Champion of Champions). So, she’s here to play and she likes to play, so we’ll see how Jay prepares for this difficult first-round match-up.
I have my first three responses on the board…
Jay is up first, since he buzzed in at 5:02am…… 5:02…AM….I have no idea why he was up at 5am but, wow. That may not seem early to other folks…. but that’s a full 2hrs before I even think about getting up. Dios mio, man. Dios mio. In response to: “Name something people do to cool down on a hot summer day” …Jay went with: “Go swimming” — SURVEEEEEY SAYS!………
Okay, Jay is on the board with 15 points. Nicole has an opportunity to win the game, and advance to the 2nd round, if she answers either higher-scoring response that still on the board. Nicole, “Name something people do to cool down on a hot summer day” …… “Go to the movies, where they have AC”. That’s what I do – going to the movies, where it’s air-conditioned, get some food/drinks, hopefully a good show, it’s awesome and is one of my favorite summer past-times. I look forward to June when “Jurassic World” is released. Anyway, SURVEEEEY SAYS!……..
And, just like that, Nicole gets the 5-point win and advances to the next round of the Tournament. However, Jay will have an opportunity to get back in to the Tournament, if he wants to, by calling Dibs on one of the spots that are vulnerable to be claimed via Dibs! (I’m liking the “Dibs” addition to the game play this year; even if folks like BDub are trying to be ridiculous with it.)
Jason vs. Aaron
Arbor Region
What makes this match-up interesting is because Maui and I are probably the only ones who know both of them…. well, maybe BDub does, too — as Jason came over to the cook out and game-day last summer. Regardless, true Dark Horses in this Tournament! It’s only fitting that I’d match them up against each other in the first round. So as not to ruin the just-moments-ago-established-Dark-Horse-status, I will say that Aaron and Jason are both fun guys that I don’t hang out with all that often but some fun conversations have certainly been had when our social paths have crossed.
I have my first three responses on the board…
Aaron was the first to respond, and he went with: “People go to the pool to cool off in the summer. Or have a water fight.” — We already know that it’s up there, so let’s see it….!
This gives Jason the opportunity to stay alive in the game. Jason, “Name something people do to cool down on a hot summer day” — with a chance to swoop in and steal the win — DOES. HE. DO. IT?!?!?! SURRRRRRRVEY SAYS…….
Nope. Well, he would have (his response was about turning on the AC), but he didn’t get his response in on time. My guess? I think that maybe he didn’t write himself a note that his day in the Tournament was today, and because of that little mistake, he’s now out of the 2015 May Mayhem Tournament of Champions.
But Aaron is not — onward to the second round for that gent!
Kirsten vs. Jennifer
Portsmouth Region
Another interesting first-round match-up is this one between Kirsten and Jennifer. Similarly to the Aaron/Jason match-up above, I may be one of the few who know both of them — Jennifer who frequently posts funny Some ECards (which, usually, show up on my News Feed); and Kirsten who tends to be the only way I get to play kickball nowadays…. as her and her team host scrimmages sometimes that I’m able to get in on. As many of you know, I’m not a fan of the pay-to-play kickball leagues, here in town. This isn’t the desert where grass fields are at a premium or controlled by a tight-fisted Park Czar; no, we have the ability to play on any of the parks at almost any time — so why pay to do it? Unless it’s sloshball, I have no interest in paying to play. Join my revolution!! But about Kirsten and Jennifer, they’re both incredibly hard-working, fun people, and while I don’t see either of them all that often, they’re always incredibly kind to me when I do see them…. as if I do see them quite often; and that’s always nice.
I have my first three responses on the board…
Jennifer got to the buzzer first, and she responded with….. “Swimming” ….just like, seemingly, everyone else today, haha. We know it’s up there, let’s see it!!!
Kirsten actually had the same response (“Go swimming”), but, just as in the game-show, since Jennifer got to the buzzer first, Jennifer gets the point and, thus, the win and advancement to the second round of the Tournament next week! However, Kirsten is able to get back into the Tournament via the “Dibs” option — which is making me very excited to see how that gets executed in a few days!
Andy vs. Amy
St. Johns Region
I’m not sure who I have known longer between Andy and Amy — it’s very close. On the one hand, I graduated with Amy from the U and, thus, it is possible that we met freshman year…. but I don’t recall. (Freshman year was a long time ago, haha.) Meanwhile, I lived kitty-corner across the hall from Andy my sophomore year and some fun Villa times were had. One similarity between the two: I don’t think that I have seen either of them in many, many, many years. So long, in fact, that I don’t know if I remember what they sound like, either. Weird how memory works; because I can remember interacting with them…. but the audio recollection isn’t reliable; it’s like when they dub over English movies into Spanish — they use the same Spanish voice-actor each time. There are probably thousands/millions of people who have no idea what Brad Pitt actually sounds like (I thought of “Fight Club” for some reason). Anyway, Andy and Amy are both really awesome and fun folks that I would certainly hang out with more, if we all didn’t live in different states. Let’s see how their match up went….
I have my first three responses on the board…
Andy was another one who texted me before I woke up this morning with his response, which, like a lot of the other folks who texted me, “Go swimming, as per ‘The Sandlot'” — which is very true. The swimming pool scene is one of those iconic movie scenes, I reckon. Wendy Peffercorn, up on her post, oiling and lotioning… lotioning and oiling….smiling. Drove Squints mad…. and, through madness, he made the BOLDEST move that any kid — real or fiction — has ever made. Wendy dug it, though; they had like 9 kids, I believe. Anyway, we know that “swimming” is on the board….
Amy actually had the same response (“Go swimming”), but, just as in the game-show, since Andy got to the buzzer first, he gets the point and, thus, the win and advancement to the second round of the Tournament next week! However, Amy is able to get back into the Tournament via the “Dibs” option — which is making me very excited to see how that gets executed in a few days!
AND NOW…. we move on to the final match of the day: the Marquee Match-Up between two kickball teammates, tree-climbing partners, and bitter Tournament enemies…. coming out of the insanely competitive Portsmouth Region…. BDub vs. Darius (Aric)!!!
BDub vs. Darius/Aric
Portsmouth Region
BDub and I go way back to junior year at the U, where we collaborated on many great events that made the U, and life (in general), a better place. Many know BDub for his penchant for the hate – as a multi-Ryan Award winner for Hater of the Year, one should expect no less – but I know him to be a pretty solid guy, and a good friend that you can depend on. Darius/Aric — I have no idea where the Darius comes from; I think it’s one of those mysterious nicknames like Benedict Chowderpants (mysterious because I don’t know the origin tale). Regardless, my interactions with him have largely been kickball related, but he’s another one of those fun folks that I know through other people and enjoy hanging out with when social paths cross. Both good guys so let’s see how they do in Tournament play.
I have my first three responses on the board…
Even though Darius/Aric sent in his response at 6:42am (also before I woke up), he wasn’t quicker than BDub to the buzzer, as BDub put in his response last night — on top of his game, I’d say!! And his response, a variation of the common response for today, haha: “Float The River.” And, yes, we know it’s up there, so let’s see it one….last….time.
Now, because Aric also went with the same “swimming”-theme, the tie-breaker goes to BDub for his prompt and efficient course to the buzzer. However, Aric — by virtue of playing — is still able to re-enter the Tournament, via the “Calling Dibs”, at the end of the first round action. So, there very well could be another BDub/Darius rematch in this year’s Tournament…. a prospect that intrigues me to no end.
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Since just about everyone, apparently, is big into swimming or floating, let’s see what my first response was:
Drinking. Of course. I don’t know how no one went with that one right away. It’s not truly summer time, in my opinion, until I’m on a deck somewhere enjoying a Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka with iced lemonade. If the sizzling grill is the sound of summer, that is certainly the taste of summer.
Mmm…. sweet tea vodka + lemonade. Good times.
Well, that will do it for Day 2 and we’ll be back at it again tomorrow!
-Ryan.
Tournament Commissioner
The May Mayhem Tournament of Champions 