Memories...

Now that we have this new forum to discuss pool-related items, and considering how long the contest has been running, I thought it might be fun to post the pool-related moments that stand out in our memories. You know, things that made us double over in laughter, or gnash our teeth in frustration, or break down and name our children "Mash Leach."

I'll start. Ten years ago, right around this time of year, I sent out the annual e-mails reminding everyone that the contest was on again. I got one very snippy reply from an irate individual, essentially asking how dare I muck up the airwaves with tripe like this and demanding in no uncertain terms that I never contact him again. I wrote back, apologizing profusely for any offense and explaining that the only reason he received the e-mail is because he played in the contest in the past.

Well, this person (we'll call him "Matt J") calmed down once he realized that he had, in truth, played the contest once before. He even entered again. His choice of Kentucky as national champion was a little off the beaten track -- actually he was the only person to pick them that year. Which was 1998. Which was a year in which Kentucky won the national championship. Which pretty much won the contest for Matt.

After that, presumably while he was counting his winnings, he said it was OK for me to send him the e-mail the following year. In fact, I believe he's played in every single contest since. And now he's co-commissioner. Isn't that a heart-warming tale?

Your turn. Come on out of the woodwork and tell us your stories. Just drop us a line at PreNCAAContest@gmail.com and -- assuming your story has something to do with the contest and that it can be published without getting the commissioners arrested -- we'll put it up here on the blog. Some fun, eh?