A pair of upsets Friday in Region T with Trenni Casey dwarf-tossing Mike Reiss, and Kendra Middleton out-pointing Taylor Kyles. Otherwise, chalk.
Several of the match-ups next week look to be humdingers and quite frankly, too good for this point in the tournament.
Keep scrolling, deadbeats.
So, if you have been enjoying this year’s Mediot Tournament, or the ones previous, or the Cleaning Out the Sports Junk Drawer columns, or the articles investigating our local sports media, or the Twitter hijinks of the local collaborative, please consider making a one-time donation. Site registration isn’t free. The Crowdsignal plug-in that tabulates the votes costs money as well. Or in the alternative visit our The15 Genuine Merchandise page and buy a shirt or a mug? Up to you. Don’t make a maniac out of me. Thanks for reading.
If you went to bed early last night you missed a couple of white knucklers. Scott Zolak pulled out a dramatic last second win over Rich Keefe, and Rob Bradford got Guregian’d after a day-long rock fight with Karen. Remember to vote early and often, and to check back in regularly throughout the day to follow the dramatic proceedings.
Region C 8 Mark Dondero vs 9 Jared Carrabis Mr. Dondero is going to get the entire Bellingham Jr. High lunchroom to stuff the ballot box.
Save room for some spice cake!
7 Dan Shaugnessy vs 10 Meg Ottolini This should have been the Battle of the Recovery Ward. Shank is back in the tournament after almost missing last year due to emergency quadruple-bypass surgery. Jeff Howe was exempt in 2024 with a severe case of what physicians now refer to as factitious disorder imposed on self (formerly known as Munchausen syndrome). But then Ottolini had to stick her upsetting feet into the mix and pull off the wild card win over Howe. Jeff may never recover. Meg O thinks she’s hilarious, has momentum and hammer toes – that’s proving to be a winning formula.
Region V 1 Chris Gasper vs 16 Dan Greenberg Kid Gas facilely matriculates to the subsequent echelon.
Pretentious? Moi?
3 Albert Breer vs 14 Chris Smith Bert once again whips it out and gives Smith a golden shower.
7 Bob Ryan vs 10 Jackie MacMullen Jurassic World: The Journalistic Trenches. Watch as Bob “T-Rex” Ryan takes down Jackie “Metriacanthosaurus” MacMullen in a battle that time forgot! The CGI budget for Mr. Ryan’s teeth alone must have broken the bank. Good thing we have been tipped off on how to make money just for charging our phones.
Happier times
Region N 1 Gabby Starr vs 16 Joe Haggerty Pretty tricky of the committee to pit Ms. Starr up against “Pork Chop” Joe right before Shabbat. Expect Gabby to persevere.
5 Nick “Fitzy” Stevens vs 12 Chris Forsberg The Greek carpetbagger bags another victim.
2 Michael Felger vs 15 Phil Perry Felger doesn’t under perform until the Final Four.
Region T 6 Taylor Kyles vs 11 Kendra Middleton The DEI Derby! Were there no Boston bred slightly chubby 6’s that the Sports Hub could have hired? The Jacksonville Jackass will put a banana in Kyles tailpipe and pull off the minor upset.
2 Mike Reiss vs 15 Trenni Casey MAJOR UPSET ALERT! Historically these seedings should be reversed, but Trenni has become somewhat irrelevant, while Reiss has taken a dramatic heel turn in the past year. Hopefully Mrs. Casey gives Myke Crease a personal apology once she’s done beating his ass.
Hang it in the Louvre, or the Boston Sports Museum.
With Khusnutdinov and Jokiharju coming to Boston and Sophia Jurksztowicz returning, Jack Edwards retired just in time.
Sam Hauser has lowkey played some good defense against LeBron James.
I’m sure Lucy will land on her back.
Speaking of thriving, I just saw Blake Griffin in a Red Lobster commercial. Mixed-race athletes DO love cheddar bay biscuits. My grandpa was right.
Daylight Savings Time came outta nowhere this year huh?
Marchand, Carlo & Coyle traded. Always tough when a good sound bite guy leaves.
I like Kornet, but sometimes he has hands like Johnny Tremain.
Jeff Howe is my go-to insider because I like my free agent news confirmed slightly later than everyone else.
Cakes are cooking for Barbara Feldon, Johnny Rutherford, John Paul Sr, Frank Welker, Liza Minelli, Mitt Romney, James Taylor, Bill Payne, Caren Kaye, Carl Hiaasen, Dale Murphy, Steve Harris, Courtney B Vance, Darryl Strawberry, Titus Welliver, Fran Harris, Steve Finley, Steve Levy, Aaron Eckhart, Jake Tapper, Isaiah Rider, Ben Kenney, Casey Mears, Claudio Sanchez, Cristina Teuscher, Tara Mounsey, and Dont’a Hightower.
NBA players have to grow a backbone and tell their sneaker company “No, I will not wear your pink sneakers. I’m wearing purple for Chrissakes!”
It will be weird not hearing Godchaux complain about his contract during Training Camp.
You know who else was 33 when they died? That’s right. Chris Farley.
Hey gang of the moderately unsuccessful, this week’s Phrase that Pays is, “When you’ve achieved nothing, what else is there?”
I’m probably really late but Ryan Seacrest hosts the Wheel?
The Krafts have better set some weight room renovation and AirKraft wi-fi retrofit money aside.
Green Line D & E Branch: Delays of about 15 minutes due to a signal problem near Lechmere. Trains may stand by at stations.
Hirohito had an early lead, too.
I find humor in the fact that I’m in better shape than one of the best players in the NBA. Looking at you Luka.
My advice? Waste your money on other things.
Sources: Boston Celtics Director of Scouting Remy Cofield is leaving the NBA to become the GM for the Arkansas athletic department.
Last week’s performance is gonna make Trevor Story’s inevitable season-ending injury that much more exciting!
Hearing whispers the economy is much more reasonable in Iowa.
Imagine having to get up and go to work the day after you try to fight a mascot at a hockey game.
Van Lith is Dutch for yes please.
JJ Redick looks like the front man for a Maroon 5 cover band.
I’ve always been apprehensive about doing the tap to pay credit card thing at stores, but I tried it today and holy cow – Absolute game changer! So much better than the swipe or insert.
No matter where you go I will always be around Won’t you tell me what you found, girl? Ooh, girl, want you
Knock down the old grey wall Be a part of it all Nothing to say, nothing to see, nothing to do
If you would give me all As I would give it to you Nothing would be, nothing would be, nothing would be
No matter where you go There will always be a place Can’t you see it in my face, girl? Ooh, girl, want you.
Vegas/The State typically always wins against individuals.
New lunch options at the Ninety-Nine?
Wait, Porzingis has an actual virus, and not the Hellenic Flu? Huh.
Honk if you remember Peanut Butter Twix.
Both Lipscomb and North Alabama are infinitely better than High Point.
New look B’s 2-0? Someone go tell the Performative Bruins Whores that Marchand and Coyle were cancers.
Maybe we could just move the clocks 1 minute at a time for 60 days?
St Mary’s going to be dangerous in the NIT.
Of course Stolen Valor Jerry owns some Salute to Service gear.
The original ‘Suits’ wasn’t set in LA before?
Best bet for the weekend: Red Sox earn a W over the Twins edging closer to the Mayor’s Cup.
Ibid.
Material from interviews, wire services, Twitter, Meta, other writers, league and team sources, Bill James, and the members of #the15 were used in this column. Best of luck and God Bless.
Let’s hear it for these local media ‘personalities’ who have been involved in this tournament since its inception. Some obvious names, and some unexpected ones. Might one of them finally take home the crown?
If some of the seedings seem strange to you, there’s a reason for that, and possibly a good reason. We have instituted a few rule changes regarding the top seeds this year. One- only one top seed allowed per media outlet. Two- if the media member has been a multiple time #1 Seed and not won the championship, they cannot be a top seed this go around, And Three- If you are a #1 seed and lost to a #16 last tournament, you are similarly ineligible to be a top seed.
Dua Lipa also has New Rules.
Play -in Games Region C 10 Seed Jeff Howe vs wild card Meghan Ottolini (WEEI/Celtics), Region V 11 Seed Matt McCarthy vs wild card Bobby Manning (CLNS), Region N 9 Seed Brian Barrett vs wild card Jared Weiss (The Athletic)., and Region T 7 Seed Pete Abraham vs wild card Kayla Burton (NBCSB).
Play in games will be on Monday, March 10th. The rest of the field will begin on Tuesday, then Thursday and Friday of next week.
“Faith and Begorrah! I hope that wasn’t your logo-stompin knee, boyo.” (Artist’s Depiction.)
Has Joel Embiid considered Nugenix? Could help with the knee pain. Plus, she’ll like it too!
And Kyrie now as well? Why do bad things happen to good people?
I’ll be honest: I heard a hack man died and thought we finally lost Jerry Thornton.
Bob Kraft hand-picked a guy 5 years ahead of time to replace the GOAT and he may never coach again. Beautiful stuff.
Man, the world lost so many titans of the film industry in the last year.
Oh good! The NBAs leading fake intellectual (maybe number 2 behind his buddy in Dallas) teaming up with TVs leading fake scientist to make a fucking sneaker. Yippee.
Thank you for your service, Trent Frederic.
You’re telling me that Josh couldn’t figure out a way to use Deebo?
One of the more underrated shots in the league is the wing taking the running hook off of a eurostep when attacking a closeout. A lot of guys get the open lane to attack one-on-one and they have to do a step through to a contested 5-footer, but so many miss it a lot.
I had no idea that Mexico has a woman president. Did you know?
Cakes are cooking for Fred Williamson, Randy Matson, Murray Head, Kent Tekulve, Eddy Grant, Marsha Warfield, Penn Jilllette, Charlie Reid, Craig Reid, Michael Irvin, John Frusciante, Eva Mendes, Wally Szczerbiak, Karolina Wydra, Dan Carter, Jake Lloyd, Kyle Schwarber, Taylor Hill, Justin Fields, and Beatrice Chebet.
It’s great having Dale back around, but every time I see him, I tend to think of Sophia and hope she’s doing ok.
Hey gang of Ramadan reflectors! This week’s Phrase that Pays is, “Number 8 on the court, number 20 on your hijacker manifest…BASHEEEEEER JIHAAAAAD!”
Could Adrien Brody play the lead in the Brad Marchand biopic?
All the original New York Dolls are now dead.
Green Line C Branch Update: Shuttle buses replace service between Cleveland Circle and Coolidge Corner due to an overhead wire problem near Brandon Hall.
I’m just saying, Bill Nye has been suspiciously quiet on his whereabouts during Gene Hackman’s death.
Despite hailing from Albany, Abbey Buttacavoli can’t be a more Rhode Island name.
If you have more money, you can buy more things.
One time I got a bag of broccoli florets and it was all stumps. My wife complained and Birdseye sent us $20 in coupons.
‘Fucking Dart Adams?’ That’s historian, journalist, lecturer, and Boston Native Fucking Dart Adams to you
News Item: Bill Belichick and UNC in negotiations be featured on Offseason Hard Knocks after NFL Films could not find an NFL team to do it after the Joe Schoen debacle last year.
Fun Fact: I saw The Joe Schoen Debacle play The Rat back in ’93.
One year from today we will have World Baseball Classic 2026 games.
Lil Jerry falls back on what he knows in times of crisis: being horrifyingly unfunny.
Brazil nuts are rich in Selenium.
This Gene Hackman loss won’t feel real until I read Rear Admiral’s paint-by-numbers obit on Barstool.
When I wake up, well I know I’m gonna be I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next to you When I go out, yeah, I know I’m gonna be I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you If I get drunk, well, I know I’m gonna be I’m gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you And If I haver, hey, I know I’m gonna be I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you
But I would walk 500 miles And I would walk 500 more Just to be the man who walks a thousand miles To fall down at your door.
[inarticulate Scottish noises]
Hard Knocks probably objected to the costs of needing dedicated production assistants to shoo Jordon out of every shot. And Lombardi, too.
Dybantsa? What is that? Dutch?
Listen it’s a terrible tweet. But, have faith in Dutch’s plan.
Just looked at Gasper’s Twitter bio. He describes himself as a “car geek.” lol What’s he driving, the car from ‘The Ambiguously Gay Duo?’
Honk if you remember Torvill and Dean.
Word going around: Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. is considering hiring Bad Bunny’s Rimas group to personally manage him (for marketing and maybe more)
EDM has derailed many careers.
Is there any other spy series equal to “The Americans”?
Truly amazing the same people who reveled in the hit piece on Belichick and the complete undermining of him in his final year are now acting insulted and surprised Robyn Glazer has gotten the media machine turned on her. You were okay with it 14 months ago.
When do we get Lenny Clarke’s appearance in the new Celtics documentary?
The Kansas City Chiefs are trading 4x Super Bowl champion Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears, sources say.
Is rain ever described as anything other than “much needed?”
Happy Ash Wednesday to all my mackerel snappers out there. You guys better take on Lent like a hero. None of this “I won’t have sprinkles on my ice cream” bs. Real penance, real suffering.
Best bet for the weekend: Revs score a goal in their match at Philadelphia.
And happy birthday to singer and songwriter Madison Beer.
Material from interviews, wire services, Twitter, Meta, other writers, league and team sources, Bill James, and the members of #the15 were used in this column. Give it away, give it away, give it away now.
“Teddy ‘Cancer Face’ O’Neil was once one of the most feared men in South Boston. Now, however, with his body worn down from a 35-year battle with melanoma and lupus, he discusses what it was like to be a member of the Winter Hill Gang.”
I say the Competition Committee should reach a compromise: ban the Tush Push but keep The Brotherly Shove.
Walking around Montreal during/after a blizzard is a great workout.
Do birds like cheese?
They might have support groups for those who listen to spring training baseball on the radio.
Garden crowds are the best.
Let’s be real. The Canadian flag would make for a terrible bikini.
St. John’s is the best hoops team in New York.
A belated R.I.P. to figure skating legend Dick Button. He is survived by his partner, Clit Zipper.
Cakes are cooking for Bill Duke, Mitch Ryder, Michael Bolton, Connie Carpenter-Phinney, Joe Mullen, Dave Palone, J.T. Snow, Meeno Peluce, Sasha Danilovic, Erykah Badu, Jenny Thompson, Marshall Faulk, Chad Urmston, Corinne Bailey Rae, Katherine Hull Kirk, and Li Na.
The first a capella “Sweet Caroline” of the year always gets me.
Dan Lifshatz and Kendra Middleton have the chemistry of a Hollywood producer and the young actress he violates on the casting couch.
Hey gang of haters, this week’s Phrase that Pays is, “I’m gonna go ahead and take the under.”
Patrick Schwarzenegger is on ‘The White Lotus?’ Any relation?
Blue Line: Delays of about 10 minutes while Signal personnel perform maintenance between Maverick and Airport. Trains may stand by at stations.
Bill Simmons invented the documentary.
Imagine being mad the NY Yankees did away with their stupid appearance policy.
In the future, everyone will be Ted Sarandis for fifteen minutes.
Matthew Stafford’s exploration of his market value the last few weeks has indeed attracted significant interest from teams, notably the Raiders and the Giants, per sources. Teams are anticipating the Rams will now be driving up the asking price if they decide to move him.
Statistically, Nelson Cruz and Giancarlo Stanton are pretty much the same player.
The Oscars have to be the Super Bowl for Twitter.
Who’s has more fatalities since 1975: SNL cast members or Pittsburgh Steelers linemen?
Shout out Portugal!
The Yankees will no longer play Frank Sinatra’s “Theme from New York, New York” after losses, the club confirmed. Instead, there will be a rotating selection of songs — Sinatra’s “That’s Life” was played today.
Wearin’ her perfume, Chanel no. 5 Got to be the finest girl alive. She walks real cool, catches everybody’s eye. She’s got such good lovin’ that they can’t say goodbye. Not too skinny, she’s not too fat. She’s a real humdinger and i like it like that. She’s the devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress, Devil with the blue dress on. Devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress, Devil with the blue dress on.
Sixers have like four guys going with the Frederick Douglass cut.
Honk if you remember Margo Adams.
Johnny Cash is overrated.
Does Pete Blackburn have the Little Sads?
I was kinda hoping Diana Taurasi would delay her retirement announcement long enough to deprive another player deserving of a spot in the next Olympics.
The 4 Nations Face-off? A cute, fun tournament, but doesn’t compare to the Miracle on Ice.
Dan Hurley knows he can shut the fuck up every now and then, right?
Also, Jay Glazer has devolved into a Dick Tracy villain or the henchman of some megalomaniac.
Emily Kaplan, is she Amish?
Everyone look at Gronk. He needs attention.
I can handle a couple seasons of a rebuild, Bruins. Do what you gotta do.
Best bet for the weekend: more load management for Cooper Flagg.
Headband game!
Material from interviews, wire services, Twitter, Meta, other writers, league and team sources, Bill James, and the members of #the15 were used in this column. Because you’re mine. I walk the line.
And a happy birthday to Aussie actress & model Teresa Palmer.
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