Announcing the Newsvine Cinderella Bracket Challenge

I don't much get what this is all about. Guess I'm not privy to whatever the NCAA Tournament is. Is it something that is very region-specific? If so, I guess doesn't apply to all of Newsvine. But then, a game about Newsvine Groups and Viners seems very meta to me. Maybe just Meta?

I get easily confused amidst confusion:-)

2 votes

#3.2 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:17 AM EDT

Guess I'm not privy to whatever the NCAA Tournament is.

It's the tournament to determine the national champion in men's college basketball in the US. (There is also a tournament for women's, but this pool is for the men's tournament.)

3 votes

#3.3 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:24 AM EDT

Newsvine: NCAA Fans Suckered Into Role Playing Game

Yeah, the joke would be funnier if this were actually Meta, and not, you know, about a college basketball tournament that has absolutely nothing to do with Newsvine, and which much of the country (let alone those of us on Newsvine) will be watching obsessively.

"Sponsored by Newsvine" is not the same thing as "about Newsvine".

Hell, a contest about sports may be the least Meta subject possible, when it comes to Newsvine.

Though, it's also true that Newsvine's iteration of the NCAA Tournament Pick'em is a Role Playing Game in disguise:

4 votes

#3.4 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:42 AM EDT

"Sponsored by Newsvine" is not the same thing as "about Newsvine".

Under that logic, drinking contests, vinemeets, and the 8things meme wouldn't be meta.

1 vote

#3.5 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:00 AM EDT

Under that logic, drinking contests, vinemeets, and the 8things meme wouldn't be meta.

Not to derail the thread, as the best thing about this tournament is that it gives me a chance to step away from the BS that's been permeating for the last couple months:

Really? "Vinemeets" aren't Meta? A meeting of Newsvine members to (ostensibly) talk about their experiences on Newsvine?

8things, Meta-ish: It's a way for Newsvine members to introduce themselves through 8 silly facts -- as a member of the Newsvine community -- to other members of Newsvine. I'll concur that this is more stupid, than Meta, though. (And less useful, to boot.)

Drinking Contests: It's basically a party for members of Newsvine. Feels pretty meta, to me. I'm certain I could invite some people to join Newsvine because of this contest and they'd say: "An NCAA bracket? I'm in!" I'm also certain if I said: "Hey, I'm gonna spend Friday night drinking with some people I know on Newsvine.com, wanna sign up for an account and join in?" I'd get laughed at.

Look, I know people want to poke at Newsvine lately, in some sort of college-freshman sense of rebellion, but a tournament bracket surrounding one of the biggest sporting events in the United States (which is hosted by almost every single sporting outlet in the country) is not Meta.

Can't we just step outside the lame discussions for a chance and have some fun?

4 votes

#3.6 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:17 AM EDT

Perry O

Yeah, the joke would be funnier if this were actually, and not, you know, about a college basketball tournament that has absolutely nothing to do with Newsvine, and which much of the country (let alone those of us on Newsvine) will be watching obsessively.

Except it's NOT about a college basketball tournament. It's about "The Newsvine Cinderella Bracket Challenge", which takes place on Newsvine, and which much of the country will be ignorant of.

1 vote

#3.7 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:17 AM EDT

Except it's NOT about a college basketball tournament. It's about "The Newsvine Cinderella Bracket Challenge", which takes place on Newsvine, and which much of the country will be ignorant of.

Christ, whatever.

3 votes

#3.8 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:20 AM EDT

It's about "The Newsvine Cinderella Bracket Challenge", which takes place on Newsvine, and which much of the country will be ignorant of.

True. But as Brian says, no reason why we can't step outside lame discussions for once and have some fun, eh:-)

Confused? Welcome to Newsvine!

5 votes

#3.9 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:22 AM EDT

NEWSVINE BLOG

News about Newsvine. How meta...

It says what it is on the tin anyway.

2 votes

#3.10 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:43 AM EDT

PasiDeleted

Still seems like something that no one outside of newsvine will care about. Henry won the cinderella newsvine challenge is only relevant to those who know who henry is.

This isn't about whatever sport the tournaments are, it's about people at newsvine, that sounds meta to me. Personally I don't care one way or the other.

1 vote

#3.12 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:45 AM EDT

PasiDeleted

No, I just want people to realize that there has to be an even application or folks will call them on a double standard.

2 votes

#3.14 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:03 PM EDT

Mike D.

Wow. Are we going to have to create a new rule that you can't discuss the metaness of any Newsvine Blog content now? Lighten up a little on this March Madness Monday. This blog is here to announce items of interest to the Newsvine community. It doesn't publish often. It doesn't publish frivolously. If you're interested in the the biggest sporting event in the United States short of the Super Bowl, then feel free to play the game. If you're not, please feel free to do whatever else you'd be doing today.

8 votes

#3.15 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:33 PM EDT

Pamela Drew

Lighten up a little on this March Madness Monday.

Also known to some as St. Patrick's Day and tradition dictates all people be of good cheer! Cheers!

5 votes

#3.16 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:09 PM EDT

Green tequila all around...

1 vote

#3.17 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:10 PM EDT

A. H. Min

So THAT'S why they're fighting. A little too much to drink, perhaps?

2 votes

#3.18 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:10 PM EDT

PasiDeleted

Djehuty

Hey I was just teasing a little - let's not get all lawyery around here :)

3 votes

#3.20 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:51 PM EDT

chill

Hey I was just teasing a little - let's not get all lawyery around here :)

Exactly,

separately - if you add 6 digits behind your name you can enter multiple times and be treated like an MSNBC employee

chill358629 has some sweet picks!

(oops - teasing again)

5 votes

#3.21 - Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:07 AM EDT

Henry VII

I'm in, although basing my entries on luck and math. My teams?

Henry's Hoopsters of course. :-P

4 votes

#4 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:58 AM EDT

lauhal

WTF? This whole thread is blue, except for you Henry. Henry's Hoopsters. I like it. :)

3 votes

#4.1 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:32 AM EDT

I live in Cambodia - will shipping the XBox if I win be a problem?

4 votes

#5 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:59 AM EDT

PasiDeleted

I'm sorry, there was a typo. Let me try again:

I live in Cambodia - will shipping the XBox when I win be a problem?

4 votes

#5.2 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:15 AM EDT

PasiDeleted

Oh yeah, I totally understood you. I just wanted didn't want to get other players' hopes up by implying that there was any chance I wouldn't be winning the contest. That would have just been mean.

3 votes

#5.4 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:20 AM EDT

PasiDeleted

A. H. Min

Da Geeky 5, Da Geek 5, and Da Geekiest 5 are all rarin' to go.

And for those of us who don't even know what NCAA stands for... join the Lucky Guesses Unite group (sorry for whoever made that up for football).

2 votes

#6 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:23 AM EDT

I think its National Coalition Alcoholics Anonymous. So I would not vote for Lindsey if I were you..

4 votes

#6.1 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:34 AM EDT

Sorry -- I made another lucky guesses group -- so, hopefully people ignore it. I was going to delete it, but I don't see a way to do that.

I switched to a Midwest group after I saw yours.

3 votes

#6.2 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:36 AM EDT

Dom Pody

I still haven't received my Newsvine t-shirt from winning the NFL Pick 'Em game two years ago... but I'll play anyway :)

4 votes

#7 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:26 AM EDT

Pamela Drew

Send a note to Calvin, some things fall through the cracks but he will ante up the tee if reminded!

1 vote

#7.1 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:12 PM EDT

Dom Pody

Oh I'm sure he would. But I've decided just to post comments on the NV Blog every time they post one of these. After all, public humiliation is more fun than private humiliation!

3 votes

#7.2 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:49 PM EDT

Alrighty.

If you're in the Midwest: Join my group.

3 votes

#8 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:34 AM EDT

On the meta thing, "L'etat est NV Blog."

On the challenge itself, one of my entries is the "Altar Boyz."

On the prize: Anyone have any idea what I can get for that XBox on EBay after I win?

2 votes

#9 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:34 AM EDT

Oh I get it. When it doubt, sprachen franglais.

3 votes

#9.1 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:13 PM EDT

Ratt:

Good point. Translation: They be King.

2 votes

#9.2 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:54 PM EDT

Everything's a game of poker to you, eh Jacque?

3 votes

#9.3 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:00 PM EDT

Raat:

Cricket.

3 votes

#9.4 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:07 PM EDT

howzat:-)

3 votes

#9.5 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:34 PM EDT

Raat:

A bunch of folks running around a circle following rules I can't understand in the slightest.

2 votes

#9.6 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:49 PM EDT

You got the wrong game, buddy. We call it rounders here. That has a stick and a ball. Certainly has a lorra people running around in circles. I think the rules are very simple. 'cept I get stumped even then:-)

3 votes

#9.7 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:57 PM EDT

vicaxp

I'm in X 3..!

1 vote

#10 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:39 PM EDT

Andrea A

I guess I am the self proclaimed NV sports ignorant mildly slow on the draw blond cause I still don't get the whole contest thing and I even read the darn article twice...but I must admit I understand Its meta-liciousness.

3 votes

#11 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:37 PM EDT

I won't know what the heck I'm doing, but I'll jump in anyhow. I got 3rd place in a bracket challenge in 7th grade by having the highest ranking in each match up win, until I got to the championship game. Sadly, though, this is different, so I'll just make some guesses. Times 3.

2 votes

#12 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:41 PM EDT

backroads

Someone on NPR today estimated that more than $1 billion would be lost as a result of people spending time on this stuff rather than paying attention to their jobs. Guess the economy isn't that troubling after all.

#13 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:59 PM EDT

Heh, nice little tidbit. Good thing I don't have a job to lose I guess.

1 vote

#13.1 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:05 PM EDT

Djehuty

It's true. We should all give up anything we enjoy which is taking time away from earning higher profits for our overlords. Work, breed, be silent.

3 votes

#13.2 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:12 PM EDT

Work, breed, be silent.

Work - Don't understand. Must be a dirty word.
Breed - ah, sex. Always sells. Yes, I'll go along with that.
be silent - usually happens as a result of breeding. Quickly followed by rapid fire snoring (which is far from silent)

3 votes

#13.3 - Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:10 PM EDT

Trevor Fitzright

Did I win the XBOX yet? And what does NCAA mean? Is 3-1 a good prediction for the final? Questions, questions.

3 votes

#14 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:55 PM EDT

I'm still trying to figure out why everyone gets mad in march...

2 votes

#14.1 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:59 PM EDT

Is 3-1 a good prediction for the final?

Depends who gets there, don'it! Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal, Liverpool? Or one of the others.

oops, sorry. wrong continent:-)

2 votes

#14.2 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:33 PM EDT

Trevor Fitzright

oops, sorry. wrong continent:-)

Yes, I know. That's why my team name doesn't work either. 'Swift kick in the nets', what was I thinking?

2 votes

#14.3 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:37 PM EDT

josh

Now that it's closed everyone who picked the cheapest 27 teams can come clean. You know who you are!

3 votes

#15 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:13 PM EDT

Trevor Fitzright

Damn, should have done that.

2 votes

#15.1 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:22 PM EDT

I was thinking the same, Trevor.

2 votes

#15.2 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:24 PM EDT

josh

Don't worry. It won't add up to a lot of points in the end.

2 votes

#15.3 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:29 PM EDT

josh:

My first entry doesn't have a name, hence no link.

:^{(>

I'll come clean on the Altar Boyz, though. Picked the highest ranked Catholic school in each region, then filled in with other Catholic schools to reach my 300-point allotment

2 votes

#15.4 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:45 PM EDT

josh

Ah, that's a good bug. Fixed now.

Altar Boyz are tied for the lead

1 vote

#15.5 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:48 PM EDT

josh:

Thanks! I just assumed that entry #1 would default to my user name.

Michael Wilbon on ESPN picked both Georgetown and Xavier to win their regions, so for once maybe the altar boys will actually be good!

1 vote

#15.6 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:19 PM EDT

A. H. Min

That's me.

1 vote

#15.7 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:53 PM EDT

Ohhh - Belmont, so close! The lowest seed to almost pull off the upset...had Georgia in that entry too.

1 vote

#15.8 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:12 PM EDT

I guess too late to say Redskins, huh ?

1 vote

#15.9 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:46 PM EDT

Obama's Brackets

1 vote

#16 - Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:42 PM EDT

Of course he picks UNC...

1 vote

#16.1 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:38 AM EDT

So, I'm curious to understand Killfile's strategy of setting up two sets of picks that are identical?

3 votes

#17 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:29 PM EDT

It's all about the tie-breaker?

1 vote

#17.1 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:35 PM EDT

What if he picked the same tie breaker picks, too? I say the prize defaults to me.

1 vote

#17.2 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:41 PM EDT

Brian:

Who cares? The son-of-a-bitch picked the two best buys on the board, Western Kentucky and Kansas State. Luckily, I picked San Diego State on what has become my best board, my secondary picks.

Unless my prayers are answered and we get an all-Catholic Final Four.

1 vote

#17.3 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:49 PM EDT

Western Kentucky and Kansas State

Whatever, so you get a couple of extra ponts. It's all about the chalk, baby. National champion is 6 points. Cinderallas are good for one or two, best used sparingly. A George Mason comes around once in a decade. I'll take your 5 or 6 upsets against UCLA or UNC baced up with a couple of elite 8's.

1 vote

#17.4 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:24 PM EDT

Infohack:

Sigh. I tried that on my other entry, going with Georgetown and UConn as "expensive" picks, then filling in the rest. That entry is pretty much dead now with UConn out.

Did you hear McCain put out his brackets, too, the morning after Obama released his?

1 vote

#17.5 - Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:38 PM EDT

Yeah, I saw that, suppossedly he did it last year too. He missed eight in the first round including Arizona, not that bad considering. He must have had help. Or maybe not, who knows.

You have to sign up (or you did until very recently) on McCain's website to see his picks. Oh, and "while you're adding your name to our mailing list, are you interested in joining a McCain '08 Coalition?"

2 votes

#17.6 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 12:07 PM EDT

Sports 'n' Politics 'n' Stuff

New Group:

About:

Seems like everything is getting mashed together in today's media culture. Can we tell ESPN from C-Span anymore?

We take our inspiration from two of the dullest United States Senators of the last few decades, Jim Bunning (R, KY) and Bill Bradley (D, NJ). But we love them anyway because Bunning once threw a no-hitter and Bradley won an NBA Championship with the New York Knickerbockers.

1 vote

#18 - Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:19 AM EDT

Nice! Blatant self promotion and spamming on the Cyborg. Very meta:-)

2 votes

#18.1 - Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:53 AM EDT

Total Bampot Spambot, unreal ! :-)

1 vote

#18.2 - Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:15 AM EDT

Raat:

You want in?

I never worry about spamming/promoting on the cyborg or the A.P. threads. It's not like I'm poaching pageviews and earnings from anyone.

Besides, if we can't use the front page for things like this, isn't the tracker essential to getting the word out?

1 vote

#18.3 - Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:31 AM EDT

I will always remember your group and cinderella together :-)

I'd call it semi-legal since it is about a sports group, same as the article. I think your safe, this time....

3 votes

#18.4 - Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:38 AM EDT

If:

Mike D.

wins the X-Box, does he recuse himself and let the 2nd-place winner take home the prize?

:^{)>

2 votes

#19 - Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:59 PM EDT

Mike D.

The answer, unfortunately, is yes. And let it be known right now, that as of this moment, a mere two basketball days away from the end of the tournament, I am the smartest basketball fan on all of Newsvine. Yes, that's right. I am the reason why they even *have* rules like "employees not eligible to win". I rule. And if Davidson College had beaten Kansas, I'd be in even better shape. Take it from me, Davidson knows Davidson.

This is just turning out to be a pretty good basketball year for me as I've already locked up a snake pool championship as well... even before the Final Four has started.

Again, see previous statement regarding the extent to which I rule.

4 votes

#19.1 - Tue Apr 1, 2008 2:38 AM EDT

Mike:

I bow down to your greatness. I've never won a brackets, but this is the first time in years I've been dead before the Final Four. Except for Xavier, the Catholic schools let me down. I may have to become Baptist or something. Or Jewish. Any Yeshiva out there with a have good basketball team?

3 votes

#19.2 - Tue Apr 1, 2008 6:49 AM EDT