On To The Elite Eight
With the close of the Sweet Sixteen, the tides of domestic turmoil have come into our previously serene pool. Greg Orosz, gentle Greg, understanding Greg, gracious Greg, has wrenched about and shown his true colors. He has stepped over the back of his lovely and but colluding wife to take the lead position as we move into the home stretch of the tournament, the Elite Eight. He only sees the prize of victory. Ambition has trumped love. One can almost hear the anguish cries of discord crashing on the cliffs of Edgewater. What is to become of sweet Eileen? Will she “go high when they go low”? Will the brackets break the bounds of basketball bliss? Perhaps, as her brother, James, she just does not have the staying power for the full race. She expended all early only to come short as we round the turn.
But Greg’s glory maybe short lived because the Oracle of Ardoon has emerged from the pool’s depths to challenge the “colluding couple” from the west. Yes, yours truly, John Sweeney has risen to fight for justice and transparency. Fueled by the Auburn pick, I have now a solid grasp on third place as we round the pole to the Elite Eight. Hope has spread into the hearts of so many lower pool dwellers who only desire the fall of the “colluders” on the coast.
Also challenging is relentless Jean Pekoc as she continues to hold on in a strong fourth position. Jean has always been known to lead into the final rounds on the backs of the Kentucky Wildcats. Let’s see if she has the strength to challenge the lead packet into the final four.
Then there is mild manner Charlie Sweeney stepping into the “phone both” of sweet victory to emerge as a contender. Will he transform as the “superman” of the pool or is he just a fleeting gasp of what could have been.
The surprise to all is the meteoric rise of Lady Layla, the mistress of the quiet understated. She has come from nowhere, counted out by most only to now position herself as a dark horse challenger of the lead pack. Does she know something we all have missed? Will she defy all odds to emerge victorious? She should be watched.
Then we have the tandem of the mundane, Norah Sweeney and Catherine Sweeney. It is so sad to see the once strong and assured Norah to follow her godmother to the depths of the ordinary, safe and timorous eddies at the bottom layers of the pool. We can only hope that Norah regains her strength in future years.
Finally, we witness the justice of hubris with the anemic showing from the despot from Detroit, Jim Sweeney. Oh he so relied on his beloved Wolverines. He continues to places all his false hope on the lowly from Lancing to save his bracket. So one dimensional! He placed it all on the hills of Michigan and on the hills of Michigan his bracket lies.
Is there any good news from the lowly at the bottom, Francine, Roy, Loyla & Liam and, finally, Sam. Sorry, none. They made their picks and there they must remain. No hope, no promise from the Elite Eight and no home over a basketball rainbow. Better luck next year.
On to the Elite Eight.
John
End of Sweet Sixteen Results
| Bracket | Points | % of Games Picked | |
| 1 | Greg Orosz | 357 | 71.7% |
| 2 | Eileen Sweeney | 355 | 70.0% |
| 3 | John Sweeney | 333 | 66.7% |
| 4 | Jean Pekoc | 328 | 65.0% |
| 5 | Charlie Sweeney | 325 | 68.3% |
| 6 | Layla | 303 | 68.3% |
| 7 | Norah Sweeney | 289 | 60.0% |
| 8 | Catherine Sweeney | 288 | 60.0% |
| 9 | Jim Sweeney | 271 | 58.3% |
| 10 | Francine Lasley | 262 | 55.0% |
| 11 | Roy Pekoc | 248 | 50.0% |
| 12 | Lola & Liam | 238 | 48.3% |
| 13 | Sam Pekoc | 224 | 48.3% |