Congratulations to the Villanova Wildcats and a HUUUUUUUUUUGE THANK YOU to Kris Jenkins from at least saving the Hopski from a 1-2 Iantosca sweep of the top podium spots. The final was a fun game to watch and ohhhhh what a finish.
This Will Bring Some Tears To Jordan's Eyes
V for Villanva. V for Victory. B for blue and W for white.
For the Blue and the White we will fight!
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Fight for Villanova. Fight for Victory.
This year's Hopski, unlike the Tournament Final, did NOT come down to the final shot or even the final game, Niang's 12th Year's A Charm (David Iantosca, a Richmond graduate now living and working in Chicago, his 2nd TOP TEN Hopski finish in 14 years, though he also won the 2013 2nd Chance Dance) wrapped up the 2016 Hopski International Pool Title on Saturday. UNC's victory combined with Oklahoma's destruction (sorry Nofe!) left just 1 entrant having picked Villanova (Mother Should I Build the Wall - Mike Maloney of DC) and having no chance even with a Villanova championship to overtake Dave Iantosca's entry for the Hopski Title.
A brief bio: Without a doubt the best basketball player in the Iantosca family (though I might bet on their Dad) and a good 10-15 points better than Mark on his best day in a game of 21 (Mark cannot shoot FTs), living working in Chicago for Treehouse Foods in marketing/sales, previously kicked out of the Hopper & Friends fantasy NBA league for questionable (incestuous) dealings with relatives, nearly banned after 2nd week of this year's Hopski as was on the unpaid list). Here is Dave (on the left) celebrating the youngest Iantosca's recent christening (best he would give up for me to post!):
Jumping into 2nd place, falling just a point short (never trust the Boilers Matt!) is Trump/Laettner 2016 - No Thanks from Matt Briesch (ex-Andersen Chicago and Indiana alum now living outside of Chicago and with a family that is surely keeping him busy, along with grad school at Northwestern). Matt, always a man of few words, reacted with a Cub-esque "Holy Cow! Great!" when contacted this morning. This is his 1st Top Ten Hopski finish in 5 tries. Here's a recent pic of Matt with family:
Finishing 3rd in a bang-bang-bang finish with one point separating the top 4 spots this year is I've Made A Huge Mistake (Beth Paul of Thoma Brava in Chicago). Beth overcame the early MSU loss, which caused the Commish to publicly write off her entry and of course, fueled by reverse karma this mistake rose to almost the top of the Hopski. Contacted in Chicago, Beth made a wish for World Peace and plans on spending her Hopski winnings on upcoming travels to Finland and the Arctic Circle! Here's Beth from her last trip to Loch Ness:
So - a Hopski Sweep for the City of Chicago!!
Close but no pasta for the Italian Lover (yes - a 13 year-old photo):
In Roy We Trust (Mark Iantosca, newly residing in Houston as VP for JP Morgan's office there and with a 6 month old daughter as well) saw his hopes of a Hopski money finish get flushed with Jenkins' 3 at the buzzer. Tough luck on two accounts as Mark is also a UNC grad school alum (and since his undergrad school Richmond has not been in the tournament since the shot clock was invented - he roots for the Heels). In light of this being Mark's 2nd top 10 Hopski finish, he asked me to publish that he is "one of the greatest NCAA bracket forecasters in the history of the Hopski" Uh yeah, we'll get back to you on that one Mark!
Lastly, finishing in 5th is Mother Should I Build The Wall from Mike Maloney (ex-Andersen Budapest alum now living in DC). Mike was the lone entrant to pick a Villanova championship, unfortunately, he underdog point total of 23 left him too big of a hole to catch the leaders this year. Regardless though, it is a big step forward for the Maloney family after the last and 2nd to last place finishes of a couple of years ago from his wife and daughter! Mike was quite the lefty shooting guard in his day (this from the 1993 Budapest Adidas 3 on 3 tournament that we won:
The Villanova victory did deliver for Roundball Round-up and Bob Curtis (of Woodstock, IL and husband of a long-time friend from my BA Chicago lounge days - Marcia). Bob becomes the FIRST repeat Hopski 2nd Chance Dance Champion, having won the title as well back in 2009! Well done Bob!!
Lest we forget, due to it being wrapped up sometime back at Christmas, there was a Toilet Bowl winner this year - Mountaineers ATW and Linda Genty of Chicago (a true sweep of the winners for Chicago!!).
The votes as well are IN for the Best Hopski Entry Name for 2016.........and the winner is: Mid-Major Lives Matter - from none other than 3rd place winner Beth Paul!! Beth gets free entry in 2017 for this tribute to the Mid-Majors we know and root for!! A close 2nd was Well, The Squirrels Are Back in the Attic (the original Matt Powell) followed by Feelin' The Bern When I Peay (long-time Warsaw expat Glen Gregory).
I will update regarding stats and such later today. For now though - gotta go.
I hope you enjoyed the Hopski this year and as always, I swear I am not doing it next year (anyone wishing to step up and take over the commentary/blog - that would be great as I do not mind the back-office stuff!).
Adios - The Commish
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