Hopski American Pie - reprise & The Hopski Hall of Fame

Today is an off-day here at the Hopski HQ - off as in need to get some work done.  As such - as this was posted AFTER The 2019 tourney and I really think that it should have gotten more attention / love, I am going to re-post.  

Make sure you put on American Pie as you read/sing/whatever and think of your 2021 picks which if anything like my 2 entries, are certainly bye, bye, bye...........

Over on facebook "The Hopski" Group has had a few posts lamenting the demise of entries......best read or sung to the tune of American Pie btw.........

2-time Champion Mark Noferi got things started after Gonzaga's loss led to the demise of two of his then-top 10 entries this year:

I can't remember if I cried
When Gonzaga reached across the line
But something touched me deep inside
The day... my Hopski died.

Then 2015 Champion Kent Holding added.....

And they were singing, “bye bye my NCAA try”
Tried to hack it with my bracket, but it just wouldn’t fly.
Down in Auburn they’d be drinking but the campus is dry,
Singing pass another alkohol-frei, pass another alkohol-frei..

And the Commish had to join in......

A long long Hopski time ago,
I can just remember how,
that Madness used to make me smile, 
And I knew if I could take a chance, 
That those underdogs could make me dance, 
and maybe, I'd be champion for a while...........

but this year makes it 18 years, 
since i've had an entry that delivered, 
bad news each 2nd weekend, 
I almost cannot pick another then........

I can't remember my last real try
Contending up to the final night
Only to be scorched by a Butler slight
The day, the Hopski.........died

So bye, bye, my best Hopski try,
Picked my brackets with no limit but the underdogs went awry
And them good old days seem nothing but lies
Forgotten championships 'til the day i die
No 2nd chances for Bobby and I.....

Kent Holding add-on (23 March) 

But February made me quiver,

With hopes my Hopski would deliver 

By late March it’s “oh my god, no”

My picks swirl near the toilet bowl!

I do remember that I cried

Something crumpled deep inside

Surely the announcer must have lied

The day another 2 seed, died 

(R.I.P. Illini)

Kent Holding wine and wife infused add-on (evening 24 March) 

Does Duke U. nearly make you puke?

And was Oral Roberts a total fluke?

Indy fans they tell me so

And do you believe that Louisville

Or Kentucky education’s real?

And can you teach me how spell, real slow?

So bye bye my NCAA try

Loyola on a roll, a number one seed, goodbye!

And them good ol’ nuns on court chest bumping the guys

Singin’ that’s the way my poor Hopski dies

Speaking of old Hopski Championships, a good time to put out the Hopski Recordbook: