Congratulations to Nick Adam & his Zero Ducks Given entry!!
The 2023 Hopski International Pool Champion!!
The Commish and Hopski Entourage went to Pasadena (near Nick's LA home) to deliver (expected) congratulations in person to this year's champion. Those were some Oktoberfest-size beers that we enjoyed at Rocco's Tavern (along with I must say some of the best wings that I have ever had) as we watched UConn cruise to the championship.
Some post-game quotes from Nick in response to his addition to the Hopski Hall of Champions:
"I have been entering the hopski for over half my life. 15+ years!
Attended University of Oregon, Go Ducks. Recently I have been on a yoga journey and will be going to Bali next month to become certified. I also like to travel, golf, and Surf.
I currently work for adidas basketball on our on and off court footwear as a global merchandiser. I'm the nephew of the long time Hopski entrant Jack Bell (still searching for that ring), and we often plan our get togethers around basketball, beer and wine."
Here's an at work photo of Nick - possibly with a pair of Wilt Chamberlain's shoes (I am just taking a wild guess)...
Some entertaining live video from the post-game interview with our 2023 Champion Nick Adam can be viewed by clicking here!!
Nick's championship entry was one of 7 Hopski entrants picking the Huskies 2023 title correctly, and leading the pack of runners-up and Hopski Silver Medalist - Michael Rupp and Last Nil Standing. Aside from one of my favorite entry names this year, CT resident Mike is a Fairield U alum and big supporter of the Stags while working at St. Luke's School in New Canaan, CT. Michael's UConn insight consisted of the logic "that is I have to deal with unsufferable Huskies fans for the next calendar year, I may as well profit from it!". Mike has been in the Hopski since 2016, introduced by Mike LoPiano (not idea of LoPiano's link to the Hopski btw) and this is his first podium finish!
Rounding out the podium this year is URINE TROUBLE 812 from Chris Miller! 812 is the Bloomington, IN area code and I will stop any further explanation of the obvious nature of Chris's entry name. Chris lives in Newburgh, IN and is the nephew of long-time Hopski entrant Steve Miller (owner of a CPA firm that I was privileged to work at my last years at IU). Unfortunately no recent pic of Chris (nor anything I could source online!).
KUDOS as well to Kyle Bowers and My Bracket Called for Floppin' - which took this year's 2nd Chance Dance POOL!!! Kyle made his picks from Nigeria but celebrated his 2nd Chance victory from Tirana, Albania. Kyle is a long-time Warsaw Poland Hoosier expat and we played a LOT of hoops together there in the 90s and up until my departure in 2004. Kyle remarked on his victory: "Oohh fantastic! From floppin' to first!! I am grateful for the 2nd chance Hopski for allowing me to see the error of my ways and make amends with the basketball gods. It has also been a pleasure to expand my Hopski portfolio. I believe the only remaining hardware is of the porcelain type....the Toilet Bowl....which I would like to avoid!"
3 TIME HOPSKI TOILET BOWL WINNER - LINDA GENTY!!!
At the other end of this year's Hopski Standings, we have the Toilet Bowl and, well, there is just no way to sugar coat this one..... "Congratulations" are in order yet again for Linda Genty as her U Who? WVU, UMiami, UK & IU entry amassed an all-time low points total of just 35! OUCH! When reached at her home in the North Chicago suburbs, Linda exclaimed that "I planned it that way, how else could anyone do it so often". While skill certainly plays a part at either end of the Hopski, winning the Toilet Bowl a record 3rd time has to go well beyond "skill and intention"!!! It gave us a nice opportunity to speak and catch-up though as it has been 30 years since Linda, her husband Ron, Jack and a few others were young and naive first time expats in the Arthur Andersen Budapest office!!!
CONGRATS ON THE IMPRESSIVE "VICTORY" LINDA!!! (and you have to be in next year's Hopski now as the defending Toilet Bowl champion AND with free entry!!)
DOLLARS, DOLLARS, DOLLARS$$$$$$$$
Well - on that note - all that is left is distributing the DOLLARS to this year's winners!! Here's the Pool Party Fund:
A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!!!!
MOST importantly - thanks to the generosity of all entrants and especially those that made the direct payments to the charity - the 2023 Hopski raised a total of $2,950 for the Polish Humanitarian Action Fund in support of Ukrainian Refugees!!!
As a final note, I want to firstly say how disappointed I was with the IU women's early exit from the NCAA tournament and how much I enjoyed watching their team this year (with my daughters) all season long. Looking forward to next year's team as they return most of their top plays. And wow - what a season for NCAA women's basketball in general. The Final Four this year was must watch TV for us in this house and Iowa and LSU did not disappoint!!!
Continuing on that theme, I want to share a Hopski opinion that while I certainly don't go for the public trash talk that was happening in the women's tournament (Clark, Reese, etc...), there is no reason that anyone should be piling on criticism of Angel Reese for what she was doing in the final minutes of the women's championship game. As a player and a coach, yes - thought it was inappropriate and certainly not my style (probably would not have acted too kindly to it either!!), but GET OFF HER BACK!! She was amazingly strong in that game and throughout the tournament and season. If that is how she rolls and she can take what she dishes out - then you go girl!! I for one will definitely tune-in in 2023-2024 for any Iowa/LSU match-up if both Angel and Caitlin stay for another year!
All the best,
The Commish
