2025 Hopski International March Madness Pool BEST ENTRY NAME!

 

The entire Hopski Pool has been emailing me these last 24 hours with THAT EXACT REQUEST!

Thus, without further adieu....

THE 2025 HOPSKI BEST ENTRY NAME IS......

WHOOMP! (DIARRA IT IS)

Based upon the smash hit from Tag Team

Coupled with a shout out to UConn basketball's Hassan Diarra.  Congrats Justin Lockhart - you receive FREE entry for the 2026 Hopski!

Runner-up by a single vote goes to Broome Shaka Laka from Peter Pell, most famously for many of us from the 80s movie Stripes....

But also in Wolf of Wall Street....

2nd runner-up goes to In Goes Bourbon, Out Comes Wisdom (THE Matt Powell)

THE HOPSKI HALL OF FAME FOR BEST ENTRY NAMES:

And The Winner Is............

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 HOPSKI INTERNATIONAL MARCH MADNESS POOL CHAMPION......

BRETT MEYERS

To-The Alamo-For a Schwinn & Hopski win!

Brett nabbed his first Hopski podium finish as the 2025 Champion and in the process denied Tangled Up in Nofe's Mark Noferi an undeniable argument for being the Hopski GOAT with a 3rd title by virtue of Florida's come from behind victory over the Houston Cougars last night!

When reached at Nourish Now HQ - Brett said "I am in a little shock that I won’t the Hopski! I picked the Gators because Walton Clayton Jr. kept improving throughout the season and I thought with a young, upcoming coach, they had a real shot at cutting down the nets.  With some of the Hopski 1st place prize money, I am going to buy myself a Gators hat and take my daughter Azure out to Ruth Chris for dinner!"

Our 2025 Hopski Runner-Up is Hook'em Hoss from Michael Hoss

That is Mike on the left of Valvano (some UM guy photo bombing) with the Commish on the right as we attended the 1991 Final Four in Minneapolis (Ted Valentine - we still hate thee for robbing The General of a 4th Championship).

Mike is a longtime Hopski entrant and also a 1989 audit hiree of Arthur Andersen in Chicago - where we worked hard, played hard and loved the Cubbies.  Mike is a St. Thomas (MN) graduate now residing in The Woodlands, TX and working for Repsol (viva Espana!!!).

Nabbing the final podium spot in 2025 is A-Train from Aaron Weller!  

A-Train is actually Aaron's nickname from our IU days (and maybe before).  A-Train is a 1988 Indiana graduate and was as good of a baller as any non-scholarship player at IU in the late 80s and probably better than a few that had scholarships!  Aaron lives in Salem, IN and is a VP at First Savings Bank.  He regularly takes money off of myself and a few other IU friends in our fantasy football league.

44 entries picked Florida as Champion (the most picked team this year).

The worst finish by an entrant picking Florida was 80th place for I Got DOGEd from Julie Grundberg

3 entries picked a pool high 52 of 65 games (82.5%) correctly, including our Champion as well as 26th place DOGE Slashed My Picks (Joe Seib) and 30th place Friends Don't Let Friends Drive & Dunk (Justin Lockhart)

Toilet Bowl Runner-up Aaron Jackson's AarUpThere was the only entry to pick the total points in the Championship Game exactly at 128 (no bonus points for that one unfortunately!)

Speaking of the TOILET BOWL....

This will go down as a record not meant to be broken and possibly a record of equal talent to that of Ryan Fazio's back to back Hopski Championships in 2019 and 2021 as Bay Area's own Amy Kenney and Niparoo 10 has REPEATED as HOPSKI TOILET BOWL CHAMPION!  

Hopski HQ, despite repeated attempts, has been unable to reach Amy regarding this Hopski Hall of Fame triumph, but we look forward to her return in 2026!

That's a wrap for today/tonight....  trying to get this out in time for everyone's Tuesday morning mailbox review!

Thanks to all for joining this Hopski this year and yes - of course - 2026 - same bat time, same bat channel (probably!!).

Adios -  The Commish

Hopski 2nd Chance Dance Wrap-up

 

Even if it is the 2nd chance!!!

Congratulations to the 2025 Hopski 2nd Chance Dance Champion....

The 2013 Hopski Main Pool Champion,

David Miller with his I Smell Putin Over Here #2 entry!!!!!!

Pictured here with his son Chase at a Muscle Shoals (Alabama) HS Tennis Event (Go Trojans!!).  When reached by Hopski HQ - David said "It has been a season of seconds with this 2nd Chance Dance win alongside a 2nd in Fantasy Football.  That said, he is quite excited as Chase was admitted into his 1st choice - Vanderbilt and that will be the destination of his 2nd Chance Dance winnings this year!"

I Smell Putin Over Here rose to the top spot after Florida's come from behind victory over Houston, denying Groketology:  AI of the Tiger and Stan Kwitnieski a spot in the Hopski Hall of Fame.  Stan was thwarted from potential titles in both pools this weekend by late comebacks - 1st in the main pool by Duke losing and then in the 2nd Chance Dance with Houston's lost.  Stan was taking these losses well though on the slopes of Telluride, CO this weekend!

The Final 2nd Chance Dance Leaderboard (Top 15)

.

Pre-Championship Game Update: The Curse of The White Lotus

Shall we just call it The Curse of the White Lotus??!!

 

Clearly there were "bigger" things at work impacting Duke's inability to hold onto a 6 point lead with the ball and just 40 seconds to go on Saturday!  Houston turned a block and a quick 3 at the 34 second mark into a 3 point game, managed to give Duke a point on a T - yet still won the game thanks to their 63% FT shooter hitting both FTs to give them the lead AFTER Duke's 68% FT shooter missed a 1 and 1!

And NO - this was NOT A BAD CALL!

I did feel that both games had more than a typical fair share of missed calls.  I mean I have never experienced getting whacked on the forearm when going in for a nasty 2 hand slam - but I would consider that a foul for sure and saw a few of those in the two semi-finals and other fouls that went uncalled.  Generally though - I prefer the consistent let them play officiating that we got on Saturday as opposed to seeing games decided with the best players on the bench in foul trouble!

In any event, we are now on to Houston vs Florida for the title!

And the Hopski is down to two entries battling for the title as well!

This year's Hopski has quite a heavyweight match-up this year in terms of two veteran entrants that I have yet to meet face to face - but really hope to make that happen at some point given their backgrounds and what they have done and are doing in life (plus they probably will buy me a beer!)

In the red Houston corner we have 2-time Hopski Champion Mark Noferi's Tangled Up in Nofe entry.  NOFE is really in some Hopski rare air here as this would be a 2nd championship alongside 2nd place last year - within a 7 Hopski-year (sans covid) period.  Certainly an opportunity to surpass the incredible back to covid to back championship feat of Ryan Fazio (Sorry Drake, You Better Not Go Past Round 1) in 2019 and 2021!

And in the blue corner of the Florida Gators, we have Brett Meyers and To-The Alamo-For a Schwinn & a Hopski WIN!  Brett is the founder (in 2011) of Nourish Now, a nonprofit food bank serving Nourish Now primarily serves Montgomery County, MD, in addition to serving Prince George’s County, MD Baltimore City and Southeast Washington DC.

The NOURISH NOW STORY:

As of this going to press - we have a 3 way tie for the 2025 BEST HOPSKI ENTRY NAME!

IF you have not already voted - drop me a quick email with your favorite entry name!!

Adios - The Commish

Pre-Championship Hopski 2nd Chance Dance Update

 

HOUSTON TO WIN:  Groketology:  AI of the Tiger (Stan Kwitnieski, Stan & I first met on the court in Warsaw back in 1993 and played hoops together for about 8 years or so I think - some very crazy, fun and memorable stories from our time on the court for sure!  In fact, I do believe I have video of Stan punting a few juice boxes into orbit after fouling out of a game (he has worse on me probably - just no video evidence!).  We did not catch a lot of breaks from a few certain Polish refs as I recall.  Stan is now relaxed and happy in Boulder, CO.  Groketology may find a silver lining to the Duke loss (eliminating this entry from winning the main pool) by now winning the 2nd Chance Dance with Houston! Most recent Stan photo I could search out online:

FLORIDA TO WIN:  I Smell Putin Over Here #2 (2013 Hopski Champion David Miller, son of my IU college and Bloomington based employer Steven Miller (in fact - I think we have 4 entrants this year that have worked for Steve while at IU!!).  David is based in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and allegedly spends a LOT of time researching things like the Hopski and fantasy football. While down in 10th place at the moment, a Florida victory will move the Putin Smeller up to the top of the Hopski 2nd Chance Dance!!  

And only since he is so consistently contending in the main pool - a quick shout out to entry name extraordinaire He's a Fla-Agg from Peter Pell who has solidly locked up the 2nd Chance Toilet Bowl with a 14% pick %!!!  Good that you save your expert picks for the main pool Peter!

Enjoy the games - 

The Commish

Hopski Final Four Update - pt 2

Indeed, we're back for a bit more pre-Final Four Hopski Fodder!!!!

ASSAULT ON THE HOPSKI RECORD BOOK!!

 Not since 2008 have all 4 #1 seeds made the Final Four and that has put a LOT of all-time Hopski records within reach - both as a pool and for some individual entries!

Our top 5 entries in the standings EACH have max point totals that will carry them past the all-time point total of 215 points set by This Sheet= The Audacity of hope (Joe Drozdowski) in 2009 and just last year by In Hube We Trust (Mark Iantosca, aka Voldemort / The One We Shall Not Speak His Name, though everyone take note that this year, after 24 years of being late, he did pay his entry fee on time!!!):

That said, only 3 of those entries have a chance to take home the Hopski title this year as 2 are boxed out like the Buffalo Wild Wings commercial (oh how I miss this commercial!!)

A RECORD PAYMENTS YEAR!

All entries have paid their Hopski entry fee (or made a donation to Polish Humanitarian Action in support of UKRAINE refugees) in advance of the Final Four and more importantly - without any public shaming!  

Most importantly, the 2025 Hopski has raised a total donation of $2,185 for PHA!!  THANK YOU!!!

Additionally - our prize pool is now clear - take note:

OTHER RECORDS IN JEOPARDY

Both DOGE Slashed My Picks and Friends Don't Let Friends Drive and Dunk also have a shot at the all time % picked of 84.1%, though only one can win the Hopski title!

Most Correct Picks - Elite 8......  until 2025 we had only 5 entries in our 24 year history that picked all 8 teams, yet this year, a whopping 11 entries picked all 8!

  A shout out to each of you!!

• Groketology: AI of the Tiger (Stan Kwitnieski)
• To-The Alamo-For a Schwinn & Hopski win! (Brett Meyers)
• DOGE Slashed my Picks (Joe Sieb)
• #GreenlandStrong (Jack Bell)
• Tangled Up in Nofe (2008 and 2018 Champion Mark Noferi)
• Hook em Hoss (Mike Hoss)
• Does Tru TV exist April through Feb? (Mark Conlon)
• El Guapo (David Oliveaux)
• Hawkeye06 (Dylan McGuill)
• Bubba Cunningham killed Gene Hackman (2019 and 2021 Champion Ryan Fazio)
• Chambo Kai Dojo #2 (2014 Champion Jeff Chamberlin)

As an overall pool though - we will fall short of all average correct picks by round - but just slightly.....

115 of our 149 entries this year still have their champion alive!

Enjoy the Final Four - back to you on Sunday or Monday!

The Commish

BEST ENTRY NAME - PLEASE MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT!!!!

THERE ARE SOME GOOD ONES OUT THERE (BTW - NONE USED IN PREVIOUS YEARS MAY WIN!).  Here are a few of my personal favorites:

• To the Alamo for a Schwinn & Hopski Win! (corny but it works in a Hopski reference along with the host city of the Final 4)
• #GreenlandStrong (why not!  note - if you look at a world map and pretend you are playing RISK - Greenland is a no brainer targer - just sayin!);
• Smash The Pale Moth (I have no idea what Kyle means and even googled it!  Maybe it is a Romanian thing as he is there now overseeing elections);
• Ballinheimer (Jay - this is 2025 not 2024!)
• Dusty May I Have Another (nice Western reference to Michigan's coach - Dusty May)
• Whoomp (Diarra it is) - love it - gets me humming that song!
• Broome Shaka Laka (nice shout out to Marquette's coach & Auburn PF - one of my favorite coaches btw);
• Waffle House:  1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (anything with Waffle House is hard to overlook!);
• Chomp & Circumstance;
• 2 Hoops and No BUCKETS;
• Say Drake, u better not go past Round 1 (let's get into that Drake battle!)
• Yippie Ki-Yay Motherdunker (not certain if we have ever had an entry before with a Die Hard reference!);
• Dance Floor Draught (poor Natalie - in more ways than 1 maybe - Wags - take the woman dancing!!!);
• In Goes Bourbon, Out Comes Wisdom! (indeed!);

Just a few of my favs - but per my daughters - i have no contemporary wisdom so ignore them and vote for your favorite!!!

DROP ME AN EMAIL at markhopski@yahoo.com OR JUST POST YOUR VOTE HERE ON THE MESSAGE BOARD (CANNOT VOTE FOR YOUR OWN ENTRY).

THE HOPSKI BEST ENTRY NAME HALL OF FAME

-THE COMMISH

Hopski 2nd Chance Dance Pre-Final 4 Update

Indeed, The Hopski HQ Creed!!!

 

Everyday we are hustling for the Pool (well - at least 1 or 2 days a year maybe!) and for the 1st time ever, we have a Hopski 2nd Chance Dance UPDATE!!

Publication of the 2nd Chance Dance Leaderboard (and cutting it off at the Top 15) of course has nothing to do with the fact that the Commish's own entry is in 15th (and out of the running - thank you 'Bama).  

.

Perfection stands alone at the top of the 2nd Chance Dance Leaderboard with Can't You Hear Me Nofe'ing from two-time Hopski Champion Mark Noferi!  Mark went 12 for 12 last weekend (as did his Tangled Up in Nofe entry in the main pool - a Hopski Double for the first time in Hopski History BTW!).

On the Duke championship trail - the Nofe has left an opening for a Duke over Florida scenario whereby for the 1st time in Hopski Main or 2nd Chance Dance history we could have a 3 way tie for first (and yes I could have tossed in a very funny "3-Way" giphy here but HEY - MY DAUGHTER IS INVOLVED!!!

Yes - a very proud Hopski to see not only a contending daughter - but an excellent entry name with Thunderstruck (by my bracket) - from Sophie Hopper!!!  All on her own (aside from my regularly playing AC/DC music as we prep for ballgames!).  So - a shout out to Sophie (here is a pic from last weekend's Spokane DDY/daughter trip:

That is about as far as we go with the 2nd Chance Dance Update at this point!!

-The Commish

HOPSKI PRE-FINAL FOUR UPDATE - PART 1 OF 2 :)

Basically every day this week has started like this......

And every day has ended with..................

So today I channelled some Ted

and even though pretty much any of you reading this are reading it tomorrow (FRIDAY), we have a HOPSKI UPDATE!

Starting of course with the HOPSKI LEADERBORD:

Groketology:  AI of the Tiger (former Warsaw expat and hooper Stan Kwitnieski of Boulder, CO - and please note the Monkey Boy reference last update related to his comment to my proud girlfriend at the time - and wife now - that she was leading the pool in 2001 and Stan dropped a "any monkey can make picks" or something to that regard...... she promptly had an entry name for 2001 and with that luck she finished on the podium in 3rd!) leads the way after a perfect Elite 8 and 3 for 4 on the final four - with Dawg points keeping him at the top.

Moving up to 2nd place is To The Alamao For a Schwinn & Hopski Win (from Brett Meyers - the Founder of a Washington DC-Baltimore area charity call Nourish Now.  Nourish Now is a great endeavor and I strongly encourage any of you looking for a destination for charitable dollars to check it out here).

 

To The Alamo was one of 4 entries that were perfect last weekend, picking the Elite 8 and the Final Four.  This group also included 5th place #GreenlandStrong (Jack Bell, part of the Budapest AAndersen expat group that I joined in 1992 and THE mustard mock t-shirt and pretzel guy from our annual Oktoberfest gatherings and Drake Bulldog grad and btw also the person that intro'd me to Nourish Now from his time well spent in Washington DC), 7th place Tangled Up in Nofe (2 time Hopski champion Mark Nofe, an attorney that has just recently relocated to New Mexico (I think) where he is a Chief Clerk for a US District Court judge) and 18th place Does Tru TV Exist April through Feb? (ex-Warsaw expat and a Hopski Champion Mark Conlon - now back home in Minneapolis.  

Add Jack's 2 Hopski runner-up finishes and a 3rd as well and you have a real case of.......

TO BE CONTINUED MANANA......   IT IS 10:30PM AND I GOTTA GET OFF THE COMPUTER HERE!!