The Hopski is LIVE and Dancing

2023 March Madness is off and running, well that is unless you are from Virginia as BOTH West Virginia and Virginia have been sent packing early.... along with this year's first bracket busted entry:  Kamran Koochekzadeh's Long Live Spartacus!  That was about all of 2 hours of Hopski madness Kamran - but have no fear, the Hopski 2nd Chance Dance is but 4 days away!

22:05 EST UPDATE:  Had to update this after being away this afternoon coaching and missed last minute of Princeton's upset of Arizona!!  Wow - seriously??  A great win for the Tigers - aka best since 1996 for sure (outing defending champ UCLA in Indy with me on the 6th row in tears!).

8 Entries gained Princeton's 13 point bonus gift - Hopski kudos to each:

AarUpThere (Aaron Jackson)

Better Call Ball, Bing Bang Ow AND Charles Barkley is FAT (Bill Doran with a HAT TRICK!!!)

King Slayer (Keir Novesky)

Running REBel #1 (Palo Alto's Rob Babcock)

Shead Show (Peter Pell - need to check and see if he and Keir are entering off of the same tip site again!)

Meanwhile - 61 entries picked AZ into the Championship game and 11 lucky entrants took an extra 2 hours to join Kamran in the Busted Bracket scrapheap!!

V

So - kudos to the Furman Paladins and JP Pegues for delivering 52 of this year's 139 Hopski entries 9 underdog bonus points with the upset.

If you are receiving this but did not enter this year - no worries - I will update mail chimp late tonight or Friday morning with this year entrants.  On this note though - seriously - TOO BUSY TO JOIN THE HOPSKI???

INDEED YOU ARE!!!  Better luck with that schedule next year Carole!

As mentioned, we have 139 entries but I have not yet received 139 payments and/or confirmations of donation made to Polish Humanitarian Action!  Thus, get those payments in NOW!!  The entry fee remains at $30!! Payment via paypal (markhopski@yahoo.com), venmo (@Mark-Hopper-27) or zelle (3175233988).

I should be able to get an update out Friday morning before heading to PISMO beach

for a hoops tournament this weekend and coaching my daughters' team, so be patient with the Commish this weekend as heck, I am just hoping to be able to watch a few games, let alone post cleverish updates!!  Unfortunately - Pismo will not be resembling the photo this weekend as it is supposed to be around 50 degrees and potential for rain - ugh!!!

Enjoy the games and the Hopski!

The 24th Hopski International Pool is up and running - GET YOUR ENTRY IN!!

Greetings from PHX airport where the Commish is delayed returning to the marshlands of SF Bay due to yet another atmospheric river dumping on California!  

Thus, this announcement will be relatively short and sweet to let you know the 2023 Hopski International March Madness Pool is active and accepting entries.

2022 entrants should have received an invite email from RunYourPool, but accept this as your 2nd (and personal) invite.   Please also feel free to forward this on to friends, family and anyone who will add to the color and pageantry of the Hopski!

To enter this year’s Hopski International Pool, click here for link!

Rules and scoring are viewable on the RunYourPool website, but if need me I am also available for questions via email at markhopski@yahoo.com.  A quick note in this respect, NOTHING HAS CHANGED this year from the past 23 years!!!

Good luck to all entrants and to all teams (expect FURDUE!) - looking forward to some great fun these next few weeks as not only will my family’s eyes be glued to the IU games - we’re also very excited about the women’s tournament and reservations are made for Dallas in hopes of seeing the IU women play in the Final Four.  Unfortunately the reservations for seeing them in Seattle had to be cancelled due to some bad luck in the draw!

All the best-

The Commish

2023 Hopski

 Just a quick post from the IU Roommates & Friends Annual AZ Golf Trip as hosted by Jeff “Big Wags” Wagoner…..

The 2023 Hopski will be ready to roll next week!!!

Prepare yourself!!

The Commish

Hopski is Back, Just in Time to Say Goodbye!

 It is hard to remember when my Spring Break used to be like this:

When now it is like this:

Yep - that is me in the back, or in the case of the Harry Potter VR thing at Universal - with my eyes wide CLOSED!      That is really a shame......but.....

That though is neither here nor there as for the 2nd year in a row, The Commish was AWOL Championship week, out spending Hopski money like.......

errrr, Hopper money that would be - thanks for everyone's patience again this year - ESPECIALLY those owed HOPSKI money!!!

I only received a couple of calls like that though (thank you Tom Wojt - once again a big winner in our annual Big 10 vs Big 12 bet!)!

CONGRATS TO THE 2022 HOPSKI CHAMPION:

UDAMAN from Mike Ching

Mike is a 20 year veteran of the Hopski, previously serving podium time in 2011 when he took home the Silver Medal!  Aside from picking the Jayhawks championship, Ron racked up 43 underdog points - which were the difference makers vs the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place entrants.  A bulk of those points came from his picking the #11 seed duos of Michigan and Iowa State into the Sweet 16!  Mike is the EY OMP in Honolulu, a life-long Broncos fan (and season ticket holder!) and a graduate of Santa Clara.  When contacted on the beach in Honolulu, Mike said:  "I'll just say that I'm honored to finally be a Hopski champion!!  Having gotten close once before.....2nd sucks, so I am very glad the Jayhawks came through!!  I think I first joined the Hopski 20 years ago, so this would mean that the Hopski has been in my life for 40% of my years on this earth....longer than I've known my kids.  That said, this year also makes my 20 year anniversary with the better half, so glad I've got some coin for the big anniversary gift!!  

KUDOS TO THE 2022 HOPSKI RUNNER-UP.....

FAB 5 FINGERS from CHRIS KINKELA

Chris is another Hopski veteran, now reaching the podium for the first time in his 9th year, besting his 7th place finish in 2016!  Chris also won the 2016 2nd Chance Dance with the unforgettable Rock "U" Like A Patrick Kane entry.  Chris is now killing the Real Estate game, side by side with his wife Silvia, in the Central Florida market.  He is a proud Graduate from Central Michigan University- FIRE UP CHIPS, but roots for The Fab Five Finger Slapping Juwan Howard coached Michigan Wolverines in hoops. When he's not watching college hoops, Chris coaches his son's 5/6yr old baseball team and helps as a prop dad for his two daughters' competitive dance team.  He's also famous for getting blocked by multiple athletes on twitter, most notably Arkansas Football Coach Sam Pittman.

Rounding out the podium, 3rd Place Goes to......

It's Late, It's Tate, It's Great from Don King!!

No - not THAT one, THIS ONE.......

Don is a Hopski rookie lives in Rocky Hill, CT.  When not rooting on UConn hoopsters and the Mets (yes - he is an acknowledged METS FAN!!), he works in IT at an Investment Management Company.  For pleasure, he enjoys spending time in the Caribbean (Pic is from Turks and Caicos).  

Don has graciously donated his 3rd place Hopski winnings ($325) to the Polish Humanitarian Action Fund for their continued support of Ukrainian refugees - A HUGE THANKS DON!!!

That rounds out the podium and on to the Hopski 2nd Chance Dance Champion....

Mathurin Child Reunion from Peter Pell takes the 2022 Hopski 2nd Chance Dance Trophy with 144 points, edging out Ted Schulz's Always Believe entry (had to give Ted a shout-out as he was SOOOOO CLOSE this year in both the main pool and the 2nd Chance Dance to some Hopski $$$$ after 20+ years!!!!!).

Peter is the defending Best Entry Name winner from 2021 (No Suggs in the Champagne Room!) and the runner-up in the main Hopski Pool in both 2017 and 2019 (by tiebreaker).  Thus, Peter is one Hopski Toilet Bowl victory away from covering all possible means of victory in the Hopski (Jack - what can we call that??!!).  Peter lives in Long Island (for those of us not familiar with NYC - that would be EAST of NYC he points out!) with his wife and 2 kids and of course a golden retriever.  Peter also has asked that 1/2 of his 2nd Chance Dance winnings also be contributed to the Polish Humanitarian Action Fund - AWESOME - THANK PETER!!!!

Speaking of the Best Entry Name.....

The 2022 Best Entry Name goes to 

Shooter McGavin's Breakfast from rookie Mark Horgan!  I have zero info on Mark - not even sure who intro'd him to the Hopski, but I like the creativity (or atleast his mail-in campaign voters did!!).  Mark can now look forward to free entry in the 2023 Hopski!!

Also receiving votes:

Fab 5 Finger Slap & LONGWOOD....not big enough for the moment (Chris Kinkela)

Put on Your Red Shoes and Dance! (Michelle Johnson)

More Beef Than Kanye and Pete (Bill LaFever)

It's Late, It's Tate, It's Great! (Don King)

I Smell Putin Over Here (David Miller)

Bored Hoosier Yacht Club (Matt Powell)

Big Ol Tytys (Peter Pell)

The Hopski would not be complete without a TOILET BOWL CHAMPION...

This year's winner is long-time (20 years + as well!!) Hopski entrant Julie Grundberg and Play-in Game??  Julie managed to clock just 44 points this year, picking at a 38.1% rate, to just edge out former Hopski Champion Mark Conlon's BUILD BrACKet BETTER!  Julie was the 2019 Hopski 2nd Chance Dance Champion - so she has to be "smellin'" the Podium in her future - certainly a better smell than her current spot :).  Julie is a Hoosier alum that I met in my Chicago days and now she lives in Seattle (I think I have that right!!).

Combining 26 entries with direct donations along with the additional contributions from winnings, that brings the grand total contribution to PAH in support of Ukrainian refugees to $3,768.24!!!  

*as a side note, I take no tax benefit from these donations - even the entry fees that I cover for your private donations - just sayin'!!  Full transparency here at Hopski HQ!

It is a pleasure to be associated with all of you and please continue to push for support of Ukraine in whatever means you have at your disposal!!!!

One last Poland/Ukraine tidbit - if you have 5 minutes - this article is something that I really enjoyed reading today.  A long-time friend, John Lynch wrote and put it out on smerconish.com over the weekend.  It is really amazing what Poland as a country and people are doing - makes me really happy (though feeling really too far removed) to be associated with a great country like Poland!!!

Keep well and have a great Hopski Off-season!  See you in 2023!!

The Commish

**Hopski history & analytics blog post will be circulated shortly this week after work fully attended!!

On Vacation Still!

 A Hopski Championship update will be coming next Monday!   Vacation is going well.  In the meantime a quick congratulations to the 2022 Champion Udaman from Mike Ching!!!!    I am sure that our newest champion appreciates Island (Vacation) time!!

A high recommendation for Hicksville Trailer Park in Joshua Tree btw!  Cool glamping!

Keep well!

The Commish

The Final Four Preview

FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!

Hopski entrants have contributed via the $5 Hopski Charity Tax and Direct Donations $3,362 to the Polish Humanitarian Fund for supporting Ukrainian refugees!!  

Thanks to all of you generous folks - such generosity helps me rally each year to keep the Hopski going!!

If you want to make any further donation - here is the link again:  https://www.pah.org.pl/en/donate/

NOW YOUR PRE- FINAL FOUR UPDATE:

Yes, I know you may be missing the Commish and frequent updates this year, but what can I say, I am just getting older and busier unfortunately!  I certainly need to go the Silicon Valley way................

 - you know, add .com (TheHopski.com) ......

....................and of course hire an intern!!!

That certainly sounds like a plan for Hopski 2023 - then again - I would probably just get pissed off at an intern anyway

Alas - we'll have to thus settle for the "when i can" posts such as this - 

YOUR INTRO TO THE 2022 FINAL FOUR!!!!

That is the hooded blue villian waving good-bye to Hopski Hopefuls as unless you picked this year's brackets based upon the color blue - it has been a tournament of blues that has lead us to a dreaded Blue Bloodiest of all Final Fours that only an alum of one of these schools could love!

In game 1, we'll have the Baby Blues vs the Devil Blues.  Cannot imagine anything finer for a Tar Hell than sending Coach K off with losses at Cameron and a loss in the Final Four to his bitter rival.  That could cause many a man to unretire!!!

Then our Saturday nightcap though probably not mine though as, oh by the way, the Commish is on a 2nd annual Family Trip Final Four Weekend Spring Break and will be loading up on U2 in Joshua Tree National Park come Saturday night soooooooooo DO NOT EXPECT A PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE FROM THE COMMISH - E.G. CONTACT MY INTERN IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS!)

 

**Bono likes the Heels to take it all!!

Back to our 2nd game on Saturday - 2 more literally blue blooded programs will go to battle.  IMO this pits one of the game's better coaches against one of my most disliked cheaters.......  I'll let you figure that one out......

YAWN - as I said - only an alumnus of one of these schools could love this Final Four.......  the damned Big 10 let most of us (Midwesterners) down again - ugh - 2 years in a row without a team making the Elite 8!!!

Yes - I agree with Davison on this one - WTF??

Must Move On..... as I am rambling and have to pack and then off to a Journey/Toto concert tonight (don't ask!).  A commitment that I am sure I will somehow enjoy after a couple of beers, but probably not the priority of the week / month / year / etc.....

Where are you Steve???!!!

Let's start with some congratulations to the Hopski Leaderboard as for the first two - this is the last congrats that they will receive this year as their Championship Hopes were dashed in the Elite 8 with the Zags going down and with St. Joseph's and Miami getting knocked out!

King Slayer from Keir Novesky (New York art director / graphic guy at GQ) has been comfortably at the top of the Board for a few rounds now, but he's run out of underdog bonus points to keep him there (though a UNC over Nova final gives him a well deserved 3rd place!).  Jenada10 from Eric Gates (long-time IU closest friend that is in Chicago suburbs for ages - make sure you ask him about Jenada the next time you see him btw - classic story!!!) also has been smelling the podium for awhile, but alas, the Kentucky 1st round exit has caught up.  Thank you for the memories and collect your Top Ten Finish plaques at the door.....

In third place heading into Final Four weekend is none other than AarUpThere from Aaron Jackson.  I love the entry name but have not info on the entrant that I can recollect (another challenge these days with providing updates!!).  Aaron has a shot at the Hopski title - needing a UNC over Villanova final result!

That completes the podium task. This year's Hopski though is WIDE OPEN heading into the Final Four - with 14 entries still with a chance to finish "in the money" in the top 3!!!  Here are the scenarios.......

Once the final game is decided - please drop me a quick email with a recent interesting photo (mug shots preferred) and a bit of a bio / why you love/hate the Hopski so I have some decent fill materials for the Final Update.  I am wholly unsure of my ability to get that update out next week (e.g. - DISNEYLAND is planned for TUESDAY vs updating the blog!!!) - but I will get something out at some point!

The 2nd Chance Dance Pool continues to be led by Russian Warship, Go F**K Yourself from Jacob Kivett (Palo Alto friend and THE ORIGINAL FLORIDA MAN!!)!  Jacob picked 7 of the Elite 8 winners and 3 of the Final Four to lead the pool into the final stretch.  He'll need a Duke championship to take home the title though!  Always Believe (Ted Schulz - one of the early 90s Warsaw expats with International Paper and who I think has missed only 1 Hopski Pool in his lifetime and if I remember right - has never really contended.....  HE HAS A SHOT!!!!)  Both at the BIG POOL and the 2nd chance dance (KU>Duke).  Go Ted!!!!

Some IMPORTANT ADMIN......

PLEASE VOTE FOR THE BEST ENTRY NAME!!!  THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!!  EMAIL ME OR DROP A QUICK POST ON THE POOL MESSAGE BOARD.  THERE ARE SOME REALLY GOOD ONES (I love Its Late, Its Tate, Its Great for some reason!!!!).

FINAL POOL PAYOUT FIGURES:

KEEP WELL - 

THE COMMISH

Elite 8 Preview - sorry

 I am running behind today as the intent was to do a quick Elite 8 Report - but we had a car delivery today from Carvana (worked pretty well) and it has been a bit crazy.  Now i have to run to SF for the Duke/Arkansas game.

Quickly though:

Only 17 entries have their Champion Pick still alive!!  Duke leads with 8, Kansas with 5 and Villanova with 4.  What a crazy year!!

King Slayer continues to lead the Hopski with 125 points - he'll be rooting against all 3 of those teams as his Gonzaga pick is GONE!

Udaman in 10th place is the highest placed entry with a champion still picked (Kansas).

Safer Picks Than Gas Station Sushi sits in 12th place and is highest placed entry with Duke!

Rounding out those still alive - The Swedish Krzyzewski in 28th place still has a shot with Villanova picked to take it all.

Let's not overlook More Beef Than Kanye and Pete - sitting in 28th but with the highest possible point total in the pool and with Duke picked to win it all.  This entry has Duke beating Villanova in the Final!!

Jacob Kivett and Russian Warship, Go F**K Yourself is leading the 2nd Chance Dance, having picked 7 out of the 8 winners and has Duke to take it all.

Back in the main pool - WE HAVE A CHAMPION.......kind of........  congrats to Play-in Game from Julie Grundberg!  Not only was one of the first entrants to lose her picked Champion this year, but she has wrapped up the Toilet Bowl Last Place Trophy with just 44 points and receives free entry into the 2023 Hopski!!!  Congrats Julie!!  (this text color is the closest I could get to what is in the toilet bowl!!)

I am off to the Elite 8 - GO HOGS!!!