Cigar Geeks

This is very late notice, but Mike Casey hasn't been around lately so I'm going to be his surrogate.

RULES:

Anyone can play as long as you are cool.

Everyone will put up a fiver of cigars.  (No dog rockets please !)

No need to send them anywhere until the end.

Winner receives a fiver from all losers.  Winner sends his fiver to the second place finisher.

Go to the following site:  http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2016/en/group?groupID=94758

The password is cigargeeks15.  (yeah yeah, it should be 16, but I've hijacked Mikes group from last year)

The Group Name is "Cigar Geeks"  (go figure??)

You will more than likely need to create an ESPN account if you did not play last year.

I entered my picks using the above info yesterday, and it does seem to work.

Must get picks in ASAP, and of course, prior to the start of games on Thursday.

 

 MARCH MADNESS IS UPON US!!  GOOD LUCK!!

So far we have 3 signed up.

The more that play results in a larger pot of cigars.

I recall johncw taking in a motherlode of sticks last year (or the year before)

Come on Boys.  Time to pony up!

 :dancing:

entered, thanks for stepping up!

I'm in!

Got mine in!

I'll get in tonight, I won it last year and I don't follow basketball what so ever. Think I ended up winning around 80 cigars or something ridiculous.

I'm in. Hopefully I'll win so I don't have to worry about sending my sticks late??

Of course I am in!

I'm in - always fun.  Thanks for putting this together.  FYI - looks like Cigars Direct is also running a free contest, with some very nice prizes.  http://cigarsdirect.pooltracker.com/tourney/

Ok I'm in, couldn't figure out how to change my name in there though I did last year...so I'm jimrosefan.

Excellent start!

Please do everyone a favor and identify yourself on this thread so we know who is who,  There are a couple of names that don't indicate which Cigargeeks member you may be.

Thank you in advance!

10 signed up so far!

That's 50, yes 50 cigars on the hook!

Register, and fill out a bracket to have a shot!

:bump:

:bump:

Need more players!

Lets go!  I know there are at least 5 more that would enjoy this.

arm twisted enough
I'm in :biggrin:
And I'm cool  :smoker2:

OK

We have 12 people signed up for the contest!  That's 60 cigars up for grabs.

BUT

I can only identify 10 geeks through this forum as follows.

1)  Caveman Steve  (Cavema67)

2)  Nirab  (Toilet Monsters I believe)

3)  TJM0831  (Trent 2338)

4)  Phog  (Phog)

5)  Ninfiction  (jimrosefan)

6)  Clami  (clami)

7)  Stogiedad  (Stogiedad)

8)  Chrism 305  (Chrism 305)

9)  Johncw  (Johncw)

10)  05 Venturer  (05 Venturer)

I need to know who you are if you are to be part of this friendly competition.  It is common courtesy and a requirement as part of the "Cool" rule.

If you will not identify yourself, you are not cool and are therefore "OUT".  Ideally, you are a member in good standing, and not a "guest".

The Two unknowns:

1)  ESPN 41273955
2)  ESPN 83116723

Please let us know who you are ASAP.  (not after you kill the first round)

LAST CALL

Just hours away from the deadline.

Let's get a couple more patsy er um geeks to join in the MADNESS!

 :biggrin:

Thanks for setting up I think I got in correctly?

I talked my brother IndyGopher into signing up the last minute as well so it looks like it's 14 people :thumbsup:

QuoteBewareDaPenguin - 3/17/2016  12:22 PM  I talked my brother IndyGopher into signing up the last minute as well so it looks like it's 14 people :thumbsup:

Excellent!

Yes, we are 14......or maybe 12

The ESPN entrants are in jeopardy of being gonged, which would knock us down to 12.

Good luck everybody!

QuoteBewareDaPenguin - 3/17/2016  1:22 PM

I talked my brother IndyGopher into signing up the last minute as well so it looks like it's 14 people :thumbsup:

Yup, he twisted my arm all the way up to 1 pm today. I was already 2 beers in at that point, so I said what the heck lol!  I picked this particular bracket blind, with a friend reading me seeds,  but no team names or regions.  Let's see how it goes.  :biggrin:

Day one is complete!

Clami is out to an early lead, but everyone is pretty well bunched up on his heels.

Purdue SCREWED me.  Had them to the elite 8.  That really hurt.

More great games today!  Enjoy

 :dancing:

HI
THOUGHT I WAS ATOMICALLY ENTERED ,I'M NEW TO gEEKS

Quotesgtmai - 3/18/2016  7:40 AM  HI THOUGHT I WAS ATOMICALLY ENTERED ,I'M NEW TO gEEKS

Are you one of the two "ESPN Unkown" entrants?  If so, go on the ESPN website and change your name to your username on this site.  If not, too late to enter now.

Also, it's a good idea to introduce yourself to the group in a separate forum thread.  Mostly friendly knowledgeable generous  people around here.....(except maybe for the curmudgeons)

 :biggrin:

QuoteCaveman Steve - 3/18/2016  11:01

Mostly friendly knowledgeable generous  people around here.....(except maybe for the curmudgeons)

 :biggrin:

HEY! I'm keeping my eye on you Steve!  :notamused:

QuoteBrlesq - 3/18/2016  2:10 AM

QuoteCaveman Steve - 3/18/2016  11:01

Mostly friendly knowledgeable generous  people around here.....(except maybe for the curmudgeons)

 :biggrin:

HEY! I'm keeping my eye on you Steve!  :notamused:

Indeed! You never know when a Curmudgeon may be lurking in the shadows ready to pounce on the unwary and loose-mouthed! And the Benign version can turn vicious in a heartbeat!

i'm new,but hope i'm in.
don't think i have a chance though!   :smoker2:

Quotesgtmai - 3/18/2016  2:43 PM

i'm new,but hope i'm in.
don't think i have a chance though!   :smoker2:

You should go back and read the response to the first time you posted this...




And I'm officially out due to Michigan State's wonderful performance.

My bracket is blown - Wow!!  Michigan State blew it for me.  Good luck everyone.

In case you missed it    GO BUCKY

Soooo... who do I send my 5er to?

QuoteCaveman Steve - 3/18/2016  10:01 AM

Quotesgtmai - 3/18/2016  7:40 AM  HI THOUGHT I WAS ATOMICALLY ENTERED ,I'M NEW TO gEEKS

Are you one of the two "ESPN Unkown" entrants?  If so, go on the ESPN website and change your name to your username on this site.  If not, too late to enter now.

Also, it's a good idea to introduce yourself to the group in a separate forum thread.  Mostly friendly knowledgeable generous  people around here.....(except maybe for the curmudgeons)

 :biggrin:

Not following thru with this is definitely NOT cool (refer to the first rule)

This tournament is NUTS!!!

So many upsets!

So many great games!

How about Texas A & M.  Unreal!!

I love this

 :dancing:

Great 1st weekend...great games. I feel bad for UNI I went to school there, they have always had a good program. Went from the highest high of making that 1/2 court buzzer beater to the lowest low of probably what will be remembered as the greatest comeback/ most epic fail of all time losing that game with under a minute to go. All in all very exciting and 1 of my favorite weekends. I take work off Thursday & Friday and try to embrace the madness!! :biggrin: brackets are busted but we have a tight race here on geeks! Still very close! Good luck to all! :thumbsup:

Have the unknowns been figured out yet??? :confused:

Quote05Venturer - 3/21/2016  11:52 AM  Have the unknowns been figured out yet??? :confused:

This guy "Sgtmai" chimed in but did not take ownership of an "ESPN unknown" account.   I asked him to change his name on the ESPN site, to be sure that he was not trying to

hijack someone else's picks.  He has not responded to my request, and has not changed his username.

I probably should have had more stringent standards other than the "cool" rule.  I threw this together very quickly.  (live and learn)

My feeling is that because they are anonymous, that we won't here from them unless they win, and they will not pay up if they lose.

I say they are OUT

Does anyone disagree?

QuoteCaveman Steve - 3/21/2016  4:37 PM

Quote05Venturer - 3/21/2016  11:52 AM  Have the unknowns been figured out yet??? :confused:

This guy "Sgtmai" chimed in but did not take ownership of an "ESPN unknown" account.   I asked him to change his name on the ESPN site, to be sure that he was not trying to

hijack someone else's picks.  He has not responded to my request, and has not changed his username.

I probably should have had more stringent standards other than the "cool" rule.  I threw this together very quickly.  (live and learn)

My feeling is that because they are anonymous, that we won't here from them unless they win, and they will not pay up if they lose.

I say they are OUT

Does anyone disagree?

AGREED 1000%  :thumbsup:

Agreed.  Come forward or go home.

hi
i'm new,i joined contest what do you need from me?
no need to worry about 5 cigars,i'll send them now & you can forward to winner
respectfully
sgt mai
p.s i replied to member who welcomed me to site.
assumed i made contact to Group leader for bracket.
if this is hijacking i didn't mean to

Quotesgtmai - 3/21/2016  6:42 PM  hi i'm new,i joined contest what do you need from me? no need to worry about 5 cigars,i'll send them now & you can forward to winner respectfully sgt mai p.s i replied to member who welcomed me to site. assumed i made contact to Group leader for bracket. if this is hijacking i didn't mean to  

OK

Didn't want to be accusatory, but it would be easy for anyone to chime in and say they entered as "ESPN #....whatever".  

Please go to the ESPN website and change your username.  There are 2 ESPN usernames.  I assume one is yours.  We need to Know which one.  I'll take you on your word regarding the cigars.

It is important that you do this on the ESPN site so we know who is who.

If you do this, you are in.

hi
changed my user name
didn't get message,been on Geeks website for a few hours here & there
good luck to all
sorry if i didn't follow rules, but i'm cool

This message was sent from the Cigar Geeks group in Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com.

Quotesgtmai - 3/21/2016  7:03 PM  hi changed my user name didn't get message,been on Geeks website for a few hours here & there good luck to all sorry if i didn't follow rules, but i'm cool  This message was sent from the Cigar Geeks group in Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com.

OK sgtmai, you are in.  Thank you.

Looks like if UNC wins, you or I will win (probably you!)

Good luck.

sounds fair

Quotesgtmai - 3/21/2016  11:05 PM  sounds fair

Good deal.

Just curious, but what do you like to smoke these days.  Are you active military?  If so, where are you stationed?  Interests?

OK, I do have one question since I can't seem to remember.
How is the winner determined if nobody has a team in the Championship Game?
Is it whomever makes it the furthest I assume or am I wrong?

Quote05Venturer - 3/24/2016  5:34 PM  OK, I do have one question since I can't seem to remember. How is the winner determined if nobody has a team in the Championship Game?  Is it whomever makes it the furthest I assume or am I wrong?

That's a good question.

ESPN keeps track of points, so that will determine the winner.  We all selected a score for the final game as a tiebreaker, but if none of us has the final winner, I'm not sure how that would work in case of a tie.  We'll cross that bridge if the situation arises, and be fair.

As a side note, the second ESPN entrant is officially OUT.  Sgtmai stepped up and is IN

If I do this next year instead of Mike Casey, I'll change my wording, and the criteria for entering.

Good luck all!

I don't recall a year I was ever out and totally uninterested after the first weekend. I've got my fiver ready and it's guaranteed to not suck as bad as my picks this year.

Quoteninfiction - 3/24/2016  7:07 PM  I don't recall a year I was ever out and totally uninterested after the first weekend. I've got my fiver ready and it's guaranteed to not suck as bad as my picks this year.

OH MAN!

Check out the Nova game.  2 heavyweights going toe to toe.  Awesome display.

Great games last night, should be a weekend of more.  Love it.

Been to busy to watch anything and doesn't matter as I'm sure my picks sucked just like Michigan St. did.

:cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:

Total failure in the last seconds, I was pulling for them too!

DOWN GOES KANSAS!!

GO NOVA!!!!

Although I picked Kansas over Nova, I grew up in the Villanova area and am a big fan.  So happy for them.  Can't wait for the final 4.

Most everybody got busted tonight except sgtmai and myself, but sarge has it wrapped up if UNC goes all the way.

I'm rooting for Nova all the way.  GO CATS!!

:cry:  :cry:

WOW, another number 1 gone!!  Some great games.

so it looks like it's still kinda up for grabs between a few geeks?

Looks to me like Clami, Phog, and Sgtmai all have a shot.

If UNC loses to Syracuse, I think Clami wins.

If UNC makes the final but loses in the final, Phog wins.

If UNC wins it all, Sgtmai wins.

I think??........this is my unofficial reading of the leaderboard.

GO NOVA!!!!  Beat those Sooner bastids!!

Should be a fun Saturday night.

All of a sudden I have become a big Syracuse fan!!  Go Orange!  Should be great games.

sounds good Steve,
should be fun,thanks for letting me participate!
sgtmai

Well, it's either Phog or Sgtmai.

Good luck gentleman!

Good luck!

Who's the winner? Far too lazy to check the standings...actually it doesn't work on my work pc and I totally forgot there was even a game last night.

Looks like a fiver to phog, right???  Congrats brother!

Great game last night!  Congrats phog.  Will get my fiver out tomorrow.

College basketball fan for 25 years, first bracket pool I've ever won.  Thanks everyone!  
Sarge, I'll have your fiver out this week.

Congrats to PHOG!!!

Thanks for playing everyone.  Let's get those prize packs out ASAP!

Congrats to my hometown Villanova Wildcats!!  Grew up within walking distance of campus.

A bit hungover at the moment.  Reveling last night.

Congrats brother!

Congrats Phog! I'll get mine out tomorrow.

Congrats brother!!!!

Congrats Phog.

On the way - 9405503699300299092907.  Thanks again for putting this together!!

Congrats man! I'm in the process of moving so a small delay...but I will have them in them main next week...congrats again!! :thumbsup:

In the mail, Phog. Congrats!  9500100005836097000162

On it's way.  9505 5110 5785 6097 4895 23

Enjoy!

Congrats!  9505 5113 9487 6097 3442 86.

going out today  9405803699300225243411

Dropped mine in the mail yesterday: 9405 8036 9930 0224 3537 22

2nd Place winnings headed to Sgt Mai today: 9405 8036 9930 0225 1904 94

Got Ninfiction, Clami, Caveman Steve, IndyGopher, and TJM's in the mail today.  Thanks fellas!  Shaping up to be a great picture.  
Trent, I especially enjoyed your packing material.

I will shoot to get mine out this weekend or Monday brother. Sorry for the delay, looooong week at work.

Got a nice little "fiver" from JohnCW today.  Thanks!

heading out tomorrow brother
sorry for the slight delay

USPS  9405503699300302711948

I'm gonna swing by the B&M and grab some stuff n get it out...my humidor is buried somewhere in a mass of boxes...I didn't forget n I'll get them out soon. Thanks for your patience with a penguin :biggrin:

Got Kent's today.  Muchas gracias!

QuotePhog - 4/8/2016  5:42 PM

Got Ninfiction, Clami, Caveman Steve, IndyGopher, and TJM's in the mail today.  Thanks fellas!  Shaping up to be a great picture.  
Trent, I especially enjoyed your packing material.

BEST packing material, lol.

Got these in the mail yesterday...sorry for the delay I had to swing by the B&M. Should get there weds it said. Enjoy & congrats again :smoker:

QuoteBewareDaPenguin - 4/19/2016  12:18 PM

Got these in the mail yesterday...sorry for the delay I had to swing by the B&M. Should get there weds it said. Enjoy & congrats again :smoker:

Got 'em yesterday, sir.  Much appreciated!

So it looks like just about everyone is paid or will pay up soon.  I have contacted Sgtmai, and he will be sending out his prize pack shortly.

Thanks to all who played!

Unless Mike Casey returns to reclaim ownership of this contest, I'll do it again next year with more well thought out rules, and not such a rush at the end.

Hope you had fun.  I did, and Congrats again to Phog (Andy)

Can't wait for the Pic.!!

Thanks for the game!

Got Sgtmai's fiver today.  Thank you, sir.

So where is the epic pic?

Sooooooo, we gonna do this again this year?

QuoteStogieDad - 3/10/2017  10:43 AM

Sooooooo, we gonna do this again this year?

I'm in!

Count me in.

I only log in a few times a year -- and one of those is to get in the NCAA contest, lol!  Bring it, baby!

So let make 2017 Official
Who's in and who's running this biotch  :biggrin: