2007 WBC Team Tournament

2007 WBC Team Tournament
July 26, 2007

In the 16th Run for the Slivers, we are assembling the racing form. So far it appears we have some catching up to do if we are to match 2004's record field of 82 teams. That cavalry charge set an all-time record with 328 players enrolled in the Team Tournament. Never fear ... procrastination is the favorite training technique for the WBC Derby and late entries are all the rage. You can download the entry form or simply email the information for your squad to doncon99@toad.net. Rules are simple. You must have four members. All must be pre-registered to attend WBC and each must indicate a different tournament for his/her team game. Entry is free so give it a shot. Entry deadline has been extended to July 26.

The Happy Handicapper, Stuart Tucker, is sharpening his pencil as we assemble the racing form. (Here's an explanation of how he calculates them.) We update the odds as new teams enter the field. This year he is a handicapper in every sense of the word as for the first time, the scoring will be handicapped by awarding a bonus point to every player who scores a team point in an event they have not won at a past WBC. Will it make a difference? Only time will tell. (Word has it that the Track Steward will hold the windows open for late entries but don't press your luck! Get those Teams entered now at doncon99@toad.net.)

Entries shown in red have not yet pre-registered or specified a game and must do so by July 26 or they may be scratched. Don't miss the commentary below the table!

2007 Teams & Odds (as of 7/26/2007)
Rank	Team #	Team Name	Power Rating	Odds	Members/Events
1	64	CABS1: Manly Men	342	22-1	Bruce Reiff FBS, Ken Gutermuth WPS, Jeff Mullet AOR, Dave Metzger 812
2	22	Nest of Spies	273	27-1	James Pei FTP, David Dockter POG, Ron Fedin WNW, Stephan Mecay TWS
3	14	Band of Fools	218	34-1	Gary Dickson TRC, Steve Dickson MOV, Ray Freeman TIM, Tom Gregorio BWD
4	27	Baby Seals	211	36-1	Jason Levine FDE, Ewan McNay BRI, Pete Reese POG, George Young WTP
5	31	Mafia: Death	203	37-1	Arthur Field COL, Ralph Gleaton RRY, Mike Hazel ELG, John Emery UPF
6	19	Tactical Edge	192	39-1	Keith Hunsinger WSM, Paul Risner B17, Jim Jordan BRI, Bruce Monnin TTA
7	38	Team Delaware XIV	179	42-1	Tim Hitchings WAS, William Rohrbeck WSM, Vince Meconi AFK, Evan Hitchings EIS
8	11	Ye Olde Gaming Society	177	43-1	Harald Henning, EPB, Inger Henning RBN, Chris Byrd POG, Doug Galullo FDE
9	42	Ghosts	177	43-1	Larry Lingle QGB, John Wetherell HIS, Charley Hickok MED, Dennis Culhane EOS
10	37	St. Paul's Rejects	175	43-1	John Pack VIP, M. Backstrom SET, S. Packwood 776, Rich Moyer SSB
11	29	Mafia: War	168	45-1	Davyd Field TKL, Josh Githens CMS, Scott Pfeiffer NW5, Ross Jones SUC
12	45	Me & 3 Stiffs	167	45-1	Marvin Birnbaum WTP, Keith Wixson HRC, Mike Rinella BKN, Tom Drueding POG
13	56	Da Boys	167	45-1	Harry Flawd SSB, Devin Flawd PDT, Jordan Flawd TTA, Mark Yoshikawa MMS
14	21	Team X	166	45-1	Dan Dolan Sr STS, Dan Dolan PDT, Tim Dolan BCY, Chris Storzillo ABN
15	4	Old Guard	165	46-1	Forest Pafenberg B81, Randy Heller BWD, Bill Morse QGB, Bob Ryan ANZ
16	3	Central Florida Gamers	164	46-1	Scott Cornett SCT, Jeff Cornett, E&T, Paul Hakken 8XX, Kevin Youells ACV
17	5	The Reservoir Dogs	160	47-1	Matt Fagan DUN, Phil Barcafer NW5, Jim Doughan BKN, JR Tracy ASL
18	46	We Ain't Dead Yet	154	49-1	Bruno Sinigaglio B81, Frank Sinigaglio CMS, Buddy Sinigaglio QGB, Don Greenwood BKN
19	20	AHIKS Europe	145	52-1	Andrew Cummins BKN, Barrington Beavis 8XX, Herbert Gratz UPF, Tom Oleson ANZ
20	24	MIT SGS	144	52-1	Alan Applebaum VIP, Martin Sample ACS, Dave Finberg TT2, Aaron Fuegi TTN
21	25	3 Men & a Canadian	137	55-1	Bill Dyer SOR, Brad Johnson RRY, Joe Abrams MOV, Glenn McMaster DUN
22	28	Boarding Party	128	59-1	Ben Knight ACS, Rob Eastman BCY, Roy Gibson SET, Mike Fitzgerald M44
23	9	AREA	126	60-1	John Sharp VIP, Bob Hamel WAS, Ed Menzel GBG, Bruno Wolff TT2
24	10	Why Kill Karl?	123	62-1	Karl Henning QGB, Nick Henning GSR, David Meyaard LST, Jonathan Gemmell CMS
25	1	Polish Lancers	118	64-1	John Poniske WTP, Rick Young TWS, Paul Gaberson WNW, Bruce Wigdor UPF
26	40	Shockers	117	65-1	Marty Musella WAT, Keith Schoose TWS, John Popiden PGG, Bert Schoose BAT
27	54	EPGS1: Wabbit's Wevenge	117	65-1	Eric Freeman E&T, Greg Thatcher ELG, Barb Flaxington TKL, Chris Moffa GOA
28	65	CABS2: Pete's Angels	117	65-1	Pete Stein KRM, Debbie Gutermuth EPB, Lisa Gutermuth FMR, Rhonda Reiff LID
29	13	Gang Greene	111	68-1	Andy Lewis SSB, Rob McCracken A5A, Mark Miklos SAR, Paul Stoecker 8XX
30	23	Gaming Speed Bumps	111	68-1	Doug Porterfield GBG, Craig Yope HWD, Chris Trimmer WOR, Robert Frisby PGG
31	33	Killer B's	109	70-1	Bill Peeck WNW, Bob Titran KPR, Bill Place ACS, Bill O'Neal PDT
32	63	The Avenel Hill Game Co	109	70-1	Andy Gardner VIP, Pat Richardson WAS, Adam Nolan SLS, Henry Richardson B17
33	58	MVGA	104	73-1	Eric Brosius PGD, Andy Latto AMR, Richard Meyer EPB, Jeff Meyer CYL
34	68	EPGS2: Ocean's Four	103	74-1	Jason Wagner GSR, Jim Castonguay PGD, Mike Kaltman CYL, Alex Bove AMR
35	50	El Cupachabra	100	76-1	Bruce Bernard VNC, Brandon Bernard ABN, George Deutsch AOA, Dan Eshleman GXY
36	47	3 Old Farts & Ray	95	80-1	Ken Whitesell FBS, Chris Villeneuve AOA, Ray Stakenas CBC, Raymond Stakenas UPF
37	48	Four Winds	95	80-1	Allen Kaplan CCA, Chris Bausch MMS, Dewayne Curry ACS, Terry Coleman DIF
38	60	Forced Laughter	95	80-1	Ted Drozd CFC, Robert Drozd WAS, Charles Drozd VIP, Jen Drozd CAR
39	66	CABS3: Leftovers	94	81-1	Nate Hoam ATK, Mike Stanley CMS, Steve McCulloch QGB, Karen McCulloch LID
40	30	Mafia: Famine	93	82-1	David Gantt ACQ, Bill Beckman SSB, Bryan Collars HIS, Henry Pfeiffer M44
41	61	GCOM Caboose	86	89-1	Rich Shipley RRY, Francis Czawlytko NW5, Michelle Hymowitz CAR, John Weber SCC
42	70	EPGS4: Beam Us Up Scotty	86	89-1	Steve Cameron ADV, Bob Sohn ABN, Carmen Petruzzi RA, Bob Stribula EPB
43	7	Fantastic Four	85	90-1	Jim Garvey ABN, Patty Garvey AUC, Brian Schott RRY, Steve Cuccaro KRM
44	18	Beach Bums	84	91-1	Natalie Beach MOA, Matthew Beach HIS, Sarah Beach T&T, Ed Beach GCA
45	17	Team PrezCon	82	93-1	Justin Thompson KGM, Bill Alderman ACQ, Bill Powers CBC, Mary Ellen Powers BLR
46	36	Cardboard Heroes	82	93-1	B. Navolis RRY, Kathy Stroh PGD, C. Ackman ATK, S. Squibb UNP
47	32	Mafia: Pestilence	81	94-1	Bruce Young NW2, Carl Sykes SET, Kevin Emery UPF, Ken Richards HIS
48	67	Smortal	80	95-1	Rob Kircher CAR, Scott Nerney MED, Chad Gormly RA. John Shaheen PDT
49	76	Teen Girl Squad	72	106-1	Rebecca Hebner LST, Alex Henning MOA, Allyson Field TTA, Angela Collinson CMS
50	12	Those Other Guys	69	111-1	Keith Levy BLR, Peter Putnam CYL, Rod Spade POF, Jim Sparks WAW
51	15	Wonder Women I	69	111-1	Kaarin Engelmann SLS, Tamara Houde ADV, Carrie Lewis MMS, Rolinda Collinson GSR
52	2	Amish Terrarium	68	112-1	Andy Maly CBC, Jeff Paull SET, Greg Schmittgens WNW, Mike Gentile CCA
53	43	Kromp-on-Krewe	67	114-1	Roger Taylor DIF, Steve Quade RA, Paul McCarthy VNC, Phil Rodrigues HIS
54	34	Wonder Women II	66	116-1	Katherine McCorry TTR, Jaime Tang HWD, Kate Taillion MFD, Ellen Hoam MOA
55	16	Barbarossa	65	118-1	Fred Minard ABN, Steve Shambeda ACQ, Jed Shambea SET, Randy Dean UNP
56	6	Nickel City Gamers	64	119-1	Grant LaDue WNW, Laurie Wojtaszczyk LST, Michael Wojtaszczyk CAR, Kevin Wojtaszczyk WOR
57	26	LIBO	63	121-1	Chris Palermo VNC, Dave Denton CNS, John Reiners AMR, Brian Stone ELG
58	53	3 Brits & A Yank	57	134-1	Peter Card HIS, Chris Hancock SCT, Mark Love MRA, Nick Smith GSR
59	74	The Nor'easters	56	137-1	Annemarie Dilworth DUN, Barry Barnes CYL, Rob Barnes PGD, Paul Jones LST
60	73	Pseudoconscripts	53	144-1	Jason White WNW, Scott Moll MGM, Jeffrey Donald FTP, Joe Pabis LIB
61	52	Yoel Blocks for Jay 2	49	156-1	Rob Flowers TKL, Boaz Gura POF, Rob McFadden TWS, Al Schwartz ELG
62	49	Peck Of Pickled Peppers	37	210-1	Peter Perla DOF, Mark Herman NW5, Zach Lawrence FTP, Rich Phares TIM
63	41	WASPS	36	210-1	Amelia Englemann MOA, Anna Marion LST, Katie McCorry CAR, Megan McCorry TAM
64	69	EPGS3: Official Business	35	220-1	Frank Cunliffe ATS, Randy MacInnis HRC, Keith Layton HIS, Steve Fitchett PRC
65	75	The Perfect Storm	35	220-1	Vassili Kyrkos MOV, Eric Monte TTR, Josh Gifford PGD, Mindy Kyrkos PRO
66	51	Yoel Blocks for Jay 1	30	260-1	Bruce DuBoff TWS, Alan Elkner POF, Jay Fox WOP, Yoel Weiss ELG
67	57	Natty Bohemians	26	300-1	Phillip White AUC, Dave Schubert TIM, Rob Buccheri CRX, Michael Buccheri SCC
68	8	The Corellian Stripes	17	450-1	Jacob Hebner WOR, Zack Dunn CAR, Evan Cagswin QGB, Michael Schoose AOA
69	59	No One Can Catch Red	15	510-1	Joe Betz LST, Lyle Wenger BAT, Eric Lenhart ALH, Jim Carvin UNP
70	72	EPGS6: Fickle Dice	11	700-1	Chris Yaure WOR, Phillip Yaure CFC, Tyler Woodcock M44, Dave Bohnenberger LID
71	71	EPGS5: Under the Wire	8	1000-1	Donna Davis SET, Jerry Smolens ATS, Jim Vroom MFD, Larry Luongo HRC
72	35	Harley Gang	4	1900-1	C. Harley ACV, Ru Harley SCT, K. Harley PRO, R Harley HWD
73	39	S.W.A.T	4	1900-1	Bill Dickerson MFD, Nick Klercker TTN, Bill Ashbaugh M44, Steve Bachman ACV
74	44	Team Stookey's	4	1900-1	Norman Rule CAR, Amy Rule PRO, Ted Bohaczuk RRY, Marcy Morelli TTR
75	55	Fallen Angels	4	1900-1	Mike Nickoloff RA, Chris Johnson ING, Shannon Beets AMR, Dan Eoppolitto SPG
76	62	Minutemen	4	1900-1	Chris Heap POF, Bronwen Heap TTR, Marc Berenbach PRO, Brian Kowal ELG
	77	Not so Fantastic Four			Rob Taylor WTP, Greg Berry WAS, Phillip Shea A&A, Patrick Shea LID
	78	Buffalo Soldiers			Nick Anner 8XX, Tom Dunning EPB, Nels Thompson BKN, Rob Winslow CCA

Self-Service Scoring: To improve the speed with which the standings are updated, Team Member, whether they score a point or not, should post their point totals on the Team Tournament kiosk Standings Board as soon as they are known. The Point Schedule is listed in the printed program. In 2007, those who score points in an event they have never won will receive one bonus point. While the self-service scoring is unofficial and subject to verification, it allows attendees to gain a current sense of where they are in the standings as the week unfolds. Since the results of some events are not known until the very end (and later) of the convention, the official scoring will be done the following week and posted here. The winning team will receive a plaque at the 2008 convention.

Handicapper Commentary—July 24, 2007

It's post time! 76 entries are approaching the starting gate. We still have a few dawdlers playing chicken with their eligibility and courting disqualification for failing to pre-register, but this train is getting ready to pull out of the station. The soft hearted track steward has promised to burn the midnight oil accommodating any late entries until Thursday, but after that it's too, too late! Is the Team Tournament record of 82 teams safe for another year?

Two-time defending champs Nest of Spies gets no respect from the Happy Handicapper and finds itself looking up at past champs Manly Men who have been made a 22-1 favorite. Of course, it doesn't help that Team Captain Dave Dockter is a late scratch so their odds of repeating are even longer! In the third spot are Band of Fools at 34-1 and itching to relive their 2002 victory. There's plenty of talent on the track though with the always dangerous Greenville Mafia posting two teams in the top 11. '99 champion Me & Three Stiffs are ranked 12th, and 2004 champs Team X get no respect for the Dolan boys down in the 14th spot - both touted as 45-1 shots. The 2000 champs Avenel Hill Game Co rank as longshots at 70-1, but not as long as '98 victors Barbarossa down in
55th place at 116-1. But at least they showed up .... where is MAWS - still living on its 2001 glory?

So much for past laurels. Who will this year's over achievers be? Will some new talent surface to make a name for itself. We're about to find out ....

--The Happy Handicapper

Handicapper Commentary—July 15, 2007

Welcome Race Fans. The initial field is small, but we're expecting it to expand rapidly. The early line shows the Band of Fools strong favorites, due to the return of the Dicksons after a one-year hiatus. However, many former favorites have yet to register and enter into the odds calculations. Many teams are pouring in even as I write this and will have to wait for the next posting of the odds. Nick and Karl Henning, fresh off a couple of Woods last year, move up the odds chart and have rebadged as Why Kill Karl? Veteran Keith Levy has banded together with a team of players (Those Other Guys) who sniffed Wood last year before falling in Finals. They could be a sleeper of the year. Consul Jeff Cornett leads his Central Florida Gamers again for another spirited bid. They are always a threat to contend. Ye Olde Gaming Society returns intact, with a couple of hot years under their belt. Bringing up the rear are the best of the former Ringers, rebadged as the The Corellian Stripes.

Congratulations to all of you who registered your team early. You'll never again see odds this good. Still out there unregistered are the usual suspects from Ohio and South Carolina and the ever-tough two-time defending champions. Stay tuned sports fans. This battle is only getting started.

--The Happy Handicapper