WBC Team Tournament

2008 WBC Team Tournament
July 30, 2008

The 17th Run for the Slivers ...

Welcome race fans. The initial field is small, but we're expecting it to expand rapidly as few of the perennial contenders have shown their hands yet. As the teams leave the Paddock for their walk ro the Starting Gate 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 alltime 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 in pdf form or simply email your squad to doncon99@toad.net. Entry deadline is July 25. 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.

Happy Handicapper, Stuart Tucker, is sharpening his pencil as we assemble the racing form. (Here's an explanation of how he calculates them.) We will update the odds weekly as new teams enter the field. Again this year he is a handicapper in every sense of the word, as 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? It didn't last year as Nest of Spies won for the third straight year, although they needed a tie breaker to win the photo finish.

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.)

Horse Talk Commentary
By Stuart "The Happy Handicapper" Tucker
July 20, 2008

The favorites, Nest of Spies, have checked in, laying down the gauntlet by adding Chris Byrd and improving their Power Rating by a few more points and lowering their odds. The Greenville Mafia teams have also entered: Famine contains their heavy hitters and holds down the third slot in our Handicap listing, but don’t count out War, though Josh Githens may need a heavy chariot to survive his event.

This may be the year of Da Boys, who rank 10th among our current 59 teams, though they’ll probably need an extraordinary result from Jordan Flawd to take the laurels. The aftermath of the dissolution of the Manly Men has benefitted Polish Lancers, who pick up Metzger, shortening their odds considerably and making them the ninth ranked team and very definitely a threat to win it all. Go Flank Yourself contains some of players on hot streaks, but is probably a couple players short of real contention. While the recent successes of Shockers defy understanding--expect their event overlords to put them in place this year.

Among the mid-ranked teams, I like TC’s Bug Destroyers. We Ain’t Dead Yet will need their younger players to pick up the pace a bit to compete. Wonder Women I may have swapped in a new fourth, but they are still a piece short of making a real challenge. Wonder Women II is still floundering around for talent. Teen Girl Squad has become Dream Team, but can only ride the value of their batting eyelashes for only so long.

Quebec sends us a new team, Les 3 Mousequetaires, resting heavily on the shoulders of Marc Beauregard (a first-time wood winner last year).

At the 6200-1 end of the list are returning teams S.W.A.T. and Heterodyne (last year’s Team Stookey’s), both changing one of their baton carriers. Neither has a chance, but bet on Heterodyne to outscore S.W.A.T. (bet the"under").

I understand that some of the key free agents won’t be making it to the convention due to family events (an expect birth in one case). Guys, take a lesson from Birnbaum: devotion to winning at the convention in August requires some discipline in the previous October/November. Set your priorities!

Well without further ado, it is time to unveil the preliminary odds. Remember to sign your team up pronto. Time is running out. Entries shown in red have not yet pre-registered or have not specified a game. They must do so by July 25 or they will be scratched.

2008 Teams (as of 7/29/2008)
Rank	Team #	Team Name	Power Rating	Odds	Members/Events
1	38	Nest of Spies	352	25-1	James Pei FTP, Dave Dockter POG, Stefan MeCay TWS, Chris Byrd HRC
2	29	Champagne Room Gamers	310	28-1	Bruce Reiff FBS, Jeff Mullet GOA, Nate Hoam ALH, Mike Stanley CMS
3	48	Greenville Mafia: Famine	239	37-1	Scott Pfeiffer NW5, Ralph Gleaton RRY, Bruce Young UPF, Arthur Field BAT
4	72	Baby Seals	227	39-1	George Young WTP, Pete Reese POG, Ewan McNay BRI, Dennis Nicholson MMS
5	25	St. Paul's Rejects	216	41-1	John Pack VIP, Steve Packwood 776, Mike Backstrom SET, Rich Moyer SSB
6	21	Band of Fools	214	41-1	Gary Dickson TRC, Ray Freeman TIM, Tom Gregorio BWD, Mike Kaye VIP
7	27	The James Gang	206	43-1	Doug James TRC, Jim Eliason VIP, Rich Beyma WAT, Rob Beyma RBS
8	30	All The King's Jesters	203	44-1	Paul Risner B17, Keith Hunsinger ATS, Bruce Monnin WAS, Jim Jordan BRI
9	34	The Defectors	198	45-1	Pete Stein KRM, Debbie Gutermuth EPB, Lisa Gutermuth FMR, Ken Gutermuth WPS
10	41	Polish Lancers	191	46-1	Rick Young TWS, Paul Gaberson WTP, Bruce Wigdor UPF, David Metzger 812
11	66	Reservoir Dogs	180	49-1	Matt Fagan DUN, Phil Barcafer NW5, Jim Doughan BKN, JR Tracy ASL
12	37	Da Boys	179	50-1	Harry Flawd SSB, Devin Flawd PDT, Jordan Flawd TTA, Mark Yoshikawa MMS
13	67	Team Viagra	179	50-1	Tom Dunning RA!, Rob Winslow GXY, Nels Thompson BKN, Stephen Cuyler ACS
14	19	MIT SGS	174	51-1	Alan Applebaum VIP, Martin Sample ACS, David Finberg TTN, Aaron Fuegi TT2
15	61	Central FL Gamers	174	51-1	Kevin Youells ACV, Jeff Cornett E&T, Greg Kulp HWD, Doug Galullo SCT
16	46	Greenville Mafia: War	171	52-1	Josh Githens CMS, Bryan Collars CBC, Davyd Field TKL, Dave Gantt ACQ
17	8	Old Guard	167	53-1	Randy Heller BTW, Bill Morse QGB, Forrest Pafenberg B81, Bob Ryan ANZ
18	82	Extraordinary Gentlemen	167	53-1	Aran Warszawski HWD, Raphael Lehrer POE, Haim Hochboim SET, Harald Henning EPB
19	32	Ghosts	164	54-1	Larry Lingle QGB, Dennis Culhane EOS, John Wetherell UNP, Charles Hickok AGE
20	13	Go Flank Yourself	162	55-1	Chris Withers TWS, Rob Doane GCA, Steve Likevich B81, Justin Rice HIS
21	63	Koleszar Lientz Plat	159	56-1	Steve Koleszar TTN, Luke Koleszar ALH, Dave Platnick PRO, Gerald Lientz SCT
22	35	We Ain't Dead Yet	158	56-1	Frank Sinigaglio CMS, Bruno Sinigaglio WAT, Buddy Sinigaglio QGB, Don Greenwood BKN
23	5	Team X	157	57-1	Dan Dolan Sr ELC, Dan Dolan Jr PDT, Tim Dolan BCY, Chris Storzillo ABN
24	6	Team AREA	152	58-1	Ed Menzel GBG, John Sharp VIP, Bruno Wolff TT2, Bill Thomson SQL
25	84	Team Delaware XV	152	58-1	Tim Hitchings WAS, Vince Meconi AFK, Verity Hitchings PRC, Evan Hitchings EIS
26	62	EPGS5: Wabbit's Wevenge	145	61-1	Barb Flaxington PRO, Eric Freeman AMR, Greg Thatcher ELG, Chris Moffa POE
27	20	Shockers	144	62-1	John Popiden PGG, Marty Musella PZB, Keith Schoose TWS, Bert Schoose FBS
28	12	Me & Three Stiffs	140	64-1	Keith Wixson WNW, Mike Rinella BKN, Mark Giddings FTP, Rob Hassard POG
29	68	Galaxy Quest	137	65-1	Joel Tamburo HIS, John Keating GXY, John Coussis ABN, Mark Mitchell SCC
30	47	Greenville Mafia: Death	128	70-1	Bill Beckman SSB, Kate Taillon ING, Ken Richards SHG, John Emery UPF
31	4	Caveman Rejoice	127	70-1	David Meyaard ELC, Karl Henning QGB, Nick Henning GSR, Jonathan Gemmell ADV
32	22	Boarding Party	125	71-1	Ben Knight EIS, Rob Eastman BCY, Mike Fitzgerald RFG, Roy Gibson ACS
33	36	3 Men & A Canadian	123	73-1	Bill Dyer FDE, Brad Johnson RRY, Joe Abrams LID, Glenn McMaster DUN
34	16	El Chupacabra	119	75-1	Bruce Bernard VNC, Brandon Bernard ABN, Britteny Bernard TTR, George Deutsch AOA
35	55	TC's Bug Destroyers	116	77-1	Chris Busch MMS, Pete Busch HWD, Terry Coleman 960, Allen Kaplan CCA
36	81	The Real Guys	112	80-1	Peter Putname CYL, Rode Spade POF, Tom DeMarco SPG, Andrew Gerb PGD
37	70	Forced Laughter	110	81-1	Robert Drozd WPS, Ted Drozd CFC, Charles Drozd VIP, Jennifer Drozd CAR
38	58	Killer B's	106	84-1	Bill O'Neal PDT, Bill Peeck WTP, Bill Place CCA, Bob Titran IVH
39	26	Gaming Speed Bumps	105	85-1	Craig Yope BCY, Chris Trimmer WOR, Robert Frisby PGG, Doug Porterfield AOA
40	75	EPGS 2: The White Knights	103	87-1	Alex Bove GOA, James Castonguay PGD, Michael Kaltman CYL, Randy MacInnis HRC
41	79	Stalingrad Cowboys	98	91-1	Mark Guttag CCA, John Vasilakos ASK, Stuart Hendrickson WLL, Daniel Broh-Kahn TKL
42	9	Gang Greene	97	92-1	Rob McCracken TRC, Mark Miklos BAR, Andy Lewis SSB, John Miklos HWD
43	33	Nickel City Gamers	97	92-1	Laurie Wojtaszczyk TTR, Michael Wojtaszczyk CAR, Grant LaDue WNW, Kevin Wojtaszczyk AUC
44	2	Those Other Guys	95	94-1	James Sparks WAW, William Sparks QGB, Pierre LeBoeuf 8XX, Keith Levy POE
45	31	Cardboard Heroes	89	101-1	Bill Navolis RRY, Steve Squibb UNP, Cliff Ackman TTR, Kathy Stroh RFG
46	78	EPGS 4	85	105-1	Rick Cambron HIS, Robert Sohn ABN, Jason Wagner GSR, Deniz Bucak ING
47	10	MVGA	85	105-1	MVGA Eric Brosius FI5, Richard Meyer EPB, Jeffrey Meyer CYL, Ian Miller RFG
48	85	Point Men	83	108-1	Jason White CCA, Scott Moll HRC, Joe Pabis VNC, Ric Manns HOS
49	57	Fantastic Four	83	108-1	Steve Cuccaro KRM, Brian Schott RRY, Jim Garvey VSD, Pat Garvey IVH
50	18	Wonder Women I	82	109-1	Kaarin Engelmann SLS, Ayree Rice TTR, Carrie Lewis MMS, Rolinda Collinson GSR
51	56	Beach Bums	73	123-1	Natalie Beach MOA, Matt Beach MRA, Sarah Beach CAR, Ed Beach GCA
52	39	The Furious Four	72	125-1	Justin Thompson KGM, Bill Alderman EIS, Bill Powers CBC, Mary Ellen Powers MRA
53	71	3 Brits & A Yank	71	126-1	Peter Card HIS, Nick Smith GSR, Chris Hancock SCT, Mark Love MRA
54	89	99 Cent Only Store	71	126-1	Winton LeMoine RA, Roderick Lee VNC, Steve Williams SQL, Rick Byrens POG
55	69	Smortal	70	128-1	Scott Nerney FMR, John Shaheen BCY, Chad Gormly PDT, Rob Kircher AGR
56	23	Want Some Candy	69	130-1	Sean McCulloch TT2, Pam Gutermuth TAM, Nicole Reiff FBS, Danny Lewis SSB
57	17	Dream Team	66	136-1	Alex Henning, RRY, Rebecca Hebner TTA, Ashley Collinson VNC, Angela Collinson CMS
58	74	Judean People's Front	65	138-1	Eric Monte TTR, Paul Jones LST, Vassili Kyrkos MOV, Josh Gifford LID
59	86	Chit Kickers	64	140-1	Ed Witkowski BWD, Roger Eastep M44, Dvd Avins PGD, Jason Levine MAN
60	42	Kromp on Krew	63	143-1	Paul McCarthy VNC, Roger Taylor MMS, Lee Rodrigues KRM, Phil Rodrigues SUC
61	90	Too Little, Too Late	62	145-1	Charlie Mitchell SET, Robbie Mitchell CAR, Tom McCorry TWS, Mikkel Christensen M44
62	53	Wheat, Chit & Die	49	180-1	Chris Palermo SFR, Dave Denton CNS, Brian Stone ELG, John Reiners AMR
63	73	People's Front of Judea	46	200-1	Ann Marie Dilworth ALH, Barry Barnes CYL, Rob Barnes IMP, Malinda Kyrkos PRO
64	87	Pressed For Time	43	210-1	Andy Latto T&T, Cally Perry SPB, Claire Brosius LST, Sam Brosius RFG
65	76	EPGS 3: Dice Busters	41	220-1	Steve Cameron SCC, Steve Fitchett PRC, Keith Layton CUB, Jim Vroom FBS
66	52	Screaming Forehead	41	220-1	Andy Maly UPF, Greg Courter CBC, Gretchen Paull MOA, Catherine Paull CAR
67	44	Wonder Women II	39	230-1	Jamie Tang TTR, Katherine McCorry POF, Suzanne Tuch ALH, Carol Caler ACS
68	51	Amish Terrarium	38	240-1	Jeff Paull SET, Nathan Paull BLR, Michael Gentile CCA, Greg Schmittgens POE
69	11	Possum 2	34	260-1	John Elliott ACS, Joe Collinson WTP, Matthew Morgal POE, Dan Collinson HOS
70	40	Les 3 Mousquetaires	34	260-1	Marc Beauregard BGP, Staphane Dorais ABN, JF Gagne DUN, Romain Jacques E&T
71	54	Natty Bohemians	33	270-1	Phillip White GXY, Michael Buccheri SCC, Robert Buccheri ACQ, Cody Sandifer AOS
72	77	EPGS 1	33	270-1	Melvin Casselberry NW5, Frank Cunliffe ATS, Mark Singer UPF, Robert Stribula EPB
73	60	Karstaginians	32	280-1	Jacob Hebner WOR, Karsten Engelmann AE3, Kerry Codoley QGB, Zack Dunn CAR
74	80	Kilroy Was Here	30	300-1	Rob Kilroy BLR, Kathy Kilroy LID, Stephanie Kilroy TTR, Ashley Kilroy LST
75	43	PeckofPickledPeppers	28	320-1	Peter Perla FMR, Mark Herman NW5, Zach Lawrence FTP, Rich Phares TIM
76	83	Settlers of Pasadena	25	360-1	Bill Duke RBN, Jennifer Duke RSK, Cheryl Meek ACQ, Chris Goff SET
77	59	Non-Zero Sum Gamers	23	390-1	Chris Yaure CCA, Phillip Yaure 960, Joe Yaure SJN, Amelia Englemann KRM
78	7	Game Night Games	22	410-1	Matt Tolman A&A, Tom Tolman SET, Tim Hall POG, Valarie Hall VSD
79	1	MLBT	20	450-1	Bob Wicks PGD, Michael Shea SET, Terri Wicks MED, Lynda Shea TAM
80	15	Team Melton	19	470-1	Craig Melton HRC, Joanne Melton LST, Virginia Melton SET, Rebecca Melton TTA
81	64	Big Damn Gamers	17	530-1	Marc Houde ADV, Tamara Houde RRY, Michael Mahady TTN, Paul Richardson BLR
82	65	No One Can Catch Red	17	530-1	Jim Carvin UNP, Lyle Wenger BAT, Eric Lenhart ALH, Joe Betz MED
83	88	The Minutemen	14	640-1	Chris Senhouse TWS, Marc Berenbach PRO, Joshua Pearce SHG, Brian Kowal AMR
84	3	The Harley Gang	10	900-1	Russell Harley KGM, Kathryn Harley PRO, Christina Harley ACV, Rachel Harley HWD
85	24	Pack Attack	10	900-1	Sharee Pack GSR, David Pack CAR, Marie Pack CMS, Aurora Pack QGB
86	14	Pixel Juice	4	2300-1	Brad Sherwood PRO, Kevin Shaud ACS, Carmen Petruzzelli MED, Al Suszko 960
87	28	3 Beers & a Chardonnay	4	2300-1	Janice Thorn AE3, Rich Jenulis ACV, Mike Galandiuk CBC, Paul Sampson TWS
88	49	Greenville Mafia: Pestilence	3	3000-1	Claire Pfeiffer PRC, Allyson Field SET, Kevin Emery NW5, Henry Pfeiffer M44
89	45	S.W.A.T.	1	9000-1	Bill Dickerson MFD, Steve Bachmann ACV, Vince Romeo TT2, Nick Klercker TTN,
90	50	Team Heterodyne	1	9000-1	Norman Rule CAR, Amy Rule T&T, Lee Mewshaw LST, Marcy Morelli TTR

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. 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 2009 convention.

Horse Talk Commentary
by Stuart “Happy Handicapper” Tucker
July 14, 2008

This column has become the easiest job on earth. Bet Nest of Spies. End of story.

In case it has escaped your attention, Nest of Spies has won three years in a row. Can you spell D-Y-N-A-S-T-Y? And of all things, they did it last year with a key baton carrier, David Dockter, out sick. Hats off to Mr. Fedin for contributing the final points needed by the Team Tournament’s Elite team. I dare say, Nest of Spies must be considered the unquestionable favorite this year--especially in light of the demise of that other team we all love to hate. Yes, say it isn’t so, but the early entries show that the Manly Men are dead--splitting up key anchors Ken Gutermuth and Bruce Reiff, who have kept the Manly Men atop the odds chart year in, year out. Gutermuth gladly takes the nom de guerre of The Defectors. Reiff’s weakened team, Champain Room Gamers at 12-1, remains the favorite for the moment, as Nest of Spies has not checked in as of this writing. The Defectors remain a respectable contender, however, ranking sixth among the first 34 entrants.

A key free agent at the moment is Marvin Birnbaum, who apparently isn’t the “Me” in his old team, Me & 3 Stiffs, who hold down a respectable 27-1 chance to win it all this year without Marvin. Of course, that depends upon whether Marvin goes ahunting in their tournaments!

Some of the more creative new team names: Go Flank Yourself (23-1) and 3 Bears & a Chardonay (1000-1).

Among the first 34 team entries, I see ten new groupings--largely evidence of a growing tendency of kids and wives to join in the fun. Of course, those entries tend to populate the long-shot end of our list (at unbettable 1000-1 odds in some cases). Wouldn’t it be fun to see one of them surprise us all? I guess such teams are just a few Stefan Mecay’s away from shocking the team tournament at its roots. But as a betting man, I have to think that teams with relatives are sure signs of weakness (not that I haven’t been “carried” by a few distant cousins from time to time). It just seems more likely that a group of competitors that don’t have to sleep under the same roof are more likely to have the killer instinct necessary to grind it out toe to toe this August.

Forgive me for my straight-shooting horse talk today; maybe I’m getting too old to be a diplomat any more. I’ve always liked team names that tell it like it is. Take Team Delaware XIV from last year: they tell you how many times they’ve failed to win. Let’s hear the applause of the 77 other teams who can point to them and feel good about themselves. Yes, there is no need to feel intimidated by a team that has been around for so long. The Greenville Mafia teams have it right: come up with a new name each year to stay under the radar. Trouble is that a few years ago I think I convinced them to preface their team names with “Greenville Mafia”: so now you know to buddy up with others when across the table from one. Remember: knives don’t kill people; notoriety in multiplayer games does (see aforementioned knife sticking out of back).

Come on team leaders, stop resting on the laurels (or lack thereof) of your friends and family. Among the 700+ players who did NOT join a team last year, an abundance of talent exists. It is time to dump that cousin who is your weak leg and get some real talent. My apologies to each married man who has teamed up with his spouse--I guess you can only suggest she join the Wonder Women so many times. Here are the Baton Ratings of last year’s top-ranking unhitched players:

Sincavage, Michael VA 95
Withers, Chris CA 93
Beyma, Rob MD 84
Coussis, John IL 84
Dunning, Tom NY 76
Rennert, Phil MD 76
Koleszar, Steve VA 65
James, Doug NC 63
Pfeiffer, Ray MD 63
Sutton, Brian MD 6