CERRITOS, CA (smt)- The economy must be picking up as we increased our entry total by 16 from last year after our first-ever drop (17 less). We actually got 81 entries but just 79 were paid and accounted for. A record 54 entries returned from past years and a total of 70 (ties a record high set in 2002) people submitted the 79 entries with 8 people submitted two or three entries (Robinson C. with 3 as always) and for the first time, it seems to be working (most go empty-handed when submitting 2 or 3 entries). The name/nickname list was posted on the discussion board on the very first day of games, the earliest ever to give friends a chance to see who they were up against.

So what do I think? I thought I had it bad last year in typing 'XK2XBOILX' (he's back this year as well), but now I have to look up SCHADENFREUDE and SKRATCHNSNIFT not to mention a bunch of seemingly random number generated names such as M25LEE, JODON007, and DC944. Or the run-in sentences in CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARDS, UTAHPIXTHETREE, and GATORBLIND. Or the bland: BRENT, SOURCE, and DARA CHAY (OK, sounds cool, but that's her name!). Or acronyms: OMG and PSW. What happened to the classic nicknames?

Now, I have no idea how some of these nicknames came about, so I'm gonna make some it up. We have QUEENB and BABY B, SHRINER and HOOPSTER, MRLUCKY and MRDUCKY (and not related to wishful thinking MRS. MCGRADY), and ELDO, HENDO, BINGO, and FABIO. We have general college hoop statements (GLASS SLIPPER, OKAFOR'S ARMADA, WEST COAST BIAS) and political statements (KERRY=DISASTER, MARTHA'S INSIDE PICKS, UTLA WARRIOR). We have animals (EVIL MONKEY, YELLOWMONKEY, ANGRY DRAGON, BAD COW KNEES) and colors (BLUESTARS1996, PINKBUBBLES, TEAM GREEN).

Some seem uplifting (ONE EAGLE, ZIPPY), hopeful (RANDOM PICKS, STRETCH, MR. WIZARD), or depressing (BRUINS SUCK, JINX). There were references to the ever-popular Simpsons (ARTHUR FORTUNE, THE SLACK JAWED YOKEL), sci-fi/cartoons (JEDI MASTER ROB, SAMURAI JACK), and possible new reality shows (THE PROJECT, THE PEOPLE'S CHAMP). Some clever and not-so-clever nicknames based on their name or origin (MARTY THE GREEK, LARZ, SEANITO'S SWING, TROYSOLDIERS, OMAR OF OZ, ALL HAIL SANT, GEORGIA BOI, BIG AL, DEESKEE) and names I just don't get (BUCKS WILL B BACK (who are the Bucks?), KAIZEN, KYLIAAR, JAREBOK, SMORGGLE). We had the old standbys (THE FAB X, THE MIGHTY MOBELFAKTA, BUCKEYE MIKE, YELLOWMONKEY (hey, mentioned twice!), THE FLYING ELVI, CARSERONI, and TEAM SAMURAI) and some clever new names (KRISPY KREMER, AFROS ARE AWESOME, SHIBBY SHAKE, STUDENT BODY RIGHT, ACE OF SPADES). And then there's our defending champion, BIG LUTHER.

Hey, this is the first time I've tried to mention everyone's nickname. Except for dual similar entries such as UTAHPIX and MR. WIZARD TOO. Oh, wait, now I have mentioned every entry's nickname. How about that?

So feel free to flame me on how I butchered your nickname or to defend or explain your nickname on our discussion board.

HWCI NCAA Pool Nicknames (Who's Who)

In the meantime, here is my top ten list of all-time great nicknames:

10. Churro Queen (1996)
 9. Cap't Illini (2003) 
 8. TroySoliers (2004)
 7. The Mighty Mobelfakta (1995)
 6. The Flying Elvi (1997)
 5. Martini Blues (2003)
 4. Mighty Saximus (2003) 
 3. Team Samurai (2001)
 2. Cowgirl in Love (1997)
 1. Pineapple Princess (2001)

 5. Heather (1996)
 4. Joseph (1996)
 3. James (1996)
 2. Ssluk (2002)
 1. Kim (2001)

10. The Fabone (1995)
 9. Ten (2002)
 8. Corndog (2001)
 7. Lucky from SF (1998)
 6. Pack 10 Rules (2002)
 5. Murrito's Burritos (1999)
 4. Strokin' G's Ego (2001)
 3. Straight Butter (1998)
 2. Magster's Hampsters (2001)
 1. Meconium (2002) <-Look it up!

 5. Traitor Jen (1995)
 4. Tina's Boy (1995)
 3. Nuke Baghdad (2003)
 2. Mommy Bought Accord (2001)
 1. Whosha Daddy (2001)

 6. Cookie Kwan (2002)
 5. Armin Tamzarian (2001)
 4. Max Power (1999)
 3. The Slack Jawed Yokel (2004)
 2. Jebus (2000)
 1. Sharry Bobbins (1999)

 5. You Better Believe It (2002)
 4. Die With Gators (2002)
 3. Go For Broke (2003)
 2. God's Picks (1995)
 1. The Believers (2002)

Smart ass nickname: (tie) Nickname (2001), Nobody (2002) (hmmm... it's the same person!)

The trilogy of nicknames: Pinkocean (2002), PinkCloud (2003), PinkBubbles (2004) (yes, the same person of course)

Best dual entry nicknames: Tabby, Ybbat (2002) (yes, yes, the same person- stop asking!)

Shortest nickname: Q (1999)

That's my nickname!: Money (used twice, once by Meng H. in 1998 then by Aliane D. in 2001)

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The original nickname for 10 years: THE MIGHTY MOBELFAKTA...
Scott