Herzl Magic Bracket: Round 2
May 23, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Uncategorized.
By Danny Soshnik
Five months ago, we introduced the 64 Tradition Herzl Magic Bracket. Through my banter and your occasional vote, we’ve finally made it out of the first round. Lots of lopsided wins, some close calls, and some epic upsets. All #1 seeds remain intact, but you’d be surprised to learn that we do have some low seeded Cindarellas looking to make a run. This month we’ll handle the entire 2nd round. For those keeping track, that’s 32 matchups that need to be dissected. My fingers are getting tired just thinking about it. This time around I’m not going to offer as many predictions; I want this to be your tournament too. Without further delay…
Yama Region: We dissected the first round of this region a few months ago here: This region has major star power, with a number 2 seed that is good enough to be a number 1. And some might argue that the 3 seed and 4 seed are good enough to be 2 seeds.
#1 12 Gates
#8 Star Gazing
12 Gates had no problem poaching the Buzzards in its first round matchup. What’s your favorite 12 gates memory? Mine has to be “the cup”. Anyone else remember when Ricky, the dumb guy, was hit with the cup in the final moment of silence before “Oh What a Beautiful City”? Was funnier in my memory than it reads electronically. On the other side is Star Gazing, which edged out Ultimate Frisbee in a classic #8 vs. #9 matchup. One year on staff, I presented everyone with a lunar calendar to encourage people to schedule their star gazing on nights with the New Moon. Light pollution is Star Gazing’s enemy. Any first kisses under the stars at the Mercaz? My prediction: This is the last time we’ll see the Waning Gibbous in the tournament.
12 Root Beer Floats for Rate-a-Room
4 Rosemary
Root Beer Floats had a tough matchup versus Buddy Checks. So close, in fact, that it was a tie. What was the tiebreaker, you ask? It was Anna Simon’s hilarious comment that she prefers Root Beerfleem to Root Beer Floats. Get it? It only took me 4 months to get it. Anyway, can the floats keep the dream alive? Speaking of root beer, for the first 20 years of my life, I thought Barq’s was Barg’s. Anyone else think that q looks like a g? http://www.barqs.com/downloads/barqs_dt1_sm.jpg. My scariest Rosemary experience, aside from having the story told to me in the Ozo Mo, was when someone spotted her above Chaddar Bet.
6 Peanut Butter on Eskimo Pies
3 Schmutz Busters
This is a classic matchup. Anyone remember when Josh Meyer pointed out to all of camp that the consecutive ingredients in Eskimo Pies read “non-fat milk, milk fat”? Amazing discovery. Does anyone eat Eskimo pies with peanut butter at home? I can’t say I do, but I do like a scoop of almond butter with dark chocolate chips in it to be eaten like ice cream. I never earned a Schmutz Buster shirt, although I picked up a lot of schmutz over the years. In the most absurd awarding of a schmutz buster shirt I ever saw, Aaron Vickar got one for simply looking like a staff member as an eighth grader. In 1989, Aaron helped round up us airport kids because we all thought he looked old enough to be staff. They awarded him the first shirt of the session. Mitzvahesque? Yes. Schmutz Buster worthy? Give it up Aaron. Furthermore, if you get a shirt for rounding up schmutz, and he rounded me and others up in the airport, what does this say about Herzl’s opinion of us?
7 K’shishim
2 Bikkurim
The Kishers live to see another day. I know, I know, I’m a bad person. What else can you say about them, other than I hope to be one someday. When I was a camper, I was told that each event in the big team relay is worth the same amount of points. So, despite the fact that I was usually one of the better athletes on my team and could have been useful on our Ultimate team, I would enter, EVERY YEAR, the softball throwing contest. I knew that nobody good would participate in that event (though I will say that Bobby Warren gave me a good run for my money in 1993), and I’d bring home the gold for my team. Who needs fun when you can win, right? That’s what Bikkurim is all about.
Vakedma Region: First round was done here. Probably the most predictable of the regions. The number 1 seed is a prohibitive favorite. 2 and 3 are strong contenders, but the bottom half of this region doesn’t have the legs for a final four run.
1 Shabbos Caravan
9 Fish Stick/Chicken Nugget Eating Contest
I always thought a funny koontz on camp would be to do the caravan in reverse, counter clockwise. Maybe when I’m a Kisher I’ll lead the charge. As far as the eating contests, I want answers. Who is the current record holder? If someone pukes, does that preclude them from continuing eating? Do they have to eat their own puke before continuing?
12 Hazak V’almatz
13 Rhythmic Clapping Between Lists of Peoples’ Names
You guys didn’t exactly bring out the vote in the Vakedma region. The only person who voted was a “Jamie”, so if you don’t like the fact that we have a 12 and 13 upsetting a 4 and 5, it is your own fault for not voting. I was always fond of the Hazak V’almatz that were two thoughts that, strung together, made no sense. For example: “Hazak you can pick your friends. V’almatz you can pick your friends. V’almatz but what good is a tetherball to a dead fish. V’hazak but what good is a tetherball to a dead fish.” We used that one in 1993 – feel free to recycle it this summer, young madrichim. What else can I say about rhythmic clapping? I pretty much said everything there is to say last round, assuming it was going to get bounced from the tournament.
6 Knock Knock
3 Ozo Play
“Hey Blog Readers!”
“Hey What!”
“Knock Knock!”
“Who’s there?”
“Sind!”
“Sind who?”
“Cindarella’s glass slipper doesn’t fit in this matchup!”
“OKAY!”
What was your favorite ozo play moment? Partial, of course, to my Ozo groups, I loved the “Deep Thoughts from the Haks” scene in 1999. Of course the Chaddar scenes are memorable and easy, but have you ever really given thought to what your staff is thinking in their down time in the Haks? The 99 Ozo group did.
10 Mega Lunch
2 Flag Songs
Mega lunch pulled off the upset over Morning Music, and I couldn’t be happier. My favorite mega lunch tradition was the reading of the airport bus. “Brian Nogg. Jeff Nogg. Egg Nogg.” Never gets old. I also was a big fan of the disgusting lost and found. And the top 10 countdown of ruach songs was epic. “Try Siv’s chicken, it’s so wonderful.”
Tzafona Region: First round was done here: This region has some major star power. It’s filled with the “best of”. Best Chug, best landmark, best song, best meal.
1 World League
9 Overnights
One of my favorite World League memories is from my Ozo Summer. One of my top athletes on my team, Mike Savitt, refused to play volleyball in a crucial contest. He thought we should play Ultimate Frisbee and only Ultimate Frisbee. Mike, that’s why they call the Chug “World League” and not “Ultimate Frisbee.” What’s your favorite overnight meal? I was always a big fan of tin foil dinner, but I have to give the nod to Rocky Mountain Toast. No matter what you’re eating, somehow the food always tastes just a little bit better cooked over an open fire in the middle of the woods.
5 Puddle Jumping
4 Kadimah Canoe Trip
The current staff has taken puddle jumping to a whole new level. They not only use the sports field, which I mentioned to be the best spot in camp to jump. But they use a Frisbee and practice catching the disc while diving head first. What a great way to combine two of Herzl’s favorite pastimes. But the Kadimah Canoe Trip used to be the most intense (and in tents) outdoor experience Herzl had to offer, before Teva Trek came along. On my canoe trip in 1992, I fed a deer from my hand. Gave that poor buck two Lays chips. At least I should have given him some Doritos.
11 B’yachad Blindfold Walk
3 Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
In my first blindfold walk, Dave Hoffman demonstrated that he was not strong enough to break more than one stick at a time. Somehow he tied it eloquently into the notion that if our Yachers united, they’d be stronger. All I remember is him trying to break sticks. Guess I was tired – it *was* 1 am after all. Have any of you been to a wedding where during the cocktail hour, they offer little grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup shooters? I have. Twice. Fancy wedding caterers could stand to take a cooking lesson from Brandon Tagg, if you ask me.
10 Mo Cheers
2 Ozo Mo
This matchup is all about the Mo’s. My favorite Mo Cheer was to the tune of the Lone Ranger – “To the mo, to the mo to the mo we go…” The Ozo Mo, for all its mysterious wonder, has been exposed. My only complaint about the Ozo Mo in the increasing need Ozrim feel to “leave their mark”. Its one thing to write your name on the wall. However, I was very sad to see that Ozrim now are writing their names ON THE PLAQUES of old Ozo groups. That is sacred, and if you’re a 2010 Ozo and reading this, I ask you to stop this terrible trend. I’m off my soap box now.
Vanegba Region: Last, we have the Vanegba region. Reviewed here: this region has a clear favorite but some interesting contenders. No votes were tallied here, so you’re at my mercy.
1 Friday Night Song Session
8 The Birthday Song
My all time favorite, I think, is Yad B’ Yad. I’m a sucker for a good round, and this one, in all its cheesy goodness, tops them all. “It can be you, it can be me, it can be all the people all over the world…” Good stuff. You know what I’m not a fan of? The walking singers. In theory, it should enhance the mood. In practice, I find them to be distracting. Focus on the candle in front of you, sing, and magic will happen. As far as the birthday song goes, the most absurd addition has to be the Ole soccer cheer. Do they still do it?
12 Chugim Follies and Policy Schtick
4 Slow Flag Songs on Final Shabbat
I told you that I called the upset in the 12 vs. 5 first round matchup. Again, your fault for not voting. Who donated that ridiculous bunny costume that was the perennial favorite in the policy schtick? And who decided to sing Oompa Loompa, rather than just read the rules? These are great examples of why Herzl is so much more special than another place, which I’m sure covers similar content in a much less interesting way. What are your most memorable final flag songs? I will always associate classics from Journey, Bob Seeger, and Eric Clapton with final Shabbats. And P Diddy. Again, thanks 1997 Ozrim. If I had to point the finger, I’d have to say Matt Rinkey was the ringleader of the absurd coup.
6 Kadimah Play
3 Hot Cereal
In 1989, I remember my Chug Sign up. I saw “Kadimah Play” blocked out for the entire morning. I thought to myself, “Self, that’s not fair. Kadimah gets to play all day long. Us Machaneh kids have to go to Sichot and I have to have one ‘soft’ Chug between my 4 other ‘hard’ Chugim.” (Anyone else remember this rule? That’s why I was in the radio chug with Sabrina Eisenstadt.) I had no idea that that meant Kadimah Play Practice. Not very quick on the uptake. I ate oatmeal this morning. In silence. How depressing? Much like root beer floats, it is just better at camp.
7 I’m Going to That One
15 Pooping in South Haks
Well there you have it, our first MAJOR upset with pooping taking out #2 seed Friday afternoon songs. Zander Abrams, in his infinite wisdom, likes pooping in South Haks as much as I do. I’m going to post his comment from the previous round, in case you didn’t see it.
“I was staff of the week for my program in 2006 and got a pack of girlscout cookies for it. I consistently used the South Hawks for all the reasons you listed and so it made sense to bring Gabe with me and nosh on the cookies while pooping. A camper came in and you could tell in his eyes that he was scared and embarrassed. Before he ran out I offered him a cookie. He paused, took it, and then ran out. A classic South Hawk moment.”
Priceless. Let’s see if the poop can keep the Cinderella run alive. Zander, if we’re ever at camp together, we have a date on side by side toilets in the South Haks. I’m going to that one!
And there it is. Next stop, Sweet Sixteen. Have at it, Machaneh Herzl!