For the first time since moving back to Minnesota in 1992, I was a healthy scratch from the state wrestling tournament this year.
Full disclosure: I have missed the tournament twice due to illness.
Also, I was not among the chosen few able to attend the 2021 COVID-altered tournament. That was the correct decision by the MSHSL and was the wise approach for me anyway.
Not being at this year’s tournament ended a cherished tradition (can it be a tradition after only three years?), which is the preliminary meeting to select the field for the Random Bracket Challenge.
That meant the chairman of the RBC committee will not be present for today’s between wrestling tournament sessions gathering at Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub on 7th Street.
Not to insinuate that the committee is not a diligent bunch when the members are on their own, but I have notified each member that they must submit in writing five bullet points of what they did today by 11:59 p.m. or risk termination from the group.
The committee met at Tom Reid’s to select the field for RBC II, III and IV and will meet there again today. COVID forced the selection for RBC I to be held via Zoom.
If you’re new here since last March (welcome!) or have put it out of your memory, a brief explanation about Random Bracket Challenge.
The RBC committee will determine the entries and divide them into four pods. For the first three years, the pods were named after local heroes. However last year, the committee sold out and there were corporate sponsors for each of the pods.
You vote to determine the winners voting on Twitter. Yeah, I know, it’s X, but I still call it Twitter.
There will be a preview newsletter prior to the start of each round of voting. You don't have to subscribe to receive my newsletters to vote since it’s on Twitter but for crying out loud, why wouldn't you? It remains free.
You’ll be able to find each matchup on Twitter @sportsdr44.
Selection Sunday is scheduled for March 16 (same as the NCAA men’s basketball tournament), but Selection Sunday has been known to become Selection Monday.
You probably noticed the RBC IV winner, Lynda Carter, at the top of this newsletter.
Here are the first three winners:
Random Bracket Challenge I – Mini-donuts
Random Bracket Challenge II – Chili
Random Bracket Challenge III – Minnesota Muskies
As I’m finishing this newsletter, the committee is discussing several topics:
The first is the list of entries itself. Protocol has been for no repeat entries, but the complete list from RBC I is missing. Those documents are rumored to be stored in boxes in a bathroom at a Florida residence.
There’s been discussion about expanding the field to 36 or maybe 40 entries and add play-in matchups to each pod.
Reverting to naming the pods after local celebrities or continuing the corporate sponsorships on a local or possibly an expanded level.
Again, look for the selection announcement on March 16.