Scuttleball: Boom goes the dynamite

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
The 2023 edition of March Madness – aka NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – not only lived up to its annual unpredictable history, but also has outdone a season of upsets and shockers. For Scuttleball, the official pool of Scuttlebutt, my bracket went ‘Thelma and Louise’ this past weekend.

To be honest, I didn’t have much left. With Gonzaga seven points down at halftime, my dog had wandered off into the neighborhood. By the time she was found, the team was trailing by 25 in the second half. Boom goes the dynamite.

But for any Scuttleballers that have more than one team in their Final Four going to Houston, you have used up all your lucky windshifts for the year. Really, Connecticut, Florida Atlantic, Miami, and San Diego? I will give you UConn as they were at least in the top 10 of the final AP ranking (they were 10th) and top seed at fourth, but the rest? Forget about it.

The rules of Scuttleball are beyond my ability to understand, which is partly due to my fried brain from team racing at the Palmer Trophy Regatta at Newport Harbor Yacht Club, but I applaud Charlie Arms who now tops the list. I don’t how she maintains that position as her Duke Blue Devils went home after the second round, but I’d rather be her than my status in 22nd.

But lurking in 5th is Buttons Padin who did select Connecticut, as did Chris Field (7th) and John Dodge (9th). My guess is all the “smart” people on television are picking the Huskies too, and after watching them obliterate my Bulldogs, I would like to see something meaningful come from that defeat.

While the Champion will be decided on April 3, there are no losers in Scuttleball as all the funds from entry fees go to support the EWE Spirit Foundation which honors the legacy of Geoff Ewenson and helps those facing immediate hardship bridge financial and social support gaps. If you would like to contribute, click here.

Go Huskies!