Helping the Needy. The Reason for Play For A Cause.

Congratulations, once again, to Roger and Casa do Caminho, Brasil. What an exciting final. Two previous winners going to a tiebreaker to determine who repeats. As follow up, here is the receipt for the donations this year - $200!!! Thank you to everyone who played and donated. Here's to next year!

Villanova! What a game!

Congratulations, Roger and Casa do Caminho. What an amazing tournament! Came down to a tiebreaker on points scored in the championship game, and by FIVE POINTS, Roger beat Dennis.

Every year a new charity wins, which is one of the best parts of this thing. I can't wait to see who and what charity wins next year!

Thank you everyone who made this a success. 15 people this year, plus one generous benefactor, equals $250 dollars raised for the winning charity. I'm very proud of everyone.

Maybe next year I can actually win this thing...

Cincinnati Got Robbed

So, today is a poster day for why BETTING ON MARCH MADNESS IS STUPID.

Also, I'm never going to win my own charity pool.

Michigan State... huhuhuhu 😭😭😭😭

But, the real question is this: Did Cincinnati actually lose???

If you didn't watch, Cincinnati was down 76-78 when a player dunked the ball at the end of regulation. It originally counted (tying the game 78-78) but the referees watched replays and eventually waved off the basket. 

However, here are the official rules about shooting a basketball for NCAA Men's Basketball:

Section 33. Goal
Art. 1. A goal shall be made when:
a. A live ball that is not a throw-in enters the basket from above and
remains in or passes through; or
b. A free throw enters the basket from above and remains in or passes through.
Art. 2. Whether the game clock is running or stopped shall have no influence on the counting of a goal.

Section 71. Try for Goal/Act of Shooting
Art. 1. A try for field goal is an attempt by a player to score two or three points by throwing or tapping the ball into his or her basket.
...
Art. 3. The try shall start when the player begins the motion that habitually precedes the release of the ball on a try. The ball does not need to leave the player’s hand. The arm might be held so that the player cannot throw; however, he or she may be making an attempt.
Art. 4. A try shall end when the throw is successful, when it is certain the throw is unsuccessful, when the thrown ball touches the floor or when the ball becomes dead.
Art. 5. A dunk attempt is a try.

Section 4. Basket
Art. 1. Each basket consists of an 18-inch ring, its flange and braces, and appended net through which players attempt to throw or tap the ball.

Section 5. Basket Interference
Art. 1. The ball shall be considered to be within the basket when any part of the ball is below the cylinder and the level of the ring.

It looks to me like the dunk was good, because 1. A dunk is a try, 2. a try ends when it is successful, 3. success is when a live ball enters the basket and remains in, and 4. that happens when any part of the ball is below the cylinder and the level of the ring -- regardless of whether he had let go or not. Cincinnati got robbed.