Now that your March Madness bracket is busted, welcome to the 2015 #BarklageCup.
The cup is a test of strength to see who is really the Missouri political king of the social media. The tournament has its roots dating back to the old Tiger Blood Tournament days, and is meant to be lighthearted. The seeding was based on previous tournament performance, social media presence, and sense of humor.
Employees of The Missouri Times are not eligible. The votes will be tallied by the accounting firm of Herndon, Herndon, and Herndon and the winner moves on to ultimately claim the prestigious Barklage Cup and a $100 gift card to tournament sponsor J. Pfenny’s – Jefferson City’s spot for all your sports action.
The year’s tournament is a special significance because each time #barklagecup is used on Twitter, Dave Spence has agreed to donate a dollar to the Epilepsy Foundation here in Missouri.
Round 1 ends at tipoff of the national championship tonight – Monday, April 6.
A look at the votes so far:
(1) Rosenbaum vs. (16) Lester – Folks, this one is not a blow out. Lester’s Missouri Torch is putting up a great fight against a competitor whose success dates back to the Tiger Blood days. Rosenbaum has a lead, but Lester is making this one a race and is definitely making a statement for a higher seed in next year’s bracket.
(8) Allman vs. (9) Calhoun – Calhoun is a strong competitor who has moved up to an 8 seed and Allman has now transcended radio and added a TV platform to his firepower. As of last look, it’s a 50/50 tilt.
(5) Millhaven vs. (12) Lynn – Upset alert here. McGraw had better not be looking ahead as Lynn has a 4th quarter lead, and is amazingly attractive. In fact there may not be a matchup of two more attractive men in the entire tournament.
(4) Reardon vs. (13) Charton – Charton is making is debut in the tourney as a former AP reporter and capitol fixture; Reardon is featured on the voice of St. Louis KMOX. Currently it appears that the opening day exposure KMOX has is giving him an edge.
(6) Burke vs. (11) Grace – One of our favorite 6/11 matchups is a dogfight. The up-and-coming communications wizard vs. the up-and-coming lobbyist juggernaut. Its what makes the tournament special.
(3) Messenger vs. (14) Felts – Messenger may be the most well known name in Missouri media, but all Felts does is wake up and win matches.
(7) Drebes vs. (10) Payne – Drebes knows everyone and all things and is a tough draw for the first time competitor in Braxton who seems to be counting on a late Tallayna’s push to put him over the top.
(2) Yokley vs. (15) McDaniel – McDaniel is making a very strong showing, but a 15 victory over a 2 is an upset for a reason.
(1) Dueker vs. (16) Brinkley – Great street fight between two very tough ladies going on in this one. This is Brinkley’s first entrance into the field of 64 and she is taking on the defending champion. A tough draw for Crystal but this one is still anyone’s match. We’re betting on the brunette.
(8) Hancock vs. (9) Temple – How about some state party leader on state party leader violence? The Puxico Punisher in the lead and making some dream about a potential Temple/Brinkley round-2 matchup.
(5) Nicholson vs. (12) Shackelford – Nicholson is feared for his web skills and scathing wit, but Shackelford has a late lead, and she is, well, Megan. Upset alert here, but just imagine what Sean would do to the prestigious Barklage Cup!
(4) Mazur vs. (13) Schweitzer – Tight battle here with Mazur — who some would consider the father of political personality web voting battles — up against a strong new comer in Schweitzer.
(6) Jones vs. (11) Harris – How about this for friends squaring off against each other. Reminds some of us of Wrestlemania 6 (if you have to Google it, you wont find it funny). Currently a 51/49 fight.
(3) MSK vs. (14) Roe – The closest first round matchup we have. STL vs. KC. The leader of the Ted Cruz nation vs. the St. Louis-based friend of the workingman. The cliché’s could go on and on if this one ends in a tie, it will be settled by a panel of Claire McCaskill, Charlie Dooley, Ozzie Smith, George Brett, Don Denkinger, and a former Mayor of Poplar Bluff.
(7) Kelly vs. (10) Lakin – Wow the hair vs. the wit. We’ll let you judge who is who. While Kelly has joined the lobbying ranks, he is still a prolific presence on Twitter where he recently sparked an movement to see Tishaura Jones appointed Auditor, and Lakin’s love of the Cubs will be tough obstacles to overcome.
(2) Callow vs. (15) Hafner – We could be seeing a Cinderella story unfolding here as Hafner is in the lead, and if he goes all the way the Barklage Cup could be in the Barklage and Knodell offices in Clayton.
(1) Mayor Slay vs. (16) Grill – Slay is just an Internet beast.
(8) Holsman vs. (9) Cierpiot – A Jackson County throw down that could split the Plaza from the suburbs forever. It could take a nice dinner grown by urban farmers to patch things up after this one is over.
(5) Nasheed vs. (12) Silvey – The 5/12 matchups are inspiring several upsets here and this could be another one. It’s looking like Silvey — the hardscrabble senator from Clay who subtweets better than almost anyone in the business — is on the way to upsetting his colleague.
(4) Diehl vs. (13) Mayor James – Close one here, but if the Speaker can only get his representatives to vote for him that’s a big and growing block. Diehl is making a strong showing that most are crediting his appearance on This Week in Missouri Politics.
(6) Hanaway vs. (11) LaFaver – Campaigning matters folks, and LaFaver is running a strong race and poised to pull off the upset. I think everyone is looking forward to the selfies LaFaver could take with the prestigious Barklage Cup.
(3) Schmitt vs. (14) Smith – There is no fight like senator on senator fight unless it’s a slap fight between 8 year olds. But seriously we are seeing fun battle between the senator with the best cross over dribble in senate history vs. the leader of the #porksteakrebellion.
(7) LeVota vs. (10) Dempsey – The Pro Tem and a leading senator in the minority might lead you to believe that the seeds are incorrect but anything can happen in the #barklagecup and it’s the ultimate leveling of playing field.
(2) Kander vs. (15) Cornejo – Speaking of the #barklagecup being the ultimate leveling of the playing field, Kander is veteran, attorney, youngest statewide elected official in the country running for US Senate is in a dog fight with a simple country lawyer in Robert Cornejo. Jimmy V would be running around the court with his hands in the air.
(1) Kinder vs. (16) Bearden – A battle of heavyweight stalwarts in the grand old party here. You have the man who cut the budget in the senate against the man who produced the first Republican budget in 40 years.
(8) Tilley vs. (9) McGaugh – 8/9 matchups are unpredictable but we are beginning to suspect the lobbyist may be taking a dive for the up and coming house member.
(5) Rowden vs. (12) Maxwell – Rowden is a young rising star in the Republican party and this is a great way to test the viability of Maxwell, who is rumored to be getting back into elective politics. The statewide race may be easier than taking on the tech savvy Republican.
(4) Richardson vs. (13) Miller – There is no doubt that Rocky Miller is running a spirited campaign, but rumors are circulating in the final hours of the race that Miller is concerned by the underhanded tactics some are accusing Richardson of using for he and Torpey’s softball tournament.
(6) Jones vs. (11) Oliver – Oliver is doing well in this higher seed this year but you have to keep in mind that Caleb Jones has more contacts in his phone than several house committees combined.
(3) Schaefer vs. (14) Dieckhaus – A straight up 50/50 matchup. Dieckhaus could have caught the budget chairman at the perfect time as he works to complete the budget and could be in line for an upset.
(7) Haahr vs (10) Rhodes – Skilled legislators from southern Missouri and legislative softball champions twice, but in this battle in which friends become enemies. Haahr has the early lead but this is destined to come down to the wire.
(2) Koster vs. (15) Hill – In a battle of the all prosecutor no politics vs. the all undercover law enforcement office no politics mantras. We have seen 2/15 battles provide upsets before, but the real lesson may be that Hill should have received higher than a 15 seed.
If the link doesn’t work for whatever reason, feel free to type https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QT28NRP into your browser to vote.
