Here we go with the 2006 King of the Hardwood Final Four.

East Regional Champion (2) Frederic Michalak

vs.

South Regional Champion (1) Brad Ausmus

In the other match-up we have:

West Regional Champion (2) David Carr

vs.

Midwest Regional Champion (1) Jeremy Bloom.


2006 King of the Hardwood Brackets

[ April 09, 2006, 09:24 PM: Message edited by: Mariner Duck Guy ]

How on Earth does Andy Roddick make the field of 64, let alone the Final 4. So much for diversity with this field!

Huh? Andy Roddick's not in the Final Four.

That's right, the Jesus freak is the 4th. My diversity comment stands! wink

I didn't want to vote in the Bloom-Carr matchup but our polls force you to. I went with the non-holy roller.

[ April 10, 2006, 12:24 AM: Message edited by: Jim at Outsports ]

It's so hard to choose between Brad and Freddie but my heart belongs to Freddie!

I want to thank MDB again for all his hard work in putting this together.

I'm holding my vote until the end. Youngsters vs. Men.

Yes MDG thanks so much! This has been a lot of fun!

Hang in there DC! You're the underdog in more ways than one this time!

Well, considering the guys you nominated this year were pretty much all "white" guys (depending on what you consider the Italian skier to be) and last year you wanted Alex Smith, and it's funny that the banner at the top of the board advertises "America's Sexiest Men" and features three "All American Guys"...yup, I guess that covers diversity

Seriously, I tried very hard to make this competition diverse. But I can't do it alone. I searched and searched the internet for the Asian athlete this year. People have to look at the pictures. Posters have to campaign for their guy. I thought Naohito was extremely hot as I did Sachin or Emeka. They all lost by enormous margins. Not even close. My dream final included Koji Murofushi but he got blown-out by Ben Cohen. I really don't want to set up regions next year so to force a diverse final four. If you can't win it in a regular format, you shouldn't be able to get there via a specialize format where it guarantees diversity. But I am open to suggestions for next year.

Maybe we'll have preliminaries (sort of like conference play) where we can do Kick's suggestion of holding brackets by geographic regions. Only in this case, the "brackets" would be in the prelims. Maybe I will set up a poll with a list of Latino (or Asian or European, etc...) jocks and the top 8/10/16/etc with the most votes become eligible in the KOTH tournament. Or, I could do it by sport. A prelim poll with Baseball or Football or Hockey and the top ## move on to the KOTH competition. SOmething to think about & discuss.

ANYHOO, back to this year's Final Four.

For the first time in ages, Bloom is trailing! But the question is, are people voting for Carr because he is truly Championship material or are they voting Carr because they are voting against Bloom?

Michalak vs. Ausmus. That one was extremley tough for me. I voted Michalak because when I first saw his picture a couple of years ago, he truly made me go "Woah" and weak at the knees! I think he could Go. All. The. Way.

And Thank you, Scottie & Maddog. I appreciate the shout out.

[ April 10, 2006, 08:14 AM: Message edited by: Mariner Duck Guy ]

Good thing Esera didn't make the final four. I think those comments would have been more difficult to make.

The field WAS diverse. Absolutely. People have their own tastes and they vote the way they vote. A group of people's "taste" isn't anyone's "fault." People like who they like. And if they like hot, muscled young white men, then there's not much you can do about it.

Personally, I think all of these guys are gorgeous. But I'm hoping for a Freddie-Carr final

Thanks Cyd.

And I think you meant you are hoping for a Freddie/Cyd/Carr sandwich!

I don't think anyone here has to apologize because of whom they're attracted to. Come on, this is all in fun! Personally, I do think Carr and Bloom are the best-looking. I'd like Carr but his over-the-top religious views (my opinion anyway) are a turn-off. If Bloom wins, cool!

All my joking aside, I do hope everyone appreciates how much work MDG has put into it. I am truly appreciative and he has made this a ton of fun. Thanks!

Funny with me, since I encouraged people to vote against Bloom earlier, my vote was against Carr, whom I can't stand. eek!

[ April 10, 2006, 10:24 AM: Message edited by: Jim at Outsports ]

or a Freddie/Eddie/Carr sandwich!!

I think you're confusing the yummy NFL David Carr with the Insane Evangelical British Footballer David Carr.

What's interesting is that the two guys without shirtless photos on the net are currently leading the two guys with a plethora of shirtless photos on the net!

Does that mean Less is More?

Less Filling/Taste Great?

Vote, Vote, Vote!

Will someone please post a score update? Who's winning in each race?

Current score:

Ausmus leading Michalak 42-40

Carr leading Bloom 45-37

You can always go to the top of the thread and click on the "view results" on the poll.

Shore said he's holding his vote until the end. You can't see the results unless you vote first!

New update for those who are waiting:

Ausmus leading Michalak 46-43
Carr leading Bloom 46-43

[ April 10, 2006, 12:32 PM: Message edited by: Mariner Duck Guy ]

Remember you can only "view results" if you've already voted, so if someone is waiting to vote, they have no idea of the current standings without someone posting them on this thread.

Yes, I haven't voted yet, so I can't see the scores. Love the closeness of the contests.

See, I learn something new every day!

[ April 10, 2006, 01:09 PM: Message edited by: Jim at Outsports ]

The defending Champ is not going down without a fight!

Carr 46 - Bloom 45

Ausmus has a 48-43 lead over Michalak.

Based on his "body of work", Ausmus should be the victor over Michalak. He's been a stud for years and has yet to take home the KOTH trophy. How can you not vote for those eyes and that smile?!?!

A vote for Ausmus means all things right with the world.

MDB, thanks for the hard work!

98 people have voted. I wish they all posted a note so we could see who has voted and who has not. Sometimes I wonder who the "158 voted" people are, since I only have knowledge of a few dozen posters. Anyway, what will tomorrow reveal?

At 100 votes it's a dead heat

Ausmus - Freddie 52-48
Carr - Bloom 51-49

It's anyone's game...

Dave says,\"Let's see if I can pull some votes outta here.\"

[ April 10, 2006, 02:18 PM: Message edited by: Maddog ]

All 4 are excellent, but I like Aumus vs Bloom.
No, on second thought I LOVE Ausmus! wink

[ April 11, 2006, 03:15 AM: Message edited by: copman ]

Yeah, the Ausmus and Freddie vote was hard. Ausmus has a great smile.

That picture that Eddie has of Michalak is priceless.

It's amazing that after 256 votes (128 X 2) that all four have at least 60 votes each. I think we picked a great final four. Very tight.

I love Bloom, but I'm really hoping Carr wins. Not only is he gorgeous, but I would LOOOOOVE to be the one to call the Texans to try to get the interview with him about winning this contest.

Oh to taste those lips and anything else he would let me taste!!If Freddie has to lose at least it would be to an equally hot stud!

I just realized - we could have an all-Houston final! Oh, those lucky Texas boys . . .

Tell him the Lord is calling and he'll pick up.

Just one look

and I fell so hard,hard,hard in love with you

Was all it took

okay so I'm greedy...several looks

[ April 10, 2006, 07:06 PM: Message edited by: eddiecat ]

Cyd, God...same difference

It's not the clothes that make the man,it's the man that makes the clothes!

Like I said.....

and then I told Eddie to come here....

[ April 10, 2006, 07:21 PM: Message edited by: eddiecat ]

My worst nightmare, Carr v. Bloom. Yikes. And yes, I *would* kick both of them out of bed. Ewwwwwww.

Great job again, MDG, at least Bloom might have met his match in horsey-faced Carr. Though, I do hope Carr wins it all so that Jim and Cyd can have the fun task of contacting the Texans/his agent asking for his comments.

[goes off to sulk about Michael Owen not winning this year]

I wouldn't kick either one outta bed even if they were on fire. And my sheets are highly flammable. (Found that out one night after a 2AM Taco Bell run)

Here is a little video boost for the Ultimate Astro... Brad Ausmus

Ok quick question in regards to the Championship match. Would you prefer to "see the results" after you vote or would you prefer not to see the results until after the voting period (like last year)?

Not seeing the results keeps you in suspense, but seeing the results could be exciting, especially if voting is tight.

Thoughts?

I kind of like the blind voting idea, makes for some suspense for everyone.

As long as the winner doesn't turn out to be "Crash"....

Very nice...He reminds me of Cam Neely...another hottie.

By the way, if you all want to know what inspired me to create KOTH, my inspiration, Mitch in the Morning's "The Bigger Dance" starts on KJR-AM in Seattle on Monday. This year is the 10th anniversary of the contest.

The Bigger Dance

AAahhhhhhhhh! My eyes! There were boobies! I'm seriously not gonna sleep tonight! MDG we need a disclaimer next time.

Sorry Maddog!

KOTH Trivia:

If Carr & Ausmus meet in the Championship match, it will be a rematch of their Elite Eight match-up last year.

If Bloom & Michalak meet in the Championship, it will be a rematch of their Elite Eight match-up last year.

If Bloom faces Ausmus in the Championship it will be a rematch of their final four match-up last year.

165 have voted. I like not knowing the actual result and having to relie upon someone to post the update.

Going back to similar brackets: The morning show on WEEI did the NC-Double-Ds a few years ago when I lived in Boston. The Acting Governor at the time (Jane Swift) made it to the Elite Eight when people crashed the website. Which I'm all for.

I haven't gone back to look at the original bracket (I voted so long ago, back when I thought Duke and UConn would meet in the NCAA title game) - but how did Bronson Arroyo not make the cut? Or Kasey Kahne? I'd climb them both like a tree.

Anyone else out there have anyone they'd like to see in a play-in game next year?

Up to 172. MDG, what is the most number of votes cast this tourney?