Today's Action: Day 10 Results!

"I don't believe what I just saw!"
- Jack Buck

Game 1:

Chunder Brigade (Joel/Gnatty) vs. Chinchillaz (Chuck/Mike B)

Let's get right to it. Nate and Joel won and it was easily the biggest upset of the tournament and the biggest gambling moment of the tournament. Let me put it this way: the people who were betting on Mike and Chuck were so confident about a Chinchillaz victory that they were happy to give odds! Nate and Joel were going off at 2 to 1. I'm not kidding. I've never seen that in a pong tournament before. Not once, and I've been here for them all.

Let me catch my breath a moment. Ok. Here we go...

The game started innocently enough. Chuck service, Nate return. The first point went to Joel and Nate harmlessly enough, but the crowd was into it. Hooting, hollering, and taunting like it was game point, but with the undertone of absurdity, because, really, there was no way that the Brigade would win, right? We all knew it, right? Well, a few points later Chuck handed over the serve and Chinchillaz were down 2-3. Hmm... Ok, weird, but still early, right? Right?? Let me tell you, it only got weirder. The Brigade gradually built a good chunk of a lead. Slowly, steadily. Up by seven at one point! The crowd continued it's hysteria throughout, but with a growing murmur of, "Oh, my god. They could really win this thing! It could happen!" Chinchillaz couldn't get any consistency, but finally battled back and ripped off four points in a row to cut the lead to 15-18 and everyone relaxed. This was it, then. The collapse had begun. The clock was striking midnight. The chariot was turning into a pumpkin. The party was ov.....what? What?!? 20 serving 15 in favor of Chunder Brigade? Game point?!? How did we get here? Ryan was curled into a fetus next to me, muttering incoherently like he was shot through with novocaine, incredulous that he'd lose his vacation money. Will was apoplectic with joy, every point a new opportunity to reach into his bag of taunts. Carolyn gasped audibly (mostly from the game, but perhaps because Ralves soiled himself next to her or something - I can't be sure). Game @#$%ing point! Nate serve! Mike B return! Joel slam! Game! Holy mother of pearl!! Chuck was left flailing on a wickedly curving slam that was hit with such authority that it nailed me in the pills and I was 15 feet from the table.

I'll add just one more thing: Nobody saw that coming. Nobody. Afterwards, Chuck was heard to say, "I'm retiring The Bedazzler." That's how shocking it was.

Chunder Brigade over Chinchillaz
21-15