Meet the New Bosses ... (Largely the) Same as the Old Bosses
Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached the FINAL FOUR of the 2011 Crayon Bracket! Nineteen votes were cast in the Elite Eight, several votes short of the record 26 cast in the previous round, but a healthy number nonetheless. Thanks to all who let their voice be heard!
Without further ado, the results!
BRACKET A FINAL
* Pine Green Nears the Pinnacle: #6 Pine Green def. #5 Royal Purple, 10-9
- As democracy uprisings crop up across the Middle East, perhaps an anti-monarchy sentiment simmered in the minds of some voters. Who knows, really - but this one came down to the wire all the same. It started out as a blowout, as Pine Green pulled the first five votes. Matching three vote runs, first by Royal Purple, kept the margin at 5, before Pine Green got 2 crucial votes of the next 3 cast. Royalist supporters rallied for 2 votes to close within one, but no more votes would come. This will be Pine Green's first Final Four appearance.
BRACKET D FINAL
* Solid State for Solid Shade: #1 Brick Red def. #2 Red, 11-8
- Brick Red is back in the Final Four, as it dispatched of its mother hue in fairly convincing fashion. The match started off intense, as the two split the first 6 votes. Brick Red's supporters burst out, helping the construction-material contender take control of the match with 5 straight votes. A three vote run by the perpetually snake-bitten primary color gave its long-suffering supporters some hope, but three of the next four votes fell to the semifinalist from last bracket to seal Red's fate. This is Red's best finish since its 4th place finish in 2005.
BRACKET B FINAL
* And the Darkness Shall Overcome It: #1 Midnight Blue def. #2 Cerulean, 16-3
- In perhaps the most surprising blowout of the entire Crayon Bracket, Cerulean's vocal supporters were muzzled as the defending champion dominated its lighter blue brother. After 3 votes, the score was 2-1, Midnight Blue. Five votes later, it was 6-2. Six votes after that, the deficit was a staggering 12-2. To add insult to injury, Midnight Blue closed with the final four votes, aptly enough, to seal its second straight trip to the Final Four.
BRACKET C FINAL
* Primary Directive: #1 Green def. #7 Burnt Orange, 11-8
- The 2006 champion is returning to the Final Four after a one year hiatus. It had to weather a feisty challenge from Burnt Orange, though, who kept things very close throughout the match. At 1-1, Green ripped off 3 straight votes to pull ahead. The lone orange hue left in the bracket rallied its supporters for a whirlwind run, in which they tallied 5 of 6 votes. At this point, Burnt Orange was ahead, 6-5. Green responded with a decisive burst - first, three straight votes to retake the lead at 8-6; then, after a vote fell to Burnt Orange to draw them within one, another three vote run to pull ahead 11-7. The last vote went to Burnt Orange to make the final margin. Green is the only one of the original eight crayons to make it to the Final Four this year; it now also holds the distinction of being the only crayon to reach the Final Four in each bracket.
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We will be sure to have one new finalist, and one former champion in the crayon bracket final - but many familiar colors will clash here in the SEMIFINALS! Here are those matchups:
SEMIFINAL #1
(6) Pine Green vs. (1) Brick Red
- Certainly, two bold colors will clash in Semifinal #1! These two crayons have never met in the bracket. The lone non-#1 seed remaining, Pine Green has felled some impressive opponents in its run to the Final Four (#3 Navy Blue, #2 Forest Green). This run is somewhat surprising, considering it had only gone as far as the second round in any previous bracket, but crayon bracketologists have been waiting for this color to fulfill its potential. It may have been hamstrung by tough matchups and an apparently limited use, but the virtues of this rich and evocative hue have obviously beguiled many this year. Meanwhile, Brick Red has been steady as she goes, overcoming each opponents it's faced with relative ease. Some might claim it is more refined and less in your face than primary Red, exuding more solidity (no pun intended ... well, maybe ...).
SEMIFINAL #2
(1) Midnight Blue vs. (1) Green
- Semifinal #2 pits the 2008 champion against the 2006 champion in a legendary matchup. The two have never met in the Crayon Bracket before. Midnight Blue's title defense has been stunningly easy, none more impressive than it's thrashing of Cerulean. Once named Prussian Blue for its similarity to Prussian army uniforms, its new name suits it perfectly. Look up at the sky on a clear and cloudless night - what crayon captures that sky perfectly? Many would think, "Black," but a keen eye knows that this deep, dark, and soulful blue hue is the right color. For those who think it's too dark, the other semifinalist in this bracket offers a very different option. Green's bright and lively personality is balanced by its practicality. This crayon's timelessness and wide application is a marvel to behold. In spite of its many grandchildren hues, Green remains a crayon in high demand. When it comes to grass, most trees, and anything remotely related to St. Patrick's Day - Green is the gold standard of its hue (though, if the cards fall a certain way, Pine Green might have the chance to say something about that later).
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Voting in the semifinal round closes on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2011 at 11:59:59 pm Central Time!
I declare the voting in the Final Four OPEN!
Without further ado, the results!
BRACKET A FINAL
* Pine Green Nears the Pinnacle: #6 Pine Green def. #5 Royal Purple, 10-9
- As democracy uprisings crop up across the Middle East, perhaps an anti-monarchy sentiment simmered in the minds of some voters. Who knows, really - but this one came down to the wire all the same. It started out as a blowout, as Pine Green pulled the first five votes. Matching three vote runs, first by Royal Purple, kept the margin at 5, before Pine Green got 2 crucial votes of the next 3 cast. Royalist supporters rallied for 2 votes to close within one, but no more votes would come. This will be Pine Green's first Final Four appearance.
BRACKET D FINAL
* Solid State for Solid Shade: #1 Brick Red def. #2 Red, 11-8
- Brick Red is back in the Final Four, as it dispatched of its mother hue in fairly convincing fashion. The match started off intense, as the two split the first 6 votes. Brick Red's supporters burst out, helping the construction-material contender take control of the match with 5 straight votes. A three vote run by the perpetually snake-bitten primary color gave its long-suffering supporters some hope, but three of the next four votes fell to the semifinalist from last bracket to seal Red's fate. This is Red's best finish since its 4th place finish in 2005.
BRACKET B FINAL
* And the Darkness Shall Overcome It: #1 Midnight Blue def. #2 Cerulean, 16-3
- In perhaps the most surprising blowout of the entire Crayon Bracket, Cerulean's vocal supporters were muzzled as the defending champion dominated its lighter blue brother. After 3 votes, the score was 2-1, Midnight Blue. Five votes later, it was 6-2. Six votes after that, the deficit was a staggering 12-2. To add insult to injury, Midnight Blue closed with the final four votes, aptly enough, to seal its second straight trip to the Final Four.
BRACKET C FINAL
* Primary Directive: #1 Green def. #7 Burnt Orange, 11-8
- The 2006 champion is returning to the Final Four after a one year hiatus. It had to weather a feisty challenge from Burnt Orange, though, who kept things very close throughout the match. At 1-1, Green ripped off 3 straight votes to pull ahead. The lone orange hue left in the bracket rallied its supporters for a whirlwind run, in which they tallied 5 of 6 votes. At this point, Burnt Orange was ahead, 6-5. Green responded with a decisive burst - first, three straight votes to retake the lead at 8-6; then, after a vote fell to Burnt Orange to draw them within one, another three vote run to pull ahead 11-7. The last vote went to Burnt Orange to make the final margin. Green is the only one of the original eight crayons to make it to the Final Four this year; it now also holds the distinction of being the only crayon to reach the Final Four in each bracket.
+ + +
We will be sure to have one new finalist, and one former champion in the crayon bracket final - but many familiar colors will clash here in the SEMIFINALS! Here are those matchups:
SEMIFINAL #1
(6) Pine Green vs. (1) Brick Red
- Certainly, two bold colors will clash in Semifinal #1! These two crayons have never met in the bracket. The lone non-#1 seed remaining, Pine Green has felled some impressive opponents in its run to the Final Four (#3 Navy Blue, #2 Forest Green). This run is somewhat surprising, considering it had only gone as far as the second round in any previous bracket, but crayon bracketologists have been waiting for this color to fulfill its potential. It may have been hamstrung by tough matchups and an apparently limited use, but the virtues of this rich and evocative hue have obviously beguiled many this year. Meanwhile, Brick Red has been steady as she goes, overcoming each opponents it's faced with relative ease. Some might claim it is more refined and less in your face than primary Red, exuding more solidity (no pun intended ... well, maybe ...).
SEMIFINAL #2
(1) Midnight Blue vs. (1) Green
- Semifinal #2 pits the 2008 champion against the 2006 champion in a legendary matchup. The two have never met in the Crayon Bracket before. Midnight Blue's title defense has been stunningly easy, none more impressive than it's thrashing of Cerulean. Once named Prussian Blue for its similarity to Prussian army uniforms, its new name suits it perfectly. Look up at the sky on a clear and cloudless night - what crayon captures that sky perfectly? Many would think, "Black," but a keen eye knows that this deep, dark, and soulful blue hue is the right color. For those who think it's too dark, the other semifinalist in this bracket offers a very different option. Green's bright and lively personality is balanced by its practicality. This crayon's timelessness and wide application is a marvel to behold. In spite of its many grandchildren hues, Green remains a crayon in high demand. When it comes to grass, most trees, and anything remotely related to St. Patrick's Day - Green is the gold standard of its hue (though, if the cards fall a certain way, Pine Green might have the chance to say something about that later).
+ + +
Voting in the semifinal round closes on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2011 at 11:59:59 pm Central Time!
I declare the voting in the Final Four OPEN!