Fall Festivus (Mountain Brook, AL)
Writing this a few weeks after the fact has given me the hindsight to understand that while LSU did get screwed (YES, it was an INT), they likely would not have scored and since they choked away an Ole Miss game, they really did not deserve to win versus Alabama. So, now that I have that off my chest, on to the Fall Festivus Tournament.
The hosts again were Bill and Connie Mills, who I really think enjoy the SoMoCo crew invading their “humble” abode. The Tournament saw 3 of the Top 16 (5 of the Top 25), yet it was Rookies and relative unknowns/newcomers who made the most noise. Rookie Janice Hovey beat former SoMoCo champion John Griffith in the Losers bracket, sending John home 0-2 BBQ. As a note, Janice did mention that she would like to host a SoMoCo event at her home. As another note, after breaking into the MB game fast, John has faltered in his last several tournaments. Looking for the fire to come back, John.
Relative newcomer Brad Morgan showed some skills, taking out Kevin Singleton 15-13 in Round 2, to make Kevin work to make the afternoon. Brad finally succumbed to World #2 Jason Salmon in the Quarterfinals. We will be looking for Brad to prove that the last couple tournaments were no fluke and that he really does have the skills required to challenge the elite ballers.
Veteran Jill Salmon lost the first game of the tournament, but wound up finding her stride and steam-rolling the Loser’s bracket to make the afternoon session. She wound up losing to World #13 Kevin Singleton in the Quarterfinals. Jill has always been a solid baller, but it seems that recently she is getting more confident and consistent, which could make her a dark-horse in coming tournaments.
Obviously, the most noise, literally and figuratively, came from the Decatur, AL brothers Matthew (aka Dilbert) and John Morris. While they are not new to the game (Dilbert won his first tournament back in 2007), they have not made many waves in recent events. Dilbert rolled through his bracket without dropping a set, defeating World #12 Sean Dameron twice along the way. John Morris had to play his way through the Loser’s bracket, but was tossing well the entire day. In the Quarters, Dilbert defeated World #22 Chuck Salmon; John defeated World #12 Sean Dameron. In the Semis, Dilbert took out World #13 Kevin Singleton; John sunk World #2 Jason Salmon to set-up a Final akin to the Wimbleton with the Williams sisters. In the end, John (who is more like Serena) took home the prize and defeated Dilbert to become the second Morris to hoist a SoMoCo trophy.
As I claimed back in 2007, NEVER challenge a redneck to a yard game. They will always beat you with experience! Congrats John on a well-deserved victory.
Champion: John Morris
Runner-Up: Dilbert
# of Players: 31
– written by Jason Salmon