Bedlam on Baltic Avenue: 11/01/2011

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Championship Match Prediction

A victory by Erio Touwa over Homura Akemi would be an upset of the highest order. I expect Homura to close the deal and finish the job. Homura deserves this title after being screwed over by Mikoto Misaka in the first round of 2channel Anime Saimoe 2011.

BoBA Predicts: Homura by >=50

Over/Under: 400

Over

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Semifinal 2 Result

Looks like the Bedlam got this wrong yet again! Ruiko Saten's magic has apparently died down at the hands of the hands of Erio Touwa, who is the only one who stands in Homura Akemi's way

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Semifinal 2 Prediction

The winner of this match takes on Homura Akemi for the crown. Ruiko Saten should be able to defeat Erio Touwa today, but this match could go either way.

BoBA Predicts: Ruiko by <=100

Over/Under: 500

Over

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Semifinal 1 Result

When the Bedlam picks against Charlotte, Charlotte wins. When the Bedlam picks in favor of Charlotte, Charlotte loses. Either the magic has already ended for Dunois, or Homura Akemi has clearly emerged as a favorite to win it all.

The NBA Lockout is OVER.

It seems there might be a Santa Claus after all.

NBA players and owners agreed on a tentative deal very early Saturday morning bringing the 149-day NBA lockout to an end, reports Sports Illustrated.

If all goes well, the season will kick off on Christmas Day.

"We have reached a tentative understanding," NBA commissioner David Stern confirmed during a press conference at 3:30 a.m. that followed a 15-hour negotiating session in Manhattan. "We're optimistic that the NBA season will come to pass on Dec. 25, Christmas Day, with a triple-header."

Players will vote on the tentative agreement on Saturday or Sunday, explains Yahoo Sports.

But fans might want to hold off with the celebration. Some players told Yahoo Sports they plan to vote against the labor deal.

While either side will be able to end the 10-year contract after six years, the New York Times notes it is overwhelmingly in favor of the owners and will include a pay-cut for players, shorter contracts and smaller raises.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/26/nba-lockout-over_n_1114172.html

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Semifinal 1 Prediction

Charlotte Dunois is emerging as the favorite to win this tournament, and can complete a Puella Magi sweep by defeating Homura Akemi today. This is going to be an unprecedented sweep: defeating Mami Tomoe, Madoka Akemi and Homura all in one fall swoop. This semifinal will determine the winner of this tournament.

BoBA Predicts: Charlotte by >=100

Over/Under: 600

Over

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Quarterfinal 3 Result Revised

Not much change to the outcome, but this is a significant victory from Charlotte Dunois which establishes her as the favorite to win this tournament.

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Quarterfinal 4 Result

With this (pending review of the third quarterfinal) the field is set for the semifinals, and we currently have four characters from four different series represented.

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Quarterfinal 4 Prediction

The Puella Magi have been struggling to find results. Ruiko Saten is capable of adding more salt to the wounds of the team with another upset win.

BoBA Predicts: Ruiko by >=50

Over/Under: 400

Over

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Quarterfinal 3 Result

Very high vote count for a quarterfinal. If this result holds, Charlotte has emerged as a favorite to win it all.

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Quarterfinal 3 Prediction

2011 is the year of the Puella Magi, and Charlotte Dunois is in for the toughest fight of her life. She did dethrone the champion of Japan in Mami Tomoe but is now up against possibly a much stronger Puella Magi in Madoka. This should be the time where the Goddess establishes some order.

BoBA Predicts: Madoka by <=100

Over/Under: 450

Over

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Quarterfinal 2 Result

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Quarterfinal 2 Prediction

This is another tough quarterfinal to choose from due to the power of both characters. In one corner you have Erio Touwa, the face of Denpa Onna. In the other, you have Elucia De Lute Irma from The World God Only Knows. The Bedlam is going to go with LC here due to her performance in Japan.

BoBA Predicts: Elucia by >=50

Over/Under: 500

Over

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Quarterfinal 1 Result

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Quarterfinal 1 Prediction

Homura Akemi is a woman on a mission: to win Anizone. An emphatic victory over Mio Akiyama puts her at the forefront of another important match, this time with Victorique De Blois. Akemi should have enough to win, but the match will be close due to Gosick's leverage.

BoBA Predicts: Homura by >=150

Over/Under: 500

Over

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Third Round Result, Group 8

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Third Round Prediction, Group 8

This is a pretty difficult match to assess, given that both characters are canon fodder, and as a result, the turnout will be clearly less than the previous two matches involving Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi, who the Bedlam feels is the OTP of Puella Magi Madoka Magica. The issue regarding Ruiko is that Index and Mikoto both lost. The results this round is proof that K-ON! and Raildex are on their way out this season.

Due to the results involving those two flagship characters of the Raildex franchise, the Bedlam is calling for a victory to Huang Lingyin.

BoBA Predicts: Lingyin by >=80

Over/Under: 500

Under

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Third Round Result, Group 7

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Third Round Prediction, Group 7

Riding on the momentum from Madoka Kaname's breakthrough victory over Mikoto Misaka, there will be a new champion in Korea. Will it be Homura Akemi? It might be too soon to say, but one thing's for sure: the Bedlam is calling for a victory to the Homuhomu over defending Anizone champion Mio Akiyama.

BoBA Predicts: Homura by >=150

Over/Under: 500

Over

Anizone Best Moe 2011: Third Round Result, Group 6

ISML 2011: GUNNERS HIGH!

ISML 2011: GUNNERS HIGH!

Mikoto Misaka is fourth International Saimoe League Champion

By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
November 16, 2011

Mikoto Misaka was crowned as the 2011 International Saimoe League champion on Thursday afternoon at A Certain High School in Academy City, Japan.

Mikoto defeated Shana 9208-8052 in a record-breaking turnout to close the 2011 ISML season.

The victory rally was moved from Tokiwadai Junior High School in anticipation of the news.

The crowd at A Certain High's campus auditorium erupted, with flags being waved in the air and hugs all around and confetting being thrown from the rafters. "RAILGUN! RAILGUN! RAILGUN!" the fans chanted as the result was splashed on two projector screens on stage.

Banners of encouragement were placed all over the arena, such as "RAILGUN TO THE TOP!", "GUNNERS HIGH!", "MIKOTO...NO DOUBT!", "MISAKA...ACADEMY CITY'S ONEE-SAMA!" and "A CERTAIN ISML CHAMPION...IS HERE!"

People were dancing in the streets to fripside's "Only My Railgun" and "Level 5 Judgelight". Indeed, fripside and Mami Kawada performed on stage inside the campus auditorium.

Mikoto was watching the results with significant other Touma Kamijou, best friend Kuroko Shirai, Index Librorum Prohibitorum, Last Order and Accelerator. Once the result was known, they all made the long walk to the campus auditorium, and along the way, the roar of the crowd got bigger and bigger until it reached a dramatic crescendo when they all entered the stage.

"This honor means a lot to me," Mikoto said as she struggled to hold back tears of joy. "It means so much. I had no doubt in my mind that I deserved to be in the same company as Fate Testarossa, Hinagiku Katsura and Mio Akiyama. It is not easy to survive, let alone win in a tournament as prestigious as the International Saimoe League. This is the world's tournament. This is the supernova of all competitions.

"I want to thank everyone standing here with me today, especially Index, Kuroko, and my one and only, Touma. You all gave me the support I needed during these long months of battles, and in the end, your solidarity and your love paid off.

"To my fans, especially the over-9,000 who supported me in this championship match...thank you. I owe this Tiara to you, because you also won it. This is a victory not just for me, but for you.

"To the people of Academy City, this is your victory as well. This place...this wonderful place...this is heaven. Everything about this city gives me hope and courage to fulfill my mission in life. Without this place, I would not be standing here today."

"And to those who did not support me this season, thank you as well for helping make the International Saimoe League the world's premier competition for people like me, Shana, and so many others.

"Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the International Saimoe League."

Afterwards, Mikoto ran into Touma's arms and embraced him, still shedding tears of joy, and they both looked at the crowd, who gave a standing ovation. The speakers blasted out "Level 5 Judgelight" as the confetti and sakura petals rained down.

"Today I lost to the best competitor this season," Shana said at a rally inside Tokyo's Budokan. "I called Mikoto a few minutes ago to announce I was conceding the race, and it was a well-fought race. I wish her well in whatever she does from this point forward.

"However, I will soldier on. Next season, I will return with a stronger resolve...to make 2012 my season. Thank you to all of you who supported me this year, and I will make this promise: next year I will win the Tiara."

Kanade Tachibana finished third with a 9993-6955 rout of Ruri Gokou. Taiga Aisaka was fifth after defeated Azusa Nakano 8773-8257. Yuki Nagato was seventh after edged out Hinagiku Katsura 8502-8329. Mio Akiyama was ninth after rolling past Haruhi Suzumiya 8890-7980. And Yui defeated Eucliwood Hellscythe 8531-8139 to finish 11th.

Four other matches featuring potential new entries for ISML 2012 and well as faces from the past took part.

Sena Kashiwazaki crushed Yuno Gasai 10245-5723, Subaru Konoe drilled HImari Takakura 11902-3464, Yuuko Shionji destroyed Rin Kaga 11061-4434 and Sakura Kinomoto defeated Rei Ayanami 8237-7526.

With this, the 2011 International Saimoe League season is completed. The nomination phase for the 2012 International Saimoe League will start in January. For more information and to join the ongoing debate, visit InternationalSaimoe.com.

And next year, be sure to also follow the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue (bedlamba.blogspot.com) and Bongaboi on deviantART (bongaboi.deviantart.com) for coverage of the 2012 International Saimoe League: the world's premier anime character competition!