ISML 2010: Taiga roars to the top in the Topaz

ISML 2010: Taiga roars to the top in the Topaz

April 16, 2010

Is Taiga Aisaka looking to take no prisoners and grab the International Saimoe League necklace for herself?

"Not really," she says. "I just want to kick ass in the Tiara when I qualify for the damn thing. That's all. This is just candy."

Aisaka rose to first in the 2010 ISML Topaz table with a 3475-1474 flattening of Chiaki Minami.

The top four overall in the ISML remained unbeaten in all-too-obvious mismatches. Mio Akiyama cruised to a 3678-1450 victory over Ryou Fujibayashi, defending champion Hinagiku Katsura took down Nodoka Haramura 3936-1004, Shana torched Nymph 3813-1303 and Mikoto Misaka electrocuted Ikaros 3368-1629.

Claiming a sweep once again were the girls from Fate/Stay Night. Illyasviel von Einzbern edged Kurimu Sakurano 2511-2366, Saber slashed Ui Hirasawa down to pieces 3183-1990 and Rin Tosaka wore down Fuuko Ibuki 2810-2140. Both Saber and Tosaka are in the running for the Topaz along with the overall unbeatens.

Bakenomogatari also picked up a perfect day in Topaz 3. Hitagi Senjougahara dismissed Kotomi Ichinose 2650-224 and Nadeko Sengoku sent the mad cobras out on Mikuru Asahina 2726-2372. Sengoku remains in the hunt for the TOpaz.

Yui Hirasawa stayed in the hunt with a 3266-1714 beatdown of Ami Kawashima. Also staying in the hunt was Azusa Nakano, who knocked Minori Kushieda around and upside down by the score of 3321-1770. Yuki Nagato rounds out those in the running. She scored a 3967-996 walkover of Mihoko Fukuji.

In other ISML action...Holo chomped up Rika Furude 3000-1823, Kyou Fujibayashi pounded Ushio Okazaki 3148-1352, Konata Izumi bounced back with a 2701-2329 decision over Isumi Saginomiya, Haruhi Suzumiya took out Maria 3134-2126, Tomoyo Sakagami rolled past Chizuru Akaba 2853-2019 and Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere dusted off Hanyuu Furude 2800-1888.

The friendly rivalry between Fate Testarossa and Nanoha Takamachi saw the 2008 ISML Champion gain the upper hand once again, 2726-1462.

Ruiko Saten broke out the aluminum bat on Tsukasa Hiiragi 2566-2265, Mafuyu Shiina defeated Nagisa Furukawa 2511-2291, Golden Darkness (Konjiki no Yami) defeated Mei Sunohara 2553-2123, and Kagami Hiiragi scored a 2685-2221 victory over Minatsu Shiina to confirm a disappointing day for the girls of Seitokai no Ichizon.

In the special match, Fairy Tail's Lucy Heartfilia, a good friend of Suzumiya, prevailed over The Sacred Blacksmith's Lisa 2134-1738.

Match Day 4 of the 2010 International Saimoe League Topaz phase is scheduled for Sunday, April 18. Vote online for your favorite candidates on InternationalSaimoe.com.

BoBA ISML 2010 Predictions: Topaz Match Day 3

ARENA 01: [Holo] Furude Rika by >=800
Over/Under: 4500
Over

ARENA 02: Okazaki Ushio [Fujibayashi Kyō] by >=900
Over/Under: 4600
Over

ARENA 03: Asahina Mikuru [Sengoku Nadeko] by <=800
Over/Under: 4800
Under

ARENA 04: Saginomiya Isumi [Izumi Konata] by <=700
Over/Under: 5000
Under

ARENA 05: [Katsura Hinagiku] Haramura Nodoka by >=1100
Over/Under: 4700
Over

ARENA 06: Maria [Suzumiya Haruhi] by <=1000
Over/Under: 4500
Over

ARENA 07: Kushieda Minori [Nakano Azusa] by >=700
Over/Under: 4750
Over

ARENA 08: Sakurano Kurimu [Illyasviel von Einzbern] by >=500
Over/Under: 4900
Under

ARENA 09: Akaba Chizuru [Sakagami Tomoyo] by <=500
Over/Under: 5000
Over

ARENA 10: [Louise Vallière] Furude Hanyū by >=800
Over/Under: 5000
Under

ARENA 11: Ibuki Fūko [Tōsaka Rin] by >=800
Over/Under: 4700
Over

ARENA 12: Ichinose Kotomi [Senjōgahara Hitagi] by <=700
Over/Under: 4500
Over

ARENA 13: Nymph [Shana] by >=1100
Over/Under: 4700
Over

ARENA 14: [Fate Testarossa] Takamachi Nanoha by >=800
Over/Under: 4500
Over

ARENA 15: [Hirasawa Yui] Kawashima Ami by >=500
Over/Under: 5100
Under

ARENA 16: Hiiragi Tsukasa [Saten Ruiko] by <=600
Over/Under: 5000
Under

ARENA 17: [Furukawa Nagisa] Shiina Mafuyu by >=500
Over/Under: 5000
Under

ARENA 18: C.C. [Sanzen'in Nagi] by >=600
Over/Under: 4600
Over

ARENA 19: Hirasawa Ui [Saber] by >=900
Over/Under: 4600
Over

ARENA 20: Fujibayashi Ryō [Akiyama Mio] by >=900
Over/Under: 5200
Under

ARENA 21: Konjiki no Yami [Sunohara Mei] by <=500
Over/Under: 5000
Under

ARENA 22: Fukuji Mihoko [Nagato Yuki] by >=1100
Over/Under: 4900
Over

ARENA 23: [Aisaka Taiga] Minami Chiaki by >=700
Over/Under: 5200
Under

ARENA 24: [Misaka Mikoto] Ikaros by >=1100
Over/Under: 5000
Over

ARENA 25: Hiiragi Kagami [Shiina Minatsu] by >=600
Over/Under: 5000
Over

Special Match:

ARENA 26: Lisa [Lucy Heartfilia] by >=300
Over/Under: 3000
Over

ISML 2010: Hinagiku rises to the top after Topaz 2

ISML 2010: Hinagiku rises to the top after Topaz 2


April 14, 2010

Defending ISML champion Hinagiku Katsura was all smiles after taking the lead after Match Day 2 in the 2010 International Saimoe League Topaz phase.

"Delighted," Katsura said after her 3287-1509 blowout victory over Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere. "I think I will be on track to qualify for the top 16 if this keeps up."

The other overall unbeatens picked up huge wins. Mikoto Misaka never had any trouble with a 3230-1526 wipeout over Ushio Okazaki and Mio Akiyama breezed to victory, 3399-1459 over Mei Sunohara. Shana also had an easy day in Topaz 2, thumping Hanyuu Furude 3631-1268.

Bakemonogatari picked up a sweep today. Nadeko Sengoku pounded Kurimu Sakurano 2612-1918 and Hitagi Senjougahara rolled past Fuuko Ibuki 2639-1997.

Team Nanoha-TSAB also cruised to a sweep. Nanoha Takamachi trampled past Nymph 2566-1795 and Fate Testarossa prevailed over Illyasviel von Einzbern 2427-2125.

In other ISML action...Kagaki Hiiragi rolled past Minori Kushieda 2874-1847, Azusa Nakano scored an impressive 2574-2324 victory over Kyou Fujibayashi, Minatsu Shiina scored an eyebrow-raising 2582-2154 decision over Ui Hirasawa, Saber never was out of it against Ruiko Saten 3032-1806, C.C. bounced back against Ryou Fujibayashi 2675-1933, Chizuru Akaba earned a decisive 3142-1081 victory over Nodoka Haramura and Taiga Aisaka roared past Konjiki no Yami (Golden Darkness) 3011-1755.

Haruhi Suzumiya tore apart Rika Furude 3250-1514, Rin Tosaka won a thrilling 2342-2270 contest against Holo, Yuki Nagato was all business against Tsukasa Hiiragi 3300-1437, Mafuyu Shiina made it a sister sweep with a 2540-2163 victory over Mikuru Asahina, Yui Hirasawa scored a 2596-2132 victory over Konata Izumi and Nagi Sanzen'in rebounded with a 2966-1720 landslide win over Ami Kawashima.

Nagisa Furukawa whipped past Chiaki Minami 2725-1742, Maria took out Mihoko Fukuji without breaking a sweat 3222-1143, Kotomi Ichinose sounded out Ikaros 2457-2005 and it was all Tomoyo Sakagami against Isumi Saginomiya, 2949-1774.

The special match was never even close. Riku Harada, the 2003 2chan Anime Saimoe champion, stomped 2004 champion Rosemary Applefield early and often, 2771-438.

Topaz Match Day 3 of the 2010 International Saimoe League is scheduled for Thursday, April 15, 2010. vote on your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com.

BoBA 2010 ISML Predictions: Topaz Match Day 2

ARENA 01: [Hiiragi Kagami] Kushieda Minori by <=500
Over/Under: 4700
Over

ARENA 02: [Nakano Azusa] Fujibayashi Kyō by >=400
Over/Under: 5000
Over

ARENA 03: [Hirasawa Ui] Shiina Minatsu by >=700
Over/Under: 5000
Over

ARENA 04: [Takamachi Nanoha] Nymph by >=1000
Over/Under: 5000
Under

ARENA 05: Louise Vallière [Katsura Hinagiku] by >=1000
Over/Under: 5000
Over

ARENA 06: Saten Ruiko [Saber] by >=700
Over/Under: 5000
Over
ARENA 07: Fujibayashi Ryō [C.C.] by <=400
Over/Under: 5000

Over

ARENA 08: [Shana] Furude Hanyū by >=1000
Over/Under: 5100
Over
ARENA 09: Haramura Nodoka [Akaba Chizuru] by >=900
Over/Under: 5000
Under
ARENA 10: Konjiki no Yami [Aisaka Taiga] by >=1000
Over/Under: 5000
Over
ARENA 11: Sunohara Mei [Akiyama Mio] by >=500
Over/Under: 5050
Over
ARENA 12: [Suzumiya Haruhi] Furude Rika by >=600
Over/Under: 5300
Under
ARENA 13: [Tōsaka Rin] Holo by >=600
Over/Under: 5200
Under

ARENA 14: Hiiragi Tsukasa [Nagato Yuki] by >=900
Over/Under: 5000
Over
ARENA 15: [Asahina Mikuru] Shiina Mafuyu by <=600
Over/Under: 4900
Under
ARENA 16: Izumi Konata [Hirasawa Yui] by <=800
Over/Under: 5000
Over
ARENA 17: Kawashima Ami [Sanzen'in Nagi] by >=700
Over/Under: 4800
Over
ARENA 18: Ibuki Fūko [Senjōgahara Hitagi] by >=800
Over/Under: 4800
Over
ARENA 19: [Furukawa Nagisa] Minami Chiaki by >=750
Over/Under: 4900
Over
ARENA 20: Okazaki Ushio [Misaka Mikoto] by >=900
Over/Under: 5400
Under
ARENA 21: [Sengoku Nadeko] Sakurano Kurimu by <=560
Over/Under: 5300
Under
ARENA 22: [Maria] Fukuji Mihoko by >=800
Over/Under: 5000
Under
ARENA 23: [Ichinose Kotomi] Ikaros by <=800
Over/Under: 5100
Under
ARENA 24: [Sakagami Tomoyo] Saginomiya Isumi by >=750
Over/Under: 5000
Over
ARENA 25: [Illyasviel von Einzbern] Fate Testarossa by <=500
Over/Under: 5350
Under

Special Match:

ARENA 26: [Harada Riku] Rosemary Applefield by >=400
Over/Under: 4500
Over

ISML 2010: Chiaki Minami first after Topaz 1

ISML 2010: Chiaki Minami first after Topaz 1

April 13, 2010

The 2010 International Saimoe League Topaz phase began on Sunday, and Chiaki Minami took an early lead over the rest of the winners on Match Day 1 with a 2694-1181 walkover against Mihoko Fukuji.

"I believe the Japanese voters last year touted a show that no one cares about outside of Japan," Minami said after her match. "No one outside of Japan knows what Saki is, and I would believe that very few people outside the hardcore followers even play the game as seen on the show. As a result, the rest of the league (including myself) are making them know their place.

"I won't be surprised if one of them finishes winless, while the other goes 1-49."

The top four after Aquamarine 7 cruised to victories in a match day that saw a significant lower of voters, resulting in huge payouts for the under.

Defending champion Hinagiku Katsura continued the one-sided dominance over Nagi Sanzen'in with a 2987-1489 blowout victory. Shana, a longtime ISML favorite, had no problems against Haruhi Suzumiya, winning 2744-1974. Mio Akiyama was all business against Kagami Hiiragi, winning 2904-1793. Mikoto Misaka turned the lights out on Fate Testarossa with a 2722-1923 decision.

The defending necklace holder, Yuki Nagato, was going to be tested early against Tomoyo Sakagami. She prevailed, 2489-2214.

Mio's fellow representatives from Hokago Tea Time earned victories to make it a K-ON!! sweep. Ui Hirasawa took out Ryou Fujibayashi 2419-2020, Yui Hirasawa crushed Maria 2774-1920 and Azusa Nakano whipped past C.C. 2743-2009.

Another group making a successful sweep was the girls from Fate/Stay Night. Illyasviel von Einzbern defeated Ruiko Saten 2452-2136, Saber slashed past Mafuyu Shiina 2560-2111 and Rin Tosaka was never troubled in her 2508-1898 win over Nanoha Takamachi.

The Toradora! trio also claimed a sweep on Topaz 1.  Taiga Aisaka defeated Hitagi Senjougahara 2574-2126, Ami Kawashima took out Ushio Okazaki 2253-2057 and Minori Kushieda wiped out Hanyuu Furude 2441-1769.

In other ISML action...Mikuru Asahina defeated Tsukasa Hiiragi 2661-1828, Isumi Saginomiya prevailed over Mei Sunohara 2362-2045, Holo chomped over Chizuru Akaba 2487-2036, Golden Darkness (Konjiki no Yami) stomped Rika Furude 2438-1830 and Ikaros wiped out Nodoka Haramura 2669-1217.

Nadeko Sengoku sent the cobras out on Minatsu Shiina 2513-1828, Nagisa Furukawa prevailed over Kurimu Sakurano 2379-1996, Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere defeated Fuuko Ibuki 2288-2049 and Kyou Fujibayashi torched Nymph 2756-1576.

In the special match for Topaz 1, a closely contested battle between Hayate the Combat Butler's Athena Tennos and Seitokai no Ichizon's Lilicia Toudou saw Tennos victorious, 2148-1862.

The 2010 ISML rolls on with Topaz Match Day 2. Vote online for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com as our countdown to the tiara continues!

ISML 2010: Topaz 1 Recap coming Tuesday morning...

Everyone:

The recap for Match Day 1 of the 2010 International Saimoe League Topaz Phase has been delayed to Tuesday morning due to yours truly needed some rest ahead of some pollworking duty.  Nonetheless, I got the quotes from the winners.

Stay tuned.

BoBA 2010 ISML Predictions: Topaz Match Day 1

ARENA 01: [Katsura Hinagiku] Sanzen'in Nagi by >=600
Over/Under: 6400
Over

ARENA 02: Illyasviel von Einzbern [Saten Ruiko] by >=500
Over/Under: 6100
Under

ARENA 03: [Aisaka Taiga] Senjōgahara Hitagi by >=750
Over/Under: 6300
Over

ARENA 04: [Asahina Mikuru] Hiiragi Tsukasa by <=600
Over/Under: 6000
Over

ARENA 05: Sunohara Mei [Saginomiya Isumi] by <=700
Over/Under: 6000
Under

ARENA 06: [Saber] Shiina Mafuyu by >=800
Over/Under: 6100
Over

ARENA 07: Holo [Akaba Chizuru] by <=800
Over/Under: 6000
Over

ARENA 08: [Konjiki no Yami] Furude Rika by <=500
Over/Under: 6000
Under

ARENA 09: Fukuji Mihoko [Minami Chiaki] by >=800
Over/Under: 6000
Under

ARENA 10: [Izumi Konata] Ichinose Kotomi by <=800
Over/Under: 6050
Over

ARENA 11: [Ikaros] Haramura Nodoka by >=800
Over/Under: 6000
Under

ARENA 12: [Hirasawa Ui] Fujibayashi Ryō by >=700
Over/Under: 5900
Over

ARENA 13: [Hirasawa Yui] Maria by >=800
Over/Under: 6000
Over

ARENA 14: Hiiragi Kagami [Akiyama Mio] by >=700
Over/Under: 6400
Over

ARENA 15: Shiina Minatsu [Sengoku Nadeko] by <=1000
Over/Under: 6500
Under

ARENA 16: [Kushieda Minori] Furude Hanyū by >=800
Over/Under: 6100
Under

ARENA 17: [Furukawa Nagisa] Sakurano Kurimu by <=500
Over/Under: 6100
Under

ARENA 18: [Misaka Mikoto] Fate Testarossa by >=800
Over/Under: 6500
Over

ARENA 19: Louise Vallière [Ibuki Fūko] by <=500
Over/Under: 6100
Under

ARENA 20: [Shana] Suzumiya Haruhi by <=600
Over/Under: 6500
Over

ARENA 21: [Tōsaka Rin] Takamachi Nanoha by <=500
Over/Under: 6100
Over

ARENA 22: [Nagato Yuki] Sakagami Tomoyo by >=700
Over/Under: 6500
Under

ARENA 23: Okazaki Ushio [Kawashima Ami] by >=900
Over/Under; 6000
Under

ARENA 24: Nymph [Fujibayashi Kyō] by >=1000
Over/Under: 6000
Over

ARENA 25: [Nakano Azusa] C.C. by >=800
Over/Under: 6000
Over

Special Match

ARENA 26: Tennos Athena [Tōdō Lilicia] by >=700
Over/Under: 5000
Over

BoBA Post Number 900!

In between discussions and capstones and laundry services, I decided to take one more trip to Long Beach City College's Small Gym to watch the men's volleyball last time. Once again, we were taking on Pierce College to finish our regular season. Randy Totorp's men wrapped up the 2010 Western State Conference championship with a sweep of Moorpark College. I told them guys, "Treat this as a warm-up for the 22nd of April at Orange Coast College. Congratulations on winning the conference, by the way."

I was surprised that Los Angeles Pierce did give us a game. It did take them the third set to finally show up. However, early on signs were pointing to a sweep.

In the first match, the Vikings were keeping pace with the Brahmas until we pulled through late to win 30-28. However, in the second set, tempers flared on the Pierce end and one of their players was sent off for arguing with the official and delaying the game.

It was a unusual sight. I never saw a junior college match that saw a player get redded. But here's the thing: Pierce College was going through a tough season. They were 4-12 (4-5 WSC) and needed to finish a tough year on the right note. However, a few of the players continued to argue with the officials and even I was telling them, "Enough! Get on with it; know where you are you punks!" They still argued.

That reminded me of something: a few weeks ago, I applied for a lifetime membership to the LBCC Alumni Association. for $250...I ended up getting a red piece of construction paper with black print for a card.

I felt cheated. Couldn't they have treated me with respect and used red plastic and did it in the way of the CSULB Alumni Association? To give my card some of the dignity it lost, I had it laminated at STAPLES for a buck and change. That's $251 and change for the entire lifetime membership.

Knowing that a red card in volleyball is an automatic expulsion, I pulled it out and showed it to the crowd as a strong suggestiong of what this official should do. If I'm the white maggot on top making the calls, I'm not messing around; this guy is gone. And so he was. Because of that, LBCC won the second set.

What irked me is the inability of this team to close the deal. In the third and fourth sets, I watched the Vikings squander their chances. Bad serves. Terrible digs. And too much improvisation. They were out of position, and I was not pleased by this.

So I told them, as the fifth game began, "You WILL finish the job, or you're gonna be one and done at OCC two Thursdays from now!" Understanding my frustration, they torched Pierce 15-7.

I still have my doubts, but they proved that they can still deliver when a match goes the distance. One of the sophomores will be heading to UCI, another to Hawaii, another to Lindenwood, an NAIA school in Missouri.

ISML 2010: Top 16 after Aquamarine Necklace phase

Rank: 1

Record: 7-0

Next match: vs. Kagami Hiiragi

Rank: 2

Record: 7-0

Next match: vs. Fate Testarossa

Rank: 3

Record: 7-0

Next match: vs. Haruhi Suzumiya

Rank: 4

Record: 7-0

Next match: vs. Nagi Sanzen'in

Rank: 5

Record: 6-1

Next match: vs. Hitagi Senjougahara

Rank: 6

Record: 6-1

Next match: vs. Mafuyu Shiina

Rank: 7

Record: 6-1

Next match: vs. Minatsu Shiina

Rank: 8

Record: 6-1

Next match: vs. Shana

Rank: 9

Record: 6-1

Next match: vs. Tomoyo Sakagami

Rank: 10

Record: 6-1

Next match: vs. Yuki Nagato

Rank: 11

Record: 6-1

Next match: vs. C.C.

Rank: 12

Record: 6-1

Next match: vs. Taiga Aisaka

Rank: 13

Record: 5-2

Next match: vs. Mio Akiyama

Rank: 14

Record: 5-2

Next match: vs. Mikoto Misaka

Rank: 15

Record: 5-2

Next match: vs. Hinagiku Katsura

Rank: 16

Record: 5-2

Next match: vs. Nymph

BoBA 2010 ISML Tiara Odds

Bedlam on Baltic Avenue

2010 International Saimoe League Tiara Odds

As of 10:01 P.M. PT, April 6 2010

Mio Akiyama 1-7
Mikoto Misaka 1-3
Shana 1-2
Hinagiku Katsura EVEN
Taiga Aisaka 3-2
Saber 3-2
Nadeko Sengoku 2-1
Haruhi Suzumiya 5-2
Yuki Nagato 5-2
Tomoyo Sakagami 3-1
Azusa Nakano 3-1
Hitagi Senjougahara 7-2
Kagami Hiiragi 4-1
Fate Testarossa 4-1
Nagi Sanzen'in 9-2
Kyou Fujibayashi 9-2
Illyasviel von Einzbern 5-1
Holo 5-1
Konata Izumi 5-1
Nanoha Takamachi 11-2
Mafuyu Shiina 11-2
Kurimu Sakurano 11-2
Nagisa Furukawa 6-1
Yui Hirasawa 13-2
Rin Tosaka 7-1
Minatsu Shiina 7-1
Chizuru Akaba 8-1
Mikuru Asahina 8-1
Louise Francoise De La Valliere 9-1
Ami Kawashima 19-2
C.C. 10-1
Ruiko Saten 11-1
Kotomi Ichinose 11-1
Fuuko Ibuki 12-1
Isumi Saginomiya 13-1
Maria 14-1
Minori Kushieda 15-1
Ui Hirasawa 15-1
Mei Sunohara 16-1
Rika Furude 17-1
Tsukasa Hiiragi 17-1
Chiaki Minami 20-1
Nymph 25-1
Golden Darkness 30-1
Ushio Okazaki 40-1
Ryou Fujibayashi 45-1
Ikaros 50-1
Nodoka Haramura 75-1
Mihoko Fukuji 100-1
Hanyuu Furude 200-1

ISML 2010 Aquamarine Final Tally

Rank	Contestant Name	Pts	W	D	L	SoS	SDO	SAO	VD	VF	VA	Pt%	PB	+/-
1	Akiyama Mio	21	7	0	0	21	78	78	9273	23025	13752	100.00%	0	▲1
2	Misaka Mikoto	21	7	0	0	21	75	75	9327	22817	13490	100.00%	0	▼1
3	Shana	21	7	0	0	21	69	69	12328	24896	12568	100.00%	0	▲2
4	Katsura Hinagiku	21	7	0	0	21	63	63	10141	23043	12902	100.00%	0	▲3
5	Aisaka Taiga	18	6	0	1	18	54	75	7879	22154	14275	85.71%	3	▼2
6	Saber	18	6	0	1	18	54	75	4273	20555	16282	85.71%	3	▼2
7	Sengoku Nadeko	18	6	0	1	18	54	75	3966	19684	15718	85.71%	3	▲1
8	Suzumiya Haruhi	18	6	0	1	18	51	69	5967	21199	15232	85.71%	3	▲1
9	Nagato Yuki	18	6	0	1	18	48	69	7876	22359	14483	85.71%	3	▼3
10	Sakagami Tomoyo	18	6	0	1	18	45	66	3903	19712	15809	85.71%	3	▲2
11	Nakano Azusa	18	6	0	1	18	45	63	4512	20293	15781	85.71%	3	▼1
12	Senjōgahara Hitagi	18	6	0	1	18	45	63	2787	19085	16298	85.71%	3	▲1
13	Hiiragi Kagami	15	5	0	2	15	39	78	3420	19573	16153	71.43%	6	▼2
14	Fate Testarossa	15	5	0	2	15	39	78	1259	18559	17300	71.43%	6	▲3
15	Sanzen'in Nagi	15	5	0	2	15	39	75	3387	19690	16303	71.43%	6	-
16	Fujibayashi Kyō	15	5	0	2	15	30	69	2449	18899	16450	71.43%	6	▼2
17	Illyasviel von Einzbern	15	5	0	2	15	30	66	1308	18475	17167	71.43%	6	▲1
18	Holo	12	4	0	3	12	30	84	1481	18744	17263	57.14%	9	▼2
19	Izumi Konata	12	4	0	3	12	27	81	-334	17697	18031	57.14%	9	-
20	Takamachi Nanoha	12	4	0	3	12	27	75	-912	16963	17875	57.14%	9	▲4
21	Shiina Mafuyu	12	4	0	3	12	24	78	3242	19112	15870	57.14%	9	▼1
22	Sakurano Kurimu	12	4	0	3	12	21	66	-134	17457	17591	57.14%	9	-
23	Furukawa Nagisa	12	4	0	3	12	18	75	3307	19052	15745	57.14%	9	▲2
24	Hirasawa Yui	12	4	0	3	12	18	72	2388	19410	17022	57.14%	9	▼3
25	Tōsaka Rin	12	4	0	3	12	18	72	299	18149	17850	57.14%	9	▼2
26	Shiina Minatsu	12	4	0	3	12	18	66	1221	17940	16719	57.14%	9	-
27	Akaba Chizuru	9	3	0	4	9	18	75	-908	17044	17952	42.86%	12	▲1
28	Asahina Mikuru	9	3	0	4	9	9	75	-1873	17350	19223	42.86%	12	▲8
29	Louise Vallière	9	3	0	4	9	9	69	-587	17103	17690	42.86%	12	-
30	Kawashima Ami	9	3	0	4	9	9	69	-3718	15649	19367	42.86%	12	▼3
31	C.C.	9	3	0	4	9	9	63	324	18036	17712	42.86%	12	▲4
32	Saten Ruiko	9	3	0	4	9	6	69	-976	16751	17727	42.86%	12	▲2
33	Ichinose Kotomi	6	2	0	5	6	6	87	-1355	17013	18368	28.57%	15	▼1
34	Ibuki Fūko	6	2	0	5	6	6	78	-2498	16060	18558	28.57%	15	▼3
35	Saginomiya Isumi	6	2	0	5	6	6	75	-2778	16003	18781	28.57%	15	▼5
36	Maria	6	2	0	5	6	3	78	-3664	15918	19582	28.57%	15	▲1
37	Kushieda Minori	6	2	0	5	6	3	75	-2386	16197	18583	28.57%	15	▼4
38	Hirasawa Ui	6	2	0	5	6	0	69	-3981	15586	19567	28.57%	15	▲1
39	Sunohara Mei	3	1	0	6	3	3	81	-5032	14947	19979	14.29%	18	▲6
40	Furude Rika	3	1	0	6	3	3	78	-4187	15083	19270	14.29%	18	▼2
41	Hiiragi Tsukasa	3	1	0	6	3	3	75	-2828	16024	18852	14.29%	18	▲6
42	Minami Chiaki	3	1	0	6	3	3	75	-5647	14174	19821	14.29%	18	▲6
43	Nymph	3	1	0	6	3	3	69	-5302	14321	19623	14.29%	18	▼2
44	Konjiki no Yami	3	1	0	6	3	0	81	-5283	14538	19821	14.29%	18	▼1
45	Okazaki Ushio	3	1	0	6	3	0	69	-5942	13922	19864	14.29%	18	▼5
46	Fujibayashi Ryō	3	1	0	6	3	0	63	-3501	15250	18751	14.29%	18	▼4
47	Ikaros	0	0	0	7	0	0	84	-5972	14320	20292	0.00%	21	▼3
48	Haramura Nodoka	0	0	0	7	0	0	84	-14473	9479	23952	0.00%	21	▼2
49	Fukuji Mihoko	0	0	0	7	0	0	81	-14726	9299	24025	0.00%	21	▲1
50	Furude Hanyū	0	0	0	7	0	0	78	-7320	13674	20994	0.00%	21	▼1

Duke 61, Butler 59

Blue Devils back on top with 4th NCAA title

INDIANAPOLIS - All season long, defense and rebounding were the buzzwords that carried Duke to the NCAA title game.

It was fitting, then, that one final defensive possession made the Blue Devils NCAA champions Monday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in a 61-59 victory over Butler.

Trailing by one point, upset-minded Butler gave the ball to leading scorer Gordon Hayward. Guarded by Kyle Singler, he tried driving the right side of the lane but was cut off.

Hayward lofted a high-arcing shot that clanged off the rim with five seconds remaining. Seven-foot-1 Brian Zoubek rebounded for Duke with 3.6 seconds left. He made one free throw, and missed the next intentionally.

A half-court heave by Hayward was long off the backcourt at the final horn. Fireworks cracked and confetti fell, and Duke had its fourth NCAA title.

Singler scored 19 points, Jon Scheyer 15 and Nolan Smith 13 for the Blue Devils.

Duke (35-5), the No. 1 seed out of the South Regional, edged the tough Butler team to earn the school's fourth NCAA title. No. 5 seed Butler (33-5) fell just short of completing one of the most improbable championship runs ever as a highly disciplined team from the mid-major Horizon League.

Butler proved every bit as formidable as Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had predicted the previous day. The game was billed as a classic meeting of a feisty, determined underdog against a highly skilled traditional power after the Blue Devils crushed Big East tournament champion West Virginia 78-57 in Saturdayís NCAA semifinals.

But Butler had won 25 in a row entering the game and showed why with a gritty defensive performance that caused the Blue Devils fits throughout the game. The Bulldogs backed off forward Lance Thomas, Duke's least accomplished scorer, in order to clog the lane and pressure the Blue Devilsí high-scoring trio of Scheyer, Singler and Smith.

It was a brutal, half-court game that fit the styles of both teams and was tightly contested throughout. Although Duke led for much of the game, neither team ever led by more than six points.

In the opening minutes, Butler coach Brad Stevens proved worthy of the high praise Krzyzewski heaped on him the day before the game. Although Duke had a much bigger lineup, with three starters 6-foot-8 or taller, the Bulldogs immediately attacked in the lane on offense.

Matt Howard, the 6-8 forward who played despite suffering a concussion in the NCAA semifinals against Michigan State, thrashed around in the lane without fear, and Duke quickly paid the price.

Just 3:10 into the game, Duke senior forward Thomas committed his second foul, and he immediately came to the bench. Howard's aggression set the tone on the boards, too, where Duke dominated smaller opponents such as Butler throughout the tournament.

In the first half, the Bulldogs outrebounded Duke 24-17 despite starting three players 6-foot-3 or smaller. Nonetheless, Duke held a slim lead throughout most of the first half.

The Blue Devils scored six of the first seven points, fell behind, and scored eight straight points to lead 26-20 on a Kyle Singler driving layup with 5:13 remaining in the first half. Stevens, who looked like he wanted a traveling call on the Singler basket, called timeout and steadied his team.

Over the last four minutes of the half, Howardís backup, Avery Jukes, hit a pair of 3-point shots and a rebound basket to narrow the margin. After Smith missed the front end of a one-and-one at the free throw line with three seconds left in the half and a jumper at the buzzer, Duke led just 33-32 at halftime.

Butler led briefly three times in the opening seven minutes of the second half before Kyle Singler made a 3-pointer and Krzyzewski immediately called timeout with Duke ahead 45-43 and 13:02 remaining.

Duke led 60-55 with two minutes remaining, but went cold in the final three minutes. Howard scored a layup with 1:42 left and another after Smith missed a layup with 54.8 seconds left to cut the Blue Devilsí advantage to 60-59.

Singler missed a 15-foot jumper, and the rebound went out of bounds off Zoubekís leg with 33.7 seconds remaining. Zoubek deflected a Butler pass out of bounds with 13.6 seconds left.
ktysiac@charlotteobserver.com or 919-829-8942, or @kentysiac on Twitter

ISML 2010: O Sole Mio! Akiyama pips Mikoto Misaka for Aquamarine necklace

ISML 2010: O Sole Mio! 

Akiyama pips Mikoto Misaka for Aquamarine necklace

By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
April 6, 2010

Mikoto Misaka's victory over Taiga Aisaka wasn't good enough for her to hold off Mio Akiyama, who earns the first necklace of the 2010 International Saimoe League.

It all boiled down to the numbers. Misaka scored a 3507-3173 over Aisaka, the 2009 2chan Anime Saimoe and Anizone Best Moe winner. Yuki Nagato also put up a good fight, losing 3147-3520.

The superior vote margin for Akiyama-373 to 334-combine with a superior votes cast by 13, gave Akiyama the advantage heading into the Topaz.

"The important thing to take here is that I didn't lose," Misaka said after the match, sitting next to a disconsolate Kuroko Shirai. "So I'm still unbeaten. I think it's going to be a great contest between me and Akiyama-san."

"Onee-sama," Shirai said, sobbing, "can I lie on your lap?" She was wearing a maid outfit.

Sighing, Misaka said, "Oh Kuroko, you are such a pitiful person to be with. Fine." The tears continued to fall as Misaka petted her head before Shirai fell into a deep sleep. Turning back to the press, she said, "But once again, I think this campaign is going in the right direction."

At Sakuragaoka High, it was a party in the auditorium. The moment the news flashed, the whole crowd jumped and cheered as one. Many were waving flags of Hokago Tea Time's insignia, and signs such as "Moe Moe Kyun!", "The Dangerous Queen Does It Again!", "One More Banzai for Mai Waifu!", "Mio, you are so amazing!" and the simple yet disturbing "I came" were raised in the air.

Akiyama, surrounded by her friends that included current ISML competitors Yui Hirasawa, Ui Hirasawa and Azusa Nakano as well as Ritsu Tainaka and Tsumugi Kotobuki played "Heart Goes Boom!", an original piece written by Akiyama and composed by the band as a whole.

After the performance, she addressed the sellout crowd. "Everyone, this is just the beginning of a long journey for me, Yui, Ui, Azusa, and for you. Tonight, the first crucial step has been taken.

"I want to thank everyone on this stage for their support. Even though some of us will be facing each other, we all have the same goal in mind. But if we should fall, one will rise to carry our school's name. Sakuragaoka High has been great to us, and to me. And I especially want to thank you, my fans, for your support."

The crowd roared in approval.

"But this is just the beginning. We all have a long road ahead of us. So me, Yui, Ui and Azusa hope that you continue to vote for us in the coming months ahead. Thank you everyone!"

"I knew that my time was up in terms of defending the necklace," said a disappointed Shana, who defeated Saber 3883-2842. "I just didn't have the chance I wanted because I wasn't facing the opponents Mio and Mikoto had. But I didn't lose, either, and when I face either of them, the plans for full payback are going to be in full effect." Shana was eating her fifth loaf of melon bread at the press conference.

Defending champion Hinagiku Katsura didn't care much about the necklace contention, but rather the clean sheet seven matches into the contest.

"As the current Tiara holder, I want to win as many matches as I can," Katsura said at a Hakuoh Academy press conference after pummeling Kyou Fujibayashi 3768-2667. "With that being said, I believe I am in a good position to give the Mio, Mikoto and Shana a great fight. Especially Shana, since I had to defeat her in order to win the Tiara last season.

"I now know what Mio and Mikoto are capable of. Mikoto has improved a lot since last year's tournament. Taiga was right in her prognostications. She only finished second because Mio had a better advantage, based on the numbers, against Yuki Nagato, whose stock I think is starting to fall a bit.

"I would love to see both of them duel it out in another Match Day 7. It will be pivotal. But only if I take care of them first," she said with a wink and a smile.

"Oy, Hina, you got quite an analytical mind for such a loud mouth," Nagi Sanzen'in said, seated next to her.
"Was that supposed to be an insult or a compliment?" she asked.
"I don't know; perhaps I should leave it to you to figure it out."
"Based on your remarks, I suspect it's the former, isn't it?"
"I wonder," Sanzen'in said with a naughty face. The two stared at each other for the longest time.
"Ladies, ladies, let's be professional just congratulate Ms. Akiyama on her victory," Maria said.
"Absoultely," said Hayate Ayasaki, who came out of nowhere to embrace all three.
"Hayate..." they moaned in unison.
"And thank you to our fans your support of our candidates." The three of them continued to blush.

Mikuru Asahina was all business against Maria in a 3339-3062 victory, while Sanzen'in took care of business against Kurimu Sakurano 3638-2602.

In other ISML action that saw massive turnouts for the over on Easter Sunday...Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere pounded Mihoko Fukuji 4285-1729, Ui Hirasawa rolled past Hanyuu Furude 3481-2771, Hitagi Senjougahara wrapped up her Aquamarine run with a 3401-3139 win over Yui Hirasawa, C.C. tore past Rika Furude 3498-2604, Fate Testarossa scored a close 3172-3097 and Tomoya Sakagami had the advantage over Rin Tosaka 3473-2951.

Mei Sunohara  cruised to a 3047-2838 win over Nymph, Ruiko Saten secured a sweep for the Railgun participants with an easy 4110-1708 annihilation of Nodoka Haramura, Azusa Nakano prevailed over Mafuyu Shiina 3339-3069, Chizuru Akaba took out Minori Kushieda 3332-2775, Haruhi Suzumiya trampled down Konata Izumi 3668-2685, Nanoha Takamachi secured a TSAB-Lyrical sweep with a 3049-2955 thriller over Fuuko Ibuki and Golden Darkness (Konjiki no Yami) took out Ikaros 2890-2704.

Wrapping up the Aquamarine phase...Tsukasa Hiiragi scored a 3129-2672 win over Ryou Fujibayashi, the closest match of the day saw Chiaki Minami get on the win column with a 2952-2930 thriller over Ushio Okazaki, Minatsu Shiina finished her maiden necklace campaign on a winning note  by pounding Ami Kawashima 3434-2685, Illyasviel von Einzbern delivered a 3323-2883 blow to Kotomi Ichinose, and Nadeko Sengoku ensured a clean sweep for Bakemonogatari with a 3311-3071 victory over Kagami Hiiragi.

In a special match for this day, Final Fantasy's Yuffie Kisaragi was never troubled the least bit with a 3250-1454 whipping of KOS-MOS from Xenosaga.


So now we turn from the tides...to the sun. The 2010 International Saimoe League Topaz Phase begins on April 14, 2010 on InternationalSaimoe.com. Be sure to catch up on the Bedlam's exclusive coverage of the action on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue at bedlamba.blogspot.com and on deviantART at bongaboi.deviantart.com.

Duke 78, West Virginia 57

Duke makes it look easy, to play for title Monday

By Ken Tysiac
ktysiac@charlotteoberver.com
Posted: Sunday, Apr. 04, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS -- One of Duke's coaches shouted to guard Nolan Smith as the shot clock wound down with West Virginia desperately needing to stop the Blue Devils to get back in the game.

"Six, five."

Smith dribbled right, turned the corner at the free throw line and drove for a gorgeous right-handed layup with 7 minutes, 7 seconds remaining.

Too easy. In what was supposed to be a defensive duel, West Virginia never found a way to stop Smith, Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer as Duke rolled to a 78-57 win Saturday night in the NCAA semifinals in front of a crowd of 71,298 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Blue Devils used excellent 3-point shooting and tenacious rebounding by center Brian Zoubek to advance to the NCAA championship game for the first time since they won the 2001 NCAA title.

Duke (34-5), the No. 1 seed out of the South Region, will play No. 5 regional seed Butler (33-4) at 9:21 p.m. Monday in the NCAA championship game.

This season's Duke team crashed its way into the Final Four by depending largely on physical half-court defense. On Saturday, though, Duke's half-court offense cranked into high gear.

Scheyer scored 23 points, Singler 21 and Smith 19 Duke shot 29-for-55 from the field, including 13-for-25 from 3-point range.

"Can't we guard?" exasperated West Virginia coach Bob Huggins pleaded with his team early in the second half.

They couldn't, and Zoubek added to the offense as he crashed the boards hard with his 7-foot-1 frame to grab 10 rebounds. He added three assists, many of them on kick-out passes to 3-point shooters after offensive rebounds.

It wasn't a perfect night for Duke, by any means. West Virginia (31-7), the No. 2 seed from the East Regional, demonstrated on offense in the first half why it had won the Big East tournament and upset top-seeded Kentucky in the regional final.

The Mountaineers shot 13-for-26 from the field in the first half, but West Virginia's defense never found an answer for Duke.

After a week of questions from reporters about how Duke would handle West Virginia's 1-3-1 zone defense, the Mountaineers opened in a man-to-man.

Regardless of the defense used, junior forward Singler was ready after shooting an abysmal 0-for-10 from the field in the Blue Devils' regional final win over Baylor.

The Blue Devils immediately got the ball to Singler in the low post on a set play. The shot was blocked, but Singler bounced back quickly. Coach Mike Krzyzewski clapped his hands hard after Singler scored early on a driving layup.

By halftime, Singler had 14 points on 6-for-12 from the field as Duke was on target from 3-point range. Smith made three 3-pointers and Singler and Scheyer two apiece as Duke led by as many as 11 points in the first half and held a 39-31 advantage at halftime.

West Virginia tried its zone just once before halftime. Smith immediately sank a 3-pointer to take the Mountaineers out of it.

The only negative point for the Blue Devils in the first half was that Smith committed three fouls and spent the final 2:54 of the half on the bench.

Although West Virginia closed the gap to six points early in the second half, Scheyer immediately answered with a 3-pointer from the wing with 15:28 remaining, and Duke began to pull away to a lead that reached 15 points.

ktysiac@charlotteobserver.com or 919-829-8942

Easter Sunday 2010

I went on an Easter Sunday journey. One that I never knew would be so fruitful. It took me to Downtown Los Angeles, East L.A., Pasadena, Little Tokyo, the Rose Bowl and Angels Flight.

Part 1: Mass. I went to the 8:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, and I was a bit sleepy, but energized. Actually, my mom didn't even wake me up. I dreamt I was in the middle of a swimming pool, ablw to swim from one end to the other without drowning. And once I rose up, I suddenly looked at the time.

3:45 AM!? The first bus already left Del Amo Station! Actually, I missed two more trains heading northbound. Now I had to transfer to a special shuttle because of road work on Pico/Chick Hearn Station. You see, the new Expo Line is being built. Therefore, some roadwork had to be done.

Once I got to the Cathedral (I transferred via Civic Center), I see that the gates are closed. Well this will give to eat breakfast. So I think that I head off at McDonald's. Instead, the place is occupied by a Famima!!. Drat. So I decided, ah well. Four hash browns, two curry buns and a hatful of tea shouldn't be too much to ask, right?

So after I eat breakfast, I go back on the train, get off at Civic Center...lo and behold, the place is open. Divine intervention, maybe?

Who knows. Regardless, I step inside...after taking some exterior shots of the place.

The pastor of this church is a clergyman by the name of Monsignor Kevin Kostelnik. He talked about the trip with his company of clergy to Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and of the local Franciscan Friar who asked why they traveled 8,000 miles to come here. Now I don't know if a Friar would logically be so rude as to turn someone away after they traveled so long out of a labor of love to come to a sacred spot as this. Doesn't make any sense, you know?
I didn't say this at the mass, but now that I thik about it...it was just a clever cover-up to hide the real issue, which is the scandal that all you blogging minds have been inundated with and chose to inundate other vigin blogging souls with. Yes, you know what I'm talking about.
But we'll save that for another time.
Anyway, the place is swell. The masses here are a little longer, a little more elaborate, and the architecture is different from the churches you see elsewhere. Now, I understand the anger some parishioners had regarding the design, but let's be honest. This was made in 2002, not 1902. There is a difference. A 1902 design would be consistent with the other churches not affected by the Northridge quake. Heck, if the Big One of 1994 never happened, this Church would never have been constructed, and we would've been stuck with St. Vibiana's Cathedral (which is a now degenerated into an mere events hosting venue). And this draws over 1,000,000 churchgoers a year. So if whoever decries the architecture still goes to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels for mass, the Bedlam will right now lay the gauntlet and declare the said person to be a hypocrite and a fool.

  

That was Our Lady of the Angels. And I got to meet Cardinal Mahony once again. Next!

Part 2: The Angels Flight. I learned about Angels Flight a few days ago. This was a little, unassuming, historical railroad that only returned to business a few weeks ago. Now Angels Flight, with its two cars of Sinai and Olivet moving up and down the track, shut down in 2001 after the death of an elderly couple riding it. The operator of that train fled to Mexico to avoid being extradited. Ouch.

So it took nine years-NINE YEARS!-before Angels Flight was ready for takeoff. To celebrate, I brought the plush version of the band minus Azusa (she is still being shipped and won't arrive until mid-April), to sit down and ride the train. It was beautiful to ride something as old as this-and the band is riding it, too. Magical.

I hope no one ever has to go through nine years of waiting for this gem to go back running. In fact, I don't want this thing to stop running. It's too sacred to be shut down anymore.

Part 3: Atlantic. So now, I decided to tour the Eastside Extension of the Gold Line for the first time. Just a few months ago, the Eastside Extension to Atlantic Station opened. It included an abandoned subway originally intended for the Red Line. That is now part of the Gold Line. I took a few shots here and there of the station...and one of the popular eateries nearby. I think this should be familiar to you, if you are a citizen of a country on this planet.

This was the first time I drank a McDonald's Frappe. This will be the cold drink that saves McCafe. Well to be honest, it's not like it really needs one, but it will add more to the bottom line in a really big way. It's smooth, goes down easy, and provides a nice pick-you-up. Perfect. And it's cheaper than the Starbucks version, too. Great stuff.

Part 4: Sierra Madre Villa. Okay, so I've already gone to the southern terminus, why not the northern terminus? Oooh. Northern terminus. Let's see....hmmmm, that has to be...Oh! I got it! Sierra Madre Villa Station!
I am such a genius.

And so I took the Gold Line all the way to Pasadena. This was the first time I entered the city since the Tournament of Roses on January 1. So it's been more than three months. Couldn't resist. So I went to the northern terminus and took some shots.

This will be where the Foothill Extension will take place. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, this Gold Line will be going all the way to Azusa...and then Montclair. Not Anaheim or Rancho Cucamonga, unfortunately; the secod phase will not reach that far even though there is a Metrolink service to Anaheim. The next station from here, once the Foothill is complete, will be Arcadia Station.

San Gabriel Mountains...delicious.

Part 5: The Rose Bowl. My feet were hurting like heck when I went to the Rose Bowl. But I did go. This is the plan.

• Get off at Memorial Park
• Walk up Fair Oaks north to Mountain St.
• Turn left at Mountain St.
• Follow Mountain St. until it becomes Seco St. Keep going.
• Stadium is at your right.

30 minutes and some sore feet later, I took some shots.

 Such class. And then I filed a complaint at the Vons on Fair Oaks and Orange Grover decrying the vandalism of the restrooms. If they don't do something about this...this could be problematic.

Part 6: St. Andrew's Church. The main church in the heart of Pasadena is the oldest. I love the campanile that's there. I couldn't locate the city hall because I was short on time, but I decided, I'll just take some photos of this instead.

Part 7: Memorial Park. I then decided to take a few shots of Memorial Park, specifically the amphitheater.

Part 8: Little Tokyo. Oh, this was fun. I couldn't eat one of the cornets because they only accept cash. They are not going to gain a lot of customers if they can't accept cards. Not like I would care too much; the cornets have icing. The ones in Lucky Star and the Mitsuwa Marketplace don't. No matter; time for some yuri.

Oh, I'm so sorry. Did I creep you folks out? Too bad. Girl love is here, and it's here to stay, Prop 8 flaunters!

Part 9: A Sikh Festival!? Now this wasn't what I was expecting. I head up the stairs to try to get to the shuttle on 7th and Hope, and I find that I am stuck in Slumdog Millionaire...without being blown up by some uncultured female suicide bomber. Aren't I lucky. Non merde.

Part 10: The long ride home. I was lucky to get in a car that smelled good. The one I originally sat in, according to one teenage passenger in a loud voice, "SMELLS LIKE SHIIIIIIIT!!!" So I decided to move to the one above. Now I originally didn't know who came into the compartment like his body decomposed in broad daylight, but I wasn't going to stand for bums stitting in the car I'm riding, so I moved up to the front.
And would you believe it, the car is dedicated to my favorite Long Beach suburb: Lakewood.

That concludes the trip. And you can see more of these photos here.