'Ganza in the News
'Ganza In the News!
Over the years, the Basketball Tournament Prediction Extravaganza has been raved about in news media outlets that have not yet attained the raucous accolades and the lofty altitude of the 'Ganza Gazette. But I'm sure you've heard of them anyway. Actually, "raved about" might be stretching it a little -- read on and decide for yourself....
"The Daily" of The University of Washington
"There are some fundamental ingredients for a quality NCAA pool. Here is a selection....4) A decent prize. Nobody will get that motivated for a chance to win 75 cents. The prize either has to be worthwhile financially or pretty entertaining....One Web site, for example, offers the "Coveted Ostertag Plaque." It is an unnecessary tribute to the mediocre Utah Jazz center."
- Tournament Pools for Dummies
Eric Nusbaum, March 14, 2005
The Elmhurst Leader
"Well for all the info you won't get on TV, here is a list of some of the better college basketball web sites to help those March Madness junkies get their fix....6) 6 Seed www.ganza.com. Yes, it's another tournament pool but not so fast. The prizewinner in this service receives the prestigious 'Greg Ostertag Plaque.' No joke. This site provides free newsletters with a satirical edge when you sign up too."
- Ken's 10
Ken Shipbaugh, March 16, 2004
The Dallas Morning News
"Billing itself as the Basketball Tournament Prediction Extravaganza, this site doesn't offer a pool with big prizes. Instead, it takes an offbeat look at March Madness with its 'Ganza Gazette. Visitors can still compete in a prediction contest, but be forewarned: First prize is the Coveted Ostertag Plaque, called 'one of the finest examples of laminated pressboard available' and named after former Duncanville and University of Kansas player (and current Utah Jazz center) Greg Ostertag. Why Ostertag? Because the Web masters received a 'great chuckle when, at one point, Ostertag fell to the floor and kind of looked silly' during a Final Four game against North Carolina."
- NCAA Men's Basketball Site of the Week
Mike McAllister, March 12, 2002
The Cincinnati Post
"It's too late to participate this year, but sign up for the newsletter, follow the fun and who knows? Next year you might win the Coveted Ostertag Plaque at the 'Basketball Tournament Prediction Extravaganza' site."
- Site Seeing
Jan Perry, March 19, 2001
The St. Petersburg Times
"www.ganza.com: As in extravaganza -- a 16-year-old NCAA pool that has its own T-shirts. It's too late now, but it costs a buck to enter, and while no cash prize is awarded, the winner has the honor and prestige of owning the Ostertag Plaque. Three people nailed 30 of 32 first-round games last year, so this isn't to be taken lightly."
- Sites to See -- If Boss is Not Looking
Greg Auman, March 16, 2001
The Owensboro, KY Messenger-Inquirer
"Besides the normal pick-your-bracket sites, there are ones with a different twist. At The 'Ganza, you can win the Ostertag Plaque, which is named for the former University of Kansas center Greg Ostertag....'We indeed, have a lot of fun with it, and try to mix some humor in with the tournament to make it a lighthearted way to make picks,' said Gavin McCollam, Benevolent Grand Pooh-Bah of The 'Ganza. There are a bunch of stats pages to find out where you land among other players, but remember The 'Ganza's slogan -- 'This Ain't No Pool!'"
- Way Too Many Web Sites for Contest Crazy Fans
Ben Woods, March 12, 2001
MSNBC.COM
"Finally, remember not to get so wrapped up in forecasting this year's champion that you fail to enjoy the process of arriving at your selections. A great way to do that is to stop by the site of the Basketball Tournament Prediction Extravaganza, otherwise known as The 'Ganza. Contestants in this national prestige pool pay $1 a year to compete for the "Coveted Ostertag Plaque," -- a handsome plaque named in honor of Utah Jazz reserve center Greg Ostertag for reasons that remain unclear to me. It's a no-lose proposition, since you'll receive a year's subscription to the 'Ganza Gazette for the entry price, which includes four updates during the tournament."
- Net Lets Novice Dive
into the NCAA Pool
Mike Brunker, March 14, 2000
Wilmington News Journal
"The winner of one contest, the Basketball Tournament Prediction Extravaganza (www.ganza.com), doesn't even get a free pizza. This is a contest for real junkies. You pay a small fee to enter the 'Ganza; your money really buys a subscription to four issues of a fun tournament newsletter. The winner gets bragging rights and a cool plaque."
- Madness Marches to the Net
Richard Gordon, March 6, 1999
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"Don't miss the prognostication contest at the 'Ganza! (www.ganza.com) No prize money is awarded, but entrants receive a subscription to the 'Ganza Gazette, the site's online newsletter authored by Gavin McCollam and Dan Sipes of Bismarck, ND. The prognosticator with the highest score receives the Ostertag Plaque, named after Greg Ostertag of Duncanville. Why Ostertag? The sites' authors enjoyed Ostertag's play in the 1993 Final Four 'plus he fell down rather clumsily and gave all of us watching a nice chuckle,' McCollam said."
- Sports on the Net: WWW Providing Several Sites for Hoop Junkies
Tommy Cummings, March 7, 1998
The Kansas City Star
"Oh yeah, and what about that fall against North Carolina, that one that
looked so stupid that one blooper video just rewinds it and fast-forwards
it over and over, like some scene from 'The Monkees.' That was the fall that
inspired one national NCAA Tournament contest to name its trophy 'The
Ostertag Plaque.'"
- Ostertag No Joke in NBA Playoffs
Joe Posnanski, June 1, 1997