Another look at the rules

There is a $5 entry fee. The winner gets the pot of money, the traditional one-year subscription to Slam magazine, and the Escobar Cup.

Fill out your NCAA bracket, put it in an envelope with $5, and mail it to the previously provided address. All entries must be mailed no later than Wednesday.

You also have the option of e-mailing or faxing your bracket and paying through PayPal. Just let me know, and I'll send you an invoice to pay online.

The basic scoring system is one point for the play-in game (if you mail your bracket by Tuesday), two points for first-round games, four for second-round, six for third-round, and you don't stop. The 8 vs. 9 games in the first round are worth three points each.

Each entrant should select three teams -- one from among the 2-4 seeds, one from the 5-7 seeds, and one from the 10-12 seeds -- as your designated moneyball teams. Each of these teams will be worth three points extra for each win.

There is a plus/minus system for upsets with more than a five-seed difference. For instance, if a seventh seed beats a second seed, you get half the point value of the game added as a bonus to the points you were already getting for the win. But if you picked the second seed that loses, you get half the value of the game subtracted. If this seems too complicated, don¹t worry about, just pick the teams.

For bonus points (worth six points each), include with your entry your pick for the winner of the NIT and the NCAA women¹s tournament champion. For eight bonus points, pick the NBA team with the best record from March 16-April 2.


Summing up:

Fill it out an NCAA tournament bracket with your picks.

Write down your three moneyball teams.

Add your pick for the NCAA women's winner, NIT winner, and NBA team with best record.

Write down your real name and a fake name or organization for standings updates.

Put this in an envelope with $5, or e-mail or fax your bracket and ask for a PayPal invoice. (Fax number given on request.)

Friends, co-workers, and family members can also enter. One entry per person.