So, how did you do in your March Madness bracket? Listeners of local sports radio know it's time for a different bracket-filling-out contest: the Bigger Dance.
As you can see at the link, instead of picking college basketball teams, you're picking women, competing in "matches" decided by the call-in votes of listeners (fair warning: the "scouting reports" at the link contain some non-family friendly pictures). The object of the competition is to correctly guess the outcome of the matches, just like the NCAA tournament.
This is a long-running contest - in its 11th year I believe - that has been the subject of past local media coverage, including a controversial spin-off last year. The number of entries is measured in the tens of thousands, including a goodly number of the fairer sex (who also participate more than one might expect in the call-in matches as well).
In 2005, I won the Bigger Dance, with the annual grand prize of a trip for two to the sporting event of one's choice anywhere in the world. I entered that year on a bet with my wife, with each of us filling out a bracket. The terms of that bet will, um, remain undisclosed...but she was a willing loser since we ended up spending 10 days in Montreal at the 2005 World Swimming Championships.
I'm curious what Sound Politics readers think of the Bigger Dance, based on past conversations about strip clubs I suspect there may be some disagreement. Do you listen to sports radio? Have you participated in the Bigger Dance? Is it harmless fun or the objectification of women?
Have at it in the comments. Meanwhile, I have to decide whether or not this year's Earling bracket should have Jessica Alba repeating as "Queen of the Hardwood"...
****
Reader tip: if you do enter the contest, don't use your libido to make your selections. Who you think is the more attractive in each match doesn't matter. Figure out who you think the listeners will pick. The year I won I relied heavily on the "scouting reports" and correctly picked Jessica Simpson to win it all, even though in this humble writer's eyes she was not the most attractive in the field.
Footnote: Some might wonder why I chose Montreal when the trip is for "anywhere in the world," KJR-host and Bigger Dance brainchild Mitch Levy has asked me that very question. Easy really. I wanted to see a world-class swim meet like the World Championships or the Olympics if I could. The World Championships are held every two years and usually located in Europe, Asia, or Australia. Me and my two-kids-in-private-school budget isn't going to make it to such a locale on my own for a long time.
In 2001 the event was in Japan, 2003 in Barcelona, the just-concluded 2007 meet was in Melbourne, and 2009 will be in Rome. Good luck or bad, 2005 was in Montreal. Though that city (think Europe without the long plane ride) is a bit more affordable to get to, after pricey tickets to the event and nine nights in a hotel suite, total costs for airfare, hotel, event tickets, and ground transportation - all paid by KJR-AM - were still well over $5,000. And that's before one considers the food & entertainment the winner pays for out of pocket (plus income taxes on the value of the prize too...grrr). It was the longest trip my wife and I have enjoyed together, not to mention the chance to see a once-in-a-generation athlete compete. Good times.
Posted by Eric Earling at April 04, 2007 07:32 AM | Email ThisI've always enjoyed the Bigger Dance. If you fill out a bracket, it makes the match ups much more interesting. Otherwise it's kind of boring radio. I think the staunch feminists have the biggest problem with the Dance.
And if I win this year, I'm off to the Monaco Grand Prix.
Posted by: Far Far Right on April 4, 2007 07:37 AM
Sorry but I just don't care.
Give me NASCAR. LOL
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on April 4, 2007 08:00 AMI became severely disillusioned with kjr when these morning and early afternoon 'sports' hosts were obsessed with women on the air. I just can't believe they even have this 'contest'.
Saturday morning with Clayton is about the only safe bet to get sports on KJR anymore. Crap shoot (more ways than one) during other times.
Posted by: swatter on April 4, 2007 08:16 AMThe one exception is the bigger dance. I always do terrible, but I still think it is pretty fun.
Posted by: Eric on April 4, 2007 08:24 AMAnna Nicole Smith is the fifth featured "babe" over in the KJR banner advertisements.
C'mon, KJR marketing guys! It's not like Anna Nicole passed away yesterday or that her death somehow slipped under the news radar.
(Although they do deserve props for the inclusion of Helen Mirren, still decidedly hot at 60 with zero plastic surgery.)
Posted by: Advocate on April 4, 2007 08:34 AMCongrats on winning that Eric - I didn't know that was you that won in 2005.
You are truly a swimming fan to pick that event in Montreal over some of the finer destinations that you could have chosen.
I have thought about what I would choose if I won. As a life-long golf fan who has never been to the Masters, that would be high on my list, albeit not my wife's. This event would also be alot of fun, and you get a trip to Europe out of it - is that considered a "sporting event"? Dunno.
Posted by: Palouse on April 4, 2007 08:46 AMSports talk radio provides a great respite from the other stuff.
Especially during Husky football season!
Posted by: Dancer on April 4, 2007 09:57 AMExpanding the topic, the trouble with KJR's morning show is they don't talk sports. With The Groz, Gasman, Softy, Clayton, etc. you get professional interviews, good sports analysis and a bit of humor thrown in. With Mitchy the Kid you get public spanking of Sue Bird.
Sorry, if I want that non-sense I'll tune in to Howard Stern and get the real thing.
Posted by: Reporterward on April 4, 2007 12:11 PMGroz with Gas Mails is the best thing on the radio though.
Posted by: Palouse on April 4, 2007 01:15 PMSo I guess I can look forward to a post from Eric next about Sanjaya, Blake Lewis and American Idol. It could be titled "Sanjaya---Can he REALLY sing??"
Posted by: Michele on April 4, 2007 01:39 PMI never listened to Locke again after that.
Posted by: Michele on April 4, 2007 01:47 PMYou'll probably have to listen to David Locke sometime since he's the sports director at KTTH "The Truth". I believe he's still doing the play-by-play for the Sonics. 770 AM is the home of the Sonics now. Not sure if he'll be on hand for those WNBA Storm games we'll all be tuning in for.
Posted by: Reporterward on April 4, 2007 02:36 PMOf course, he still ruins my drive home when he broadcasts games since the stupid Sonics are on instead of Savage on KTTH.
Posted by: Palouse on April 4, 2007 02:56 PMI appreciate that he isn't a big Homer. I also love that KJR's commericial are not synced with the other AM stations.
Posted by: husky93 on April 4, 2007 02:59 PMI do agree that Mitch Levy is a bit worn. I don't like the voting. By the timing of their comments and such, it's possible for the radio announcers to influence the outcome, which I find lame. I think they should figure out a different way to vote. And there website is lame, it needs a lot of work, and it is always too slow on "game" days. 10 minutes of strategically delayed "voting" makes for REALLY bad radio. I don't pay any attention to the radio show.
All that said, this is harmless fun. And my wife agrees, and she even helps make the picks. And Eric is right, the picks are more about pop culture and less about looks.
Posted by: Jeff B. on April 4, 2007 08:55 PMIf I were to be the lucky winner, off to France for the 2007 Rugby World Cup I would go. Given the resurgence of the Springboks this year, there are probably a half dozen teams that could actually win it all.
Posted by: Marc on April 5, 2007 11:32 AM***DEADLINE IS APRIL 12 AT 6:30AM.***