Fortunately for our loyal readers, I'm once again boarding this Crew by force. Enjoy!
The "Rivalry Rumble"
Well now! Hate the format (would have preferred to see randomized tag teams, a phrase I never thought I'd type), really hated SB's approach to the season (kicking out Mario/Sonic and other B8 rallies because our choices "aren't their real rivals"), and frankly I'm not all that crazy about this bracket either. First 6 divisions are decent, but the last two are essentially a "wasted potential" graveyard... and don't get me started on denying us Cloud vs Mario in favor of setting up the dullest Championship imaginable.
But enough negativity! At least we get a Contest in 2011, at least it'll only last 45ish days, and at least there's one potential twist this season, namely SmartVoterFAQs, aka Rivalries Matter. I think we're going to see results that differ quite noticeably from what you'd except in a standard tag team or series versus series scenario. I'm expecting these results to hinge more heavily on iconic status, nostalgia, and the in-game rivalries themselves than your generic x-stat values would dictate. Now, whether those factors are going to be enough to turn sure losses into straight up wins for our underdogs remains to be see, but at the very least it should keep us on our toes in the Oracle!
And as for the matches themselves, well,
Mario vs Earthworm Jim
Hey look it's Mario and Bowser, kicking off the dullest path to a Championship Match since 2006 Zelda! They'll obviously start their long run with a huge blowout, but where this final number ends up could be rather telling. 90% blowouts appear to be a thing of the past; heavy favorites have been consistently anti-voted in the past couple of years. But was that just because voters have been so sure of easy Character Battle wins for Link and Cloud, and will switching to a new format shake their confidence somewhat?
Got to imagine Mario's such a guaranteed winner that he's held back at least a little... that combined with the perhaps underrated joke appeal of a heroic worm and something with a slug for a butt ought to keep him and Bowser at least somewhat grounded, I'd say.
Mario with 81.83%
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