2009 NOTY: Your Elite Eight

It's too bad that James Surowiecki already wrote his book about how groups of people make better decisions than individuals. Because this year's NOTY balloting would have made an excellent chapter. Cheers to you, The People, who are are advancing what we, The High Committee, consider the most deserving names in the 2009 field.

Here are your Elite Eight matchups:

Bulltron Regional
No. 4 Barkevious Mingo v. No. 7 Crystal Metheny: After their hero trailed in early voting to Taco Vandervelde, the citizens of Mingovia rode to the rescue. The demise of No. 3 seed Glorious Johnson? Possibly unjust, but we're also proud when The People pass up a cheap joke.

Sithole Regional
No. 4 Shavodrick Beaver v. No. 2 Nutritious Love: We had a soft spot for the defeated Calamity McEntire and Infinite McCloud, but this was simply a very strong region. We hate it when sportscasters lament that someone had to lose, but we lament that someone had to lose.

Dragonwagon Regional
No. 8 Velvet Milkman v. No. 2 Juvyline Cubangbang: Velvet sent Uranus Golden into orbit; she was, we admit, underseeded. Juvyline crushed Scorpio Babers with a field-leading 79 percent of the vote.

Chrotchtangle Regional
No. 1 Iris Macadangdang v. No. 7 Chuck Fugger: Farewell, Dr. Shasta Kielbasa. We were really hoping for Macadangdang-Dang regional final, but, in a squeaker, it was not to be.

Mingo art by LSU Freek via Every Day Should be Saturday.