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Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Benjamin Grimm Oct 30 2015 12:03 PM

Stick around after the World Series. Shortly after the Series ends I'll be introducing a new feature to the CPF which will, I think, provide a fun way for us to review the Mets 2015 season, go off on nutty conversational tangents, and perhaps most importantly, allow us to do one of the things we seem to love best: vote on stuff. And, hopefully, it will in some small way keep things from getting too dead around here once the games stop. (And no, this has nothing to do with Schaefer. That will be another off-season announcement.)

Edgy MD Oct 30 2015 12:35 PM Re: Watch this space for off-season announcement

I hope this will help me grow.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 30 2015 12:36 PM Re: Watch this space for off-season announcement

If you combine it with eating Wheaties, then maybe it will!

cooby classic Oct 30 2015 01:20 PM Re: Watch this space for off-season announcement

I am hoping it helps me reduce Not that I'm wishing the Series away but I'm intrigued and anxious to see what you've got, Edgy!

Benjamin Grimm Oct 30 2015 01:29 PM Re: Watch this space for off-season announcement

Yeah, Edgy! What have you got?

Ceetar Oct 30 2015 01:29 PM Re: Watch this space for off-season announcement

voting on stuff and ranking it is pretty much the only worthwhile content on the internet these days.

Edgy MD Oct 30 2015 01:30 PM Re: Watch this space for off-season announcement

I've got more than you know!

Benjamin Grimm Oct 30 2015 01:35 PM Re: Watch this space for off-season announcement

Well, you should have gotten yourself vaccinated.

Vic Sage Oct 30 2015 01:38 PM Re: Watch this space for off-season announcement

does this mean we finally get to finish the superhero matchup contest?

Benjamin Grimm Oct 30 2015 01:49 PM Re: Watch this space for off-season announcement

That's a separate endeavor. This one is directly related to the highs and lows and ups and downs of the 2015 Mets season, which, we still hope, will end on a high.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 02 2015 01:20 PM

In 2006, as the Mets approached the postseason, I started collecting images of Mets-related tabloid front and back pages from The Daily News, The New York Post, and Newsday. These images can be viewed in an album that's available on the UMDB Facebook page. For 2015, I decided to do the same thing, but got a bit carried away. Instead of collecting images from the Mets run through the postseason in October (and November) my collection includes covers from the early days of spring training. The exact number may change a little bit, but at the moment the count is 362 images. (131 from the Daily News, 123 from the Post, and 108 from Newsday.) I have (I think) every Mets cover from all three papers since February 1. Since we love to vote on stuff around here, I've decided to make a contest out of this extensive gallery. Which of these many covers do we like the best? Starting tomorrow, there will be a series of polls that will allow us to vote on our favorite covers. This will allow us to relive the 2015 Mets season, will give us something additional to talk about as the days grow shorter, and allow us to vote on stuff! Here's how it will work. I've divided the gallery into four groups: February through May; June and July; August and September; October and November. We'll start by voting, in stages, on the first group. Each voting thread will have roughly between 8 and 12 covers to choose from. In each thread, you'll be able to vote for one, two, or three covers (your choice) and those that get the most votes will proceed to the next round. There are no tie-breakers in the first round; if two or more covers end with a tie, each co-winner will advance to the second round. Eventually we'll have a winner in each of the four groups, which will set us up for a Final Four. Each voting thread will remain open for seven days. Feel free to vote using whatever criteria you prefer. It can be on the overall artistic merit of the graphic design. It can be on the wittiness of the headline. Or on how much you like the photo. Or on the memories it evokes. Or any other criteria that comes to mind. I hope this will be fun. I guess we'll find out! The Tabloid Cover Derby winning cover will be blown up to poster size and displayed in the lobby of the CPF's international headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden!

seawolf17 Nov 02 2015 01:21 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Dude! Good times. Looking forward to it.

d'Kong76 Nov 02 2015 01:32 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

When did they move HQ from Reykjavik to Stockholm? No one tells me anything!

cooby classic Nov 02 2015 01:38 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Me either! I thought it was still in Mexico City!

cooby classic Nov 02 2015 02:15 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Will that be here or at the facebook site?

Benjamin Grimm Nov 02 2015 02:27 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

The voting will be here, starting tomorrow (Tuesday, November 3).

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 02 2015 02:43 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Sweet. Love the tabs.

Centerfield Nov 02 2015 02:47 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I am really looking forward to this. It's funny how so many cool things about this place requires the free time of Ben Grimm. Thanks for doing this.

Zvon Nov 03 2015 01:29 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Ha, this is way kool. May I suggest the winning cover be enlarged to the size of a small building.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 03 2015 01:30 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

You'll have to take that up with the people in Stockholm.

Zvon Nov 03 2015 02:14 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Oh, I wasn't finished. I furthermore propose we move the CPF's international headquarters to Helsinki, Finland, home of the 1952 Summer Olympics.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 03 2015 02:15 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Maybe when this is over you can Photoshop the winning cover onto the side of a Helsinki skyscraper.

Zvon Nov 03 2015 03:14 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Maybe when this is over you can Photoshop the winning cover onto the side of a Helsinki skyscraper. That'll be a piece of strudel (or whatever the hell passes for cake over there).

Mets Willets Point Nov 03 2015 03:17 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Ladies and gentlemen, the tallest building in Helsinki!

Zvon Nov 03 2015 03:32 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

And this, I imagine, is the view. What's that short empire state building looking thing? That'll do.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 09 2015 08:18 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I gathered up a couple of more post-World Series covers, but the field is now locked down. There are a total of 368 covers in this competition: 133 from the Daily News, 124 from the New York Post, and 111 from Newsday. The covers are divided into four groups, and tomorrow we'll start voting on the eighth and final first-round poll for Group 1, February through May. Group 2 gets started on Wednesday. Here are the breakdowns by Group: Daily News New York Post Newsday Total Group 1 (Feb-May) 28 28 23 79 Group 2 (Jun-Jul) 27 26 29 82 Group 3 (Aug-Sep) 30 29 28 87 Group 4 (Oct-Nov) 48 41 31 120 Newsday fell behind in the counts in Group 4 primarily because they had very few front pages devoted to the Mets in October, while the News and the Post frequently devoted both the front and the back pages to the Mets.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 17 2015 06:52 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

All eight polls from Round One, Group One have now closed, and it is time to reveal the first eight covers that will advance to the second round. The Daily News did well in Group One, with four of the eight winning covers. The New York Post and Newsday each have two winning entries in this group. Round Two voting will begin in early December. The eight winning covers will be seeded according to the percentage of votes received in the first round. If any polls end in a tie, there will be a special three-day tie-breaker polling thread that will allow us to explore the depths of our feelings about each cover. Round 1.1.1, Number 1 Seed: N.Y. CITI (New York Post) Round 1.1.2, Number 6 Seed: YOU'RE DAMN WRIGHT (Daily News) Round 1.1.3, Number 7 Seed: OLD TIMER'S DAY (Newsday) Round 1.1.4, Number 8 Seed: QUEENS FOR A DAY (Daily News) Round 1.1.5, Number 2 Seed: de7 TRAIN (Daily News) Round 1.1.6, Number 3 Seed: RUNAWAY TRAIN! (New York Post) Round 1.1.7, Number 5 Seed: JUAN DIRECTION (Daily News) Round 1.1.8, Number 4 Seed: THOR'S DAY (Newsday) Tentative schedule: December 5: THOR'S DAY vs. JUAN DIRECTION December 6: RUNAWAY TRAIN! vs. YOU'RE DAMN WRIGHT December 7: de7 TRAIN vs. OLD TIMER'S DAY December 8: N.Y. CITI vs. QUEENS FOR A DAY

duan Nov 18 2015 05:11 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Can I just say, this is a brilliant feature.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 18 2015 06:14 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Thank you! Participation seems to be pretty good, so I assume that people are enjoying it, at least a little bit.

Centerfield Nov 18 2015 07:42 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

When the covers go head to head, I am looking forward to re-capping my game experiences in the thread. I think it will be a lot of fun to re-live those fun games from 2015.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 25 2015 07:04 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

All eight polls from Round One, Group Two have now closed, and we can now reveal the second group of eight covers that will advance to the second round. The Daily News repeated its Group One success, once again winning four of the eight contests. The New York Post improved its count from the previous group, going from two winning covers to three. The Post's gain came at Newsday's expense, with the Long Island paper dropping from two winning covers in Group One to only one in Group Two. Round 1.2.1, Number 4 Seed: JAKE & BAKE (New York Post) Round 1.2.2, Number 3 Seed: OH, BABY! (Daily News) Round 1.2.3, Number 5 Seed: AMAZIN' MATZ (Daily News) Round 1.2.4, Number 8 Seed: AMAZIN' MATZ (Newsday) Round 1.2.5, Number 6 Seed: NIEUW'S FLASH! (New York Post) Round 1.2.6, Number 7 Seed: HARV DAY'S NIGHT (New York Post) Round 1.2.7, Number 1 Seed: CON4TO! (Daily News) Round 1.2.8, Number 2 Seed: "U" DA MAN! (Daily News) Tentative schedule: December 9: JAKE & BAKE vs. AMAZIN' MATZ (Daily News) December 10: OH, BABY! vs. NIEUW'S FLASH! December 11: "U" DA MAN! vs. HARV DAY'S NIGHT December 12: CON4TO! vs. AMAZIN' MATZ (Newsday)

cooby classic Nov 28 2015 08:54 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

This has been fun :)

Benjamin Grimm Nov 28 2015 09:06 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I'm glad you're enjoying it!

bmfc1 Dec 02 2015 04:59 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I'm really enjoying these threads. Thank you BG. BTW, some of my criteria: if more than one cover has the same picture (likely from the AP) or caption, they are disqualified.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 02 2015 07:11 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Me too. At the same time, worried that it's only a matter of time before the Snooze calls it quits.

Ceetar Dec 02 2015 07:23 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I'm having fun with it, but also a little dismayed. I think 90% of these absolutely suck. Another "If I had the time" projects, I'd love to next year mock up a cover for every game with my own pun/photo/etc and see how I did.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 02 2015 07:24 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Me too. At the same time, worried that it's only a matter of time before the Snooze calls it quits. So am I. It's probably inevitable for all newspapers, but the question is, is it a matter of months or years? I'll miss the Daily News when it's gone, but not as much as I would have twenty or thirty years ago. I don't know if the Tabloid Cover Derby is a 2015-only thing, or if it will be a continuing tradition, but if it's the latter, I don't imagine it will have many years left. And it would be less interesting if it involved only two tabloids instead of three.

Ceetar Dec 02 2015 07:43 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

do other papers not do this stuff on covers? Bergen Record, etc?

Benjamin Grimm Dec 02 2015 07:51 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I don't know. I've never lived in New Jersey and I don't know what those papers look like. I did look for similar covers for the Mets playoff opponents, and couldn't find anything in Los Angeles or Kansas City, but did find some covers from the Chicago Sun Times.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 02 2015 07:55 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Frayed Knot Dec 02 2015 08:00 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Those papers suck, but apparently I can get a REALLY good deal on a Chevy if I lived there.

Ceetar Dec 02 2015 08:00 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't know. I've never lived in New Jersey and I don't know what those papers look like. I did look for similar covers for the Mets playoff opponents, and couldn't find anything in Los Angeles or Kansas City, but did find some covers from the Chicago Sun Times. Connecticut too probably occasionally, particularly during World Series, has sports covers too. I briefly looked for Star-Ledger/Record back covers online but can never find them. I couldn't tell you either, I'm not in places that display newspapers prominently. I think the bagel shop has one of them but I wouldn't swear to it.

d'Kong76 Dec 02 2015 08:01 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: This is pretty funny, the hell it must be being an old Cubs' fan. hahaha

Ceetar Dec 02 2015 08:13 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 02 2015 08:22 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

That's a broadsheet, not a tabloid. Traditionally the latter more reliant on photographs, shorter, punchier stories, and take advantage of their smaller size providing 2 covers with the "back" devoted to sports. They typically are also more local in scope and aimed primarily at mass-market working-class folks who read them on trains, and supported by local advertisers like car dealerships and other retailers.

Ceetar Dec 02 2015 08:29 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: That's a broadsheet, not a tabloid. Traditionally the latter more reliant on photographs, shorter, punchier stories, and take advantage of their smaller size providing 2 covers with the "back" devoted to sports. They typically are also more local in scope and aimed primarily at mass-market working-class folks who read them on trains, and supported by local advertisers like car dealerships and other retailers. aha. Didn't know their was a difference. local paper is local paper to me. I guess NJ doesn't have 'tabloids' then? I don't know the financials of the Record or say the Star-Ledger, but I think they're pretty local. But I guess they're less trashy and sensationalist.. So it's literally the sports talk radio equivalent of news. no wonder I've always found them beneath a level of common decency. Maybe I shouldn't have been voting on these polls so objectively. If I'd approached with a "Which would I use as the cover for that day's WFAN talk segments" I would've voted differently.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 02 2015 08:34 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I've been paying very little attention to the puns, and give them very little weight. (I agree that very few of them are clever.) I judge them as visual works of art. And some of the covers are, visually, very appealing. From today's poll (1.4.6) I think the ROYAL PAIN cover from the Post worked very well. Those broadsheets, like the image above, are an entirely different animal.

Edgy MD Dec 02 2015 08:36 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I think New Jersey tabloids and I think The Trentonian.

Ceetar Dec 02 2015 08:44 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Edgy MD wrote: I think New Jersey tabloids and I think The Trentonian. Did a quick search and couldn't find a covers archive or anything for October. Benjamin Grimm wrote: I've been paying very little attention to the puns, and give them very little weight. (I agree that very few of them are clever.) I judge them as visual works of art. And some of the covers are, visually, very appealing. From today's poll (1.4.6) I think the ROYAL PAIN cover from the Post worked very well. Those broadsheets, like the image above, are an entirely different animal. I like the puns, The puns are the only thing that even gets me to look at the cover. for me it's 1. Good pun 2. Non-incendiary blurb 3. quality and related picture. But clearly what I'm looking for and what they're trying to do is different. I find the inclusion of the pun and blurb to often dominate the visual aesthetic anyway, so if it's bad, I often move on.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 02 2015 09:03 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

The Philadelphia Daily News were proud tabloid whackos, as was the even more aggressive Delaware County Times.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 03 2015 05:51 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Voting for all first-round polls in Group Three has now ended. The New York Post won four of the eight polls, with the Daily News and Newsday getting two wins each. 24 of the 32 second-round qualifiers have been set, and the Daily News has ten of them, the Post has nine, and Newsday has five. Round 1.3.1, Number 8 Seed: TEARS TO CHEERS! (New York Post) Round 1.3.2, Number 7 Seed: THE HIGH LIFE (Daily News) Round 1.3.3, Number 4 Seed: WRIGHT OFF THE BAT! (Newsday) Round 1.3.4, Number 3 Seed: LARGE & IN CHARGE (New York Post) Round 1.3.5, Number 6 Seed: INSIDE EDITION (Newsday) Round 1.3.6, Number 1 Seed: CAPITAL THRILL (New York Post) Round 1.3.7, Number 2 Seed: YESPEDES (Daily News) Round 1.3.8, Number 5 Seed: AS GOOD AS IT METS (New York Post) Tentative schedule: December 13: WRIGHT OFF THE BAT! vs. AS GOOD AS IT METS December 14: LARGE & IN CHARGE vs. INSIDE EDITION December 15: YESPEDES vs. THE HIGH LIFE December 16: CAPITAL THRILL vs. TEARS TO CHEERS!

Benjamin Grimm Dec 11 2015 08:50 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Voting for all first-round polls in Group Four has now ended, which means that all 32 second-round qualifiers have now been determined. In Group Four, the Daily News and the Post each picked up three wins and Newsday had two. Overall in Round One, the Daily News had 13 wins, the Post had 12, and Newsday had 7. Round 1.4.1, Number 3 Seed: HAIR'S LOOKIN' AT YOU, KID (New York Post) Round 1.4.2, Number 4 Seed: METS TAKE A HIT (New York Post) Round 1.4.3, Number 7 Seed: DAN-TASTIC (Daily News) Round 1.4.4, Number 6 Seed: APPLE JACKS! (New York Post) Round 1.4.5, Number 8 Seed: HOW SWEEP IT IS! (Newsday) Round 1.4.6, Number 1 Seed: TEAM OF DESTINY (Daily News) Round 1.4.7, Number 5 Seed: WRIGHTS THE SHIP! (Daily News) Round 1.4.8, Number 2 Seed: MURPHY'S FLAW (Newsday) Tentative schedule: December 17: METS TAKE A HIT vs. WRIGHTS THE SHIP! December 18: HAIR'S LOOKIN' AT YOU, KID vs. APPLE JACKS! December 19: MURPHY'S FLAW vs. DAN-TASTIC December 20: TEAM OF DESTINY vs. HOW SWEEP IT IS!

Benjamin Grimm Dec 15 2015 06:41 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Voting for all four polls in Round 2.1 is now complete and we have our first four covers to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The Daily News entered this round in a strong position with four covers but came up empty in losing all four polls, twice to the Post and twice to Newsday. Poll 2.1.1 THOR'S DAY (Newsday) defeated JUAN DIRECTION! (Daily News) 10 to 4. Poll 2.1.2 RUNAWAY TRAIN! (New York Post) defeated YOU'RE DAMN WRIGHT (Daily News) 9 to 7. Poll 2.1.3 OLD TIMER'S DAY (Newsday) defeated de7 TRAIN! (Daily News) 9 to 6. Poll 2.1.4 N.Y. CITI (New York Post) defeated QUEENS FOR A DAY! (Daily News) 12 to 8. Tentative schedule: December 21: RUNAWAY TRAIN! vs. OLD TIMER'S DAY December 22: N.Y. CITI vs. THOR'S DAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Benjamin Grimm Dec 19 2015 06:17 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Voting for Round 2.2 is now complete. The Daily News won three of the four polls, going 3-1 this round. The Post won the fourth slot, but also had two losses. Newsday came up empty, with one loss. Eight covers have now qualified for the Sweet Sixteen: Three each from the News and the Post and two from Newsday. Poll 2.2.1 AMAZIN' MATZ! (Daily News) defeated JAKE & BAKE (New York Post) 7 to 4. Poll 2.2.2 NIEUW'S FLASH! (New York Post) defeated OH, BABY! (Daily News) 8 to 4. Poll 2.2.3 "U" DA MAN! (Daily News) defeated HARV DAY'S NIGHT (New York Post) 15 to 1. Poll 2.2.4 CON4TO! (Daily News) defeated AMAZIN' MATZ (Newsday) 14 to 1. Tentative schedule: December 23: "U" DA MAN! vs.NIEUW'S FLASH! December 24: CON4TO! vs. AMAZIN' MATZ! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Benjamin Grimm Dec 23 2015 04:47 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

With the close of all voting for Round 2.3, we now have twelve of the qualifiers for the Sweet Sixteen. It was a strong round for the Post, with three winning covers. The Daily News got one win, and Newsday was shut out. The total number of Round 2 winners to date include six from the Post, four from the News, and two from Newsday. Poll 2.3.1 AS GOOD AS IT METS (New York Post) defeated WRIGHT OFF THE BAT! (Newsday) 9 to 7. Poll 2.3.2 LARGE & IN CHARGE (New York Post) defeated INSIDE EDITION (Newsday) 11 to 5. Poll 2.3.3 YES-PEDES (Daily News) defeated THE HIGH LIFE (Daily News) 12 to 3. Poll 2.3.4 CAPITAL THRILL! (New York Post) defeated TEARS TO CHEERS! (New York Post) 8 to 7. Tentative schedule: December 25: YES-PEDES vs. LARGE & IN CHARGE December 26: CAPITAL THRILL! vs. AS GOOD AS IT METS And thus comes to a close the storied run of the Girl in the Golden Dress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

d'Kong76 Dec 23 2015 09:32 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: And thus comes to a close the storied run of the Girl in the Golden Dress. She had a nice run, but it will always be backpack girl for me.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 27 2015 05:45 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Voting for Round Two is now complete and the final totals for the Sweet Sixteen are eight covers for the Post, five for the Daily News, and three for Newsday. Poll 2.4.1 METS TAKE A HIT (New York Post) defeated WRIGHTS THE SHIP! (Daily News) 9 to 7. Poll 2.4.2 APPLE JACKS! (New York Post) defeated HAIR'S LOOKIN' AT YOU, KID (New York Post) 10 to 4. Poll 2.4.3 MURPHY'S FLAW (Newsday) defeated DAN-TASTIC (Daily News) 8 to 5. Poll 2.4.4 TEAM OF DESTINY(Daily News) defeated HOW SWEEP IT IS! (Newsday) 9 to 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The following Round Three matchups from Group Four are already in progress: MURPHY'S FLAW vs. APPLE JACKS! TEAM OF DESTINY vs. METS TAKE A HIT The last poll from Round 3 has been posted today, and Round 4 will begin on Tuesday. Now that we're in the later rounds, with fewer polls, there will no longer be a new poll every day as we'll need to wait for active polls to close.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 29 2015 07:37 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

The Round 3 (Sweet Sixteen) polls are beginning to expire and we have our first two entries into the Elite Eight, both from the New York Post. We also have now eliminated two of the three remaining Newsday covers in this competition. Poll 3.1.1 RUNAWAY TRAIN! (New York Post) defeated OLD TIMER'S DAY (Newsday) 9 to 7. Poll 3.1.2 N.Y. CITI (New York Post) defeated THOR'S DAY (Newsday) 9 to 7. Tentative schedule: January 4: N.Y. CITI vs. RUNAWAY TRAIN! . . . . . . . . . . . .

Benjamin Grimm Dec 31 2015 07:08 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Yeah, I know, I'm starting to get tired of this thing too, but it's almost over and we're going to see it through to the end. The two polls from Round 3.2 have now closed, and we have two more covers in the Elite Eight, both from the Daily News, joining the two Post covers that won in Round 3.1. Poll 3.2.1 "U" DA MAN! (Daily News) defeated NIEUW'S FLASH! (New York Post) 9 to 5. Poll 3.2.2 CON4TO! (Daily News) defeated AMAZIN' MATZ! (Daily News) 8 to 7. Tentative schedule: January 5: CON4TO! vs. "U" DA MAN! . . . . . . . . . . . .

cooby classic Dec 31 2015 08:14 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I'm not tired of it

d'Kong76 Dec 31 2015 08:16 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

cooby wrote: I'm not tired of it Me needah!!

Centerfield Dec 31 2015 08:20 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Me neither. Of course, I'm not the one doing any of the work so...

Benjamin Grimm Dec 31 2015 08:42 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Maybe fewer people are around. I see the vote totals going down so I figure people are losing interest. Maybe I'm wrong and it's just the holidays. And I see comments like "This is too hard so I'm going to abstain." I'm going to let Round 3 play itself out and Round 4 will begin on Monday. Round 4 will determine the winner in each of the four groups, so we'll soon have our Final Four.

Centerfield Dec 31 2015 11:45 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I think it is the Holidays. The board has been dead overall.

Zvon Dec 31 2015 01:47 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I'm enjoying the seeing the covers. You should do this every year. And this is the week between Christmas and New Years. Of course it's gonna be slow. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

d'Kong76 Dec 31 2015 01:56 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Centerfield wrote: I think it is the Holidays. The board has been dead overall. Freakin' Wilpons!

Benjamin Grimm Jan 02 2016 05:12 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

The two polls from Round 3.3 have now closed, with one win going to the Daily News and the other to the New York Post. Six of the Elite Eight covers have now been determined, with three each from the News and the Post. Poll 3.3.1 YES-PEDES (Daily News) defeated LARGE & IN CHARGE (New York Post) 7 to 5. Poll 3.3.2 CAPITAL THRILL! (New York Post) defeated AS GOOD AS IT METS (New York Post) 9 to 2. Tentative schedule: January 6: CAPITAL THRILL! vs. YES-PEDES . . . . . . . . . . . .

Centerfield Jan 02 2016 06:31 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

That's going to be a tough call. The win that dealt the first blow, versus the win that finished them off.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 02 2016 07:32 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Poll 3.4.1 closed this morning, with APPLE JACKS! (New York Post) defeating Newsday's MURPHY'S FLAW 8 to 5. This marks the elimination of the last Newsday cover. Three Newsday covers had made it to Round 3, with all of them failing to advance to Round 4. Of these three covers, the one that received the highest percentage of votes across all three rounds was THOR'S DAY, which therefore finishes as the winner in the Newsday category. THOR'S DAY won Round 1.1.8, receiving 30 per cent of the votes. It went on to defeat the Daily News' JUAN DIRECTION in Round 2.1.1, by a tally of 10 to 4, and then suffered a 9 to 7 loss to the Post's N.Y. CITI in Round 3.1.2 For being featured on the highest-ranked Newsday cover, Noah Syndergaard will receive a box of Rice-A-Roni (the San Francisco treat) and a bottle of Turtle Wax. .

cooby classic Jan 02 2016 08:48 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

He can share it with that scary looking family of his

MFS62 Jan 02 2016 11:53 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: For being featured on the highest-ranked Newsday cover, Noah Syndergaard will receive a box of Rice-A-Roni (the San Francisco treat) and a bottle of Turtle Wax. He's not going to receive the home version of the Tabloid Cover Derby game? Later

Benjamin Grimm Jan 03 2016 07:03 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

The home version of the game isn't available yet because of "production issues" at Hasbro. We do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Voting for Round 3.4 is now complete, which means that the entire third round is over and our field has been reduced to eight covers. In this latest round, we had one winner from the Daily News and one from the New York Post. Or Elite Eight is comprised of four covers from each of the city's two tabloids. All Newsday covers, as noted previously, have been eliminated from the competition. Poll 3.4.1 APPLE JACKS! (New York Post) defeated MURPHY'S FLAW (Newsday) 8 to 5. Poll 3.4.2 TEAM OF DESTINY (Daily News) defeated METS TAKE A HIT (New York Post) 11 to 1. Tentative schedule: January 7: TEAM OF DESTINY vs. APPLE JACKS! . . . . . . . . . . . .

Benjamin Grimm Jan 11 2016 07:01 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Voting for Round 4.1 has finished, and the New York Post's N.Y. CITI has defeated the Post's RUNAWAY TRAIN! by a vote of 11 to 5. N.Y. CITI is, therefore, the Group One champion and will advance to the Final Four. . . . . . .

Benjamin Grimm Jan 12 2016 06:49 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

The Daily News' "U" DA MAN! cover has romped through this competition, winning every poll fairly easily, but it finally met its match in the News' CON4TO! The Michael Conforto cover beat the Juan Uribe cover 11 to 3 in the fourth round. CON4TO! is the Group Two champion and will advance to the Final Four. . . . . . .

Benjamin Grimm Jan 13 2016 07:01 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Voting for Round 4.3.1 is now ended, and in somewhat of an upset, The Daily News' YES-PEDES has defeated the New York Post's CAPITAL THRILL! by a tally of 9 to 8. YES-PEDES is therefore our Group Three champion and advances to the Final Four. . . . . . .

Centerfield Jan 13 2016 08:37 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

The toughest call so far. And a barn-burner of a poll. This was the 1992 Kentucky-Duke game.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 14 2016 06:32 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Voting for Round 4.4.1 is complete, and after the voting thread was bumped due to a lingering 6-6 tie, the Daily News' TEAM OF DESTINY surged to a 12-9 victory over the New York Post's APPLE JACKS! TEAM OF DESTINY is therefore the Group Four champion and advances to the Final Four. . . . . . .

Benjamin Grimm Jan 14 2016 06:44 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Ladies and Gentlemen... THE FINAL FOUR! GROUP ONE CHAMPION Winner of Round 1.1.1 Winner of Round 2.1.4 Winner of Round 3.1.2 Winner of Round 4.1.1 N.Y. CITI New York Post, February 25, 2015 In spring training, Curtis Granderson says that the Mets are ready to take over the town. GROUP TWO CHAMPION Winner of Round 1.2.7 Winner of Round 2.2.4 Winner of Round 3.2.2 Winner of Round 4.2.1 CON4TO! New York Daily News, July 26, 2015 Michael Conforto goes 4 for 4 and scores 4 runs in a 15-2 Mets win over the Dodgers at Citi Field. GROUP THREE CHAMPION Winner of Round 1.3.7 Winner of Round 2.3.3 Winner of Round 3.3.1 Winner of Round 4.3.1 YES-PEDES New York Daily News, September 10, 2015 Helped by an 8th-inning two-run homer by Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets beat the Nationals 5-3 in Washington, completing a key September series sweep. GROUP FOUR CHAMPION Winner of Round 1.4.6 Winner of Round 2.4.4 Winner of Round 3.4.2 Winner of Round 4.4.1 TEAM OF DESTINY New York Daily News, October 27, 2015 With the World Series about to begin, the Daily News publishes a special wraparound cover. The New York Post had eight of the Sweet Sixteen entries (compared to five for the Daily News and three for Newsday) but the balance of power has shifted to the News, which has three of the four remaining covers. The fifth round of competition will get underway next week, with N.Y. CITI facing CON4TO! and YES-PEDES facing TEAM OF DESTINY. The final round of the 2015 Tabloid Cover Derby will occur the following week.

MFS62 Jan 14 2016 07:10 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Now we're getting serious. Many years from now, when baseball historians look back on the list of the annual winners in this esteemed contest, the winners should reflect the moments and performances that were crucial to the story of each year. Cast your votes wisely. Later

Benjamin Grimm Jan 25 2016 01:13 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

What with the blizzard, I forgot all about the Tabloid Cover Derby. Today the two semi-final rounds ended, with YES-PEDES defeating N.Y. CITI 11 to 8, and CON4TO! defeating TEAM OF DESTINY 12 to 6. The elimination of N.Y. CITI marks the end of the New York Post's hopes of winning this derby, as the final two covers are both from the Daily News. As the featured player on the highest-ranked Post cover, Curtis Granderson will be awarded with Rice-A-Roni (the San Francisco Treat) and Turtle Wax. The final round, YES-PEDES vs. CON4TO!, which should have started this morning, will be delayed because of weather and will kick off tomorrow morning instead. The winning cover, you may recall, will be on display in the lobby of the CPF International Headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden.

d'Kong76 Jan 25 2016 01:49 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Wonder if the re-signing of YES-PEDES will help this woeful cover*. Vote CON4TO! and vote often with all your user id's! *(it's an ok cover, just politicking)

dgwphotography Jan 25 2016 03:07 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

the best cover didn't make the finals, so meh.

d'Kong76 Jan 26 2016 07:51 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Which one was that?

dgwphotography Jan 26 2016 08:04 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Centerfield Jan 26 2016 08:05 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I'm surprised that a Daniel Murphy or NLCS cover didn't make it through. When scrolling through the possibilities way back when, I really didn't think it would come down to these two.

d'Kong76 Jan 26 2016 08:17 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

dgwphotography wrote: Got tired of that one as weeks passed, so meh.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 26 2016 08:33 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Centerfield wrote: When scrolling through the possibilities way back when, I really didn't think it would come down to these two. I don't think anybody did. The final covers so disappoint me that I don't even feel like voting anymore.

Edgy MD Jan 26 2016 08:38 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Candidate fatigue. Let's hope it works on Trump.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 26 2016 09:15 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Centerfield wrote: When scrolling through the possibilities way back when, I really didn't think it would come down to these two. It really is impossible to predict. If we all chose our favorites from the original list it's quite likely that none of us would have chosen either of these final covers. But this is a collaborative thing, and the different perspectives we all have influence the outcome in unpredictable ways. What can really be said about our final two covers is that they had what it took, whatever undefinable thing that was, to make it through the first five rounds. Me, I really liked these two covers because they're both visually compelling, but they didn't go far at all. The one from the Post never had much of a chance, because it was a bad-news cover, but I found it very eye-catching. The one from Newsday, however, was one that I thought would do very well, but neither of them made it out of the first round. I like them both better than I do either of the finalists.

dgwphotography Jan 26 2016 01:32 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I agree with the Murph Newsday cover. It's very clean, and looks more like a magazine cover than a newspaper cover

MFS62 Jan 27 2016 09:52 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

dgwphotography wrote: I agree with the Murph Newsday cover. It's very clean, and looks more like a magazine cover than a newspaper cover When I see a guy wearing a suit to a baseball game, I expect him to be wearing a straw hat, too. And maybe even a bow tie. And suspenders under his jacket. (OK, so we couldn't see them if he was wearing them) Later

Benjamin Grimm Feb 02 2016 05:16 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Voting has closed for the final thread of the 2015 Tabloid Cover Derby, and the Daily News' YES-PEDES gained a narrow 11-10 victory over CON4TO!, also from the Daily News. 2015 CHAMPION COVER YES-PEDES New York Daily News, September 10, 2015 The winner was announced at 1 p.m. local time in Stockholm, Sweden, where the champion cover was unveiled in a ceremony attended by David Wright of the Mets; the most recent United States ambassador to Sweden, Mark Brzezinski; the King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf; and the ghost of Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman. As promised, the cover is on display in the lobby of the Kran Pool Forum Internationella Huvudkontoret, the CPF's International Headquarters, in Sweden's capital. Behind the desk is our lovely receptionist Maja. As the featured player on the winning cover, Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will receive a 1971 Ford Pinto!

Lefty Specialist Feb 02 2016 05:44 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

I'm dying here. Although the King of Sweden looks suspiciously like Captain Stubing.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 02 2016 06:04 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

lolllololl. Great work, even though winna should have been Apple Jacks!

Edgy MD Feb 02 2016 06:29 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Eleven of us can claim to have cast the winning vote. That's the way to make an announcement.

Lefty Specialist Feb 02 2016 06:48 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

(Goes to PriceLine.com) (Snags sweet deal on 7-night stay at Kran Pool Forum Internationella Huvudkontoret using my secret CPF discount code.)

seawolf17 Feb 02 2016 06:56 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Lefty Specialist wrote: (Goes to PriceLine.com) (Snags sweet deal on 7-night stay at Kran Pool Forum Internationella Huvudkontoret using my secret CPF discount code.) Don't waste your money. Maja's married. I tried.

Centerfield Feb 02 2016 07:40 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

First off, congratulations to Yes-Pedes. Not everyone's first choice, but had enough mass appeal to go all the way. The two Mets featured on the cover were probably our two best offensive players, and conquering the Nats was what we set out to do this year. A fine choice for our inaugural champion. Secondly, David, can't even put on a tie? Show some respect. Brzezinski's wearing a top hat. A top hat. Wtf Captain. Every time I see that mezzanine in the balcony I think about the time seawolf funneled 3 beers off of that thing. So much fun.

seawolf17 Feb 02 2016 07:42 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Man, I'm so glad Facebook wasn't a thing back then.

Frayed Knot Feb 02 2016 07:44 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: As the featured player on the winning cover, Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will receive a 1971 Ford Pinto! What's second place, TWO Pintos? Or is it a set of steak knives?

MFS62 Feb 02 2016 07:50 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Frayed Knot wrote: What's second place, TWO Pintos? Or is it a set of steak knives? Nope. Its a copy of the Tabloid Cover Derby home game (Ben said they would be available shortly) and a box of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat. Why wasn't Cespedes there to accept the honor in person? Later

d'Kong76 Feb 02 2016 08:05 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: and the ghost of Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman. Spitting coffee at screen over here, boss haha MFS62 wrote: Why wasn't Cespedes there to accept the honor in person? He hasn't been seen since The Harvester story broke. Stay tuned... Lotta fun, Grimm... hope the papers stay open another year and we can do it all again.

cooby classic Feb 02 2016 08:24 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Loved it!

MFS62 Feb 02 2016 08:34 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Great work, Ben. Greatly appreciated. Later

themetfairy Feb 02 2016 08:47 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

MFS62 wrote: Great work, Ben. Greatly appreciated. Agreed!

Benjamin Grimm Feb 02 2016 08:55 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Thanks everyone! I'm glad that a bunch of us seemed to enjoy this. Thanks are also due to the 2015 New York Mets, if they hadn't had such a great season I never would have thought to do this. I already have about 20 covers for the 2016 competition, should it come to pass. And I agree that David Wright should have dressed for the occasion. The other three people there certainly did. Look at Ingrid Bergman: She's dressed as Anastasia. Imagine if she instead had dressed as Maria from For Whom the Bell Tolls?

Centerfield Feb 02 2016 10:46 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

The importance of this occasion is not lost on Ingrid.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 02 2016 01:50 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Here, by the way, is how the Post and Newsday covered the "YES-PEDES" game: Newsday's YES, CES! didn't get any votes in poll 1.3.7, but the Post's SWEEP TIGHT, NATS finished in a three-way tie for second place, with 5 votes. YES-PEDES won that first-round poll with 10 votes.

Frayed Knot Feb 02 2016 01:55 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

[youtube:1ixhj6ht]FYD4ppu9eV0[/youtube:1ixhj6ht]

Zvon Feb 02 2016 02:04 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

That's a hellofa ritzy frame. Is that affordable under the current CPF budget? Great job Grimm. Especially the most beautiful ghost of Ingrid Bergman.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 02 2016 02:14 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Zvon wrote: That's a hellofa ritzy frame. Is that affordable under the current CPF budget? We did have to stretch a little bit, but we couldn't exactly use a plastic box frame for the king of Sweden!

batmagadanleadoff Feb 02 2016 02:18 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: As promised, the cover is on display in the lobby of the Kran Pool Forum Internationella Huvudkontoret, the CPF's International Headquarters, in Sweden's capital. Behind the desk is our lovely receptionist Maja. What's that room for on the left with the glass double doors? And who's in the penthouse offices?

Benjamin Grimm Feb 02 2016 02:22 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

The room on the left is the conference room. It also used to double as the Loser's Lounge, where people who were eliminated from the song parody contest could enjoy all the shrimp they could eat. I don't know who has the penthouse offices. Every time I stop by, Maja never lets me past the front desk.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 02 2016 02:24 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't know who has the penthouse offices. Every time I stop by, Maja never lets me past the front desk. I can assure you that if you can't get in, they'll never let me in there.

seawolf17 Feb 02 2016 02:35 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't know who has the penthouse offices. Every time I stop by, Maja never lets me past the front desk. We pay her well to do her job.

Edgy MD Feb 02 2016 02:38 PM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

Steve J. Rogers rents the penthouse. It covers most of our nut, but I only see him coming and going like once every six weeks. You're right about Maja, though.

Lefty Specialist Feb 03 2016 06:44 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

seawolf17 wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't know who has the penthouse offices. Every time I stop by, Maja never lets me past the front desk. We pay her well to do her job. Well her and Gunnar, that burly gentleman to the right rear. He'd subdue you before you could get halfway up a flight of steps.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 03 2016 07:11 AM Re: Introducing the Tabloid Cover Derby!

As they say in the home office, Gunnar tar inte skit från någon.