FNN Reports for 2002-03: Session III
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
4 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] Well, well, well. What an exciting start to the Forecast Game. Welcome, everyone, I'm Ted Graupel, and this is your Forecast News Network report. This session started out with a broken website. With more on that, we go to FNN Senior Reporter Lowe Preseur.
[Lowe Preseur] Thanks, Ted. Forecasters on Tuesday morning found that they could not submit their forecasts on the website. An internal server error occured, causing no end of panic and despair. One forecaster was overheard saying that life is worthless without online forecast submission. Players were forced to e-mail their forecasters to the Game Administrator Ben Cotton. Said Cotton of the situation: "Well, we have it resolved now. A lot of effort has gone in during the past two days to isolate the problem. I called in the best minds in the field to help, and finally Chris Hennon was able to offer a viable solution."
[Ted Graupel] Thanks for the report, Lowe. Now on to an equally remarkable story. Jon Litzenberger, in his first forecast submission, has scored a 9.146 and ran away with first place. He was followed by Ben Cotton, Joel Heck, Rachel Staskus, David Mazza, and Joe Nield. Clyde Climo, everyones favorite bad model, has some errors in his data file. Unless WFO Chanhassen can provide corrected info, Clyde is expected to be more horrible-er than normal this round. Stay tuned for all of the latest developments...
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
4 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] Well, well, well. What an exciting start to the Forecast Game. Welcome, everyone, I'm Ted Graupel, and this is your Forecast News Network report. This session started out with a broken website. With more on that, we go to FNN Senior Reporter Lowe Preseur.
[Lowe Preseur] Thanks, Ted. Forecasters on Tuesday morning found that they could not submit their forecasts on the website. An internal server error occured, causing no end of panic and despair. One forecaster was overheard saying that life is worthless without online forecast submission. Players were forced to e-mail their forecasters to the Game Administrator Ben Cotton. Said Cotton of the situation: "Well, we have it resolved now. A lot of effort has gone in during the past two days to isolate the problem. I called in the best minds in the field to help, and finally Chris Hennon was able to offer a viable solution."
[Ted Graupel] Thanks for the report, Lowe. Now on to an equally remarkable story. Jon Litzenberger, in his first forecast submission, has scored a 9.146 and ran away with first place. He was followed by Ben Cotton, Joel Heck, Rachel Staskus, David Mazza, and Joe Nield. Clyde Climo, everyones favorite bad model, has some errors in his data file. Unless WFO Chanhassen can provide corrected info, Clyde is expected to be more horrible-er than normal this round. Stay tuned for all of the latest developments...
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
4 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] Well, well, well. What an exciting start to the Forecast Game. Welcome, everyone, I'm Ted Graupel, and this is your Forecast News Network report. This session started out with a broken website. With more on that, we go to FNN Senior Reporter Lowe Preseur.
[Lowe Preseur] Thanks, Ted. Forecasters on Tuesday morning found that they could not submit their forecasts on the website. An internal server error occured, causing no end of panic and despair. One forecaster was overheard saying that life is worthless without online forecast submission. Players were forced to e-mail their forecasters to the Game Administrator Ben Cotton. Said Cotton of the situation: "Well, we have it resolved now. A lot of effort has gone in during the past two days to isolate the problem. I called in the best minds in the field to help, and finally Chris Hennon was able to offer a viable solution."
[Ted Graupel] Thanks for the report, Lowe. Now on to an equally remarkable story. Jon Litzenberger, in his first forecast submission, has scored a 9.146 and ran away with first place. He was followed by Ben Cotton, Joel Heck, Rachel Staskus, David Mazza, and Joe Nield. Clyde Climo, everyones favorite bad model, has some errors in his data file. Unless WFO Chanhassen can provide corrected info, Clyde is expected to be more horrible-er than normal this round. Stay tuned for all of the latest developments...
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
5 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] Evidently aviation majors do know something after all. Jon Litzenberger, in only his second day of forecasting, finished 5th. That will keep him in first place overall. Ben Cotton took second place again, but he is still behind Litzenberger. Joe Nield broke the tie with David Mazza, he moves into third place. He is followed by Joel Heck and Rachel Staskus. This looks like it is going to be a very interesting session, so I hope you all stay tuned. Now we go to FNN reporter Fronto Genesis who is off the coast of Burmuda, covering Hurricane Fabian.
[Fronto Genesis] Thanks, Ted. You might think after my near-death experience at the hands of TS Ana this spring, I'd be reluctant to cover another tropical system. I will do whatever it takes to enhance FNN's coverage. Thus, I'm out here, a bit southwest of Burmuda, floating on the official FNN inner tube. The fringes of Fabian are already beginning to affect Burmuda, and the center is forecast to past just west of the island. Fabian has maximum sustained winds of 120 miles per hour, and is said to be the strongest hurricane to strike Burmuda in 40 years.
[Ted Graupel] Thanks for the report, Fronto. For all of the latest FNN coverage, stay tuned to the Forecast News Network.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
6 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] We saw this last year, but not to such an amazing effect. Rookie forecasters captured 3 of the top 5 spots today. Angie Woolard, who has theoretically been playing since Session I of last year has finally started forecasting consistently, and it is paying off for her. She outpaced the field to take first. Jon Liztenberger, who has been the child prodigy of the session so far took second place. Newcomer Kent Knopfmeier took the bronze in his first forecast. The Bens Burkel and Cotton, neither of whom fared well in the last session, tied for 4th place. Joe Average took 6th, Hottub Peters was 7th, Mike Kruze tied with Joe Nield 8th, and Joel Heck (the self-proclaimed "Master Caster") tied with Ryan Henning for 10th. With that, the overall standings have Litzenberger, Cotton, Nield, Heck, and Kruze at the top. For more on Hurricane Fabian, lets go to FNN Reporter...wait...nevermind. I've just been informed that Lowe Preseur has arrived in Florida, so lets go there for coverage of Tropical Storm Henri.
[Lowe Preseur] Thanks, Ted! A lot of people think I'm here covering Henri because I'm French. Well, I'm not French. I'm Canad...I mean, I'm from Utah. At any rate, Henri has now been downgraded to a Tropical Depression. However, he is still bringing rain by the crepe-load to Florida's gulf coast. The National Weather Service office in Tampa, FL estimates 6 to 10 inches of rain have fallen yesterday, with 3 to 5 more possible today as Henri makes landfall. Only Joe Nield could forecast to that degree of accuracy though, I
[Ted Graupel] Umm, thanks, Lowe. That's all the time we have, so from beautiful West Lafayette, I'm Ted Graupel...Go Boilers!
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
11 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] The words I want to use are prohibited by the FCC, so I'll just say wow. In one of those freaky forecast occurences, the players who didn't forecast beat the players who did. Due to the very mundane weather, Peter Persistence outdid the field. Of course, his little gaggle of non-forecasters fell right behind. But in more interesting news, the Top 5 no longer contain Jon Litzenberger and Ben Cotton. Mike "Hotcakes" Kruze is your new leader, and he is followed by Kevin Peters, Joel Heck, Joe Nield, and Ben Burkel. That's all for the forecast, now lets go to FNN's own Fronto Genesis who was airlifted into the eye of Hurricane Isabel last night. Fronto?
[Fronto Genesis] Thanks, Ted. I'm sorry if I sound winded, but I'm having to row the FNN Inner Tube to keep up with the eye of Isabel. She's only moving at 9 miles per hour, but I dropped the oar this morning and now I have to row with a Dixie cup tied to the end of a stick. Regardless, Isabel is quite fierce, now with sustained winds up to 150 miles per hour. If things keep up, Central Florida might be non-existent about this time next week.
[Ted Graupel] Thank you, Fronto Genesis. I hope your Dixie cup doesn't fall apart. That does it for us here at FNN. Stay tuned for all the latest coverage.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
12 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] Well folks, the Persistence team got theirs today. Yesterday those who didn't forecast finished 1st. Today, its 21st as two periods of rain in Minneapolis ruined an chance at a successful persistence forecast. Joe Nield redeemed himself as well, finishing first on the day. He was followed by Mike Kruze, Kevin Peters, Ben Burkel, and Kent Knopfmeier. Mike Kruze is still holding on to the top spot overall, and he is followed by Nield, Peters, Burkel, and Joel Heck. Jon Litzenberger who lead for the first part of the round is now 6th. Defending champ Dave Mazza currently sits in lucky 13th. FNN's Foo Jita will have a better look at the comparisons on Sunday. In the meantime, let's check in with FNN reporter Fronto Genesis, who is still in the eye of Hurricane Isabel.
[Fronto Genesis] Well Ted, the NHC keeps predicting that Isabel will weaken, but I'm not seeing it yet. Hurricanes don't normally stay cat 5 for long, but with warmer seas ahead of her, Isabel could hold out for the US coast. If landfall does occur, it won't be until mid- to late next week, but man, it will be a doozy!
[Ted Graupel] I've never seen a man who can row an innertube in the eye of a hurricane with a Dixie cup and give a live report at the same time. Amazing. That's all from the Forecast News Network...have a great weekend!
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
15 Sept 2003
[Cole Frunt] Ladies and gentlemen, the FNN staff would like to offer its most sincere condolences to the families of Johnny Cash, John Ritter, and Governor Frank O'Bannon. We'd also like to extend our good wishes to Fronto Genesis, who remains stuck in the eye of Hurricane Isabel.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
17 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] Well Kent Knopfmeier decided to make up for his 17th place finish last week and score a victory here today. He edged out wonderchild Jon "Hotlips" Litzenberger by 1 point of wind error. Litzenberger's impressive 2nd place wasn't enough to reclaim the lead from forecasting powerhouse Mike Kruze, who finished 8th on the day. Other top finishers today include the National Weather Service, Joel Heck, Ben Cotton, Joe Nield, and Angie Woolard. Right now, the top five are Kruze, Nield, Litzenberger, Kevin Peters, and Heck. Now let's go to FNN reporter Fronto Genesis for more live coverage of Hurricane Isabel.
[Fronto Genesis] Thanks Ted. The last time I reported, Isable was a beast at Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Now she's at a puny 110 miles per hour and poised to strike the North Carolina coast. That is where I will leave the FNN innter tube and use the FNN tricycle to follow Isabel the rest of the way. For the Forecast News Network, this is Fronto Genesis reporting from the eye of Hurricane Isabel.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
18 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain, but the rain in Minneapolis stays mainly to the west. Jon Litzenberger scored the win today over Rachel Staskus and the Persistence gang. The rain didn't make it to MSP in time to alter the course of history. And the temperature shot much higher than anyone had anticipated. Minneapolis continutes to be a very difficult city to forecast temperatures for. Even the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen can't nail the temps. They have 163 error points so far in that category alone. So with todays results, Mike Kruze still has a slight edge over Joe Nield. Litzenberger is regaining ground in third. Joel Heck and Kevin Peters are right behind him, and Rachel Staskus has really come around, storming into 6th place. Now lets go to Fronto Genesis, who is preparing to come ashore in the eye of Hurricane Isabel.
[Fronto Genesis] Ted, for the first time in weeks, I am on terra firma. Isabel's eye is making its way onto the southern Outer Banks of North Carolina. She has really weakened in the past few days, and now is only near 100 miles per hour. I'm working on getting the FNN tricycle, and I will continute to follow this storm until she disappears. For FNN, I'm Fronto Genesis.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
19 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] Arrr, mateys! Today be Talk Like A Pirate Day. Kevin Peters took first today, givin him the boost of confidence he be needin. Rachel Staskus, who had been playin rather poorly, is back to bein a top notch pirate with her 2nd place finish. Joe Nield took third, which allowed him to steal the overall lead from Mike Kruze like a filthy bilge rat. Kruze finished 6th behind Joel Heck and Kent Knopfmeier. Arrr! Now let's go to that scurvy scalawag Fronto Genesis who is covering me beauty Isabel.
[Fronto Genesis] Well, Ted, Isabel isn't. She's packing winds of only 35 mph, which is almost the same as her forward motion. The center is about to cross over lake Erie, which poses a problem for me. As you know, I left the FNN inner tube on the Outer Banks. Then last night, the FNN tricycle broke down, and I had to commandeer a power wheels jeep from some 4 year old. I believe this is where FNN's coverage ends. However, I'd just like to point out that unlike some Mike Seidel's I could mention, I was never blow about by this sissy storm. For FNN, I'm Fronto Genesis.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
20 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] Well, folks, on the 1 year anniversary of the Sept 20, 2002 tornado that blasted its way across Indiana, Joe Nield was blown away. The decision to go with "0 0 0" for KMSP POPs cost him first and second place in the overall standings. Mike Kruze has regained the lead now, and is followed by Jon Litzenberger.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
24 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] In what is a very critical time for Joe Nield's forecasts, he slips again and remains in 3rd place overall. With more on that, let's go to FNN Reporter Lowe Preseur.
[Lowe Preseur] Thanks, Ted. Joe Nield fared very well on Monday, his score of 8.650 is certainly nothing to cry about. Nield can out forecast anyone in this game. He'll make his comeback soon. Just look at his AFDs and you'll know that. I look everyday, and I know them by heart.
[Ted Graupel] 8.650 is a very laudable score, but when the top 5 finishers all score above 9, well I'd be crying too. Angie Woolard scored the victory today, followed by Ben Burkel, Joel Heck, Mike Kruze, and Kent Knopfmeier. FNN Senior Analyst Ross B. Wave has more.
[Ross B. Wave] Monday's forecast was largely a no-brainer. Going with NGM or NWS numbers would have yielded a score of better than 7. The Tuesday forecast should prove more interesting, as Indianapolis precip will be the major deciding factor.
[Ted Graupel] So how do the overall standings look right now? Mike Kruze still leads, followed by Jon Litzenberger, Joe Nield, Kevin Peters, and Joel Heck. For the Forecast News Network, I'm Ted Graupel.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
25 Sept 2003
[Ted Graupel] Every eye in the game was fixed on the Indianapolis radar yesterday as every player watched their precipitation forecasts get washed away, all except Mike Kruze and Kent Knopmeier. Knopfmeier finished 4th, but easily could have garnered 2nd, has he not completely choked on his wind forecast. Meanwhile, Joel Heck amazingly nailed the Minneapolis temperatures and took second. Kevin Peeters scored the third spot, followed by Knopfmeier, Angie Woolard, Joe Nield, Joe Average, Jon Litzenberger, Nat W. Service, and Ben Cotton. With the results today, Mike Kruze remains in first place over Nield, Litzenberger, Peters, and Heck. If he can hold on to first place until the end of the session, he will become the 7th winningest player of all time. He will have as many wins as legends like Kevin Fuell, Peter Hall, and the great one himself, Lord Vietor. Forecast Game Czar Ben Cotton had this to say: "Dan Vietor isn't a man...he is a legend. I don't know if Mike can be allowed to equal him. Something may have to be done." It will be interesting these next few weeks, and the place for all the exciting coverage is the Forecast News Network.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
27 Sept 2003
[Meteor Graham] Hey, everyone! Welcome to FNN, I'm Meteor Graham, Ted Graupel has the day off. What an exciting two days of forecasting we just witnessed. Melanie Maslo, coming out of her forecasting hole to score a victory on Thursday's forecast -- one where nobody even came close on the high in Indianapolis. Meanwhile Joe Nield starts feeling the presseur from Jon Litzenberger as the battle for the top spot heats up. The question is, can anyone beat Dr. Cakes? We shall see. Let's run down today's top 10 for you. Melanie Maslo finished first, followed by Ben Cotton, Kent Knopfmeier, Ben Burkel, Joe Nield, Ken Menconi, Kevin Peters, Joe Average, Ryan Henning, and Matt Lewandowski. Taking a look at the results from yesterday, we saw a few new names at the top of the list: Ryan Henning, the self-proclaimed "World's Worst Forecaster" lost his title as he took first place. He was followed, by Brooke Halvorson, Matt Lewandowski, Jon Litzenberger, and Joe Average. That's all I've got for you today on FNN. Be sure to watch the Purdue Boilermakers roll over the Notre Lame Friggin Irish.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
1 Oct 2003
[Ted Graupel] Low temperatures in Indianapolis kept the scores from being exceedingly high as Ben Cotton finished first. Right behind him came Rachel Staskus, Kent Knopfmeier, Mike Kruze, and Kevin Peters. Staskus has fallen to 9th place in the overall standings, which will make it harder on her next week when the tournament begins. With more on that, here's FNN Senior Reporter Lowe Preseur.
[Low Preseur] Well, Ted, the tournament starts next Monday, and that has some of the players getting anxious. Who will be able to handle the pressures of head-to-head competition? Who will choke? A week from today, we'll know some of those answers. Saturday morning when the brackets are produced, players will be able to enter a competition to see who can forecast the forecasters the best. Scoring details will be announced then, but the player who does the best will be given the opportunity to guest-anchor a Forecast News Network report.
[Ted Graupel] Just a reminder, folks: as the weather cools down, FNN action heats up. See you tomorrow.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
2 Oct 2003
[Ted Graupel] Joe Nield took the lead today, but it wasn't enough to keep him from dropping to second in the wind category. Lowe Preseur was quoted as saying "regardless, I'll ride the wind right into his heart." We all vomited. Meanwhile, Ben Cotton, Kevin Peters, and Jon Litzenberger finished in the top 4, each with scores above 9. Meanwhile, our leader Mike Kruze finished 7th. His lead over Nield is narrowing, and with the tournament beginning next week, we should have a very exciting end to our session.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
3 Oct 2003
[Ted Graupel] Joel Heck took the lead today. He was followed by two faces we don't see in the top 5 very often: Brooke Halvorson and C.J. Burkel. Burkel tied with Joe Nield for third, and Mike Kruze and JOn Litzenberger tied for 5th. Meanwhile, Ben Cotton finished 14th, ending his streak of top 10 finishes at 7 days. He is tied with Kent Knopfmeier for that mark. Knopfmeier finished 10th today, behind Rachel Staskus, Nat W. Service, and Joe Average. The overall standings remain largely unchanged, with only one more forecast to be scored before the brackets are made. This could be a very interesting tournament, with many upset-makers in the lower half of the field, including Angie Woolard, Melanie Maslo, and David Mazza. Be sure to catch Adie Abatic's predictions on the FNN website. That is all.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
4 Oct 2003
[Ted Graupel] The results are in. In the last forecast before the brackets get made, Ben Cotton takes first place, followed by Kent Knopfmeier and Mike Kruze. This bodes well for Adie Abatic's predictions. Joe Nield tied with Kruze, and so was unable to gain any ground on our leader. The brackets are up, and its time to announce our game. Submit your tournament predictions (like a NCAA office pool) via e-mail to Ben Cotton bcotton@eas.purdue.edu by 11:59 PM Tuesday. The winner will get to guest anchor a Forecast News Network report.
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
6 Oct 2003
[Ted Graupel] Welcome to this special edition of the Forecast News Network. The tournament officially begins today, and the electricity is almost tangible. First, let's go to FNN Director of Operations Cole Frunt.
[Cole Frunt] Thanks, Ted. I'd just like to let everyone know about some staffing changes made here at FNN. A certain TV weather operation in Atlanta was so impressed with the coverage that Fronto Genesis gave FNN of Hurricane Isabel, that he was offered a job. He has taken that job, and so now I am pleased to introduce Di Abatic, sister of FNN's own Adie Abatic, and the newest member of our team. You can read her biography on the FNN website. But now let's get to the reason we're all here -- the Forecast Game Tournament.
[Ted Graupel] Session I of the Forecast Game is drawing to a rapid close and the outcome is still in question, although I think most experts have pinned their hopes on Mike Kruze to win both the session, and the tournament. Let's go first to the East, where FNN Senior Analyst Ross B. Wave is covering the action.
[Ross B. Wave] Thanks, Ted. All Mike Kruze needs to do today is forecast and he will move on to the next round. Meanwhile, Melanie Maslo will be facing off against Kim Klockow. Neither one of these ladies have consistently submitted forecasts in this session, but when Maslo does submit, she finds herself in the Top 10 pretty frequently. Melanie Maslo will move on. Meanwhile, BENJAMIN Burkel will showdown against Clyde Climo. Burkel's performance this session has been rather lackluster, and he needs this early contest to help give him some momentum. Rachel Staskus should be very afraid going up against Peter Persistence, who has been the suprise of the session. Still, more often than not, Persistence doesn't have what it takes. Barring a freak occurence, Staskus will be in the Sweet 16 come Wednesday. Now we go to the West, where FNN Senior Reporter Lowe Preseur is standing by.
[Lowe Preseur] Thanks, Ross. Joe Nield has gotten a head start by taunting the Bye. What a brave and wonderful thing to do. Nield will be the Sweetest in the Sweet 16. Angie Woolard and Ben Taylor should be an interesting matchup. Taylor has a job that has precluded his forecasting for most of this session, so Woolard -- assuming she forecasts -- should have an easy time of it. Sarah Widajewski is another player who hasn't played much. Veronica McNear is an experienced player, and always a force to content with. She'll be around on Wednesday. Finally, we come to Kent Knopfmeier versus Nested G. Model. NGM has had some issues putting the right values in the right place, and will certainly fall if that happens. Even in a fair fight, though, Knopfmeier will have no problem knocking off this first opponent. Adie Abatic, what's growing in the cornfields of the Midwest?
[Adie Abatic] Another series of no-brainers is shaping up in the Midwest. Kevin Peters has a bye. He hasn't been too happy with his performance as of late, but I would expect to see him improve dramatically in these last few days. Meanwhile, Brooke Halvorson will face Adam Kruger. Kruger made a challenge at the top spot last time around, but he hasn't been forecasting much. I'll give the victory to Halvorson, but if Kruger forecasts there will be trouble. Ryan Henning and Krut Offereins were consistently mediocre last year, but Henning has shown significant improvement. Offereins probably won't forecast and Henning should win by default. Lastly, Joel Heck is also bye. Let us go now to FNN Analyst Meteor Graham in the Southeast.
[Meteor Graham] If there's one thing I like more than fresh peaches and iced tea, its forecastin' madness. Not too much madness going on here in the first round. Jon Litzenberger will win by default. Newcomer Ken Menconi has the pleasure of facing David Mazza, who dominated the last session. Mazza is an alum now, and living in Texas somewhere. I doubt he'll forecast, and that will buy Menconi some breathing room. Matt Lewandowski must face the wrath of Bill "David Lee" Roth. Roth hasn't been forecasting since the first week, and he will find himself in the consolation bracket on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Maud POPs will make short work of perennial choke-master Ben Cotton. Just kidding...Cotton will hand it to Pops in a wicker basket.
[Ted Graupel] There you have it, folks -- you heard it here first. Stay tuned for the latest FNN coverage!
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
8 Oct 2003
[Ted Graupel] Can we call it or what? Not too much excitement in the first day, as Kevin Peters grabs the first spot, followed by Mike Kruze, Jon Litzenberger, Joel Heck, and Ben Cotton. The scores were high today, but warm weather in Minneapolis prevented any 9s. Let's turn to FNN Expert Analyst Foo Jita for more on that.
[Foo Jita] Thanks, Ted. The main problem with forecasting the high temperature in Minneapolis is that it is October in Minneapolis. Forecasting is not an exact science, and the good forecasters know not to take the model guidance as gospel. However, this also leads them to say "There ain't no way I'm putting 85 as a high for Minneapolis in October." The low last night was just 2 degrees shy of the climatic high for this time of year, so you know that Minneapolis is experiencing some unusually warm weather. Even the models refuse to believe that it would be this warm.
[Ted Graupel] Thanks, Ted. So what do today's results mean for the tournament. Let's go first to the East, where FNN Senior Analyst Ross B. Wave is covering the action.
[Ross B. Wave] Thanks, Ted. Everything is going as predicted here in the East. (1)Mike Kruze took his bye, (17)Melanie Maslo upset (16)Kim Klockow. (24)Clyde Climo lost to (9)BENJAMIN Burkel. (25)Peter Persistence wasn't able to fend off (8)Rachel Staskus. So now we're in the Sweet 16. First, (1)Mike Kruze will do battle against (17)Melanie Maslo. Maslo is a fierce competitor, but Kruze is almost unstoppable at this point. He might have to fight a bit, but he'll take the victory. Meanwhile, (9)BENJAMIN Burkel will find himself up against (8)Rachel Staskus. Staskus has a long history of kicking some forecast butt in the tournament, and I see no indication that she intends to stop. Burkel's tournament run ends here. Now we go to the West, where FNN Senior Reporter Lowe Preseur is standing by.
[Lowe Preseur] Thanks, Ross. (2)Joe Nield did a wonderful job against the bye. He's so dreamy. The other matchups were almost as exciting. (18)Ben Taylor landed himself in the Consolation Bracket after failing to forecast. (15)Angie Woolard moves on to the Sweet 16. The same fate befell (23)Sarah Widajewski who lost by default to (10)Veronica McNear. (26)Nested G. Model put up a very poor showing against (7)Kent Knopfmeier, allowing him to advance. So today's matchups look to be a bit more interesting. (2)Joe Nield will be facing off against (15)Angie Woolard. Woolard might possibly be the most underrated player in this session, and she has scored a handful of top 10s on days she actually forecasts. Nield will have to be very cautious today, but he should be able to eek out a victory. The excitement increases as (10)Veronica McNear takes the first chance at derailing (7)Kent Knopfmeier's championship train. Knopfmeier could go all the way, unless McNear can pull off the upset. It's certainly not out of the question, but I think Knopfmeier will be able to continue into the Elite 8. Adie Abatic, what happened in the Midwest?
[Adie Abatic] FNN's perfect streak continued into the Midwest, where there was absolutely no competition at all. (4)Kevin Peters had a bye, (20)Adam Krueger lost to (13)Brooke Halvorson by default, (21)Kurt Offereins did the same to (12)Ryan Henning, and (5)Joel Heck had a bye. I don't see things getting too much more exciting. (4)Kevin Peters will be facing off against (13)Brooke Halvorson. Halvorson has been known to randomly pop into the top 5 a few times this Session, but unless today is one of those random days, Peters will have an easy time getting to the Elite 8. Meanwhile (12)Ryan Henning has one advantage over (5)Joel Heck in that he hails from the Minneapolis area. However, that seems to have been no help to him, and the self-proclaimed "Worst Forecaster Ever" will fall to the self-proclaimed "Master Caster." Meteor Graham, tell me about the Southeast.
[Meteor Graham] There were plenty of peaches and iced tea on hand here, but not too much in the way of forecastin' madness. (3)Jon Litzenberger had a bye. (19)David Mazza and (22)Bill "David Lee" Roth both failed to forecast, losing to (14)Ken Menconi and (11)Matt Lewandowski respectively. A full point separated (6)Ben Cotton from (27)Maud Pops, so lets look to the future. (3)Jon Litzenberger vs. (14)Ken Menconi. Both of these gentlemen are rookies to the game, but they both forecast like pros. Litzenberger has the advantage of eating many Krispy Kremes, and that will easily put him over the top. (6)Ben Cotton won't have such an easy time against (11)Matt Lewandowski. Both of these guys have shown spurts of bad forecasting, with Cotton's being a bit worse. That not withstanding, Cotton has a lot of momentum right now, and Lewandowski will have a hard time breaking it. Di Abatic, tell me there's excitement in the Consolation Bracket.
[Di Abatic] Meteor, this may be the most unexciting Consolation Bracket ever. Kim Klockow has a bye, she'll move on. Peter Persistence will beat Clyde Climo. Adam Krueger has a bye, but he won't forecast and that will end up as a DQ. The same goes for Kurt Offereins and his bye, and Ben Taylor and his bye. Sarah Widajewski will lose by default to Nested G. Model. David Mazza won't forecast against the bye, and there will be a DQ there. Maud Pops will win when Bill Roth doesn't forecast. I can tell you right now: the consolation championship will be Klockow vs. Pops. Ted?
[Ted Graupel] There you have it, folks -- you heard it here first. Stay tuned for the latest FNN coverage!
Live from FNN Studios in West Lafayette, Indiana, this is the Forecast News Network.
10 Oct 2003
[Ted Graupel] Late forecasts and near upsets crank up the excitement a few notches in the Tournament. Cloud cover in Indianapolis kept daytime temperatures cooler than expected, and the nighttime temperatures much warmer than forecasted. This would have worked out to the favor of Melanie Maslo and Angie Woolard, who would have scored upsets against their opponents had they not forecasted precip in Minneapolis. But enough of me, let's go to the East, where FNN Senior Analyst Ross B. Wave is covering the action.
[Ross B. Wave] Thanks, Ted. We did have one successful upset attempt here in the East. (9)BENJAMIN Burkel took first place today, and knocked off (8)Rachel Staskus. Meanwhile (1)Mike Kruze would have found himself out of the tournament today except for the precipitation miscalculations of (17)Melanie Maslo. So who will represent the East in the Final Four? Burkel's win today surely encourages him, but Kruze consistently out forecasts him. Kruze will be one-fouth of the Final Four. Now we go to the West, where FNN Senior Reporter Lowe Preseur is standing by.
[Lowe Preseur] Thanks, Ross. (15)Angie Woolard did what (2)Joe Nield calls "playing the science, not the game." Woolard missed the Minneaplis precip and spared that hunk Nield from being eliminated. (7)Kent Knopfmeier held up well, but it was looking shaky during the first 24 hrs as (10)Veronica McNear held the lead until zee 36hr KIND low came into play. I'd like to say that Nield will advance, but I've gotta give my vote to Kent Knopfmeier, who could very well win the tournament. Adie Abatic, hows the Midwest? [Adie Abatic] (4)Kevin Peters choked hard, being soundly defeated by (13)Brooke Halvorson. However, since Halvorson's forecast was late, it could not be accepted for the tournament. It's truly a shame when you see that happen. Meanwhile, (12)Ryan Henning had nothing for (5)Joel Heck. So now it comes down to Peters and Heck. Peters can't be too pleased with his forecast and I'm sure he'll try extra hard to rectify the situation against Heck. This will be a close battle, but the numbers favor Peters -- and the numbers don't lie. Joel Heck will lose his title as the self-proclaimed "Master Caster." Meteor Graham, tell me about the Southeast.
[Meteor Graham] The forecasting madness got a jumpstart in the Southeast with the heated taunting between (6)Ben Cotton and (11)Matt Lewandowski. In the end, though, Cotton's taunts proved too much for Lewandowski to handle and Cotton moves into the Elite 8. Meanwhile (14)Ken Menconi didn't forecast, and (3)Jon Litzenberger wins by default. So it comes down to Cotton and Litzenberger for ownership of the South East. Litzenberger is in his first tournament and has yet to face an opponent, whereas Cotton is a seasoned veteran who has already faced two players in this tournament. The numbers favor Litzenberger, but Cotton has a lot of momentum. He'll eek out the victory. Di Abatic, tell me there's excitement in the Consolation Bracket.
[Di Abatic] Meteor, this may be the most unexciting Consolation Bracket ever. Kim Klockow had a bye, she moves on. Peter Persistence beat Clyde Climo. Adam Krueger didn't forecast against his bye and got a DQ. The same with Offereins, Mazza, and Taylor. NGM beat Sarah Widajewski by default, and Maud POPs did the same to Bill Roth. Kim Klockow will have to face Peter Persistence, while NGM and Maud POPs go unopposed. Klockow has a clear shot at the Consolation Championship, so long as keeps forecasting.
[Ted Graupel] There you have it, folks. Now here are the taunts...
Ben Cotton to Matt Lewandowski
Matt, you'll need to use your MAGIC LeWANDowski fiercely if you are going to beat me. I've got skillz madder than Harry Potter was when Draco Malfoy banged Hermoine under the bleachers at the quidditch field.
Matt Lewandowski to Ben Coton
My magic wand has always stood by my side and I expect it won't fail me now. Just look out, it's got its eye set on you.
Ben Cotton to Matt Lewandowski
You've got some serious anatomy problems if your magic wand is by your *side*!
Matt Lewandowski to Ben Cotton
I see it differently. Not only is my magic wand by my side in the sense that it is always ready to perform, but in the physical sense as well, for it is omnipresent. Furthermore, you're going to lose. The wand has spoken.
Melanie Maslo to Mike Kruze
To my dearest HotCakes, I know we've had our flings in the past, but since it's the tournament let's put all the FUN BEHIND US! It's time to show you what you're really made of BOX MIX! Yeah, that's right. I said it. There's nothing homemade about you, just like your forecasts. I bet you just cut and paste from the weather nutrition labels and say, "Oh, they.ll never know the difference." WRONG!! I.m going to beat you faster than your momma's spoon, boy! But to end on a lighter and fluffier note, if you're a good sport about losing to me, I might just come over and give you what you really deserve. Weather taunting love, Melanie
Mike Kruze to Melanie Maslo
You'd better watch what you say Maslo. You wouldn't know Bisquick from Jiffy if your future with Cantore depended on it. And I'll be watching the numbers real close because I know you'll try to bribe your "boyfriend" into improving your surely pathetic forecast. And one more thing. I have a metal spoon and I WILL use it if I need to. Enjoy the view from 21st place.
Kevin Peters to Brooke Halvorson
Got Skills? Hope so... you're gonna have to put all of them to the test to beat the top rated forecaster yesterday. Good luck, you're gonna need it.