ABSOLUTE SCENES!

When I went to bed last night, the #1 vs. #6 matchup between “Sex, Drugs & Through Balls” and “In Appreciation of Erik Lamela” was tied at 67 votes. When I woke up this morning, it was tied at 92. It never stopped being close, even when I (arbitrarily) announced that voting would end at 11 a.m. ET today.

With ten minutes to go, Tom Carroll led by six votes. This, however, was how the vote ended.

Amazing. This was last-second buzzer beater shot to win the game kind of stuff. Paul Jesperson (Northern Iowa) vs. Texas. Keith Smart (Indiana) vs. Syracuse. Not quite Arike Ogunbowale vs. Baylor, as that was literally for the national title.

But maybe this?

I can’t tell you how shocked I am by this result. I also can’t fully say how pleased I am for Sean that his magnificent article makes the final of our bracket which will tell us which article is the best in Carty Free history. All I know is that if the voting ended up tied I was going to Periscope my son flipping a coin to determine the winner. (I’m a little sad I didn’t get to do that, to be honest.)

Three votes out of 233 cast, and down goes Duke Skipjack.

In the other contest, it... wasn’t. The Dele Alli player ratings article easily dispatched Clood and the Preast Tree, keeping them out of the title game and ensuring that Clood’s malevolent Lovecraftian god doesn’t return to devour humanity whole. So, uh, thanks?

This is your final. I am setting the poll to expire in two days. Vote for your favorite, and may the best article win.

Cartilage Free Captain Best Article Bracket

CHAMPIONSHIP

#6 — In Appreciation of Erik Lamela, Tottenham’s Do-Everything Attacker (Sean Cahill)
vs.
#13 — Player Ratings to the Theme of People in the Background of this Dele Alli Photo (CFC Staff)