September 27, 2007

ALPINE LAKE, WV — JT Thomas sat with GStan late one evening this past August, speculating about Golfapalooza championships and which ones are the most desired.  â€œWell, which ones could you call the Triple Crown?” was the question posed by JT.  They both agreed that winning the MELC, the King of Corn and the Most Valuable Loozer would qualify as the Golfapalooza’s version of the Triple Crown.  â€œWell that’s what I’m going for this year then,” added JT in an I’m-not-even-close-to-kidding tone of voice.  GStan asked JT how the anticipation of GXI compared with previous years.  â€œDude, we are still weeks away, but in my head, I’m already there.  I don’t remember ever being this charged up for Golfapalooza in all of my 10 years of participating.”

A single-season Triple Crown would be quite an amazing achievement, especially considering that no Loozer has even achieved all three awards in a career, let alone a season.  After a 78 MELC point performance on Stogie Friday, a Friday evening cornhole victory over defending King of Corn, GStan, in the semi-finals, and some killer golf and cornhole homemade leaderboards, all three jewels seemed well within reach.  â€œI do recall the conversation with GStan,” reflected JT.  â€œI was actually coming into GXI with the Triple Crown on my mind, but I didn’t really expect to be so well-positioned for it heading into the final day.”

GStan was still stinging on Wednesday from his weekend Cornhole defeat.  â€œI had that match won.  JT did not win the King of Corn, I lost it; and I guarantee that will never happen again.”  GStan commented that five days later, he is still waking in the middle of the night sweating and screaming ‘on to win!’  The pressure of the tournament may have gotten the best of him.  â€œI knew after ‘Jaeger Thursday’ that I would not seriously contend for the MELC or the raw, so the only high profile hardware I could bring home would be the King of Corn or the Squib.  After I witnessed Carder lock up the Squib on Friday afternoon (see article “Three Minutes in History,”) it was King or bust, and I cracked.  But I don’t want to take anything away from JT; actually, yes I do.  Screw him.”

That’s a lot of bitterness to carry around for an entire year-long off-season.  Only time and GXII will tell the story of how GStan handles it.  JT is handling it quite well.  â€œI know how GStan feels,” JT said as he lightly buffed one of the three large trophies he brought back from GXI.  â€œWhile I was never really in the match with him at GX, I wanted it all the same.”

JT had to know early on in Saturday’s scramble that the MELC was slipping away, as he and partner Peter “Peter” Minardi were unable to manage any birdies on the front nine, and then ultimately, through the entire round.  â€œWe hit the ball well, but in a scramble, everyone hits the ball well; you score by dropping the putts, and we couldn’t do it.”  The agony of defeat did not last long, as Loozer nation returned to the cabin to witness JT soundly defeat returning GIX cornhole runner-up, Eric Melick, 3 games to zero to capture the King of Corn crown.  

“I think I’m most proud of my MVL trophy,” a misty-eyed JT confessed.  â€œAs I said at the awards banquet, a lot of great Loozers, who have had a lot of impact on this weekend, have taken this trophy home before me.  It means quite a bit to be recognized by my peers and to be considered among the all-time Loozer greats.”  Sheiker issued a statement Wednesday on behalf of the Founding Fathers officially thanking JT for 10 years of service to the weekend, and especially for making such an impact on GXI.  When JT was asked if he would be after the Triple Crown again next year, he replied “Duh! Do you even have to ask?”  Watch out GXII.