And the winner is..........

JACOB!!!

Congratulations to Jacob on winning the 2010 edition of the Young Family Bracket Challenge in just his FIRST try!!!

Butler lost, 61-59, for Jacob to win the challenge.

Alright everybody, be sure to send your $5 to Jacob. And be sure to include some smack talk "words of encouragement" when you send him your money.

This ends the 2010 Challenge!!! Great job Jacob!!!

Here are the final standings:

1. Jacob Young - 227 points
2. Allison Young - 222 points
3. Teresa Matters - 209 points
4. Eric Young - 198 points
5. Brad Young - 168 points
6. Nathaniel Abbott - 147 points
7. Robert Young - 140 points
8. Lindsey Abbot - 137 points
9. Jeremy Bird - 127 points
10. Melissa Young - 114 points
11. Heather Abbott - 105 (Disqualified)
12. Beth Bird - 77 points

Also, congratulations to Ali bug! She has correctly chosen the Champion two years in a row! Way to go, Ali! I'm copying your bracket next year!

It's down to two!

Defending Young Family Bracket Challenge Winner, Teresa Matters, and rookie Jacob Young are the only two people left in the running for the 2010 Challenge Trophy!

Much like the Young Family Challenge, a smaller and new team will take on a past Champion for the title. Butler beat Michigan State to advance to its first Championship game ever, while West Virginia choked and was unable to advance.

Teresa, Jacob, Allison, and Eric all chose the team to face Butler in the Final Game. So, here are the standings:

1. Teresa Matters - 209 points
2. Jacob Young - 177 points
3. Allison Young - 172 points
4. Brad Young - 168 points
5. Eric Young - 148 points
6. Nathaniel Abbott - 147 points
7. Robert Young - 140 points
8. Lindsey Abbot - 137 points
9. Jeremy Abbott - 127 points
10. Melissa Young - 114 points
11. Heather Abbott - 105 (Disqualified)
12. Beth Bird - 77 points

Monday night will tell the tale and for the second year in a row, the Challenge title has come down to the final game! Way to go Teresa and Jacob! I am so proud of you guys for kicking ass!

I can't believe how low scoring this challenge is (for reference, the winner had 333 points last year, this year max is 227). This was by far the weakest NCAA tournament ever and the most absurd (the set up and seeding). Huge props are deserved to Jacob and Teresa for predicting as well as they have with all of the upsets that have happened! Way to go, guys!!!

Final Four... today!

There are only Four teams left in the NCAA Basketball Championship... and there are only four people vying for the Young Family Bracket Challenge Trophy!

Teresa, Brad, Jacob, and Nathaniel are the only member remaining that could win the challenge... and here is how:

Teresa will win if... Duke defeats West Virginia in the Final Four game, but loses in the Championship.

Brad will win if... West Virginia defeats Duke in the Final Four game, but loses in the Championship game.

Jacob will win if... Duke wins the National Championship.

Nathaniel will win if... West Virginia wins the National Championship.

It's as simple as that!

Go WVU... and then Butler or Michigan State to win it all!

In other news, I'm happy to report that if Brad does not win, he cannot finish in second place... again...!

Beth & Jeremy Bird Flee Vegas Amid Gambling Charges

It has come to the attention of the Young Family Bracket Challenge that Beth and Jeremy Bird have fled Las Vegas, Nev. amid information that they may have put money on Nathaniel Abbott and West Virginia to win the National Championship - a team neither of them selected in their own brackets.

It is believed to be a strategy to make money off of the NCAA Tournament after both of them had been out of contention to take the 2010 Challenge.

Reports of Beth Bird repeatedly saying, "I called it!! ...I said Nathaniel would take it this year... GO NATHANIEL!!!!!!!!!!!!," has spurned concern to bracket challenge participants. Nathaniel Royce Abbott is currently in third place and is the lead contender for the 2010 Challenge crown if West Virginia does win the National Championship.

Also, numerous anonymous reports have come in, including a tip from a close friend of the family, saying they mentioned placing a bet in Vegas on the National Championship game.

While gambling is not prohibited by the Young Family Bracket Challenge Rules, this situation is frowned upon based on the rule that prohibits participating in other bracket challenges. It is believed that the two suspects placed money on West Virginia in hopes of making a formidable amount of money after not winning the Bracket Challenge three years in a row.

The initial report came from the receptionist at the Treasure Island Resort on the strip of Las Vegas. She mentioned hearing Jeremy tell Beth he planned on buying a brand new Toyota 4Runner with the winnings he would receive after placing money on Nathaniel Abbott to win it all. The witness also reported that Beth was practically drooling over the ideas of remodeling her kitchen and installing a see-through fireplace to connect the living room and family room.

"I'm appalled by their actions and their decision to exploit my beautiful and innocent child," says Heather Abbott, mother and fan club president of Nathaniel Royce Abbott. "If anyone should be able to exploit him for money, it should be me and his father, not an Aunt and Uncle who lives hundreds of miles away. I'm disgusted by this, and if they wish to ever see my son again, they better hope they win because they will need to split the winnings 50/50 with me. I've got some new prescription drugs ER bills coming my way, and that sh*t is expensive... you know... 'doctor's orders'."

The last report about Beth and Jeremy placed them boarding American Airlines Flight 1476 in Dallas/Fortworth, Texas... destination unknown.

We will give you the most up to date information as we receive it while the Board will discuss any ramifications of their exploitation of their nephew for money.

Past Winner DISQUALIFIED from 2010 Challenge

The Board of the 2010 Young Family Bracket Challenge was presented evidence, today, that acknowledges and proves the use of drugs by a participant during the Bracket Challenge time period. The use of drugs is strictly forbidden and is grounds for immediate disqualification based on board approval.

The Board has voted for the disqualification of Heather Hartley Young Abbott, the winner of the 2008, and inaugural, Young Family Bracket Challenge after receiving a transcript of this text message:

"The drugs are making me feel like I can do anything... my mind was so deluted that I tried to give the drugs up today and concuree...".

No one is sure what "concuree" is... but our guess it's the drugs talking.

"We are deeply saddened to see a disqualification in our world-renowned Bracket Challenge," says the Media Representative for the Board. "However, there is a no-tolerance policy for drugs in this game. Heather Abbott's actions were inexcusable and her disqualification was the right decision... in other words, she sucks."

This is the first time a member of the Young Family has been disqualified for drug use. Abbott was in 11th place before the disqualification with the opportunity to achieve more points as her national champion selection was West Virginia.

Abbott has self proclaimed that she is "'Heart'ly", but when asked about her disqualification, she seemed under the influence and unashamed of her disqualification; which could defy her own self proclamation.

"OMG! I AM [on drugs]!..." Abbott says, but later followed with a snicker and said, "He he he... he he... he he."

Members of the 2010 Young Family Bracket Challenge are outraged and disappointed upon hearing the news.

"This is effin' ridiculous. You think you know someone... you think you can trust them to make all the right decisions and then they don't! It makes me wonder how long she has been on drugs. Maybe the 2008 title should have been mine - she was probably hopped up on drugs then, too; it sure explains how she can't spell things correctly. She needs to watch out for me and my calves... I may kick some ass." - Bradley Young

"I can't believe how freely the words came out... 'The drugs are making me feel like I can do anything.' She couldn't function at Wally World. I'm at a loss for words. I really hope the kids aren't reading this... so, so disappointing. I guess finishing 2nd to last has pushed her over the edge. Did she really think us being on the Board would save her? I'm afraid the only thing that will save her for next season is... rehab. I'm now sure those were not disturbing texts... it was the drugs making her paranoid. They didn't say 'I'll break your other foot'... it probably read, 'I hope you're careful and don't hurt your other foot.' As for her son... it wasn't, 'Can I pay Nathaniel off?'... it was more like 'Can I send Nathaniel some money for that game he is saving for?' See how the drugs make her delusional? Well, at least she wasn't in the top five... man, she didn't even make the top 10... but at least she finally admitted it. I just hope I can sleep tonight." - Teresa Matters, 2009 Bracket Challenge Winner

"I really don't know how I feel. Nathaniel has been doing so good thus far. She keeps saying that she has been teaching Nathaniel everything she knows. What exactly is that? I'm worried about the safety of the other participants." - Robert Young

Heather Hartley Young Abbott... your FAIL is now official.

Abbott's Injury Responsible for Poor Showing

When Heather Abbott filled out her bracket, she had something more on her mind. With those disturbing text messages being sent to her from the very beginning, she understood that soon in the future she was going to get hurt... emotionally and physically.

Then, low and behold, back on Sunday, March 28, 2010, while attending church, the moment she had been waiting for occurred. She tripped over a step coming down from the altar, fell and sprained her foot and ended up in the Holzer Medical Center Emergency Room.

"I knew from the very first time I received that first text message that something was going to happen to me," Heather Abbott said, shaking with fear and paranoia and with a big homemade black censor circle covering her face. "I was fearful and worried and my mind was not focused on the Challenge at hand because I knew I was going to go down... hard."

So it's no surprise that she currently sits in 11th place with only 85 points, healthily out of contention for the Challenge crown - one that she won in its inaugural season after predicting all four members of the Final Four correctly (a Young Family Bracket Challenge Record).

"It worked out for the best - me not finishing well in the Challenge," Abbott continued, "because imagine what would have happened to me had I been in the running for first place. He/She who must not be named could have really hurt me."

Is it a coincidence that this happened at church? Does He/She who must not be named have connections with the big Man upstairs?

"I don't think it's a coincidence at all. I've always known that He/She who must not be named was 'divinely' dangerous and was capable of striking me down if I posed a threat. It's a horrible curse to be so perfect. I guess I'm simply too much of a bad ass and a threat to the family in this Challenge that they have to take me down at church."

Abbott later commented that she's afraid to go back to church until after the winner of the 2010 edition of the Young Family Bracket Challenge has been announced. Until then, she admits, she will stay indoors under the protection of Lindsey Abbott and her dogs Bo and Bristol.

Abbott is currently still in a considerable amount of pain, but is able to occasionally walk without her crutches. She is open to 'Get Well' cards and balloons, especially since she's been traumatized not only physically but emotionally. For information on how to send Heather Abbott a care package, please contact Brad.

The pictures below are graphic and not suitable for children or the weak of stomach. However, it is important for everyone to know what they're dealing with... First text messages, then this... what's next, He/She who must not be named?... What's next?

Disturbing Text Messages

I am about to share with all of you something that I feel, is of great importance. On Sunday March 28, at exactly 3:34 pm, while I was suffering from extreme pain from a sprained foot, my phone dinged with the arrival of a text message from one of our own. What I am about to write next, may be very graphic, so parental discretion is advised....the text message read....."SHUT IT UP....or ill BREAK ur other foot-LOL".
One of our own everyone, this came from one of our own...I didn't know what to say....I mean I was devastated by their words...and then to make it worse..4 minutes later, the same person texted me another disturbing message, and it read...."can i pay off Nathaniel.....dont tell brad?"
I wish to keep the texters identity a secret, in order to protect my other foot, and to protect my son, who is a contender for this years Bracket Challenge. I hope that you all can respect my decision to keep my family safe. I just felt it was necessary to let all of you know, that one of our own, did this and you all to could be their next victim. So when you receive a text message from any one of us, beware, because you could be the next target.