Like many of you, I was a bit concerned about Baby Mangino's initial dominance in the bracket. Was this a rash, spur-of-the-moment choice that we'd all regret down the line, like Driving Miss Daisy winning Best Picture or the Buccaneers winning the Super Bowl? But, like some of you, I eventually came around, and the reason was the last week of voting.

I found myself charmed by, of all things, the local news report about the Lubbers family's obvious pride in young Bode's accomplishments. I've always considered Deadspin, more than anything else, a site about fun, about how so much of sports has lost it, how we can all regain it again. It's about how sports is silly, how it's a diversion, how it's a way to step away from the world for a few hours and enter a place of simplicity, purity and goofiness. (Even if sports is often the furthest thing from simple, pure or goofy.)

I've come to appreciate Baby Mangino, and the fact that some caustic but ultimately good-hearted commenters took a funny baby picture and turned it into something larger, something that inspires piffly local news broadcasts with "human interest" stories, and inspires Buzz Bissinger to joke about the baby being "full of shit." I like that it's a sports story that's as harmless as it is to continuously laugh at. And yeah: I like that Baby Mangino is so cute. That's OK. This is not meant to be a site that makes you feel like you need to take a shower after reading it. There are nastier sites out there, worthy, commendable sites, but nastier nevertheless. I think Baby Mangino is a vote for the silliness of it all. I like that.

And, if your candidate didn't win, you can always watch the above video again. The ball is tipped ...

VIDEO: The brilliant Mike Byhoff

After that local news hit yesterday and Bissinger's legitimately hilarious response — I, too, think that baby is likely full of shit — I suspect many of you are torn about whom to vote for. I feel your pain. Think it over. Big decision. Could change the molecular structure of the universe. So take your time.

Voting will be closed directly after the Steelers-Chargers game Sunday afternoon, so you have until then. You can also vote in this post. But it's a doozy: This is clearly the most fun SHOTY Final we've ever had.

What's most fascinating about the video to me is that Mrs. Lubbers has seemingly been following her son's Godzilla-like trouncing of all SHOTY comers up to this point. She seems genuinely excited about his potential victory, even though she or — let's face it — anybody else has any idea what this all means. I guess to her it simply means that she's the proud owner of a cute baby — a possible CHAMPIONSHIP baby — and that many other anonymous strangers on the internet tend to agree. Mrs. Lubbers also hopes that one day Coach Mangino will take the time to be photographed with young Bode. How hasn't that happened yet? If anything, maybe the publicity from this well-intentioned but utterly ridiculous tournament will make that dream a reality. And what does this mean to young Bode Lubbers? I think the image of him eating a plastic toy and drooling pretty much sums up SHOTY quite nicely.

Of course it wouldn't be fair to give Baby Mangino more time to win your votes, so I asked our other finalist, one H.G. Bissinger, if he had any thoughts on the Lubber's politicking. His response:

"Anybody who actually tries to drum up support for this is a bigger loser than the way Will Leitch looks in his Sporting News pic. Jimmy Olson on Percoset..."

Oh and...

"I'm just gonna say it right now. I think the Mangino baby is full of shit."

So, there you have it: Buzz has just dissed the baby, the baby's mom, and Will Leitch (again) in one fell swoop. For some reason, I feel this can only help him in this competition.

Your vote still counts and only you will be able to decide who takes home the SHOTY. Vote now.

It has been a winding road, but it's down to two: No. 1 seed Buzz Bissinger vs. No. 11 seed Baby Mangino. Voting will be open until next Sunday evening. Let's take a look at the competitors, one last time. We'll also check in on the voting as the week goes along as well.

No. 1 Buzz Bissinger
Opined.
Loudly.
Discussed.
Made up.
Entered the Hall of Fame.

No. 11 Baby Mangino

Existed.

So, make your voice heard. Who will join 2006 SHOTY Barbaro and 2007 SHOTY Isiah Thomas? It's on.

We have entered the final weekend of SHOTY voting, so we all thought we'd take a moment to remind you to vote, if you haven't, and update you on how voting is going. Polls will close at 12:01 ET Monday morning. Here's where the count stands:

Baby Mangino 75 percent, Isiah Thomas 25 percent.

And: Erin Andrews 55 percent, Buzz Bissinger 45 percent.

It's worth noting that at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Bissinger was up on Andrews by a Franken-esque two votes. At 7 p.m.? Andrews was up by 1,300 votes. Take from that what you will. But there is still time.

So vote. That's how we're all spending our weekend.

As mentioned yesterday, voting for both Final Four matchups will be open until Sunday. So fire up.

It's No. 7 seed Isiah Thomas vs. No. 11 seed Baby Mangino. A look at the nominees' 2008 resumes:

No. 7 Isiah Thomas

Won 2007 SHOTY.
Presided over the greatest possession in NBA history.
Got fired, somehow.
Earned $18 million for staying away from his team.
Entered Deadspin Hall of Fame.
Tried to kill himself with sleeping pills.
Blamed it on his daughter.

No. 11 Baby Mangino

Existed.

So, who wins?

The Final Four begins today, and continues tomorrow. Voting is open until next Sunday, with the Finals beginning a week from today. So now, kids, the votes really count. (Note: Votes not ultimately changing earth.)

Today: It's No. 1 seed Buzz Bissinger vs. No. 12 Erin Andrews. A look at the nominees' 2008 resumes:

No. 1 Buzz Bissinger
Opined.
Loudly.
Discussed.
Made up.
Entered the Hall of Fame.

No. 12 Erin Andrews
Attacked by Bruce Pearl.
Angered Mike Nadal.
Showed up everywhere.

Vote! It only takes one hand!

So, we have No. 1 seed Buzz Bissinger vs. No. 12 seed Erin Andrews, and No. 7 seed Isiah Thomas vs. No. 11 seed Baby Mangino. It's gonna be a spirited battle for the title.

We're gonna hold off until next week for the voting, because it's Christmas, and though I might not have anything better to do, I suspect you do. So take a few days with the family, mull over your decision making process and be ready to vote on the last four next Monday.

You're going to have today and the weekend to vote on this one, so make it count. The Final Four will begin a week from Monday.

A look at the bracket to this point. (Thanks, Tick Crotch Jim Cooke.)

It's No. 1 seed Buzz Bissinger vs. No. 8 Mark Cuban. A look at the nominees' 2008 resumes:

No. 1 Buzz Bissinger
Opined.
Loudly.
Discussed.
Made up.
Entered the Hall of Fame.

No. 8 Mark Cuban
Ired by this site's former editor, for reasons unknown to anyone else.
Banned bloggers from his locker room, for reasons unknown to anyone else.
Pretended he had a chance to buy the Cubs.
Charged with insider trading, kind of.

I'm afraid to vote here, lest the one I choose (or not choose) come after me. But you don't have that problem. So vote.

I remind again that voting is open until Sunday night. A look at the bracket to this point. (Thanks, Johnny Excretory Malfunction Jim Cooke.)

Voting will remain open through next week ... so let's go. It's No. 4 seed Chris Cooley vs. No. 12 seed Erin Andrews. A look at the nominees' 2008 resumes:

No. 4 Chris Cooley
Married a cheerleader.
Displayed some playbook penis.
Deputized brother for Daulerio public relations call.

No. 12 Erin Andrews
Attacked by Bruce Pearl.
Angered Mike Nadal.
Showed up everywhere.

Vote, you beautiful rapscallions.

OK, let's not pussyfoot around. Voting for Elite Eight round matchups is open until Sunday night.

First, a look at the bracket to this point. (Thanks, Happy Pants Jim Cooke.)

Voting will remain open through next week ... so let's go. It's No. 3 seed Chris Berman vs. No. 11 seed Baby Mangino. A look at the nominees' 2008 resumes:

No. 3 Chris Berman
Perturbed, slightly, with behind-camera movement.
Forced ESPN to take video brilliance off YouTube.
Watched Deadspin hang onto them anyway.

No. 11 Baby Mangino

Existed.

So, who wins?

The first round goes a lot faster under Daulerio's stewardship than it did under mine; seems like we went into April last year. Anyway, we're ready to start knocking these puppies out. Two old faves battling it out this happy Friday.

First, a look at the bracket to this point. (Thanks, Happy Pants Jim Cooke.)

Voting will remain open through next week ... so let's go. It's No. 2 seed Roger Clemens vs. No. 7 seed Isiah Thomas. A look at the nominees' 2008 resumes:

No. 2 Roger Clemens
Held a press conference, kind of.
Feuded with Andy Pettitte, kind of.
Told Congress about bleeding through his pants.
Gaped as old flames reared their heads, ugly and otherwise.
Got boners.
Sold a car to Bret Michaels.

No. 7 Isiah Thomas
Won 2007 SHOTY.
Presided over the greatest possession in NBA history.
Got fired, somehow.
Earned $18 million for staying away from his team.
Entered Deadspin Hall of Fame.
Tried to kill himself with sleeping pills.
Blamed it on his daughter.

That's the ticket, folks. Vote as if the world will end tomorrow via a hailstorm of rodents.

Some of those were out around Thanksgiving and you might have missed them. So, after the jump, your quicklinks to voting nirvana.

No. 1 Buzz Bissinger vs. No. 16 Mike Singletary

No. 2 Roger Clemens vs. No. 15 Vince Young

No. 3 Chris Berman vs. No. 14 Kevin Hart

No. 4 Chris Cooley vs. No. 13 Caitlin Davis

No. 5 Dana Jacobson vs. No. 12 Erin Andrews

No. 6 Brett Favre vs. No. 11 Baby Mangino

No. 7 Isiah Thomas vs. No. 10 Nightmare Ant

No. 8 Mark Cuban vs. No. 9 Matt Leinart

Vote ... WHILE THERE'S STILL TIME!

Voting will remain open until the end of the first round ... nice and easy. No. 5 seed Dana Jacobson vs. No. 12 Erin Andrews. A look at the nominees' 2008 resumes:

No. 5 Dana Jacobson
Angers Charlie Weis.
Suspended.
Photographed.
Protested.

No. 12 Erin Andrews
Attacked by Bruce Pearl.
Angered Mike Nadal.
Showed up everywhere.

Vote! It only takes one hand!

Voting will remain open until the end of the first round ... nice and easy. No. 4 seed Chris Cooley vs. No. 13 Caitlin Davis. A look at the nominees' 2008 resumes:

No. 4 Chris Cooley
Married a cheerleader.
Displayed some playbook penis.
Deputized brother for Daulerio public relations call.

No. 13 Caitlin Davis
Drew penises and swastikas.
Fired
Told her story to TMZ.
Gonna have somebody beat Daulerio's ass.

Vote! It's all one can ask.

Voting will remain open until the end of the first round ... nice and easy. 1-16. It's No. 1 seed Buzz Bissinger vs. No. 16 Mike Singletary. A look at the nominees' 2008 resumes:

No. 1 Buzz Bissinger
Opined.
Loudly.
Discussed.
Made up.
Entered the Hall of Fame.

No. 16 Mike Singletary
Flipped out.
Dropped pants.

Vote! It's all one can ask.

Voting will remain open until the end of the first round ... and we've got two heroes from very early on in the year stacking up. It's No. 3 seed Chris Berman vs. No. 14 Kevin Hart. A look at the nominees' 2008 resumes:

No. 3 Chris Berman
Perturbed, slightly, with behind-camera movement.
Forced ESPN to take video brilliance off YouTube.
Watched Deadspin hang onto them anyway.

No. 14 Kevin Hart
Announced his collegiate intentions.
Scammed?
Nope. It's recruiting, Imaginationland-style.

Vote like the wind.

Voting will remain open until the end of the first round ... and since everyone's back at work today, let's hit a solid matchup. It's No. 6 seed Brett Favre vs. No. 11 Baby Mangino. A look at the nominees' 2008 resumes:

No. 6 Brett Favre
Cost Packers the Super Bowl.
Retired.
Didn't.
Stalked by Rachel Nichols.
Traded to Jets.
Turned out pretty good, actually.

No. 11 Baby Mangino

Existed.

So, who wins?