It’s too bad Michigan State couldn’t upset North Carolina last night, or we’d be celebrating two tournament shockers. The 2008 Culture Tournament champ, Erin Andrews, was stunned on a Laettner-esque shot at the buzzer by Megan Fox, 51-49.
No word on if Andrews is going to opt for the pros after two dominant years in the collegiate ranks. Miss Fox was unavailable for comment as she’s promoting Transformers 2, which, predictably, looks loud, flashy, and rad.
As we head into the final TV timeout, it’s looking like we’ll have Megan Fox – aka Angelina Jolie Jr. – in the 2009 Culture Bracket finals against defending champ Erin Andrews. Tonight is your last chance to vote. Admit it – part of you wishes Andrews would forgo her final two years of eligibility and leap to the pros and given everyone else a chance. A few readers have convinced us – next year we’ll shepherd all the females into one bracket and give everyone else a shot at the Final Four.
The final will begin Friday and last through Monday – the screen-grab superstar Sports Hernia is on tap this weekend – when we crown the champ.
No. 14 Bar Refaeli vs. No. 1 Megan Fox
Megan Fox (54%, 3,015 Votes)
Bar Refaeli (46%, 2,520 Votes)
Total Voters: 5,535
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No. 1 Erin Andrews vs. No. 5 Plaxico Burress Shooting Himself
Erin Andrews (73%, 3,993 Votes)
Plaxico Burress Shooting Himself (27%, 1,448 Votes)
Total Voters: 5,441
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Unrelated: Thaddeus Young, who has been great for the 76ers in recent weeks, is on the shelf for the remainder of the regular season, and perhaps some of the playoffs. Good luck stealing that 5th seed and avoiding Boston in the first round.
Should we have gone with the more scintillating Final 4 matchup to pique your interest? Bar vs. Fox probably would be the prime-time game, preceded by defending champ and No. 1 seed Erin Andrews against No. 5 Plaxico Burress shooting himself. But we’ll give Plax some face-time because he stunned LeBron in the closest regional semifinal. Final 4 voting will be open through Wednesday night. If anyone is friendly with a member of the Plaxico fan club, it might be wise to give them a heads up in an effort to dethrone Andrews, who is rolling people like that powerful UNLV team in 1990-1991.
No. 14 Bar Refaeli vs. No. 1 Megan Fox
Megan Fox (54%, 3,015 Votes)
Bar Refaeli (46%, 2,520 Votes)
Total Voters: 5,535
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No. 1 Erin Andrews vs. No. 5 Plaxico Burress Shooting Himself
Erin Andrews (73%, 3,993 Votes)
Plaxico Burress Shooting Himself (27%, 1,448 Votes)
Total Voters: 5,441
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Hoops: First, go vote in the Culture Bracket Elite Eight. Voting ends tonight. Also - USA Today ran our "Most Hated" list, and came up with an all-time list. Laettner was tops. (Our one regret from the list - that we had called it "players fans love to hate." Because nobody actually hates any of these guys. Dislike? Sure.) (6)
The Elite Eight is here. Cinderella was on the cover of the SI Swimsuit issue, Tiger and LeBron remain, and Erin Andrews faces her toughest test of the tournament: fellow ESPNer Bill Simmons. Vote early. Then tell your friends. The regional finals voting will remain open through Friday. We’ll do the Final Four next week.
No. 1 Tiger Woods vs. 14 Bar Refaeli
Bar Refaeli (55%, 1,151 Votes)
Tiger Woods (45%, 941 Votes)
Total Voters: 2,092
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No. 1 Megan Fox vs. No. 10 Marko Jaric's Wife
Megan Fox (59%, 1,234 Votes)
Marko Jaric's Wife (41%, 848 Votes)
Total Voters: 2,082
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No. 1 Erin Andrews vs. No. 3 Bill Simmons
Erin Andrews (60%, 1,371 Votes)
Bill Simmons (40%, 903 Votes)
Total Voters: 2,274
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No. 5 Plaxico Burress Shooting Himself vs. No. 2 LeBron James
Plaxico Burress Shooting Himself (51%, 1,021 Votes)
For your halftime enjoyment – the opportunity to vote on every Culture Bracket Sweet 16 matchup! Voting ends tomorrow. Tiger needs 30 votes, so go tell your friends to vote. (And yes, this photo is wishful thinking that the Terps beat Memphis next.)
No. 1 Megan Fox vs. No. 4 Broke NBA Players
Megan Fox (79%, 993 Votes)
Broke NBA Players (21%, 268 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,261
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No. 14 Michael Phelps' Bong Hit vs. No. 10 Marko Jaric's Wife
Marko Jaric's Wife (66%, 804 Votes)
Michael Phelps' Bong Hit (34%, 415 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,219
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No. 1 Tiger Woods vs. No. 5 Cheryl Cole
Tiger Woods (52%, 957 Votes)
Cheryl Cole (48%, 901 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,858
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No. 14 Bar Refaeli vs. No. 7 Hope and Change
Bar Refaeli (74%, 1,338 Votes)
Hope and Change (26%, 461 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,799
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No. 1 Erin Andrews vs. No. 4 Blake Griffin
Erin Andrews (83%, 1,453 Votes)
Blake Griffin (17%, 305 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,758
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No. 3 Bill Simmons vs. No. 10 Bud Selig's Cluelessness
Bill Simmons (57%, 962 Votes)
Bud Selig's Cluelessness (43%, 714 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,676
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No. 2 LeBron James vs No. 14. Usain Bolt
LeBron James (56%, 747 Votes)
Usain Bolt (44%, 576 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,323
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No. 8 Rihanna vs. No. 5 Plaxico Burress Shooting Himself
This photo was taken in Dayton. On St. Patty’s Day. Do you recognize a certain someone? If you’re at a loss for who we’re talking about, see here. At any rate, Blake Griffin advanced to the second round in the NCAA tourney last night; does the best player in college basketball have a chance against the defending champ in the Culture Bracket? Yesterday’s matchups are going mostly according to form … except that No. 1 seed Tiger Woods is on the ropes against WAG Cheryl Cole. You can vote through the weekend; we’ll be reminding you since we’re on weekend duty.
No. 1 Erin Andrews vs. No. 4 Blake Griffin
Erin Andrews (83%, 1,453 Votes)
Blake Griffin (17%, 305 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,758
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No. 3 Bill Simmons vs. No. 10 Bud Selig's Cluelessness
Bill Simmons (57%, 962 Votes)
Bud Selig's Cluelessness (43%, 714 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,676
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No. 2 LeBron James vs No. 14. Usain Bolt
LeBron James (56%, 747 Votes)
Usain Bolt (44%, 576 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,323
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No. 8 Rihanna vs. No. 5 Plaxico Burress Shooting Himself
The Culture Bracket has reached the Sweet 16. Three of the four No. 1 seeds remain intact, including defending champion Erin Andrews (who seems to be on collision course with fellow ESPNer Bill Simmons in the Elite 8). We’ll post the other Sweet 16 games tonight.
No. 1 Tiger Woods vs. No. 5 Cheryl Cole
Tiger Woods (52%, 957 Votes)
Cheryl Cole (48%, 901 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,858
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No. 14 Bar Refaeli vs. No. 7 Hope and Change
Bar Refaeli (74%, 1,338 Votes)
Hope and Change (26%, 461 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,799
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No. 1 Megan Fox vs. No. 4 Broke NBA Players
Megan Fox (79%, 958 Votes)
Broke NBA Players (21%, 253 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,211
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No. 14 Michael Phelps' Bong Hit vs. No. 10 Marko Jaric's Wife
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It’s too bad Michigan State couldn’t upset North Carolina last night, or we’d be celebrating two tournament shockers. The 
Should we have gone with the more scintillating
The 
