The OMUTURE: Semifinals

THE SURE, YOU'RE A TEENAGER GETTING SHOT AT IN A JUNGLE THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM HOME, BUT LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE BOWL

"19," Paul Hardcastle, 1985

vs. "Don't Worry, Be Happy," Bobby McFerrin, 1988

HOW THEY GOT HERE

19

ROUND 1; Defeated "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen 45-19

ROUND 2: Defeated "Still in Saigon" by The Charlie Daniels Band 42- 16

ROUND 3: Defeated "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2" by Pink Floyd 44-10

ROUND 4; Defeated "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel 28-14

ROUND 5: Defeated "One" by Metallica 35-27

QUARTERFINAL: Defeated: "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors 37-10

Don't Worry, Be Happy

ROUND 1: Defeated "The Longest Time" by Billy Joel 56-0

ROUND 2; Defeated "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners 51-3

ROUND 3: Defeated "Orinoco Flow" by Enya 34-28

ROUND 4: Defeated "Wasn't That a Party" by The Rovers 45-3

ROUND 5: Defeated "Eat It" by Weird Al Yankovic 35-19

QUARTERFINAL: Defeated "I've Never Been to Me" by Charlene 27-21

Final Score: Nineteen 28, Happy 24.  Some observers felt that this could be a slaughter, with McFerrin's team's carefree attitude causing them to be torn to pieces by the battle hardened Hardcastle battalion.  But the Happy team held their own, with the ignorance of the danger presented by their opponents genuinely turning to bliss for much of the game.  But this really was a game that was impossible for him to win, and even though many of his players were severely injured at the end and had to be airlifted out of the stadium, they all still left with smiles on their faces.  Paul and company have proved that they're in this until the bitter end.

THE WAKKA WAKKA WAKKA VS. NYUK NYUK NYUK BOWL

"Pac-Man Fever," Buckner and Garcia, 1982

vs. "The Curly Shuffle," Jump N the Saddle, 1984

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Pac-Man Fever

ROUND 1: Defeated "Digital Display" by Ready for the World 52-10

ROUND 2: Defeated "Double Dutch Bus" by Frankie Smith 42-21

ROUND 3: Defeated "Radio Ga-Ga" by Queen 44-7

ROUND 4: Defeated "Mr. Roboto" by Styx 41-10

ROUND 5: Defeated "Valley Girl" by Frank and Moon Zappa 25-17

QUARTERFINAL; Defeated "Run for the Roses" by Dan Fogelberg 42-13

The Curly Shuffle

ROUND 1: Defeated "Twilight Tone" by The Manhattan Transfer 44-3

ROUND 2: Defeated "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" by Boys Don't Cry 47-7

ROUND 3: Defeated "The Clapping Song" by Pia Zadora 49-17

ROUND 4: Defeated "Walk the Dinosaur" by Was (Not Was) 45-16

ROUND 5: Defeated "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco 31-14

QUARTERFINAL: Defeated "General Hospi-Tale" by The Afternoon Delights 31-21

Final Score: Curly 33, Pac-Man 31.  This was one of the tournament's most exciting games, as both teams played with reckless abandon.  The Stooges' physicality was devastating as usual, and the Pac-Men made many spectacular moves to evade tackles on their way to scores.  The Curly crew seemed on their way to defeat with seconds to go, but they managed to get the winning touchdown on a play so disorganized it resembled slapstick comedy. But it ended with Curly himself in the end zone, and his team rewarding their winning coach not with a Gatorade bath but a pie to the face.  It's Game Over for Buckner and Garcia.  They have played their last quarter.  The Stooges shuffle on to what will surely be a thrilling final.