bracketology, braces, etc.

[Laurence Horn]

On Dec 21, 2011, at 2:39 AM, Victor Steinbok wrote:

> Bracketology appears to have been last mentioned here by LHorn on 13 Mar
> 2005 20:56:41. But the expression has since gone outside
> basketball--it's been seen and heard with respect to any playoffs or
> elimination-style tournaments, including, for example, tennis. But it
> need not be limited to sports.

For aficionados (or those who would like to become one), I highly recommend _American Bracketology: The Final Four of Everything Red, White, and Blue_ by Mark Reiter and Richard Sandomir:
http://www.keenzo.com/showproduct.asp?ID=3558787
It makes a great present (although you'll have to spring for Amazon's expedited shipping if you're aiming for this Christmas).  

LH


> 
> http://goo.gl/mQ0B5
> Bracketology update: Newt oozes into the lead
>> Way back at the end of March, nine long months ago, we decided to set
>> up a bracket-like approach for determining the Republican nominee.
>> Forget all those polls and all that insider nonsense that Chris the
>> Fix peddles. It’s time for bracketology. ... It was a good idea, good
>> enough that other columnists and bloggers have now swiped it,
>> including Joe Klein.
> 
> I suppose, it's still a sports metaphor, but without the actual bracket
> to go with it.
> 
> ...

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org