The greatest tournament in the galaxykicks off today! No, I’m not talking about that silly, boring tournament involving – yawn – college basketball. I’m talking about the “This Is Madness: The Star Wars Character Tournament”, where Star Wars fans all over the world get to pick who is the best representative of that mythic series.
Last year’s winner was Jedi Master Yoda who defied the odds after beating some of his closest allies. This year looks like it will be tough for the little green guy to repeat, with some old friends and new competitors added to the mix.
And just like last year, I’m joined by fellow Star Wars geek Ben Finfer, sports radio host on “The Game 87.7 FM“.
Together we will do a run down of the opening round match-ups, and who we think will win.
CAST YOUR VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE STAR WARS CHARACTER!
Here we go!:
THIS IS MADNESS: STAR WARS CHARACTER TOURNAMENT – ROUND ONE PREDICTIONS
R2-D2 VS. WEDGE ANTILLES
Ben Finfer: Surviving attacks on two Death Stars should garner Wedge some support. But he’ll lose the all-important droid vote.
Winner: R2-D2
Elliott Serrano: The “Legend of Wedge” – along with his fan base – has been growing since the Battle of Yavin, as his exploits as leader of Rogue Squadron are told in many books and novels. But, I’m not sure it makes up for bailing on Luke during the Death Star Trench Battle, and R2 was there to his bitter end. So I’m with Finfer on this one.
Winner: R2-D2
PRINCESS LEIA VS. ADMIRAL ACKBAR
Finfer: It’s a TRAP game for Leia! Ackbar moves on.
Winner: Admiral Ackbar
Serrano: Leia proclaims “somebody get this walking sushi bar outta my way” as she trounces the Admiral.
Winner: Princess Leia
YODA VS. QUI-GON JINN
Finfer: Tough first round matchup. Unfortunately Qui-Gon’s particular set of skills will be insufficient against the tournament’s defending champion.
Winner: Yoda
Serrano: Pitting two Jedi Masters against each other seems like a dastardly move. I wonder if the bracket makers included a Sith Lord? Too bad Qui-Gon = “he gone” after Yoda beats him quicker than Darth Maul.
Winner: Yoda
OBI-WAN KENOBI VS. LUKE SKYWALKER
Finfer: In the first round!?! Harsh. Anyway, it goes to Obi-Wan unless he just loses on purpose to prove some point.
Winner: Obi-Wan Kenobi
Serrano: Yeah, I sense the machinations of a Sith Lord in this bracket as well. I can’t see the Force allowing the New Hope to lose to the Crazy Old Wizard.
Winner: Luke Skywalker
CHEWBACCA VS. LANDO CALRISSIAN
Finfer: One of these two can pull arms out of sockets, the other is played by a guy who’s appearing on “Dancing With Stars.” Gimme the Wookie.
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Winner: Chewbacca
Serrano: If only Lando had a can of Colt 45 to give Chewbacca and get him too drunk to care. Alas, the Wookiee always wins.
Winner: Chewbacca
HAN SOLO VS. HONDO OHNAKA
Finfer: Han easily handles Hondo. This will be close to a shutout for the galaxy’s most famous smuggler.
Winner: Han Solo
Serrano: The Star Wars Universe loves their scruffy-looking nerf herders, even though they hit on your sister while you’re recovering from a wampa attack.
Winner: Han Solo
PADME AMIDALA VS. BAIL ORGANA
Finfer: Padme is the Queen Mum and vital to the Star Wars story arc. Bail Organa was just another paycheck for Jimmy Smits.
Winner: Padme Amidala
Serrano: Padme has never been a great decision maker, from helping bring down Chancellor Valorum to falling in love with Anakin Skywalker while he was in his “creepy stalker stare” phase. At least her daughter developed leadership skills and better taste in men under Bail Organa.
Winner: Bail Organa
CAPTAIN REX VS. ARC TROOPER FIVES
Finfer: I don’t know either of these two characters. But Captain Rex reminds me of Rex Grossman. So I’m going with the other guy/clone.
Winner: Arc Trooper Fives
Serrano: Come on Finfer! You can catch the entire “Clone Wars” series, including the new “Lost Missions” on Netflix! Binge watch the show and see what a badass Captain Rex is.
Winner: Captain Rex
TARKIN VS. ADMIRAL PIETT
Finfer: I think Tarkin makes a deep run in this tournament. Admiral Piett, you are no longer in command.
Winner: Tarkin
Serrano: Admiral Piett is the only Imperial Officer to ever survive the Dark Lord’s wrath. Tarkin is going out with his Death Star.
Winner: Admiral Piett
ASAJJ VENTRESS VS. GENERAL GRIEVOUS
Finfer: Grievous is just a sickly mess. But he’s the more well-known character.
Winner: General Grievous
Serrano: Ventress is another Clone Wars character that gets short shrift. I’m going to bet that more Star Wars fans have seen those episodes on Netflix than Finfer has, and rally her to the victory.
Winner: Asajj Ventress
BOBA FETT VS. GREEDO
Finfer: Boba is one of the most beloved characters. Greedo is at the center of the biggest Star Wars controversy… Hanshotfirst-Gate.
Winner: Boba Fett
Serrano: Going somewhere Greedo? Oh yeah, to the morgue. Sorry about the mess.
Winner: Boba Fett
CAD BANE VS. JANGO FETT
Finfer: Jango wins to set up a second-round battle with his son, which he’ll lose. But at least he can brag about Boba to the neighbors.
Winner: Jango Fett
Serrano: Cad Bane did surprisingly well in last year’s tourney, and I’m having strange visions of an upset. Always in motion the future is, difficult to see…
Winner: Cad Bane
DARTH VADER VS. DARTH MAUL
Finfer: Really is a shame. Maul was such a cool character. But Vader is Vader.
Winner: Darth Vader
Serrano: This is a later round match taking place in the opening round, but with all the Jedi falling earlier, I guess the Sith had it coming.
Winner: Darth Vader
EMPEROR PALPATINE VS. COUNT DOOKU
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Finfer: Dooku was always a kiss-ass and never seemed to have his heart in it. This is a pick I feel pretty GOOOOOOOOD about.
Winner: Emperor Palpatine
Serrano: Finfer’s right, Dooku never had his heart in it. Which is why he lost his head! (rimshot)
Winner: Emperor Palpatine
JABBA THE HUTT VS. SALACIOUS CRUMB
Finfer: Crumb was the Jay Leno of Tatooine. He hadn’t been funny in years, but held on to his gig anyway (except for Conan’s eight-month stint as Jabba’s jester).
Winner: Jabba the Hutt
Serrano: Jabba has been holding Crumb back all this time, Finfer! I’m rooting for the cackling little critter!
Winner: Salacious Crumb
MOTHER TALZIN VS. PRE VIZSLA
Finfer: Again, don’t know these two and don’t care. Either one is losing to Jabba in Round Two. I like dogs so I guess I’ll go with the Vizsla.
Winner: Pre Vizsla
Serrano: I’ve seen the pics of Mother Talzin cosplay making the rounds. Impressive. Most impressive.
Winner: Mother Talzin
WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE GREATEST STAR WARS CHARACTER IN THE GALAXY? LET US KNOW!
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