The LaughingPlace.com Selection Committee has revealed the bracket for the 2014 Mouse Madness tournament, whose theme this year is “Disney Sports.” The committee seeded the selections into four regions; Parks & Resorts, Fiction Films, Non-Fiction Films, and Disney Athletes. The champion of each region will meet in the Fantasmic Four round, with the Mouse Madness Champion being crowned at the end of the tournament.
Selection Committee Chairman Doobie Moseley spoke on their deliberative process, “It made sense for our first Mouse Madness to feature a sports theme, but narrowing the selections down to 16 while paying respects to each region was not easy. So it is with apologies to fans of The Greatest Game Every Played, Secretariat, Glory Road, Herbie, Dexter Reiley and all the rest that we present the final 16. I’m proud of the work the selection committee did and we’re looking forward to a very spirited competition.”
Disney fans will select the champion by voting on LaughingPlace.com or LaughingPlace’s Facebook page. Voting will begin March 19th.
Let’s take a look at the opening round match-ups.
Non-Fiction Region:
The first match-up in the region features 2000’s Remember the Titans, the film that started the modern Disney sports genre against the story of one of the biggest victories in the history of sports, 2004’s Miracle.
Before directing Saving Mr Banks, John Lee Hancock helmed 2002’s The Rookie which is taking on one of the most famous Disney sports movies of all-time, 1993’s Cool Runnings.
Fiction Region:
Two films that feature sports teams that Disney used to own will face each other in the first round as 1994’s Angels in the Outfield faces 1992’s The Mighty Ducks.
The other match-up features the DCOM that became a phenomenon. 2006’s High School Musical will face the most famous film to feature a field-goal kicking mule 1976’s Gus.
Parks & Resorts:
runDisney has grown into a behemoth with several races on both coasts. But don’t underestimate the understated power of Walt Disney World’s mini-golf courses that are open year-round.
The obvious selection meets one that is not-so obvious when Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort meets Toy Story Mania. All-Star Sports surrounds you with representations of the wide world of sports, but Toy Story Mania is an athletic competition that has become quite popular with Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests.
Athletes:
Sport Goofy brings versatility to his competition against Lightning McQueen. But while Lightning McQueen is focused on one sport, it is safe to say he has brought home more championships in the past. Will his streak continue or will Sport Goofy finally find success?
Air Bud has not only conquered many fields of play, his off-spring have also found great success. But is he any match for “the world’s greatest athlete,” Nanu who brings the jungle to the gym?
As you can see the matchups are going to be intense. Only you can help lead your favorites to victory. Don’t forget to vote starting 3/19.