RON BRAMMER MEMORIAL

 

Strat-O-Matic Sponsors Tournaments September 28-30

 

 

The Ron Brammer Memorial Strat-O-Matic football and hockey tournaments will be Sept. 28-30 at the Clatien Hotel in Bloomington, IL.

 

            The eighth-annual tournament weekend, previously named for former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, was renamed five years ago for its first organizer, the late Ron “Mad Dog” Brammer. Brammer was well-known in Strat football circles for his tournament play, his work on past-season football cards (both for STRAT FAN and for Strat-O-Matic) and his kind nature.

 

            Gamers will compete for trophies donated by the Strat-O-Matic game company.

 

            “Oregon Ron” Dickinson, who co-organized the tournament from the start and took over its operation after Brammer’s death, said he expects another large turnout of gamers this year. “We have had gamers from 11 states so far, and we are hoping to add to that total this year” states Dickinson. I also anticipate a few of my online opponents making an appearance this year. I know we have at least 5-6 new player’s this year including the legendary (Dark Father) Vic Artibey coming all the way from sunny LA!  Many of these guys are long time board gamers and still like the challenge of sitting across from a live opponent. This is a great weekend of competition and comrade, it is really fun to meet and talk to some of the country’s finest players.    

 

            Both the football tournament and the hockey tournament are played with stock teams drafted by participants.

 

            “The football draft is all stock teams with all new format teams -- the original 1981-present stock Strat-O-Matic teams, all STRAT FAN teams, and any that Strat-O-Matic releases from the computer game on card stock,” Dickinson explained.

 

            Dickinson said he will bring all the teams he thinks participants might want to draft, but he advises gamers to bring their own teams to scout opponents. Copies of tournament teams created by "Mad Dog" Brammer will be available for purchase (permission has been granted by Strat-O-Matic to allow for this).

 

Similarly, the hockey tournament will use “Any new format (2-12 goalies) team from a complete season set, including STRAT FAN sets.  This includes ’55-56, ‘59-60, ‘62-63, ‘66-67, ‘67-68, ‘70-71, ’74-75, ’75-76 WHA, ‘76-77 and ‘92-93 through 2002-06.  STRAT FAN’s ‘55-56 Montreal, ‘71-72 Boston and the Great Teams set are not eligible,” hockey organizer Scott Trester said. 

 

For hockey, “Gamers are expected to supply their own team.  Everyone usually has half a dozen teams or so they'd be interested in using,” Trester said.

           

 

 

            Friday, Sept. 28: Football rules discussion at 7:30 p.m. Draft at 10 p.m. Gamers who cannot make it to the tournament until Saturday may participate in the draft by phone.

 

            Saturday, Sept. 29: Football games at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and about 5 p.m.

 

            Hockey games begin 8 a.m. on Saturday and play a home and home round robin with each opponent to determine playoff position.

 

Sunday, Sept. 30: Single-elimination playoff football games (the top 8-16 teams, depending on number of entries) begin at 8 a.m.

 

            Hockey playoffs for the top four teams begin at 8 a.m. with best-of-three semifinals. The finals will be at least best-of-three, longer if the finalists’ departure schedules permit.

 

Entry fee is $45, which includes lunch Saturday and Sunday. Send your entry fee to: Ron Dickinson, 8880 N. Grove Street, Leaf River, Il 61047. For more information, including tournament rules, call Dickinson at 815-275-7240.  Or email him at ronald13247@msn.com. Questions about the tournament also are being answered by Mike Kane and Dickinson on the internet Strat-O-Matic Forum

http://www.stratfanforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42728

 

 

Questions on the hockey tournament should be directed to Scott Trester at somplayer@sbcglobal.net.

 

            Hotel rooms are $70 per night plus tax, which includes breakfast, but this discount is available only through Sept 20. These rooms will all be located poolside, and be close to the gaming room.  It is important to reserve in advance as the room rate is higher in September 20, and there are limited rooms available after that(as the hotel is reserving a block of rooms for us to be all together until then) Call the Clarion at 800-385-0000 or 309-662-5311 and ask for the rate for the Ron Brammer Memorial. The Hotel has been completely remodeled and includes a complementary breakfast.  Hope to see you all there and have the best tournament ever!!!!!!