Blockbuster Celtics Prize in our new "MARCH MADNESS" Contest

HEY CELTICS FANS!

It's that time of the year again. It's “March Madness,” when Basketball is in the air! The NCAA Division One Playoffs are about to begin, and the NBA gets down to crunch time to see who makes the playoffs.

With basketball on everyone's mind, SAM'S CELTICS FORUM is running a contest organized as an NCAA MARCH MADNESS POOL (like an office pool). The grand winner of the pool will receive a basketball autographed by every Celtics player who was on the roster as of opening day this season. We're not certain of this ball's value, but basketballs autographed by the 2007-08 team are selling for $1,400 on the Internet, and the autographs will include those of several sure-fire future Hall-of-Fame candidates. (And we hear the value of this ball escalated 2% after last night's game alone). The contest runner-up will receive a current copy of The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia, purchased from the NBA Store in New York City.

Every penny raised by the contest will be donated to the Boston Celtics SHAMROCK FOUNDATION, a not-for-profit charitable organization operated by the Celtics to benefit children. This year's beneficiaries of the Shamrock Foundation are the Perkins School for the Blind, Children's Hospital Boston, Horizons for Homeless Children and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC). So you have the opportunity to qualify to win a valuable autographed basketball while contributing a tax-deductible donation to a very worthwhile charity.

We urge everyone to GET THE WORD OUT!

HERE'S THE DEAL IN A NUTSHELL:

• Anyone can enter, whether or not a member of Sam's Celtics Forum. We've set up a separate sub-forum that may be accessed, free of charge, by anyone for purposes of entering the contest. So let your friends and associates know about this opportunity. They can get details by accessing our forum (they don't have to register on our regular forum to enter the contest) at http//:SamCelt.Forumotion.net and clicking on the sub-forum entitled March Madness NCAA Pool Contest Benefiting the Shamrock Foundation.

To obtain details yourself, just go to the home page of this forum and click on that same sub-forum (March Madness NCAA Pool Contest Benefiting the Shamrock Foundation). You'll find an introduction thread, a "how to enter" thread, a thread with interesting links to information about the tournament, and a thread showing a picture of the basketball prize. If you or your friends have any questions, feel free to email Sam at SlipSamCelt@aol.com

• Make as many contest entries as you wish. You'll fill out a brief one-time Entry Form. For each entry, you'll use a Bracket Form to guess the winners of each round of the NCAA Tournament. You'll then mail your entry (or entries) to Sam's Celtics Forum at the new address that's devoted to only this contest and is spelled out in the contest instructions. For this contest, do not use the Wellfleet address we've utilized in the past.

• The contest will be based on a point system. The higher the tournament round, the more points you'll receive for each of your teams that wins in that round. Tiebreakers will also be involved. The person accumulating the most points will be declared the winner of the autographed basketball. The second place winner will receive the encyclopedia.

Please note well: Because March Madness is fast approaching, your entry or entries must be postmarked by next Wednesday, March 17th. Winners will be announced by April 8th.

Our thanks to all who decide to have some fun, benefit a lot of children, and take a shot at a valuable basketball. And to every good Celtics fan, all the best.

Go Celtics!

112288, Coordinator of this Initiative for Sam's Celtics Forum[b]

The brackets are made and the game is on!!!

Go Kansas!!! no, wait...

Go Duke!!! no, wait...

Go Ohio State!!! no, wait...

Go Gonzaga!!! no, wait...

So many picks, so little time!!!

Remember:

Contest entries must be postmarked no later than next Wednesday, March 17th.

So far I am 3-3.

BYU, Old Dom and Villanova.