For real this time -- SJ.com Soft Drink Wars: BARQ'S IS THE CHAMPION

Re: For real this time -- SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars: CHAMPIONSHIP ON PAGE 9

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Roasted nuts. Sprite, Barq's reach championship.
SJ Photo pursuing
By AZOM
SJ Soda Wars Staff Writer

ESTERBROOK, Wyo. (SJ) -- Once again, Sprite survived by the film it leaves on your teeth.

Once again, Barq's root beer was as powerful as the root beer belch it helps produce.

And together, they'll meet in the finals of the SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars to decide which soda is indeed the greatest of them all.

Barq's, a No. 9 seed coming into the tournament, once again blasted out to a quick lead to move one round deeper in the Wars. Barq's latest victim was Dr Pepper, which fell 8-5 in voting likely subdued thanks to some holiday that some people are rumored to get at this time of year.

Sprite, meanwhile, needed every vote it could handle to beat Sunkist 7-6. In Sprite's five victories, four have been by two votes or less, including one tiebreaker victory over IBC Root Beer.

No matter what, with all the upsets, controversial tiebreakers and loser's bracket battles, Sprite and Barq's can claim something the 62 others that started the tournament can't: These two are still here.

Finally, the end is near. The Soda Wars voting will come to an end at 11 p.m. MDT on Thursday, Sept. 4.

Here's a quick look at the two finalists:

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Barq's root beer
Established in: 1898
Colors: Brown and silver
Mascot: Bulldogs (hence, you know, "Barq's has bite!")
Conference: Root Beer Conference
Calories (per 8 oz.): 110
Tournament history: Beat Mr. Pibb 12-1; beat Coke 13-7; beat Diet Dr Pepper 9-7; beat Cherry Coke 11-6; beat Dr Pepper 8-5

​

Sprite
Established in: 1961
Colors: Blue, yellow and green
Mascot: Priest (hence, you know, "Obey your Thirst.")
Conference: Lemon-Lime Conference
Calories (per 8 oz.): 96
Tournament history: Dr Pepper: Beat Diet Cherry Coke 7-6; beat Coke Zero 16-4; beat IBC Root Beer 8-8 (tiebreaker); beat A&W root beer 9-7; beat Sunkist 7-6

Vote or die.

CHAMPIONSHIP
At Esterbrook, Wyo.
9. Barq's root beer
2. Sprite

 

Re: For real this time -- SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars: CHAMPIONSHIP ON PAGE 9

fuck, the root beer.

 

Re: For real this time -- SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars: CHAMPIONSHIP ON PAGE 9

Barq's

 

Re: For real this time -- SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars: CHAMPIONSHIP ON PAGE 9

Sprite. Can't stand root beer.

 

Re: For real this time -- SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars: CHAMPIONSHIP ON PAGE 9

barq's

 

Re: For real this time -- SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars: CHAMPIONSHIP ON PAGE 9

damn ... tourney ran over the holiday, huh? sorry, sunkist - I would have at least gotten you to the shitty tiebreaker system, where the commissioner would have then again gone against my vote and given it to sprite, anyway.

either way, though, would go with the root beer in the final -- unless the rightful king, dew, wasn't screwed by what had to have been the worst soda wars officiating I have ever seen.

 

Re: For real this time -- SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars: CHAMPIONSHIP ON PAGE 9

I haven't checked out the soft drink wars until now, but Sprite beating Sunkist is like Evan Williams beating Maker's Mark.

Barq's all day.

 

Re: For real this time -- SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars: CHAMPIONSHIP ON PAGE 9

This championship is like watching Miami (Fla.) play Wisconsin for the college basketball national championship.

Two good teams. No North Carolina, no Kansas, no Memphis, no UCLA, no Duke, no Louisville.

Barq's wins.

 

Re: For real this time -- SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars: CHAMPIONSHIP ON PAGE 9

Barq's.

 

Re: For real this time -- SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars: CHAMPIONSHIP ON PAGE 9

Sprite.

 

Re: For real this time -- SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars: CHAMPIONSHIP ON PAGE 9

what a moop.

 

Re: For real this time -- SportsJournalists.com Soft Drink Wars: CHAMPIONSHIP ON PAGE 9

I'd rather be a moop than a mook.