The 2003 Blog Madness Tournament has officially launched, a "best blog post" competition in a March Madness-inspired double elimination format. No Dick Vitale, alas, but it promises to be a lot of fun--and Pete and Manny deserve a visit or two just for putting together those byzantine tournament brackets.

Am I going to pimp my own entry? You bet your bippy: I'm in the "Love" bracket, and here's my first-round matchup, in which an introspective, heart-felt and cogent post from Mama Musings goes up against my post about ... um ... a porn shop. Looks like I have to hope nonsensical blather beats genuine content here, folks, so don't just think of this as a vote for my post; think of it as a vote for snarky inanity in general. Join this worthy cause and vote now, won't you?

While I'm in a pimping mood, may I draw some attention to other Montana bloggers in the competition? Sarpy Sam at "Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere" is also in the "Love" bracket, with an entry entitled Insulted. Like Mama Musing's post, it's one of those genuine entries that's something rare and wonderful in the blogosphere. (Back on the snarky side: I'm willing to bet Sam is the only cattle rancher in the tournament.)

Meanwhile, Dave at "Better Living Through Blogging" is in the "Work" bracket with an entry (A Matter of Taste) that questions the epicurean judgment of reality television (and perhaps his wife?).

So please join us for some Blog Madness. It's a lot more fun than that Excel spreadsheet you're supposed to be working on right now.