Friday, March 11, 2011

March Madness: West Regional, Round 2


March Madness: Round Two of the West Regional Division of the U.S. States and Territories Flag Tournament!!!
The Bracket



The Rules: For each of the pairs of flags pitted against each other, indicate your favorite.  Explication, derision, and/or analysis will not affect the scoring, but is nevertheless encouraged.  Each winner will advance to the Sweet Sixteen.


West Regional Voting Deadline: 9 p.m. PDT, Monday, March 14.
North Regional Voting Deadline: 9 p.m. PDT, Sunday, March 13.
South Regional Voting Deadline: 9 p.m. PST, Sat., March 12.
East Regional Voting Deadline: 9 p.m. PST, TONIGHT -- Friday, March 11.


Alaska vs. Northern Marianas

Alaska

Northern Marianas


Washington vs. Hawaii

Washington

Hawaii

Arizona vs. Colorado


Arizona

Colorado


California vs. New Mexico

California

New Mexico

Make your votes in the comments.

13 comments:

Christine M. said...

1. AK
2. HI
3. AZ
4. NM

Captain Lhurgoyf said...

1) Alaska
2) Hawaii
3) Arizona. It's a tough choice, but I'll go for the one that doesn't have a letter.
4) New Mexico

Dug said...

Alaska - because everyone loves a dipper
Washington - because crappy is better than crappier
Arizona - because stars beat letters
New Mexico - because an awesome flag is better than a very good flag

Rebel said...

1. Alaska
2. Washington
3. Wonderwoman! Oh, no I mean Arizona. =)
4. New Mexico.

Elizabeth said...

A round where I had no problems at all picking the winners, though I regretfully abandon my dreams of island sexytimes.

1. Alaska
2. Hawaii
3. Actually, I did waver a bit with this one, and while I admired Colorado's flag (still do) in a previous round, it just can't beat Arizona. Though I could wish Arizona picked a slightly more interesting color for their star.
4. New Mexico

Elaine said...

Alaska, much as I deplore the association with Sarah Palin.

Hawaii, because it's got history and great colors, and those fond memories are really something!

Arizona, but only by a hair. Icky star, but Colorado-commercial-corporate just doesn't do it for me.

New Mexico, even though that yellow (yaller, actually) is pretty garish.

Ben said...

1. Alaska over Northern Marianas. This was easy. Alaska's flag rocks.

2. Washington over Hawaii. Despite having a seal, Washington's flag is nice, recognizeable, and really not too busy. Hawaii's makes my eyes water and my pulse race. Not things I like to associate with Hawaii.

3. Arizona over Colorado. I just can't get past the ugly "C" logo.

4. New Mexico over California. It's a shame these two met so early in the tournament, because California's flag is very nice. However, New Mexico's absolutely rocks!

gS49 said...

Alaska, by a constellation

Hawaii

I'll still go with Arizona

New Mexico. What is that, anyway?

Aviatrix said...

Alaska, not for any aesthetic coup, though. I'm giving it the win for valid celestial navigation advice, and being better than a grey necktie.

Hawai'i, because they are proud enough of their history not to discard a really good flag, and if you're going to put a dude's picture and name on an official rectangle with more words and a date, you end up with a driver's licence, not a flag.

Arizona, but it was a fair fight between bold iconic blocks of colour. The copper star and the desert colours gave it the edge. If Colorado were a beer or a hockey team, they might have won instead.

New Mexico. I don't know what it is, maybe that game where you pile up everyone's hands and take turns trying to pull your own out of the bottom. (My God what we did before they invented video games!) All I know is that if it's bear poop, it's much less obvious bear poop than the scattered globs under California's bear.

Nichim said...

Alaska, but can Northern Marianas get some sort of honorable mention for most mystical or something? Its flag features what looks like single-celled organisms floating along a round ruffle. I actually kind of can't believe it - did you make this one up?

Washington. I hated it at first, but it's growing on me.

Arizona! Colorado's flag is very ugly.

New Mexico, absolutely. Does the "we're proud of our native heritage" thing much better than Oklahoma (or Massachusetts). And I guess the colors represent Queen Isabella and the Hapsburgs. Classy, all the way.

mrs.5000 said...

Well, maybe if I'd ever figured out what the gray stone thing in the long skirt was, Northern Marianas would stand half a chance. But not really. Alaska passes the crayon test with flying colors, as the only certified child-designed flag I've heard of.

It's a little weird, but perhaps just, to have this remnant of the British empire in our lot. And Hawaii undeniably stomps Washington in the graphics test, green and recognizable though he is.

An interesting face-off. I once did a report on Colorado in elementary school, and vaguely remember things like the yellow in the C stands for mineral wealth or some such nonsense. But no, neighboring Arizona of course wins hands down. Though as I recall its sunsets are actually often lackluster, due to the terrible dearth of clouds.

This is actually a very tough one for me. New Mexico is a classic, but one could wish the central figure were just a little bigger. And the California bear is an excellent bear, probably the best-realized flag animal in the 50 states. Having "Republic" after California helps the text from seeming ridiculous, and its components are nicely balanced. But I'm still going to have to go with New Mexico.

Morgan said...

ALASKA. Easily recognizable and just a good flag all around.

WASHINGTON. I like the colors, and there's just something about Hawaii's flag that bugs me. I can't put my finger on it.

Not like this vote means anything against the amazing pro-Arizonan-flag crowd, but Arizona's colors are just horrible, so I can't in good conscience vote for it. COLORADO.

A shame for California to be going up against such a strong opponent at this stage. NEW MEXICO wins strongly with good colors, a simple design, and a general flagginess that makes me happy.

lamanyana said...

Alaska, for making sense
Hawaii, for history
Arizona, for not looking like an 80's sports team logo
New Mexico for being cool