5 on 5 Roundtable Smacketology: Grantland's "The Wire" March Madness Bracket

Grantland.com attempted a great idea today by merging two of the greatest ideas of all time, the Wire and bracketology. However, as all Wire fans know the process of selecting the top characters and attempting to put them in a bracket is going to vary drastically based on the panel. We have gathered 5 huge Wire fans to offer their breakdown and analysis of the bracket by answering 5 big questions. The following panel consists of Sean Bair, Nate Grefe, Abraham Kim, Saar Ziv and Jake Rainwater. Several of the panelists gave some quick insights before taking on this arduous and rather delicate task. To check out the bracket and Grantland article, click here.

Nate: I am a long-time Wire fan, and a huge fan of this Smacketology idea. When ranking something, it is important to clarify what the conditions or values are, and Grantland conveniently fails to mention any criteria. What makes a “top character”? It will be difficult to impossible to eliminate your personal preferences, but you have to do your best to be impartial. I am trying to make my judgments based on what the character brought to The Wire, and not just how much he was onscreen. I’m much more interested in the part they play in the themes or messages of the show, and the general depth or progression of the character.

Saar: Started following the show about 5 years ago and have watched every season multiple times since. In my analysis of the show I probably give a little too much weight to the broader impact of each character and the aspects of society they were meant to portray, rather than take them for their entertainment value, but with a show like The Wire its hard not to do so.

Sean: Alright, so this bracket truly merges two of my favorite things in the Wire and March Madness. That said the focus here may be on the Wire, but I am considering the basics of college basketball when analyzing this bracket. Also, big ups to Poot who I really wish I could’ve argued would win the NIT with a clean conscious. Alright, lets get it…

1. What is your biggest gripe with the seeding of the bracket?

Abe: I had a few problems with the the port region. First, all the match ups consist of one person from the street against a taxpayer or POlice. Second, as much as I love Avon (my second favorite character in the Wire. 'WEST SiDE'), he has the easiest road to the Final Four. Do you really think Avon will lose to Dukie in the Sweet 16 and then Colvin in the Elite 8? GTFO of here. Give Avon a challenge at least. "Fuck them East Side BITCHES."

I don't even understand why Cheese Wagstaff is even in the Smacketology. Omar should be the only "dead" #1 seed. Marlo definitely got screwed, he is hands down the #1 seed in the East not Stringer Bell. The McNulty vs Daniels match up is too early I would have expected that at least in the sweet 16. McNulty is a 2-seed with his drinking alone ("What the fuck did i do?"). SHIEEEETTT Davis ain't a 2-seed. And Wallace? Come on, he's a snitch who tried to come back to the game. He shouldn't be even ranked.

Saar: I think the biggest problem with Grantland’s seeding is that they didn’t give enough consideration to what the characters represented and to their complexity, focusing too often on the character’s likeability or controversial nature. The best example of this to me is Clay Davis receiving a 2-seed; while there is no doubt Clay is an important part of the show, portraying the sleaziness of city politics, it is almost comical to me to have him on the same line as Michael and Marlo, and I would say he got that seed almost exclusively based upon the way he says a certain four letter word. Bunk as a 1-seed, Prop Joe as a 2, and Snoop as a 3 also fall into this category of being overrated for how likeable/memorable they are.


Jake: In general, the brackets are lopsided. I don’t know whose package the Grantland staff was copping from but it certainly wasn’t that WMD! The biggest problem is that 5 of my favorite characters find themselves in the East Baltimore Region. Elsewhere, Bubbles got a raw deal with a 7 seed. To me it seems the bracket was set up to give this sympathetic character a nice story with an upset over the number 2 seed Clay Davis who should be no higher than a 5 seed. We follow Bubs through his ups and mostly downs through five seasons. In season 4 we find him at the complete bottom, ending with his attempted suicide and breakdown after he accidentally killed Sherrod. I love how he finally overcomes his addiction in Season 5 and gives the Wire its most heartfelt and uplifting story line. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7qisQrpqUE Him walking up the basement steps and joining his Sister for dinner seems like one of those March Madness moments when that impossible upset happens. The only thing missing is Gus Johnson.

I think the biggest match up that happens too early is Wee Bay(4) vs Lester(5). Wee Bay is one of my favorite Wire characters and utters one of my favorite lines, "Fuck it then, For a pit sandwich and some tater salad I'll go a few more murders.". Also his showdown with his wife De'Londa at the end of season 4 is one of my favorite scenes in Wire history. It just seems a little unfair that a character who really only appears in Season 1 gets a higher seed than Cool Lester Smooth, who is a prominent character in every season and could easily be a 2 seed. Lester advances to the sweet sixteen.

Sean: I had the pleasure of hearing about this idea before I saw the actual seeding. Instantly my mind was racing with potential characters that were poised to make deep runs and characters I thought were incredibly overrated and vulnerable. Checking out the East Baltimore region.. Are you kidding me?!? Seeds 1-4 could all easily make the final four. Wee-bay and Bodie were the two characters I thought were a lock to knock off most higher seeds and they have to get through Stringer and Marlo respectively. I cannot imagine what those two would do in the Hamsterdam quadrant against the likes of Bunk, Clay Davis, and McNulty (Hamsterdam is so weak that I got Wallace coming out as a four seed, more on that later). That said its either “play, or get played” and I know neither Wee-bay nor Bodie backing down from shit.

Nate: First of all, I think the seeding is generally poorly done, and it particularly harms The Ports and East Baltimore, but for different reasons. The Ports is the weakest of the four branches, confounded by Pryzbo, Dukie, Carcetti, and Serge all being wildly over-ranked. Yes, that means Pryzbo wouldn’t be ranked. Exactly. If the bracket favors anyone it has to be Avon, who has no competition coming out of The Ports. On the other hand, East Bodymore is full of tough matchups. The 1,2,3 of Stringer, Marlo, Bodie in one pool is simply awful planning, and I see little to no separation between those three. The root of this problem is Bodie’s 3 seed, where he deserves a 2 spot over, say, Clay Davis or Michael, and is leagues ahead of the other #3’s. Street legends Bodie and Marlo are outstanding characters and deserve better than meeting in a Sweet 16 matchup. Shame to see either exit so early.

“You know what the most dangerous thing in America is, right?” Well, it’s not Brother Mouzone, not going up against the Bunk. It’s a shame though; Mouzone should have been higher than an 8 seed, which would’ve earned him a more favorable matchup.

The single biggest ranking error is Bubbles at a 7 seed, and he should trounce the over-rated Clay Davis. Maybe those two should have switched seeds…

2. Who wins the NIT bracket?

Jake: My final 4 for the NIT bracket includes Slim Charles, Ellis Carver, Gus and The Greek. The fact that these characters were left off the bracket is a criminal offense. In the bracket, Gus and the Greek are one-season characters that simply can’t match with the always evolving and well rounded talents of Slim and Carver. I love Carver because of his development from idiot western district cop to his Daniels/Bunny Colvin type rise in the force. You really see his transformation complete when he makes the call reporting his own officer Colicchio on an incident. One of my favorite lines, “Then I’m a rat.” But Slim emerges as the winner in the NIT bracket who stole every scene he was in. On a Sunday morning!

Sean: An interesting question, but I got to go with the constantly underrated Ellis Carver. I was appalled to see minimal characters such as Brother Mouzone and Ziggy Sabotka get the nod over him and with Herc making the bracket I don’t understand how he was possibly left out of the final 32. Not only does Carver offer five seasons as a major character with great comic relief, but he develops more as a person than any other character. From the immature, “western district way” cop who was ready beat the hoppers longer and harder than they beat their own dick, to the man punching the shit out of his steering wheel after Randy is placed in the group, home the selection committee should be shamed for this decision. Picking anyone else to win the NIT is simply a lie, and I’m not willing to fight on that lie.

Saar: To me the exclusions of Slim Charles and Randy are borderline criminal, especially since those two are among my favorites outside of the main characters, but I think its hard to argue against Carver in the NIT bracket. As one of the characters to have a considerable role in each of the five seasons, Carver has ‘seen some shit’ over the duration of the show, and his character development as a career minded officer adds a lot to the police department aspect of the show. Carver is also one of the more likeable police in the show due to his fair and considerate treatment of the corner boys and the people of the city.


Nate: “Once you in it, you in it.” So how did this man among boys not get in it? We all know who the winner of the left-offs is: Slim Charles.

Other notable tournament castoffs? How do you have Serge and Ziggy (ugh) going to the show but leave off their better, more interesting halves, the Greek and Nicky? Also, I’m shocked that Butchie and Carver get left off over the likes of Levy and Rawls.

In terms of NIT play, Slim Charles is the clear 1, but his competition (tougher than most might think) is Randy. Randy’s outburst in the hospital, post-arson, is the most heartbreaking scene in any of The Wire’s 5 seasons, and it’s criminal that he and Slim aren’t fighting for a spot in the Elite 8. Take the 4-5 matchup in Ports: Carcetti and Dukie? Really? Slim Charles and Randy clearly belong over those two.

Abe: This is easy but let me give you the championship round. Slim Charles vs. Jay Landsman.

Slim Charles: The Barksdale Organizations new muscle once Wee-Bay goes to jail. I still don't understand why Cheese Wagstaff is in the tournament when Slim capped his ass.

"The game the same. Just got more fierce"

"If it's a lie, we fight on that lie."

Jay Landsman: One of the clear cut funniest characters on the Wire. If he isn't reading porno mags, he is always up on McNulty and Bunks shit. Although he works under Rawls, he respects good POlice and talent. So many classic quotes I can't pick one but here's one from season 1 I remembered and went back to find.

(Looking at McNulty and Bunk) "Look at them, Cole. Don't it make your dick bust concrete to be in the same room with two noble, selfless public servants?"

Winner: Landsman

3. What is your tightest matchup?

Sean: Bodie v Marlo is a really tough one. Marlo was ruthlessly perfect and you had to respect his obsession with his own respect, but for me the toughest call was Michael v. Omar. Omar really does have it all. The whole Robin Hood concept is brilliant, but the show is almost written for the guy. If you think about his quotes it is almost unfair. However, there are no real Omar Littles in the world (even though he is based on 3 or 4 different stick up artists). That said, I do buy Michael as a 100% potentially real person. I really do not need to explain to anyone how great Omar is so I’ll just highlight things that for me make Michael greater. Michael is a great brother. This might be the older brother in me, but Michael thinking of Bug before anyone else in the world is priceless (sorry Omar, but I don’t love light skin gay dudes). Michael doesn’t mess with that “owing niggas for shit.” He plays it tight and for himself. No handouts needed. Lastly, Michael is smart as sin and I would say equally smart as Omar. He sees Snoop coming and takes care of it then realizes he can make it happen as the next Omar. And for those saying Michael is just a boy that can’t hang I think he’d kindly respond with “That’s just your knee.”

Saar: It is an absolute travesty to me that Bodie and Marlo have to face each other in the second round, which is easily the tightest matchup for me; that could easily be a final four matchup if I were making the seeds. Other tight ones are Michael vs. Omar in the West region final, Wallace vs. McNulty in the Hamsterdam final, and Stringer vs. Marlo in the East final.

Nate: The way I see it, there are two first-round matchups that present the opportunity for late drama. Wee-Bey vs. Lester is probably the toughest initial matchup, and I think these are the two closest opponents, despite radically different styles. Expect OT in this East Bmore battle. The other close call is going to be D’Angelo and Snoop, a brutal first rounder. I'm a huge D'Angelo fan and I think sometimes people forget what a tough character he was in the first season.

Avon won’t break a sweat on his way to the Final Four, but Stringer’s gonna be looking like Ewing in the fourth quarter when he has to face whoever survives the clash of the titans: Bodie vs. Marlo. I can’t overemphasize the enormity of this matchup, probably the tightest in the tourney.

Other predicted slugfests include a meeting of the gentle giants, D’Angelo and Michael, and Bunk vs. Bubbles in the Elite 8.

Abe: Hands down Cutty vs. Chris in the West Baltimore Region. This is way too tough for me. Cutty and Chris are both in my top 15 of favorite wire characters and are fairly close to each other too (12 and 13 respectively) and to have them match as the 4th and 5th seed? Too hard.

Cutty was a soldier. Straight muscle back in the day in West Baltimore. After having a stint in jail and getting out, he goes back to the game for a little bit but it's not the same for him and gets out. He starts his own gym and lives a life getting hoppers off the streets and into the ring.

"The game ain't in me no more none of it."

Chris is soldier. One of the more ruthless killers in the Marlo Stanfield Organization and maybe all of Baltimore. He is smart, collective and always a step ahead of the competition. He emphasizes the importance of family/organization to Michael. The thing I love most about Chris is how he shows compassion for Michael, trains and schools him to be a soldier of the game. It makes you believe that even behind the ruthlessness he is human.

"When you with us, you with us. Just like we be with you"

"You never want to be the last man to a party, you feel me?"

"You can look him in the eye now... No matter who he is or what he done you look him right in the eye."

This is too hard like the 6 OT game Uconn vs. Syracuse on March 12, 2009.

Jake: Tightest first round match up has to be Chris Partlow(4) vs. Cutty(5). Classic first round barn burner that comes down to the final seconds. While Partlow controls most of the game with his flashy play, Cutty sinks his free throws at the end and wins this tough first round match up as the more well rounded and complicated/conflicted character. “Any man still standing at the end of the round, you can't call him soft. That's a rule, a'right?”

4. What based on the seeding is your biggest upset?

Nate: Judging upsets has to be based completely on seeding, regardless of whether you agree with the ranking or not. Bubbles(7) will easily best Clay Davis(2) in the first round. I also see D’Angelo(6) eeking it out over Snoop(3). That leads to D’Angelo vs. Michael, which should be a match for the ages, and I will go out on a limb and say that #6 edges out #2, D over Michael, powered by his Gatsby interpretation.

Reginald Cousins, 2012’s Cinderella story, will surge from his lowly 7 seed to meet Bunk in the third Round and will defeat his portly opponent, advancing to the Final Four.

If you don’t consider Bubbles perseverance a huge upset, consider my last pick for possible upset: Bodie over Stringer. I see Bodie’s depth overtaking Marlo in the earlier rounds and I think his evolution as a character should push him past Stringer. To be honest I think vote-wise this is very unlikely, and some might say not even a contest, but what would hometown hero Preston Broadus say? “I don’t give a fuck. I’m right here.” R.I.P.

Jake: Based on seeding, Bubbles is an almost sure upset over Clay Davis. I also like D'Angelo upsetting Snoop in the first round. I like all 5 seeds to upset in the first round except Wallace who will hold seed against Levy even though both characters are vastly over seeded. In the second round, I like Bubbles to continue his run and upset 3 seed Jimmy McNulty. I also like both 3 seeds on the right side of the bracket. Look for Bodie to upset Marlo and Bunny Colvin to take out Prop Joe.

Sean: Personally I think Prop Joe and Major Colvin are two of the weakest 2 and 3 seeds. That said Serge has always been a dark horse for me and I have him knocking them both off before eventually falling to Avon. I mean Prop Joe openly refers to him as “my nigga,” it really doesn’t get better than that. The man who took care of the Greek’s dirty work was as hard if not harder than any of the muscle bred in Baltimore, just look here. Disciplined and rock solid, he is the model lieutenant for any of these organizations. Serge’s knock is that he only plays a minimal role after the second season, but that role is still phenomenal. As seen here

Abe: Davis has his moments but the #7 Bubbles over #2 Davis. Bubbles was apart of the street. He has been through it all. Rehab, relapse, being an informant for Major Crimes. Bubbles was a hustler finding ways to make a dollar into two dollars. And by the end of the show, he's clean far from the crazy lifestyle you first meet him in.

"Thin line tween heaven and here."

"Much obliged..."

"Ain't no shame holding on the grief, as long as you make room for other things too."

I wouldn't call this next match up an upset but because Grantland decided to make Lester Freamon a 5th seed: #5 Freamon over #1 Stringer in the Sweet 16 of the East Baltimore Region. I'll be honest, all the other #1 seeds will make the Final Four except Stringer. Freamon is what Landsman calls, "Natural Police." After spending years in the Pawnshop unit, Freamon begins to demonstrate his true skills as "Natural Police," in Cedric's unit. If he isn't listening in on a wiretap, he's polishing miniature dollhouse furniture. He is relentless, like McNulty, in following any lead, paper trail, wiretap, etc. He is an teacher to the younger generation of detectives. This is easy Freamon over Stringer.

"Same fuck-ups in the same shit detail, workin' out of the same shithouse kind of office. You people lack personal growth, you know that."

"I don't want to go to no dance unless I can rub some tit."

"It's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come."

Saar: My biggest upset pick is Frank Sobotka making it to the final of the Ports region. Frank to me is one of the most underrated characters in the whole show, while I understand that him being in only one season limits his potential, I also think that he stood for a lot more than his opponents Prop Joe and Bunny Colvin, and his quote “they used to make shit in this country, build shit” is one of my favorites.

5. Who you got winning it all?

Sean: Who you got winning it all?Final Four—
• Westside—Michael Lee
• The Docks—Avon Barkesdale
• Hamsterdam—Wallace
• East Baltimore—Bodie
Finals—Avon v Bodie
GOAT—Bodie“This game is rigged man. We like them little bitches on the chessboard.” It is my favorite quote from all five seasons and it is the reason Bodie is the greatest to me. The Wire is incredibly complex, but the concept that Bodie can play the game “perfect” and lose brought me to tears. This dude just lived in the street. Boys Village? Joke. Jail post Hamsterdam? Joke. Check his grandmothers? Joke. Busted for kicking the cop car? Joke. That “off-brand bull shit” couldn’t hold him because he was just too raw for anything but West Baltimore. Started off as a recklessly violent youngster slingin for D, I liked him from day one. Bodie was just built for the game and couldn’t win. The thing was even though Bodie was “just a gangster” I couldn’t stop agreeing with him. Through his rise in the Barkesdale organization he did everything the right way all the time. I mean by season four he was legitimately the moral voice of the show against Marlo. True to his people and true to the game Bodie will always be not only my favorite, but the greatest character in Wire history. RIP. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFUBJ6j1h8I&feature=related

Saar: I have Bodie beating out McNulty and Omar beating Avon (again) to make the final. This sets up a finals matchup of the two most street tested characters in the whole show, which I have Bodie winning by a slim margin. I understand that Bodie as the best Wire character might seem a bit crazy to some, but to me he embodies what the show is about better than any other single character. As a character Bodie has all the credentials of a champion; he is present from beginning to end, beating the odds by surviving through years in the game, his street-smarts, ambition, and toughness make him the ultimate soldier, and his distinctly Baltimore ways make him impossible to dislike. But what sets Bodie apart to me, is the fact that his story is the ultimate story of inner city life, and through Bodie we are able to experience the streets and learn firsthand the harsh realities that accompany inner city life in America.

Abe: My final four is obvious: Omar, Avon, Bunk and... Lester. Lester just beats out Marlo in double OT with a 4-point play.

The Championship round? Omar vs. Bunk. No Lester... No, its Bunk. Its ironic though Omar vs Bunk: two african americans who grew up in West Baltimore. Both attended Edmondson High. One is a gay gangster who never curses and abides by a code. He robs drug dealers. As some fans call him, "a modern day robin hood." Another is an alcohol abusing, cigar smoking "Murda" police who, generally throughout the show, works most murder cases alone and is fairly independent. Two people on the opposite sides of the law who seem to have a growing relationship throughout the five seasons.

Omar: "Don't get it twisted I do some dirt too but I ain't put my gun on nobody who was apart of the game..."

Bunk: "A man must have a code."

Omar: "Oh no doubt."

Winner: who else? Omar Little.

Jake: My final 4 is Omar(1), Bunk(1), Avon(1) and Bodie(3). As much as I love Avon and want to pick him to win the whole thing, I think Omar is one of those all time TV characters and the true lasting image of the show. When the President says you are his favorite character that goes a long way. But at the end of the day, “the street is the street, always.” Don't matter to Omar if this a Barksdale joint or not. Omar over Bodie for the win.

Nate: My Final Four will consist of Omar, Avon, Bubbles, and Bodie. I sincerely hope that Bunk is not selected over Bubbles, for while Bunk is a great character who brings passion and comedic relief to the show, Bubbles is on a whole other level. Bubbles’ struggles, both on the streets and mentally, are a constant reminder of the effects of the drug trade and addiction at an individual level.

I think that Bodie and Stringer are incredibly close in terms of importance to the show, and while Stringer gave some fantastic speeches Bodie, lives the game. The growth and influence of his character are unparalleled in The Wire and his attitude and wit add surprising and exciting elements.

So, from bottom to top:

4th Place: The game comes to a halt as Avon swaggers across the diamond and into the 4 spot. Second biggest thug in the game behind one Marlo Stanfield.

3rd Place: Bodie cements his position in the top 3, forever fuckin with the police and holding down his corner

2nd Place: The Bubbles Depot is open for business. He and Omar are the most unique characters in the show, and Bubbles’ overall depth is astounding.

1st Place: Omar comin’. Omar Little is the most recognizable character from The Wire probably most relatable man ever to pull off a rip and run. It's hard to describe just why he's so great, or why he beat out all the other deserving candidates, but if you've seen the show, you just know. A modern day Robin Hood, Omar is one of the strongest, most unique characters ever created for television, and he is unquestionably and forever the greatest Wire character.

And finally we have two bonus questions

6. Why don't you think that Stringer Bell is deserving of a Number 1 seed?

Abe: Sringer Bell reminds me of every Duke team in the past 10 years coming into the tournament: a lot of talent but never gets the job done ever.

There's something about String that pisses me off. Stringer took the game and tried to make it into a business. I understand he wanted to make "clean" money however that's not what the Barksdale Organization is about. Economically speaking, he wanted to put the best product on the street. But I'm all about the street. You want to run West Baltimore you need the real estate, it doesn't matter if you're putting out the best product, it's about people knowing you're name and owning the corners.

I also give him no respect because he got hustled by the number 2 seed in the Hamster Region Clay Davis in season 3. Davis milked Bell of his money. You really can't be apart of the street and then try to become a business man. Jay-Z said it best, "No matter where you go, you are what you are player."

Also because he tried to make selling drugs business like, he gave up Avon. He basically snitched on Avon. HOW THE HELL DO YOU SNITCH ON AVON??? You snitch, you die. Gosh, he deserved to die by Omar and Brother Mouzone.

(Avon to String)

Avon: "I ain't no suit wearing businessman like you. I'm just a gangsta, I suppose. But I want my corners"

7. Sean - How Do I Justify Wallace making the Final Four?

Please do not think that I am overlooking the fact that he only made it to age 14 or was featured in just the first thirteen episodes. In a show designed to give an honest replication of “the game” Wallace death makes perfect sense. The Wire is “the game” and Wallace represents a lost voice within that game. There are a few big time stick up boys (Omar and the future Michael), a few kingpins (Avon, Qyntel, and Marlo), a few Jew lawyers (Levy, and Herc kinda haha), and a few brilliant detectives (Bunk, McNulty, and Lester), but Wallace is just every kid out on that corner with no options. Yeah Bodie, his heart does pump kool-aid, but so what? He, like Bodie, did the absolute best he could with the cards he was dealt and that meant developing a drug habit, getting killed by his two best friends, and leaving his little brothers and sisters stranded without juice boxes, crab chips, and any guidance. Wallace and the multitude of hoppers like him are all casualties of the drug war that we as fans sadly forget about because of David Simon’s brilliant writing that has us focusing on the five swinging dicks in the entire department that can actually do police work, the forty degree days, and the shotguns and briefcases. RIP.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hor_gOBU_GU