Bar Owner Pools Out Of The Action

The owner of a Staten Island bar known for its massive NCAA March Madness pool ended speculation and confirmed that the seven-figure pool is dead this year:

In a matter of seconds, Jody Haggerty yesterday ended months of speculation about the future of the legendary NCAA Basketball “March Madness” pool at his pub, Jody’s Club Forest in West Brighton.

“Definitely no pool. There’s no question about it,” Haggerty said while hosting a Democratic party before the annual Staten Island St. Patrick’s Parade. Haggerty refused to discuss the issue further, politely stating, “I can’t say anything.”

The bracket pool started with a modest 88 entries in 1977 and expanded exponentially to draw participants from around the country for a whopping $1.5 million prize last year.

But the lawyers, writers, politicians, cops and firefighters weren’t the only ones interested in this year’s pool. The tournament tips off March 13 with its play-in game.

The IRS supposedly expressed an interest in the mega-jackpot, triggering questions about the pool, which had become something of an institution on the Island.

Haggerty’s three words signaled the end of an era and invited disappointment from potential players and politicians alike.

“There was too much notoriety,” one man said, recalling lines stretching down Forest Avenue, countless newspaper, and press photographers balancing on neighbors’ fences to capture the perfect shot of the crowd.