Aftermath of the Pop-A-Shot Championship

By Mr. Pop
Events
Sep 30, 2024

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By Mr. Pop
Events
Sep 30, 2024

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Well, folks, we did it! After 25 long years, we dusted off the hoops, turned up the competitive heat, and brought back the Pop-A-Shot National Championship in style—on ESPN8: The Ocho no less. That's right, the same network that once gave us dodgeball’s finest hour also hosted our beloved arcade basketball showdown, and let me tell you, it was something. 

Poster

Now that the confetti has settled and my vocal chords have mostly recuperated, I want to share some of my post-event “analysis” as well as a preview of what the folks at Pop-A-Shot Inc. have in the works.

The Numbers Don't Lie:
Arcade Basketball Is A Hit

It’s been 25 years since our last Championship, so we didn’t have many numbers to benchmark against. Here’s what we got:

  • 249 competitors showed up at our qualifying tournament at Barstool River North in Chicago
  • An additional 275 potential arcade basketball competitors applied online
  • Pabst Blue Ribbon and Manscaped came on as event sponsors
  • The Championship aired twice on ESPN2 and an additional 8 times on ESPNews, good for 120,000+ viewers

And while I’m more of a team guy, my colleagues at Pop-A-Shot requested that I include some of my personal accolades for serving as the event’s sideline reporter.

  • A reel of me preparing to be an ESPN sideline reporter racked up 25,000 views.
  • ESPN dedicated over 4 minutes of airtime to my quality reporting. Here’s a good one of me with the champ.
  • Requests for appearances have started to roll in. Just last week a local business asked if I’d appear in their next TV commercial. Stay tuned as my agent is currently discussing the terms. 

The Call For More Pop-A-Shot Tournaments

And while I’m not one for hot takes, I’m going to put it out there and say it will be less than 25 years before the next Pop-A-Shot National Championship. Why? Because people nationwide keep asking for it!

 

I’ve lost track of the number of letters I’ve received on my computer (editor’s correction: emails) saying they could beat Champion Josh Caputo’s highest score of 153, and a few of them have already proved it! I see nine scores of 150+ on our Pop-A-Shot Leaderboard including one from our 2024 Championship runner-up Brett Morse-Karzen. 2nd place never sleeps! 

 

The watercooler chatter at Pop-A-Shot HQ is that 2025 may have more than a National Championship tournament. There’s potential for leagues and local tourneys at your neighborhood bar (order a Pabst for me), as well as 3-4 regional tournaments leading up to the Natty. 

 

Register today if you’d like to be the first to hear about these additional competitions.  And make sure to note if you’re interested in hosting one. We had 250 players show up to our qualifying tournament on a Wednesday, sooooo, that’s not a bad bar tab.

And while I’m not one for hot takes, I’m going to put it out there and say it will be less than 25 years before the next Pop-A-Shot National Championship. Why? Because people nationwide keep asking for it!

 

I’ve lost track of the number of letters I’ve received on my computer (editor’s correction: emails) saying they could beat Champion Josh Caputo’s highest score of 153, and a few of them have already proved it! I see nine scores of 150+ on our Pop-A-Shot Leaderboard including one from our 2024 Championship runner-up Brett Morse-Karzen. 2nd place never sleeps! 

 

The watercooler chatter at Pop-A-Shot HQ is that 2025 may have more than a National Championship tournament. There’s potential for leagues and local tourneys at your neighborhood bar (order a Pabst for me), as well as 3-4 regional tournaments leading up to the Natty. 

Register Today

Register today if you’d like to be the first to hear about these additional competitions.  And make sure to note if you’re interested in hosting one. We had 250 players show up to our qualifying tournament on a Wednesday, sooooo, that’s not a bad bar tab.

Preparing For Future Tournaments

Preparing For Future Tournaments

Do us both a favor. If you’re planning to hit the Pop-A-Shot competitive scene next season, get your reps in now. And there’s no better way to do that than with the Pop-A-Shot Pro Single Shot. Why? Because the rim size, height, and distance to the basket are the most accurate compared to the setup you’ll see on our tournament games.

Game Modes

Want the closest tournament experience? Fire up Game Mode 1 on your Pop-A-Shot, and you’ll get a taste of the competition—minus the final bonus round. But let’s be real, the important thing is just to practice. Whether you’re playing the Pro Single Shot or one of our other awesome games, every shot counts.

Other Game Options

Got limited space? No problem. The Pop-Up Game is a great, portable option for sharpening your skills wherever you are. Or, if you’re into head-to-head action, the Dual Shot Sport lets you practice your shots and show your friends who the real Pop-A-Shot champ is.

 

No matter which game you have, the key is putting in the reps. Grab a ball, start shooting, and get ready to dominate when the next tournament rolls around.

 

Last but most important. Winning a Pop-A-Shot competition isn’t about what your score is after you’ve played 10 games and are good and warmed up. What’s your score when it all comes down to one game and the pressure’s on? Get some practice playing a game when it’s all on the line, and you’re a little cold, that’s what makes a champion.

 

Until next time,

Mr. Pop

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