2008 Hoops Challenge
OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
- How to Play: The object of Hoops Challenge is to amass as many of the available 1,680 points as you can. Moving across the brackets, advance projected winners by clicking on advancing teams through finals match-up ending with NCAA champion. Finish by entering a tiebreaking score in the "Total Points" box at the bottom of the brackets.
The potential top score of 1,680 points are awarded as follows: Round of 32: 320 points (10 points per team); Sweet Sixteen: 320 points (20 points per team); Elite Eight: 320 points (40 points per team); Final Four: 320 points (80 points per team); Semi-Final: 240 points (120 points per team); Championship: 160 points.
Contestants must fill in Tiebreaker 1 box - total points scored by both teams in the Championship Game. Should Tiebreaker 1, if needed, not produce a winner, first-round games scored at one point each will comprise the second tiebreaker. If no winner emerges after this step, a drawing will be held among those still tied, and one winner will be awarded the Grand Prize.
- NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
- Eligibility. The World Link Hoops Challenge 2008 Contest (the "Sweepstakes") is open to U.S. residents (excluding Puerto Rico, New York, and Florida), 18 years or older at the time of entry. Employees of Lee Enterprises, The World Link and each of their respective affiliated companies, subsidiaries, advertising or promotional agencies, and other agents, and the immediate family members of, and any persons domiciled with such employees, are not eligible.
- Entry. Online Hoops Challenge bracket entry begins after official NCAA brackets announcement on Sunday March 16, 2008 and ends on day of first round Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. The contest period runs for the life of the NCAA Men€™s Championship with the final game on April 5, 2008. Online brackets must be completed and submitted no later than Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, prior to the first game of the opening round; no entries will be accepted after this time. The winner will be the entrant(s) with the highest number of points at the completion of the championship game on April 5, 2008. Contestants must fill in Tiebreaker 1 box - total points scored by both teams in the Championship Game. Should Tiebreaker 1, if needed, not produce a winner, first-round games scored at one point each will comprise the second tiebreaker. If no winner emerges after this step, a drawing will be held among those still tied, and one winner will be awarded the Grand Prize.
Individuals may enter online at www.TheWorldLink.com/hoops_challenge
Lee Enterprises and The World Link will not be responsible for incomplete, lost, late, misdirected or illegible entries.
- Prizes and Odds. The grand prize is $400 Don's Jeweler's Gift Card ("Grand Prize"). Odds of winning the Grand Prize depend on the number of eligible entries received.
- Winner Notification and Acceptance. The World Link 2008 Hoops Challenge winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of completion of championship game on April 5, 2008. Return of prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and an alternate winner may be selected. Bi-Coastal Media reserves the right to substitute Grand Prize with a prize of equal or greater value. Winners are solely responsible for reporting and payment of any taxes on Grand Prize. Winners may be required to complete an affidavit of eligibility, and a liability and publicity release (except where prohibited by law) which must be returned within ten (10) days of date of receipt. Failure to sign and return the affidavit or release within ten (10) days, or to comply with any term or condition of these Official Rules, may result in a winner's disqualification, the forfeiture of his or her interest in the Grand Prize, and the award of the Grand Prize to an alternate winner.
- Participation. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges. Bi-Coastal Media reserves the right to disqualify persons found tampering with or otherwise abusing any aspect of this Contest as solely determined by Bi-Coastal Media and The World Link.
- Limitations of Liability. By entering the Hoops Challenge Contest, entrant agrees that (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the Sweepstakes, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action, and entrant waives his or her right to a jury trial for such disputes, claims, and causes of action; (2) any claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Sweepstakes, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (3) under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than damages for actual out-of-pocket expenses.
- Construction. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of any contestant and Bi-Coastal Media, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of Oregon, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether Oregon or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Oregon. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. If any such provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, these rules shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the valid or enforceable provision was not contained therein.
- General Release. By entering the Hoops Challenge Contest, contestants release Lee Enterprises and The World Link, and each of their respective affiliated companies, directors, officers, employees, representatives, partners and agents from any liability whatsoever for any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Sweepstakes or with the acceptance, possession or use of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light).
- Sponsor. The The World Link 2008 Hoops Challenge Contest is sponsored by The World Link and Bi-Coastal Media, whose decisions regarding the selection of winners and all other aspects of the Sweepstakes shall be final and binding in all respects. Bi-Coastal Media and The World Link will not be responsible for typographical, printing or other inadvertent errors in these Official Rules or in other materials relating to the Sweepstakes. If you have any questions regarding this Contest, please contact Paul Hay