THE HEADLINES
WHAT'S MAKING NEWS IN THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL PIG PASSING
To contact the NPPL email us at: nppl@pigmadness.com
PAST ARTICLES
Jeff Bridges ("The Dude"), plus other celebrities, are playing "Pass the Pigs"!!
by Phil Laycio February 8, 2010
LIGHTS, CAMERA, PIGS!! -- The NPPL has known for quite awhile now that Jeff Bridges, Golden Globe and Academy Award winner for his performance in "Crazy Heart", is an avid fan of Pass the Pigs. It was never mentioned on this website before because well...who isn't a fan of this addicting game? Over the years Bridges has introduced the game to other friends on movie sets including Chris Cooper and Tobey Maguire on the set of "Seabiscuit" and Simon Pegg on the set of "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People". Given the game is light and can be carried around very easily, its no surprise the game is so popular on commercial, television and movie sets all over Hollywood and the world. While waiting for the decoration of a set or the lighting of a shot, most crews have plenty of time to whip out the Pigs and play a quick game before the cameras start rolling.
British comedian Simon Pegg and director Robert Weide playing Pass the Pigs on the set of "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People". Photo courtesy of Jeff Bridges.
Jeff Bridges even gives the game kudos on his website, www.jeffbridges.com. After entering the homepage, the “Stuff” section includes artwork linking to what are apparently some of Bridges favorite sites, including the Java game of "Pass the Pigs".
And he isn't the only celebrity-fan of the game. The NPPL has also been told other celebrities are fond of the Pigs such as Jude Law, Ron Howard and The Rock. If Jeff Bridges is reading this, or any other celebrity for that matter, the NPPL would like to call out a formal invitation to join us this summer for PIG MADNESS VI in Venice Beach CA, the biggest and funnest "Pass the Pigs" tournament in the world on Saturday August 14th! And NO, we're not joking!!
One wonders if "The Dude" learned about the brilliant game through colleagues of one of our very own NPPL members, given at least five of them work in production and continue to promote the game. It was NPPL founder Elvis Greene who was introduced to it on a commercial years ago (see the History page) and this writer would not be surprised if the trickle-down effect from Elvis' obsession is still making waves throughout Hollywood production sets to this day.
Says Bridges, "I like to play the game of "Pass the Pigs" when I’m on set. It’s like ‘craps’ for kids, where you roll these little pigs and you get different scores depending on how they land. As you know, I’m a keen photographer, I’m always snapping away on set, and I think I’ve got quite a few of us all playing Pigs!" Bridges was quoted in the February 2010 edition of Men's Journal as saying, "It's great to play with a bunch of people. On the set of "Iron Man", some guys put up some pretty high stakes, it got wild!"
Chris Cooper playing Pass the Pigs on the set of "Seabiscuit". Photo courtesy of Jeff Bridges (taken from the dvd)
Check out these recent articles that mention Jeff Bridges and his favorite game of Pass the Pigs:
Ted Danson and Patrick Fugit playing Pass the Pigs on the set of "The Amateurs". Photo courtesy of Jeff Bridges.
NEW!!!
NEW!!!
MASTERS TROPHY - GONE!!!!
July 13, 2010
By: Willie Eterout
By: Willie Eterout
NEW!!!
Maple Shade NJ -- In a mysterious and uncanny chain of events, the trophy that was once passed around from Master to Master before The Pig Cup was introduced only a few months ago, The Western Division's Masters Trophy…is GONE! Yes that’s right, GONE. Thorough investigations have begun to determine if the trophy was mistakenly lost, blatantly stolen, or simply ‘still in route’ in the system of the United Stated Postal Service. Given the trophy has no purpose in the current NPPL, the Masters voted to be put in safekeeping by letting the founder of the NPPL, Elvis Greene, keep it in his possession along with the Golden Pig, the first Masters trophy. Mark Rago had the trophy in his possession last and mailed the trophy to Elvis’ apartment on May 26th at 12:03pm from Los Angeles CA to Greene's home in Maple Shade NJ. That’s where things went haywire however. Apparently Rago mailed the trophy to the wrong apartment number – and mailed it to apartment # 806 instead of Greene’s actual apartment - # 906! Greene left a note for the resident at # 806 but hasn't received any contact from them at all. It is possible the box was ‘returned to sender’, yet given the box was not sent with a confirmation number, there is no way to track the box or it’s whereabouts.
Said Rago, "This (expletive) blows! What the (expletive)?! (Expletive expletive expletive-expletive)". Said Greene, “I knocked on their door and no one answered, then I stuck a letter in their mailbox about it. That was about June 26th. Nothing. I think it's gone. Rago, optimistic as ever, hopes they ‘returned to sender’ and it’s just a result of snail mail. “Or they have a really cool conversation piece on their TV”, mentioned Greene.
Greene also said, “Well I'm not going to keep pounding on the guys door. Like I said, I put a letter in their mailbox telling them it was sent there by mistake and I put my contact info. If they do have it, they aren't going to tell me about it. What would they say “Yeah we got it and I opened it up. It's been sitting on my TV ever since. I'm curious to see who it is in that apartment but I don't want to look like some moron stalker who's after a pig trophy either".
It should go as no surprise this is not the first time the highly sought-after Masters Trophy has been stolen. This seems to happen every 10 years as The Golden Pig was once missing for about 1 month when it mysteriously disappeared after Gary Williams won the trophy in the year 2000. There was much debate and discussion as to who the actual thief of the pig was, or if it was all an elaborate hoax perpetrated by the new champion. Eventually, the pig turned up in Williams' hands although a clear explanation of exactly what transpired never came to the surface. It remains a highly debated subject to this day. Where was the pig for that month? What was done with it? The truth may one day be revealed. Until then, there is only myth and legend. As a result of this misfortune, the Golden Pig currently resides in a confidential location only known by Elvis Greene himself, which is where the Western Division Masters Trophy is supposed to be sitting right now.
As far as the lost trophy is concerned, all the Masters can do about the famed item is wait and hope. It’s just another chapter in the crazy goings-on of the NPPL. Seriously, who’s really surprised??
The Western Division Masters Trophy (2003-2009)
The Golden Pig (1998-2002)
The Pig Cup (2010-present)
The reciept from USPS
By: Mike Ocksmall
PHOTO OF THE MONTH!!!
Hair vs. Hair
The Date - July 14, 2007, approx 12:30pm
The Setting - Pig Madness III pre-party
Getting Shaved - Mike "Autograph" Aring
The Man with the Razor - Perry Day
What a Match - Perry Day vs. Adam Meyer in a one-game-keeps-all Hair vs. Hair Match! The excitement leading up to it was unlike any scene ever known to Pigs. Hair vs. Hair... Animal vs. Beast... Perry vs. Adam. Two former next-door neighbors from South Jersey putting all their Jewish and Italian cuts on the line. Absolutely crazy....But then Adam chickened out! At the last minute! What a wanker!
The anticipation was all for nothing. Until stepping up from the beer keg, "Autograph" Mike volunteered to be Adam's substitution at the last minute. The match was heroically back on...
Hair vs. Hair, Animal vs. Beast, Perry vs. Mike... Needless to say, it was f---ing intense! And Day was victorious! Click HERE for more photos and a recap of this amazing event!!
Do you have a photo to submit? Email us at nppl@pigmadness.com
JULY 2010
JULY 2010
LOST!!!
ERIKA ELLIOT WINS CHICAGO PIG MADNESS III
July 24, 2010By: Abe FrohmanChicago IL -- Lookout NPPL. It looks like another strong player is now amongst us!
On a sweltering, muggy Chicago Saturday, 2nd year pig passing veteran Erika Elliott defeated Jim Pappas in a heated battle to win the 3rd annual Chicago Pig Madness. In what was easily the best final ever witnessed in Chicago play, Elliott won 2 closely contested rubber matches to reach the championship round before just barely edging out Pappas by 5 points in a deciding game 5 to take home the bacon & 300 bucks.
A LONG WAY FROM A TAG TEAM
What a difference a years time makes! In her rookie debut a year ago, Elliott entered the Madness as a member of a tag team called The L Train, which at the time was a first for the NPPL. They had a respectable showing, even making the playoffs, but were bounced early and neither member stood out. They also remained in the same chairs throughout the event, staying off the radar of the party to some degree. All of this kept her name fairly anonymous in the eyes of most pig passers when the 2010 tournament entries were finalized. But like George Michael did when he left Andrew Rigeley behind, Elliott soared to superstardom, posting the tournaments' best record at 8-2, and winning 3 series which all went the distance and easily could've gone either way. The poise that she exhibited was incredible, matching the intensity and pig prowess that many past and present champions posses. And her opponents were very worthy, including knocking out 1st year champion Alyson Pouls to set up her finals appearance. In the deciding game 5 final against Jim Pappas (who had a great playoff run in his own right), she was stuck at 50 points with Pappas getting to 95 and then setting himself up for a single roll win by passing the pigs, effectively giving her a one roll chance to take the title. And take the title she did, by bursting out and crossing the 100 point threshold that must've seemed like a marathon roll!
GREAT COMPETITION AND LOTS OF INTESITY
Once again, Chicago showed lots of grit and determination, as the weather was awful, almost to the point that the tourney was moved indoors at the 11th hour due to 12 hours of monsoon rains that were clocking in at an inch per hour the night before which lasted well into the morning. But the pig gods were on the side of the NPPL, as by noon the rains went away, just in time to play a days worth of competition. And what a competition it was! A late 4 PM start did nothing to dampen the spirits of pig passes, as a new up and coming catering outfit by the name of Tippin Da Cow made some of the best damn burgers on the fucking planet, which fueled everyone's will to play through the miserable conditions. By the witching hour of midnight, the PBR keg was kicked, the burgers eaten, and all that remained were a few stray pig sets on a table and a soaked Perry Day lugging the trash to the alley as the rain came back with a vengeance.
As well as one final thing: 21 very happy, satisfied pig passers who slept well that night with another amazing tournament for the record books under their belt.
SWINE DIVISION FINAL STANDINGS:
W L
1) Erika Elliott (bye) 8 2
2) Brian Schnell (bye) 7 3
3) Stephanie Cox 6 4
4) Iain Parker 6 4
5) Alyson Pouls 6 4
6) Curt Miller 6 4
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7) Liz Rex 4 6
8) Bart Bartkowiak 4 6
9) Rich Moy 4 6
10) Kyle Kresge 3 7
11) Aubri Vincent-Barwood 1 9
HOG DIVISION FINAL STANDINGS:
W L
1) Dave Hamlin (bye) 7 2
2) Perry Day (bye) 6 3
3) Tim Dilling 5 4
*4) Nan Waterstreet 5 4*
4) Jim Pappas 4 5
5) Cary Miller 4 5
6) Kevin Bartkowiak 4 5
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8) Mike Blanco 4 5
9) Brian Harney 3 6
10) Andrew Price 3 6
* Nan was unable to continue after the regular season concluded, so everyone below her was moved up one spot to fill out the playoff roster, with K. Bartkowiak gaining the 6th seed
PLAYOFFS
(1st & 2nd Place in each division received a first round bye)
1st Round--Best of 3
SWINE:
Pouls (5) defeated Parker (4) 2-1
Curt Miller (6) defeated Cox (3) 2-1
HOG:
Pappas (4) defeated Cary Miller (5) 2-1
K. Bartkowiak (6) defeated Dilling (3) 2-1
FINALS--Best Of 5
Elliott (1) defeated Pappas (4) 3-2
Erika Elliott - 2010 Pig Madness Champion!
QUARTER FINALS--Best Of 3
SWINE:
Elliott (1) defeated Curt Miller (6) 2-1
Pouls (5) defeated Schnell (2) 2-1
HOG:
Hamlin (1) defeated K. Bartkowiak (6) 2-0
Pappas (4) defeated Day (2) 2-1
SEMI FINALS--Best of 3
SWINE:
Elliott (1) defeated Pouls (5) 2-1
HOG:
Pappas (4) defeated Hamlin (1) 2-1
PIG MADNESS VI
Saturday August 14th, 2010
Elliot and her $300 winnings, with boyfriend Dave Hamlin
