2025 Aussie Open Losers' lounge. The Blue Ring Octopus bar

[ponchi101]

This is what happens to you when you are stung by a blue ring octopus. Or, five minutes after the start of play time has passed and you just realized that the pick you made for the SP SUCKS:

1. **Initial Symptoms**: You might not feel the bite itself, but within 5 to 10 minutes, you could start experiencing symptoms like excessive saliva production, difficulty swallowing, chest tightness, tingling, numbness, sweating, lightheadedness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and loss of vision.
(That's for the octopus, which is mild in comparison. For your dumb SP pick, further common symptoms are: sudden feelings of shame, remorse, an intense impulse to stick your head in an oven, grab the laptop and splash it against any wall, and crashing thoughts of "WTF have I done?")

2. **Progression**: Symptoms can quickly escalate to paralysis, muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and lack of oxygen in your tissues, which can cause discoloration.
(Again, the octopus. For the SP, involuntary control of your bowels and all other body sphincters may happen, as well as uncontrollable urges to drink every single liquid in your household, be it alcoholic or for cleaning purposes)

3. **Severe Effects**: Without immediate medical treatment, the venom can paralyze your muscles, including those needed for breathing, leading to respiratory failure and potentially death. For both the octopi or your pick.

If you suspect you've been bitten by a blue-ringed octopus, it's crucial to seek medical help immediately. The venom is extremely potent, and there is no known antidote.
If you suspect you've made a really dreadful SP pick, then, you are in the right topic and we will provide you with enough fictional beverages for you to remember that YOUR LIFE WILL GO ON, despite the fact that you may feel like killing yourself after making one more lousy pick.

Stay safe and avoid handling these fascinating but dangerous creatures! (The octopi. The tennis players we recommend you forget about them).

Welcome. To. The. Bar.
Let us know what you want to drink.

[Oploskoffie]

*Takes a sneak peek around the corner of the door...

Tell you what... That Machac bandwagon is looking awfully big Either gonna be a lot of happy folks on the ATP side of things, or a lot of people are going to be part of a little bit of SP... history....

[JTContinental]

15 angry Vondrousova pickers are Czeching in as she pulls out with an injury.

[nyjaney]

I can't even look to see how Baez lost, but here I am... Never visited the losers lounge before but I feel like I'm missing out on the fun group! Hi, y'all!!!

[Oploskoffie]

Ten of us coming in, myself included courtesy of Zizou Bergs!

Chocolate ice cream, please. With big chunks of chocolate.

(update)

And now double-cheeked by Sakkari. Add some whipped cream and sprinkles...

[ptmcmahon]

And now a bandwagon of us thanks to Popyrin joining...

[New England Nitemare]

And now a bandwagon of us thanks to Popyrin joining...

Tell me about it. I think in the history of this pool, when I've needed to people two win on the same day, it NEVER works out for me. Khachanov got through, but Popyrin had to go and spoil everything.....

[atlpam]

How about a popover due to the Popyrin loss, with a heavily spiked cup of coffee.

[ponchi101]

Wow. That was a quick exit for me. Was traveling so I was unable to see any scores, and I came here to see how the OTHER people were doing, not realizing the octopus had stung me twice.
My string of futility continues
And here is our villain:

Octopus.jpg

[Irena2]

How about a popover due to the Popyrin loss, with a heavily spiked cup of coffee.

MMMmmm, sounds good! Same for me!

[sleepyzombie]

Deleted.

[catman]

I'm assuming one of these got Vondo? If not, I'll have what she's having.

[Jennede]

I have read about this in the past, and thought maybe I can do quite well in the contest. Nope - out after the first round! I will be watching the results with interest.

[Oploskoffie]

I have read about this in the past, and thought maybe I can do quite well in the contest. Nope - out after the first round! I will be watching the results with interest.

Once upon a time... Many, many years ago, I thought the very same thing. Rather soon, however, the reality of it all became painfully apparent. You then, perhaps, start to think of 'clever' things to avoid the workings of the great filter, like not picking for or against French players, implementing the a-seed-a-day-keeps-the-axeman-away tactic (which is guaranteed to fail once seeds start facing each other, if they haven't injured themselves before then) or picking against bandwagons to have a moment to shine if one crashes only to see your 'strategic' pick lose in five nerve-shredding sets to someone they had a 21-0 record against up until that point.

In other words: we're happy you tried, hope you keep trying, and if it all becomes too depressing, we always have a fantasy tennis competition on the horizon

[adicecream]

I’m such a loser. I forgot to pick today. I have trouble every year remembering tomorrow is today. Or today is tomorrow?

Just a Diet Coke please with lots of ice.