== The 2004-2005 Season==
Even Zach and Jonathan would probably have been surprised if they knew in early September 2004 the pure sheer volume of games they were going to undertake their senior season. Jonathan managed to snag a room in the elite senior year housing of Chadbourne House(pick 84), while Zach was in for another year of survival within the riff raff brick walls of Greylock(pick 110). This was not all for the worst, however, as Greylock and Chadbourne’s doors were but a couple of hundred yards apart, -- the closest the friends had lived since freshman year. The number of games reflected this proximity, as an incredible 154 games were played in the ~225 days spent on campus from September through May. All told, probably over 50 cribbage-hours were logged by the friends -- looking back, maybe two or three should have been put towards [[PSYC 401]].
Jonathan continued to have the edge in skunks, collecting 13 to Zach’s 8 as his ever more aggressive play continued to pay off. When a large lead materialized early in the game, double skunks, or winning by 61 points, were often the subject of trash talking, but neither player would amass that large a margin of victory by the end of any match. This saved the two from deciding whether the elusive double skunk would be worth four points, or some other value in the tally.
The number As the year wore on, it was clear that the training Zach had in early life at the hands of games reflected this proximityhis father and grandfather had paid off handsomely for him, as he waltzed through the season with Jonathan in his rear view mirror. Jonathan trailed by an incredible 154 average of ~10 games were played in throughout the 225 days spent on campus from September through May. All toldseason, probably over 50 hours coming within one game of cribbage was played between the friendszach only once, perhaps hurting their academic performance just a tadand no closer. Jonathan continued The frustration, as he began to slip back down to have the edge in skunkshis prior ten-game deficit, collecting 13 was enough to Zach’s 8 as play hell with his ever more aggressive play continued to pay off. When leading games big early double skunks, or winning by 61 points, were often trash talked about, but neither player could amass that large a margin of victory by the end of any matchschoolwork schedule.
Meanwhile, the return to focus on cribbage, and less distractions such as Go, Ms. Pacman, and term papers, were certainly a factor in Zach’s excellent year. Another possible reason for the season’s result was that it was Zach’s second year in a Greylock dorm -– it certainly became a comfort zone for matches and perhaps reached the point of an unfair home-field advantage.
As the year wore onAfter four years of learning each others' tendencies and styles, it was clear the early training duo could play in life by his father and grandfather had paid off handsomely for Zachalmost any environment, as he waltzed through maintaining same easy rhythm to the season with Jonathan in his rear view mirrorgame. The return to focus on cribbageMusic, and less distractions such as bridge, Goespecially in Jonathan’s room, was background to almost every contest; Marc Cohn’s ''Walking in Memphis'' and Ms. Pacman, Dexy's Midnight Runners’ ''Come on Eileen'' were certainly a factor in Zach’s excellent yearjust two among many favorites. Another possible reason for Playing in front of the season’s result TV was it was Zach’s second year in a Greylock dorm – it certainly became a comfort zone for matches new and perhaps reached frequent feature this year, especially if the MTV show ''Boiling Points'' happened to be on. To be honest, the point friends often scheduled game sessions specifically to coincide with showings of an unfair home-field advantage''Boiling Points''.
To the entire town's surprise, the hours and hours of cribbage somehow did not destroy the duo’s grades. Jonathan got Phi Beta Kappa, and was so surprised at this development he e-mailed the person in charge back to make sure it wasn’t a mistake. Zach wound up graduating ''cum laude'' to the shock of his mother and golf coach, among countless others.
After four years of learning each others tendencies and stylesAs the rivals' college cribbage careers wound down, questions were raised about the duo could play Future. The two were highly accomplished at using cribbage to put off homework, but would they both put their procrastination skills to work on avoiding post-graduate employment? Zach certainly did, only picking up a job in almost any environment with the same rhythm September 2005 when a friend’s father called him at home to the gameinquire if he was working. MusicZach, especially in Jonathan’s roomfact, was background to almost every contest; Marc Cohn’s Walking had been lying in Memphis and Dexy Midnight Runners’ Come on Eileen were just two among many favoritesbed playing cribbage against his computer at that very moment. Playing in front of He tok the TV became more commonjob. Jonathan, however, especially if the MTV show Boiling Points happened to be onmanaged only a single day off between graduation and starting work as a gardener near Philadelphia. To be honest, the friends often scheduled game sessions specifically to coincide with showings of Boiling Points.
<!--Since graduation, Jonathan has whipped Zach consistently both online in Yahoo! Cribbage game rooms and even face-to-face in his garden cottage in Philadelphia. Zach is not worried, however, as his 3-1 years won advantage will forever hold up – “the rest of life†only counts as a single year, so he is guaranteed bragging rights forever no matter how many games J-dawg wins in the long future ahead.-->
To the entire town’s surprise, the hours and hours of cribbage somehow did not affect the duo’s grades. Jonathan got Phi Beta Kappa, and was so surprised at this development he e-mailed the person in charge back to make sure it wasn’t a mistake. Zach wound up graduating cum laude to the shock of his mother and golf coach, among countless others. As the rivals college cribbage careers wound down, questions were raised about the Future. The two were highly accomplished at using cribbage to put off homework, but would they both put their procrastination skills to work finding post-graduate jobs? Zach certainly did, only picking up a job in September 2005 when a friend’s father called him at home to inquire if he was working. Jonathan, however, managed only a single day off between graduation and starting work as a gardener in Philadelphia. Since graduation, Jonathan has whipped Zach consistently both online in Yahoo! Cribbage game rooms and even face-to-face in his garden cottage in Philadelphia. Zach is not worried, however, as his 3-1 years won advantage will forever hold up – “the rest of life†only counts as a single year, so he is guaranteed bragging rights forever no matter how many games J-dawg wins in the long future ahead. === The 100th game of 2004-2005===
The hundredth game was played in Fitch Hall on January 9th, the earliest 100th game contested by far. It was held during Fitch Tea and was a low-key matchup played before a group of about 15 odd-quadders, many of whom left for Driscoll dinner before the game was even over. It isn’t even remembered who won the game, though statistically Zach probably did – the game held less significance than past years as it was merely a step toward the Big One – the 500th game at Williams.
=== The 500th Game===
Zach and Jonathan’s four years of friendship and cribbage culminated in early April with the 500th game played since that fateful fall day freshmen year when Jonathan saw Zach’s board and inquired “You play?†and Zach answered “Yes.†A perfect situation unfolded for the 500th game – Chadbourne resident and cribbage fan Robert Hahn had scheduled a root beer keg party for Saturday April 10th, and did not mind for Zach and Jonathan to play the big game during the festivities. To promote the event, the following message was run in the Daily Advisor the week of April 4th:
<blockquote>Cribbage Fan??? Come to the Williams Cribbage Club's annual meeting on Saturday April 9th. The two titans of the college game, Jonathan Landsman '05 and Zach McArthur '05 square off in their 500th game of their career at 1pm on Perry Volleyball Court.<br><br>Come learn the game and then cheer on your cribbage stud of choice, Z-money or J-dawg in their 500th clash. Runs, pairs, fifteens,... it's going to be crazy. Don't miss this epic event, or you'll be, like, totally skunked </blockquote>
In addition, Jonathan emailed the bridge and deviant listservers, while Zach composed an email late the night before the contest to the golf team, Gladden, and the pair’s freshman year East Three entrymates. It read,
<blockquote>1 pm
perry volleyball court
Z-$ vs. J-dawg , jonathan landsman baby baby!!!!
OUR FIVE HUNDRETH CRIBBAGE GAME OF OUR CAREERS
all should come -- root beer on tap, it's like tiger. vs. chris dimarco
i'm up about 255-245, holler
Zmac ach</blockquote>
Zmac achNotes Zach: "I am pretty sure I was drinking when I wrote that email. With my insurmountable lead, I was able to drink the night before the big game."
With virtually the entire campus aware of the game, a large bedsheet was converted into recapping the four years of cribbage and hung on the net of Perry Volleyball Court on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. A most special part of the event, noticed by very few attendees other than the contestants, was the intricate ivory board which marked the score. A present from Jonathan's grandfather and never used before, the board dated back to World War II. The atmosphere for the game will probably never be seen for a cribbage match again - dozens of students milled around cheering for both sides as updates were periodically shouted out to the volleyball court and fire escape where an aerial view of the matchup was afforded.
=== Highlights, 2004-2005: ???===
=== Final Statistics, 2004-2005:===
