Playoffs! Round 1 chat and predictions.

[Certain]

Welcome back!

OK, let's be blunt here: The league has been shit since the site came back. The activity is way down, and no one knows how committed anyone is. Well, here's the thing: We've got a great field signed up for the Art of Writing League Season 4 playoffs, and I don't think we should waste it.

I'm committed. I hope you will be too.

All first-round battles include a mandatory check-in by Wednesday, which also will be when I have a magazine up that I promise will be worth your time. Verses will be due Sunday, with 24-hour extensions available upon request.

Here are the first-round battles, with topics pulled from Talking Heads song titles.

FIRST-ROUND BYES
1. Certain (10-2)
2. dead man (8-3)

FIRST-ROUND BATTLES
8. Zen (5-1) vs. 9. Witty (5-2) | This Must Be the Place
5. NYCSPITZ (7-5) vs. 12. Dominate (3-2) | Road to Nowhere
4. CopyPat (8-4) vs. 13. Defiant (3-4) | Stay Hungry
3. UnbornBuddha (8-3) vs. 14. Soulstice (3-5) | No Compassion
6. timeless (6-5) vs. 11. Adonis (3-1) | Once In a Lifetime
7. Mr. J (6-5) vs. 10. Dr Dog (3-1) | Cities