The 2009 Houston Slam Team Grand Slam Final 0n Saturday February 21st was an exciting mix of anticipation, drama, and intrigue. The players favored to win, members of last year’s 2008 team, met some stiff competition during Super Slam Week that pushed them down in the rankings and put their favored status in question. Queen Sheba had ranked No. 1 all season long, but was pushed down to No. 2 by new comer Savannah Blue. Deep Blue See had held on to the number four ranking for sometime, had risen to three, but had been pushed down to fourth place by new comer Freeze. Deep Blue See rebounded and recovered third rank overall Thursday night. One time No. 2 ranker Fat Boi 6 had fallen all the way to No. 5 by the end of Super Slam Week. And the top ranked team Hot Buttered Soul, composed of 2008 Slam Team members Trinity and Brother Said, had been hoping for a better showing but ended up ranking behind new comer Freeze. And a surprise move by poet Outspoken catapulted him into the rankings with one high scoring second place finish on Tuesday night. But he couldn’t make it Saturday night, so his spot became a Wild Card spot and picked up by Nyne.
The very first bout pitted Savannah against, Deep Blu, Fat Boi 6, and Nyne. Top rankers get to pick their spot in the Houston Poetry Slam finals, and Savannah picked “D”. Deep Blu See picked “A” which was a shocker to see a veteran slammer who knows the alphabetical system chose to go first against a formidable opponent. Fat Boi chose “C”. And Nyne ended up with “B”. It was a close bout, but Deep Blu See pulled out the win.
The second bout pitted second ranked Queen Sheba against, Freeze, Hot Buttered Soul, and the Plastic Clown. Queen Sheba chose “C”, Freeze chose “whatever” which ended up being “D” after Plastic Clown chose “B”. Once the second bout got started, the Plastic Clown provided one of the more humorous events of the evening when he delivered his first poem writhing on the floor of the stage. Freeze dominated the first half of the bout scoring 30 points twice, but Team Hot Buttered Soul pulled off the upset win, while Queen Sheba barely caught up with Freeze to take second place making her the first alternate.
So the 2009 Houston Slam Team is Deep Blu See, Savannah Blue, Brother Said, Trinity, and Queen Sheba is the alternate for the second year in a row. Last year, half the team quit after one week. This year should be more stable, but we have a solid alternate in Freeze to call up if necessary.
Deep Blu See is the Houston Poetry Slam Grand Slam Champion, and as such qualifies to represent Houston Poetry Slam in the Individual World Poetry Slam in Berkeley, California in October 2009. Queen Sheba is the top ranking female winner and may still be able to beat the deadline to represent Houston in the Women of the World Slam in March 18 - 21.
Angela Guillory was a great first time slam hostess for us. She’s having her premier piano recital soon. Check her flyer out here
http://angelaog.com/downloads/AOG.jpgBout 1
Deep Blu See - 107.5 the Houston Poetry Slam Grand Slam Champion
Savannah Blue - 103.5
Nyne - 102.2
Fat Boi 6 - 91.5
Bout 2
Team Hot Buttered Soul - 113.5
Queen Sheba - 110.4 Top Ranking Female
Freeze - 108
Plastic Clown - 79.5