For the past 12 years, the Madden-Mariucci Bocce tournament has been raising money for charity. Over 3 million dollars has been raised during that time.
The tournament began at Campo di Bocce in Los Gatos.
It has been held at Campo di Bocce in Livermore since 2006, which is when the
Livermore facility was opened.
Proceeds go to charity, which this year included:
| Special Olympics of Northern California |
| Easter Seals |
| Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation |
| Tri-Valley High School Football programs, including Granada, Livermore, Amador, Foothill, and Dublin High Schools |
Link to
the Tournament Website
Link to Campo di Bocce
web site -
Direct link to Livermore Facility
This year the event was expanded from 32 to 40 teams. They were divided into 8 divisions of 5 teams which match the NFC division names (see scoreboard photo below). In the preliminary rounds, each team in a division played each of the other 4 teams. Since there are 8 courts, only 16 teams could play at once. This allowed a break between games for each team to eat, socialize, and eat some more. Games were to 10 points, or 25 minutes, whichever occurred first. At the end of 25 minutes, a frame in progress was completed. Ties were decided by a roll-off with a single ball per team. The closest to the pre-placed pallino won. At the end of the preliminary rounds, the top team from each division went on to the playoffs.
Between rounds the silent auction was held with items including: a 12 liter bottle McGrail vineyards wine, a Celebrity Cruise, a case of Wood Family Madden Ranch Syrah, and a magnum of Lafite Rothschild Wine.
The playoffs were single elimination. The 25 minute limit applied to the quarter and semi-finals, but waived for the final. The finals were to 12 points with no time limit.
The finals were between the The Dogs of War and Mooch's Gumba's, with The Dogs of War victorious.
John Madden's team (Ruby Hill Golf Club / Top Grade Construction) did not make the playoffs even after winning 2 of 4 in the preliminary rounds.
