In the early 2000s, the Daily News was LA’s little paper that could. Covering the San Fernando Valley under the shadow of the much larger LA Times, the DN thrived thanks to a talented staff that took pride in telling the story of the Valley.

Ramona Shelburne was a young sports writer on that staff. Brian Martin was a news editor. Your Glimm commissioner started as a crime reporter before becoming the paper’s first online editor.

In the decades since, as the paper’s staff shriveled with the newspaper industry, some stayed and some moved on. 

Shelburne moved on: She has emerged as one of the country’s preeminent basketball reporters. She’s an NBA Insider for ESPN. She hosts a radio show, has had her reporting turned into a movie, and (most importantly) is a member of the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. 

Martin took a different route, staying at the Daily News for the duration. He moved from the News to the sports department, and led the paper’s MMA coverage while serving as deputy sports editor.

But for many one-time DN staffers, as we scattered to different industries and different parts of the country, there was one constant: The Glimm.

And this year, Daily Newsers Shelburne and Martin dominated.

In the men’s pool, both correctly picked UConn over Purdue for the championship. Those picks gave Shelburne 138 points, just enough to hold off Martin’s 137.5 (Martin’s point total tied Jerry Kleinbaum’s doctork bracket, but took second place on the tie breaker).

Shelburne’s victory makes her the third two-time Glimm champion, joining Erik Boal (2007-08) and Kelly Bohling (2022-23).

Martin’s near miss robbed him of an unprecedented double: While he finished second in the men’s pool, he won the women’s title, correctly picking 82.5% of the games, including champion South Carolina and runner-up Iowa. His 149.5 points was well ahead of second-place Jon Lloyd (137) and Kelly Bohling (142). 

The Daily News Duo topped the list of Glimm winners:

KIDS CHAMPION: First-time Glimmer Nicholas Fabozzi finished in fourth place with his Nicky Fab bracket, just outside of the money. But that was good enough to clinch the Kids Championship, earning a scholarship to the 2025 Glimm.

The Orlov: An award named for another longtime Daily News staffer, the late great Rick Orlov, goes to Jack Otter, whose 86.5 points put him in 133rd place – dead middle. In honor of Rick Orlov, Jack will get his $5 back — sent as cash via snail mail, with a handwritten note.

The Glimm Family Scholarship: Richard Lester, son-in-law of Glimm namesake Marion Glim, finished in 51st place — but he was the top finisher of Glimm family members. He wins the Glimm Family Scholarship to the 2025 Glimm.

Final men’s standings are here, and final women’s standings are here. We’ll see you back here next year!