New Orleans, eat your heart out. Yahoo Alley celebrated it's own "Masquerade" today. The pre-battle activities took on the look of a carnival as the alley filled with a parade of costumed merrymakers. At first it was thought that new combatants had joined the fray. Then it took on a more sinister look as a DOG plot to disguise the still captured CAT hero. Clever, we thought, but the CATS would surely see right through it. Then confusion turned to chaos as some of the CATS themselves were spotted in disguise. What was going on? Was this a plot to undermine the covert actions of the DOGS? Had the alley fights gone high tech with tactics like psychological warfare? It was certainly way over the head of this reporter. As the day progressed, reality began to surface. The plot, although thick as mud, had cracks. Just as all the other sneaky schemes are uncovered, so was this. Here in a nutshell is how I see it.

The huge CAT allowed herself to be CATnapped last week knowing the humiliation and abuse that would be suffered. By cleverly gaining the confidence of the DOGS, she enlisted the aid of another spy who shall remain nameless for protection. This co-spy spread the word throughout the alley during the week that there was to be a costume ball instead of a fight. Now, here's the clever part. The DOGS thought this was great because if they went along with it they could pounce on the unsuspecting CATS who thought there was going to be a party. The CATS figured it was a great way to steal back their comrade without being detected. Both sides had a secret agenda and never suspected the diabolical plot that was underfoot. The DOGS jumped into their plan by taking the first bite out of an unsuspecting CAT. The CATS scratched back, but couldn't figure out who to scratch. The plan was working for the DOGS and the poor disguised CATS had no chance to locate their friend and rescue her from the clutches of the big DOG. The DOGS were biting and they were biting hard. No nice little costume party as the CATS had been told. Now what was to happen? The CATS, tricked out of their usual early lead were down going into the tough round. That's the round when you see yourself facing the toughest DOGS face to face across the refrigerator box. It is the scariest part of the match even for the bravest at heart. Imagine yourself looking into the eyes of the most vicious DOG in the fight. It's enough to make fur-balls look pleasant. It was precisely at this monumental spot when the huge CATS plan kicked in. As the CATS went into the second round, they sat at the assigned places - each waiting to see if they had drawn one of the feared ones. Tricked by a resourceful CAT into wearing a disguise, not one of the CATS found the snarling foe they feared. Instead they all faced "newcomers" who they had no fear of. The huge CAT had done it again. The wise one knew you couldn't fear what you didn't know. The CATS flew to a winning round taking 9 of the 12 matches and put themselves into the lead to stay. Sure, the DOGS whimpered and some even came back strong, but the hole they were in was too deep. The CATS had won the day and taken the championship. Final score was CATS 28 - DOGS 20.

Just for fun see how many of the following you can identify:

Dogs: Lady Jeanie/Dutch Tramp - Bitingdog/Meanboxer - Doghugo/Kennel_Ha2 - Soft Puppy/A Male Dog - Woo7NT/Gajunkyarddog - Pussen Boots - Nakia - Maleinthecountry

If you spotted any, you are needed at the next tournament. - You can't tell the players without a scorecard.

You want some real nightmares? Try keeping score for a thing like this when some of the players change back to their normal name mid match then report to the lounge "We won Dave". Oh well, nobody promised me a LotteryRose garden.

Perfect 3-0 tournaments were played by: Lady Jeanie/Dutch Tramp; Cat On A Hot Tin Rueful/Kitteyn_Au; Ccwaxman/Glossit; Meggiebaby/Bonnie

Slams were bid and made by: Woo7NT/Gajunkyarddog; LiteDove/Nakia; Catmyr/Cheshirecat (7S)

The CATS were: Kwazy Cat/Cattitude; Pop Cat Q/Acatofmany; Purple/Xbrorsen (sub Juan_NoTrump); Harle/Blackrockgal; Catalac/Errikos; Cat On A Hot Tin Rueful/Kitteyn_Au; Mudg/Yadenwise; Catmir/Cheshirecat; Ccwaxman/Glossit; Sunny/Imdj; Meggiebaby/Bonniehilliard; Wyatt/Zukort

The DOGS were: Lady Jeanie/Dutch Tramp; Billsgirl/Alanbolt; Jamesgreywolf/Elaine; Bitingdog/Meanboxer; Doghugo/Kennel_Ha2; Soft Puppy/A Male Dog; Anna/Felden; Woo7NT/Gajunkyarddog; Pussen_Boots/Johnshencan; Nakia (sub BaddHabit)/Lite Dove; Flaunce/Bear; Dranna/Maleinthecountry