I’m not sure if the week can start on Saturday, but if so, then the week started with my confrontation with my ex at the Rock Paper Scissors Championship. But the Midnight Rider took care of her for me. We then move to Monday, when controversy reigned supreme at O’Neals. The team that always changes its name seemed to have the match under control, but faltered on the question, “What derisive nickname did Alaska acquire when the Secretary of State pushed for its purchase in 1867?” The correct answer was Seward’s Folly. They wrote Suder’s Folly. It was close to phonetically correct, but…For the first time ever, I put it to a vote. The vast majority of the crowd thoought that I shouldn’t accept it. It cost the name changers the game, as they fell to the Embarrasments, 94-93. It was at that time that the Break up the Champs portion of the week began, with interesting results.
Tuesday night didn’t really work out so well, as the Sofa finished first with a 104, and Kingdom finished 2nd. But on Wednesday both champs fell. The Breakdance Fighters showed that they are a force to be reckoned with, as they knocked off the mini-Jams, 107-82. Then, at the Black Sheep, the mini Minions finished 2nd, as Inflatable Haggis cruised to a 92-79 win.
Perhaps the most intriguing question of the first two nights was, “What American author shot his wife while playing William Tell at a party in Mexico in 1951?” The answer was William S. Burroughs. Here’s a bunch of info about the incident which is fairly interesting but poorly edited.
Thursday saw the breakup of MAGMA, and the rise of a new team, called Volksgemeinschaften, who edged Steve Wynn’s Elbow, 90-88. Finally, the team that always changes its name exacted some revenge on Thursday, as they finished in a 104-104 tie with the Sofa Kingdom, then won in overtime. (The tie breaker question was, “In what year did Mozart die?” The Kingdom said 1779, the name changers said 1781, an the correct answer was 1791.)
So in the end, the new rule, though not everyone was a fan, served it’s purpose. We got some new teams on the winners podium and saw that the best teams can still compete, even when you cut them down (One first place finish and four second places. Not bad.) Oh, and one more thing we learned, at least on Thursday: almost everybody hates classical composers.