If you’re playing in a regular trivia tournament, in which the top prize is a bar gift certificate or whatever promotional tchotchkes were left over from the prize vault, missing a bonus question or a high value point question isn’t the end of the world.
But if you’re playing for an eventual $1,500 prize, you need to be extremely careful regarding guessing any answers. If you don’t know the answer cold, or if you don’t have a good educated guess, then use your double-chance option or skip the question.
That, or rely on your trivia teammates. And thankfully, that’s why Jeremy and Alexis are part of my Street Academy trivia team. Three brains are better than one.
When a ten-pointer came along, asking the state Joe Biden’s son represents as attorney general, I did not confidently know. Jeremy, however, did know that if the future vice president represented Delaware, then it’s a good guess that his son would be part of the Delaware elected government as well. Jeremy was correct. It was Delaware.
The 19th question, another 10-pointer, asked what founding father became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the second Governor of New York State?
Alexis said, “It’s John Jay.”
I asked if it could be John Marshall.
“No, it’s John Jay, I’m sure.”
I wrote John Jay on the answer slip and handed it in. Other slips came in from other players. One of the Skidmarks handed in their slip, also with John Jay written on it.
Then one of the Skidmarks went back to General James and asked if he could change his answer, as he was not sure he had written the right one down. General James said, “Sure, you can change your answer.”
The correct answer was John Jay. So Skidmarks actually talked themselves out of a 10-point correct answer, and fell from being among the leading teams into the middle of the pack.
Then came the 20th question, the one where you can bet the farm or a few points or any amount you have accumulated for the night. The past few weeks, some teams have used the strategy of betting one or two points, or no points at all, and hoping that everyone else misses the question and that they advance unscathed. We had 88 points and were 60 points behind. That “weenie” bet wouldn’t have worked for us. Street Academy pushed in all the chips and hoped for the best.
The category was ‘Before They Were Actors.” What actor played college football at Florida State in the 1950’s, before an injury forced him to take up acting instead?
Easy. It was Burt Reynolds. And most teams put down Burt Reynolds. Except for some teams that thought it was Ronald Reagan or Charlton Heston. Woo Hoo a Go Go bet only a few points, while the Skidmarks only bet a nominal amount. In fact, Street Academy leapfrogged both teams and finished the night in about fourth or fifth place. Again, not a win… but we’re getting closer.
The big winners last night were Big Red Machine, who moved up the standings, and Con-Fear-Acy (the merged superteam of Mayhem and the Brown Van Experience), who are now tied with Skidmarks for the overall lead. Da Bears also did well, picking up three playoff points with their second place win last night.
So after ten weeks, here are the standings. I’m not going to list teams that haven’t shown up any more; I will still keep the attendance list going, however. Twelve black stars (one star for each attendance) earn you a green star, meaning you have fulfilled attendance requirements (to be in the finals, you must attend 75% of the qualifying weeks). If your team has a “red star” next to your name, you are in danger of being disqualified for not showing up for the requisite 12 out of 16 weeks to qualify for the tournament.
| Trivia Team | Points | Totals | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-1 | Con-Fear-Acy | 1 | 18 | ★★★★★★★★★★ |
| T-1 | Skidmarks | 18 | ★★★★★★★★★★ | |
| 3 | Stern Fans | 15 | ★★★★★★★★ | |
| 4 | Da Bears | 3 | 14 | ★★★★★★★★★ |
| T-5 | Big Red Machine | 5 | 9 | ★★★★★★★ |
| T-5 | Woo Hoo a Go Go | 9 | ★★★★★★★★★★ | |
| 7 | Touched by an Uncle | 3 | ★★★★★★★ | |
| 8 | Street Academy | 2 | ★★★★★★★★★★ |
Six weeks left to go.
Chuck The Writer 
Regarding you 2nd paragraph…Why? All you have to is show up two more weeks…or at least show up for the last few questions.
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And miss out on somebody ordering “The Fist” at Elbo Room?
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I need some clarification on the tournament schedule. We asked General James last night when the final would be, and he said June 3. Accoring to my scientific calculations (looking at a calendar), June 3 is Week 16 of the competition. Wouldn’t the finals actually take place in Week 17, after the top 8 teams were determined from point accumulations and attendance records over the first 16 qualifying weeks? That would make more sense. Can I get a ruling? Bueller? Thanks!
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I say that the general just end “qualifying” and have the finals next week. We’ll show up and keep Chuck from winning the money.
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#4: Seconded! The lineup isn’t going to change between now and June…
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Naw, it’s gotta last until June. How else will the Elbo Room raise the $1,500 generated from the price of their chicken wings? 🙂 😀
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That Joe Biden question was a 10-pointer? That’s like a 4-pointer on an easy night.
Another week, another loss for Street Academy.
-Wayne
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@#2—Don’t you usually get “The Finger” at the Elbo Room?
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Nah, only from Blue Mooned. It shows they can count to one.
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Chuck,
It is part of the culture of bar trivia at this point to boo you. You are just too damn booable.
I’ll be sure to give you both middle fingers next time, to show I can count to two.
Actually, I know I can count to at least 8, the number of people that you packed your team with at trivia bowl.
Hell, I can even count to 27, the number of bars in the Capital Region that have Albany Team Trivia. This is ironically the same number of bars that you are hated in. Must be the combination of obnoxious “woos!” and only ordering Diet Coke.
See you at Brown’s Monday. In another couple weeks or so, Lindsay’s work schedule is going to be changing, and she will be able to make the Brown’s game. You will no longer stand a chance.
-Wayne
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