Challenge the Stupid Sportswriter, Week 9
Dick Van Patten, the actor/dog lover,was part of a promotion on Oct. 21 called "Dine With Your Dog Day," mostly to promote this dog food he's developed that's supposed to be so good, humans can eat it as well as the pooch.
Nicollette Sheridan wasn't that desperate.
The "Desperate Housewives" actress might have been willing to drop a towel for Terrell Owens, but not drop your nose in a bowl of kibbles and bits at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.
"This is not 'Fear Factor,'" Sheridan said.
So she passed. A well-deserved pass.
Just like we did Sunday night. Meaning, "The Challenge," no matter how challenging, didn't make the cut in our busy schedule.
That's the problem with live television. We've become so programmed into TiVo-ing stuff that doesn't fit into our schedule, we know we'll get around to it eventually.
For Sunday's episode, that "eventually" was Monday morning.
We could have used the extra points to help in the overall standings, but what the heck. More important things to do. Not important what it really was. Just superceded Fred Roggin.
Like a can of Alpo.
As a result, we dropped big from No. 54 overall in the standings to No. 105, behind leader Patrick Alog (2,215 points, 10 ahead of Sonia DeSaegher, who has to be related to the former 1540-AM sports update guy Steve DeSaegher ... isn't it really him doing all the dirty work here?).
Oh, well. By our guess-timation, we'd have had collected about 190 points from last night's show. Respectable, but about what we average anyway. Far below eventual winner Chris Tan with 310 points.
Here are the questions (via TiVo, how we would have answered had we watched live) and the answers:
Question 1: Who replaced Pat Riley as coach of the Lakers after he stepped down following the 1989-90 season?
a) Randy Pfund
b) Del Harris
c) Mike Dunleavy
d) Paul Westhead
Question 2: The Ducks' J.S. Giguerre was named MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2003. What's the name of the Trophy that he won?
a) Lady Byng Trophy
b) Hart Trophy
c) Vezina Trophy
d) Conn Smythe Trophy.
Question 3: Who was the last horse to win the Triple Crown?
a) Spectacular Bid
b) Affirmed
c) Seattle Slew
d) Secretariat
Question 4: Which professional wrestler is singing this song ("I'm Back")?
a) Jesse "The Body" Ventura
b) Ultimate Warrior
c) Hulk Hogan
d) Macho Man Randy Savage
Question 5: Who did Loyola Marymount lose to in the Elite 8 of the 1990 NCAA Tournament?
a) Michigan
b) Duke
c) Alabama
d) UNLV
Question 6: Which country has won the most medals all time in the Olympic Winter Games?
a) Norway
b) Germany
c) Russia
d) United States
Question 7: What current college football coach won the Heisman Trophy?
a) Urban Meyer
b) Bobby Bowden
c) Steve Spurrier
d) Bob Stoops
Question 8: NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson began his career with which team?
a) Atlanta Falcons
b) Los Angeles Rams
c) Los Angeles Raiders
d) Indianapolis Colts
Question 9: How long is the bike portion of the Ironman Triathlon?
a) 105 miles
b) 110 miles
c) 112 miles
d) 120 miles
Answers:
1. c) Dunleavy. We knew it right away and would have got 35 points (factoring in that dang DirecTV delay).
2. d) Conny Smythe. I would have choked and picked Hart. 0 points.
3. b) Affirmed. I'd have had it after a couple of seconds to think because Alydar wasn't one of the choices. I'd take 30 points.
4. d) Savage. I'd have had no clue -- nor wanted one -- and waited until the end for the 10 points.
5. d) UNLV. 131-101, before the Rebels won the national title. I knew it, would have had 35 points.
6. a) Norway, with 282. I'd have guessed Russia and would have been shut out.
7. c) Spurrier. In 1966. They could have made it harder by naming other Heisman winners. Spurrier is the only one of that group to have won a Heisman. I knew it, would have had 35 points.
8. b) L.A. Rams. Duh. In 1983. I'd have had another 35. points.
9. c) 112. Needing the points, I'd have gone for the odd-looking distance and eventually guessed it for, say, 30 points.