Challenge the Very Stooopid Sportswriter: Week 1 2008
So we happened to be in town this Sunday night for the debut of the latest incarnation of Fred Roggin's "The Challenge" online sports quiz (linked here), which, as you know, pops up after John Madden runs out of noises to describe the NBC NFL game.
Season 3 changes: Back to a half hour, much more condensed as a quiz than previous years -- only four questions (instead of eight) and only three answers per question (instead of four) -- so right away, we fear there's very little room for error when trying to win this thing by the end of the year.
Our fears came true.
We didn't even make the top 100 the first night of those who played along at home. We're not even sure if we made the top 200. Miss one, and you're really knocked down the line.
While so much time was given to Petros Papadakis being upset that there were too many cut away shots of Kim Kardashian during the New Orleans Saints' telecast, given to guys standing at Woodland Hills restraunts taking guesses at the simpliest of questions, given to Roggin doing voice over of goofy video clips ("Is that your stinger or are you just happy to see me?") and the usual Dish Adams (not his real name) riffs on fantasy players, the Q-and-A portion quiz really takes a back seat to all the other components.
Yes, we're disappointed in that. But their research must have shown that this is how they should fill a half hour. There are prizes now (at least, you qualify to win one) if all you do is blindly answer a question. No instant rewards for being correct.
So be it. It just means we won't be all that inclined to make this appointment television.
But we'll give it a go anyway, in the spirit of Petros' Peninsula High T-shirt:
Question 1: Who was the last Super Bowl champion to fail to make the playoffs the following season?
A: Broncos
B. Steelers
C. Buccaneers
Question 2: (Video of New Orleans QB Drew Brees having his pass deflected back to him, which he catches and then runs with): Which of the following can a quarterback not do after catching a deflected pass:
A. Pass again
B. Run
C. Punt
Question 3: How many gold medals did the U.S. win at the Beijing Olympics?
A. 34
B. 35
C. 36
Question 4: Before managing the Dodgers and Yankees, what team was Joe Torre the skipper of?
A. Cardinals
B. Mets
C. Braves
Answers:
1. B. Steelers. (When? Not sure. We were never told). We guessed the Bucs. Got it obviously wrong. 0 points.
2. A. Pass again. Running is OK. So is punting (?) Got it right. 20 points.
3. C. 36. We guessed right. 15 points (didn't guess quick enough)
4. A. Cardinals. We went with Mets. 0 points.
Total: 35 points.
The top 100 for the show ends at 50 points. The leader, Lee Phillips, had 110 points. How is that possible? There is 30 points possible per question. The value drops the longer you take. Again, since I'm watching through a TiVo, there's already a built-in delay. I'll almost never get a 30-point answer unless I respond nearly immediately.
Will we play again next week? We'll see. Until then, no, that's not a stinger, and no, I'm not happy to see you.
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