Only one event has all this and more. I am talking of course about the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. Where 9 year olds take on veteran 14 year olds. Where the sound of a bell doesn't signal the beginning but the end. Where the possibility of duel champions is present yet hasn't happened in over 40 years. Where young women and young men battle head-to-head on the same playing field. where makeup, contacts, and a hair brush is frowned on. See this sport isn't about looks. the weirder you sound and look the more you can intimidate one of the zillions of other spellers. Where being homeschooled is not only coold but an eery advantage.
Unpredictable? Look at the young Samir. He is in his 3rd or 4th Bee now and still hasn't won. He was in the final four when he was like four? He is most definetely the greatest speller to never win the Bee. You think Phil Mickleson had pressure? Try carrying that label at age TWELVE!!!!
After watching the great Katharine Close win the Bee right now I knew I was witnessing greatness. No "repeat the definition please" from her. No "language of origin?" She would just ask the word and meaning and S.P.E.L.L. the mother. Unshakeable confidence. She laughed when she got her word Ursprache to win it all. Saying after I was just glad they said "Ursprache." She spelled it like no one had ever spelled it before. This girl knew the whole dictionary people.
What makes them even more impressive is the consistency and the age they do it all at. I mean if I went back to early middle school I am pretty sure I would domin8 just about every sport. But I would not be able to outspell these little 4 eyed nosepickers. I watched about 4 hourse of Bee coverage yesterday. And I don't just watch I join the competition. Me against my wife with a pen and a paper. We see who can get the most words right. We can spell until the word pops up on the screen. If its not spelled by then were out. I whooped my wife in that game. But you know how many I got correct in 4 hours? nine. Nine. A college graduate spelled 9 correctly. My wife just got her masters in teaching and she spelled 4 correctly. Roughly one word per hour. These kids are incredible.
Last but not least I want to let everyone know that I saw this greatness first. Before ABC put them in primetime I have been watching since ESPN first started airing. I have seen the documentary Spellbound and I have been glued to anything BEE for years. Just wanted to add that. Oh and I am not going to spell check this post, but I am sure if I did plenty of errors would come up.
Forget about the NBA playoffs in the Eastern conference. Lets just go ahead and say the Pistons are playing the winner of the Western conference. Why even dink around with these blowout series? Pistons are going to knock of the Cavs in 4 or 5 and then the Nets in 4 or 5.
R.I.P. to Earl Woods the loving father of Eldrick Woods. Some criticized him for having a big mouth and boasting about his son. To those FOOLS I say "shut yo trap." How many parents in this world over-boast about there children? EVERY GOOD PARENT!!! Thats how many. So if your son is actually one of the greatest golfers ever, is involved in charities, went to Stanford, and has inspired many races to play a game they never once thought of playing you might just compare him to Ghandi too! Earl Woods is ONLY guilty of being an extremely proud father. I tip my cap to Earl and send out prayers to the whole Woods family. And this is coming from a golf fan who usually roots against Tiger - underdog syndrome.
Thats it from me JC.
Hey yo...let the Filipino speak on dis. I, too, send out my condolences to the entire Woods fam. I am lucky that I haven't lost my dad yet, but can only imagine that it's pretty rough. To Elin, you are in my thoughts and I offer you a shoulder to cry on at anytime : )
As for the NBA, playoffs lost it's luster without the Lakers. Hate 'em or love 'em, KOBE = ratings. Nothing against Nash and his boys, but EVERYONE wanted an LA-LA Staples Center showdown. Too bad for David Stern and the league that this may never have a chance as good as this year for it to happen. And DON'T BLAME KOBE!!!! He was just trying to play "team-ball" and knew he'd get criticized for putting up a 50 spot. Blame Kwame Brown for going 2 for 10 (missing point-blank layins inside), Luke Walton for even attempting to shoot the ball and falling down like an #### under the basket, Devan George going scoreless and not doing his one and only duty in life: hit open 3s. Hopefully Phil will know better next year, get a better supporting cast, and let Kobe be Kobe.
I guess Kobe vs the Pistons Part II will have to wait another year. And if Kobe and the Shaq ever met in the Finals, each game would get ratings higher than the SuperBowl - no doubt. Kobe will do his part, so Shaq better do his.
Anyway, I am still love the NBA and look for the Pistons getting another 'ship against whomever from the West (anyone besides San Antone, please!!!!).
D
ok I am back. couple of thoughts. One d your dirty man. guy loses his dad and you mack on his girl. And I'll be the first to say not EVERYONE wanted an all LA series. I could care less about that and I am all about Nash. I love how you put no blame on Kobe... 1 point 2nd half of game 7 - nuff said. I will agree with you that I want anyone but the Spurs... There the new millenium Jazz... Ginobili big time flopper, Bruce "all over your body" Bowen, and boring superstars like the big fundamental - makes me want to take a nap just looking at him. Parker is cool though but even Eva is too bored to watch the Spurs lately.
as for the rest we are now officialy just a duel blog... we lost WHITEY... he was so WHITE he was invisible and you couldn't even read his stupid post.
Practice... we talking about practice?" 
