Home Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Options

The Scripps National Spelling Bee on ESPN - Is this a Sport?

image

OK - if this is on ESPN - is it considered a sport? How come there are no Spelling Bee Trading cards?

Did anyone ever notice that often it's won by kids from India?

And what's with all those "stall" tactics.

Spell the word gelignite - pronounced "gel lig night" - An explosive mixture composed of nitroglycerine, guncotton, wood pulp, and potassium nitrate - the root is latin.

Kid at the microphone:

1. Could you use it in a sentence?

2. Are there any alternate forms of pronunciation?

3. What is the language of origin?

4. Does the root word come from gelatin?

5. Is it larger or smaller than a breadbox?

6. If I were to do down to the local drugware store - would I likely see it on the shelf with Jello?

7. Would my Aunt Harriet use this in her secret sauce?

8. Is it taken orally or can you take it through the big toe?

9. Is that tie you are wearing made of silk?

10 Why does the kid sitting next to me smell like salami and onions?

11. Do I get extra credit if I spell it backwards?

Well you get the idea - and boy am I a bad speller!!!

mike
Mike

Comments

  • Options
    digicatdigicat Posts: 8,551 ✭✭
    Well, when I was in high school, they called them "academic sports."

    Academic Decathlon, Science Olympiad. And the “sport” I lettered in… MATHletes.



    edit---
    My baseball career was scuttled early in the 10th grade by foot injuries, so in my office, I have the varsity letter I earned in MATHletes with my baseball pictures. No one asks, so it's all good. image
    My Giants collection want list

    WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
  • Options
    A sport....no.

    However, I hope they never take it off ESPN.

    The highlights from that always make for some of the greatest sportscenter highlights. do you see that kid last year or the year before who passed out mid spell, got up, and finished the word correctly? Now that's a role model, Mr. Barkley.
  • Options
    wufdudewufdude Posts: 356
    I got a kick out of the psycho chick that would mouth each letter into her hand before saying it out loud....

    You definitely see a lot of kids that will be virgins until they're married on there....
  • Options
    Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I got a kick out of the psycho chick that would mouth each letter into her hand before saying it out loud....

    You definitely see a lot of kids that will be virgins until they're married on there.... >>


    image
    Wuf

    Do you mean Rebecca Sealfon - she spelled the word euonym to win the contest. Home schooler.
    What a geek!!

    She was on the tonite show and made as ass of herself IMO.

    mike
    Mike
  • Options
    lostdart58lostdart58 Posts: 2,938 ✭✭✭
    ......neither is poker a sport.............
    Collector of:Baseball
    1955 Bowman Raw complete with 90% Ex-NR or better

    Now seeking 1949 Eureka Sportstamps...NM condition
    Working on '78 Autographed set now 99.9% complete -
    Working on '89 Topps autoed set now complete


  • Options
    ^^True.
    Collecting;
    Mark Mulder rookies
    Chipper Jones rookies
    Orlando Cabrera rookies
    Lawrence Taylor
    Sam Huff
    Lavar Arrington
    NY Giants
    NY Yankees
    NJ Nets
    NJ Devils
    1950s-1960s Topps NY Giants Team cards

    Looking for Topps rookies as well.

    References:
    GregM13
    VintageJeff
  • Options
    Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>......neither is poker a sport............. >>


    Sure it's a sport.

    Along with darts and Stump the Schwab.

    image
    Mike
  • Options
    lostdart58lostdart58 Posts: 2,938 ✭✭✭
    I agree that the spelling bee should always be shown on ESPN...............let these kids get their 15 minute of fame.......................... although personally I would rather watch a rerun of a Devil Ray/ Royals game.
    Collector of:Baseball
    1955 Bowman Raw complete with 90% Ex-NR or better

    Now seeking 1949 Eureka Sportstamps...NM condition
    Working on '78 Autographed set now 99.9% complete -
    Working on '89 Topps autoed set now complete


  • Options
    oh how quickly we all forget!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ESPN is an acronym for the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network and the first letter stands for Entertainment!


  • Options
    Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>oh how quickly we all forget!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ESPN is an acronym for the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network and the first letter stands for Entertainment! >>


    I think it's time for me to take another vacation.

    This was not meant to be taken literally - I'm pretty sure we all know what ESPN stands for.

    It was a lame attempt on my part to inject a little humor into the questions the kids ask before they make an attempt at spelling the words - they're just stalling for time I think.

    Wow
    image
    Mike
  • Options
    TabeTabe Posts: 5,927 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>oh how quickly we all forget!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ESPN is an acronym for the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network and the first letter stands for Entertainment! >>


    I think it's time for me to take another vacation.

    This was not meant to be taken literally - I'm pretty sure we all know what ESPN stands for. image >>


    You'd be surprised how many people think the E stands for "Entirely".

    Tabe
  • Options
    tkd7tkd7 Posts: 1,799 ✭✭


    << <i>
    What a geek!!
    >>



    I think thats what people think of me when I tell them my hobby is collecting baseball cards encased in plastic. image
  • Options
    Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>
    What a geek!!
    >>



    I think thats what people think of me when I tell them my hobby is collecting baseball cards encased in plastic. image >>


    That's very true tkd!

    You can include me.

    image
    Mike
  • Options
    Do I get extra credit if I spell it Backwards ?-- I like that one.
    imageimageimage
  • Options


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>
    What a geek!!
    >>



    I think thats what people think of me when I tell them my hobby is collecting baseball cards encased in plastic. image >>


    That's very true tkd!

    You can include me.

    image >>


    Hey Stone, I missed that girl that won on Leno. How did she make an arse of herself? Was she just really super-nerdy?

    Take care buddy and don't let the tighta$$e$ get to you my man.
  • Options
    Hey guys, I'm not 100% sure, but I have heard that the reason ESPN airs those spelling bees is because they have to have a certain number of hours a year or something like that devoted to some form of educational viewing or shows. Don't know where I heard that or if that's even true, but just passing along what I've heard.
    "A flute with no holes is not a flute, a donut with no holes is a danish" - Chevy Chase

    "I have a split personality, and he is a regular SOB"
  • Options
    Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>
    What a geek!!
    >>



    I think thats what people think of me when I tell them my hobby is collecting baseball cards encased in plastic. image >>


    That's very true tkd!

    You can include me.

    image >>


    Hey Stone, I missed that girl that won on Leno. How did she make an arse of herself? Was she just really super-nerdy?

    Take care buddy and don't let the tighta$$e$ get to you my man. >>


    She was kind of hyper and a bit full of herself and way too precocious for my taste. That's what I remember.
    When a young kid comes on a national show, I think most would have liked her if she were polite and affable.

    I won't let the "man" get me down - rememba - hate the playa, not the game.

    mike
    Mike
  • Options
    WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    Can you use it in a sentence please?

    Steve
    Good for you.
  • Options
    pandrewspandrews Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭
    image
    ·p_A·
  • Options
    pandrewspandrews Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭
    ·p_A·
  • Options
    OverratedOverrated Posts: 454 ✭✭
    Most of my cards came from these kids lunch money!
  • Options
    Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Perry
    I think we had that link before or am I just having flashbacks from that battery acid I drank in 1991?

    Thanx for the link
    mike
    Mike
  • Options
    No a spelling bee is not a sport, but it is a form of competition just like poker is
    + I wuz a champioon spelller in highh skool, i wun manny spelleng beez in that tyme
    so I kind of enjoy watching it
  • Options
    Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>No a spelling bee is not a sport, but it is a form of competition just like poker is
    + I wuz a champioon spelller in highh skool, i wun manny spelleng beez in that tyme
    so I kind of enjoy watching it >>


    The question zip was rhetorical.

    If anyone has watched the competition - you notice they will stall forever by asking all kinds of questions - so this was just meant to be humorous - my additional questions:

    Kid at the microphone:

    1. Could you use it in a sentence?

    2. Are there any alternate forms of pronunciation?

    3. What is the language of origin?

    4. Does the root word come from gelatin?

    5. Is it larger or smaller than a breadbox?

    6. If I were to do down to the local drugware store - would I likely see it on the shelf with Jello?

    7. Would my Aunt Harriet use this in her secret sauce?

    8. Is it taken orally or can you take it through the big toe?

    9. Is that tie you are wearing made of silk?

    10 Why does the kid sitting next to me smell like salami and onions?

    11. Do I get extra credit if I spell it backwards?

    Well you get the idea - and boy am I a bad speller!!!

    I think some may have scanned the post rather than read it literally.
    As the late Johnny Carson would say from time to time...

    Boy did I bomb tonite!

    image
    Mike
  • Options
    Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

    The longest word in the English dictionary at 45 letters!

    Later to found to be a hoax I believe - not a real disease?

    What's the difference?

    The Crowned the winner tonight for the 2006 Spelling Bee.

    Actually I can't believe how many words I've never heard of before!

    mike
    Mike
  • Options
    pandrewspandrews Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭
    antidisestablishmentarianism is only 28 letters..
    ·p_A·
  • Options
    pandrewspandrews Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭
    supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is 34 letters if i counted right..

    does that count as a word?
    ·p_A·
  • Options
    stevekstevek Posts: 27,771 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well of course we know it's not a sport but it is drama, and it is cool for the kids and I think it inspires learning. ESPN televises it to get kids and parents watching ESPN - good business and educational at the same time. A win-win in my opinion.


    Steve
  • Options
    Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is 34 letters if i counted right..

    does that count as a word? >>


    Ahhhh...

    I don't know Perry?

    Wasn't that in a movie or something?

    And make sure you keep it away from your "private parts!"

    mike


    Mike
  • Options
    AxtellAxtell Posts: 10,037 ✭✭
    I understand the frustration with the questions, but the way these kids learn these words is by learning languages of origins and the like, so getting that information is vital for them spelling it correctly.

    I agree, the kid passing out, then getting back up and spelling his word right was pretty amazing.

    I have watched it on and off the past few years, and it seems as if a large percentage are home schooled?
  • Options
    pandrewspandrews Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭
    i think for the most part, home schooling produces really intelligent, albeit slightly odd kids?..
    ·p_A·
  • Options
    Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I understand the frustration with the questions, but the way these kids learn these words is by learning languages of origins and the like, so getting that information is vital for them spelling it correctly.

    I agree, the kid passing out, then getting back up and spelling his word right was pretty amazing.

    I have watched it on and off the past few years, and it seems as if a large percentage are home schooled? >>


    Ax

    This has been taken so far out of the spirit of the original post - it wasn't meant to be serious.

    Of course they need the etymology of the word - along with the part of speech, e.g. if the word is an adjective, it will give a hint at the proper spelling of the ending.

    Sometimes they are just stalling and I thought it would be funny to add "humorous" fake questions that a kid might ask. There are explicit rules about what kind of questions they can ask.

    This was humor, not serious, not a real question, not a debate on the spelling bee.

    Wow
    mike
    Mike
Sign In or Register to comment.