Friday, October 30, 2009
Television Knowledge Bowl: 2009-10 Season Preview
Posted by Greg Akers on Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Tomorrow, Knowledge Bowl kicks off another season of local trivia competition. A staple of Memphis Saturday mornings on WREG News Channel 3 now about to start its 23rd year, Knowledge Bowl pits teams of area high school smartypants against each other, in tournament fashion, stretched out over the school year. Thirty-two high school teams start the season. One stands victorious in May. (This season's final airs May 29, 2010.)
Across the Mid-South this fall, teams have been built at each participating school. One of the fun things about watching Knowledge Bowl is getting to meet these talented young adults, and, for the winners, seeing them grow and change throughout the season. The best of the best get more confident and comfortable on TV as the tournament progresses.
They don't play for nuthin. Scholarships and bonds are given to every kid on every team, the amount increasing as the team advances. This year, each member on the winning team will get a $5,000 scholarship.
This year, consider SING ALL KINDS to be your Knowledge Bowl headquarters. We'll be providing game-by-game analysis; absolutely nobody has requested such in-depth coverage, but if high school football can soak up so much time and devotion in the local media, ain't it time for the nerds, geeks, cool-kids-who-are-also-smart, and every other brave soul who goes on the air to get their due? It's way past time.
In light of the tournament structure of Knowledge Bowl, it seems a little ridiculous to not fill out a bracket in advance of the season. It's incredibly difficult to handicap Knowledge Bowl, because probably more than half of last year's kids were graduating seniors. Not knowing I was going to be covering this year's season so closely, I didn't watch last year's contests closely enough to know who's got underclassmen returning. Oh well, next year's predictions will be a little more firm.
So, for what it's worth, here's my bracket for the 2009-10 Knowledge Bowl. (Most of my picks are based on past performance.)
Analysis:
- Kyle Rote Jr.
Winner: I have perennial contender Germantown emerging to the Final Four. The Red Devils have a tough path there, though, facing the girls at Hutchison in the opening round. They could lose right off the bat.
Watch out for: West Memphis Christian.
Self-Interest: I'm rooting for my neighborhood team, the Kingsbury Falcons.
- Dr. Richard Ranta
Winner: Another strong showing from ECS wouldn't surprise me, though they're going to have to top the likes of SBEC, CBHS, St. George's, IC ... brutal.
Watch out for: The first round of CBHS v. St. George's would make for a fine final. That winner could go all the way.
Self-Interest: Raleigh-Egypt and Covington are the only public schools in the Ranta Region. I've got MCS loyalty. Go Pharaohs.
- Jim Jaggers
Winner: St. Benedict, last year's runner up, comes out on top.
Watch out for: St. Mary's. This is the Turkeys' first year participating. They won the quiz bowl event this fall and could take the tournament by storm. They even have Jeopardy contestant Melissa Luttman on their team. Watch out, rest of the field.
Self-Interest: Full-disclosure, my daughter is in kindergarten at St. Mary's.
- Anelda Carter
Winner: I've got last year's tournament champ Collierville advancing out of the region.
Watch out for: This is likely the toughest region, with previous winners White Station and MUS also here along with a number of other typically solid teams. Expect the possible second-round matchup of MUS vs. White Station to be great TV. That winner could win it all.
Self-Interest: As previously referenced, I was a member of the Collierville team, as a senior in 1994. We won it all. It never gets old saying that. I started half the games and was a reserve half the games. I won a $7,500 scholarship (the winning amount was higher back then than it is now — not sure why) and promptly lost it with a terrible-GPA freshman year at U of M. C'est la vie.
Final Four: Germantown, ECS, St. Benedict, and Collierville. Just playing the odds, here. Wouldn't be surprised if it was four different teams than these.
Championship Game: St. Benedict, ECS.
Knowledge Bowl Winner: St. Benedict. Last year's runner-up takes it over the top and wins the thing. I seem to recall they had some underclassmen in their starting four. That can make a big difference.
Tune in each week to get a recap of the games. First up: Kingsbury versus Houston! Saturday, October 31st, 9 a.m., Channel 3.
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This is easily the most original blog topic you guys have come up with. These brain-jocks deserve the kind of in-depth coverage and analysis you can provide. Of course, I may just be saying that because I was on the Germantown High championship team in '92. I agree...saying it never gets old. It also never stops being nerdy.
Awesome.
I was on the 1992 semifinalist White Station team, though we did beat T-Ho and his Germantown squad in a less-celebrated head-to-head competition.
1997 and 1999 ECS knowledge bowl alum, although I never got past the 2nd round. Actually got killed one year while Richard Ranta laughed in the background. Thanks Dick!
This is the funniest article i've ever read on here. I used to Tivo the Knowledge Bowl back in the day. Might have to start doing that again.
You need to list their height/weight/40 times. Maybe throw in their SAT/ACT scores for good measure.
Cavis:
I have my own bitter Ranta stories, trust me. I'll be unloading in the comments as this thing progresses.
I love the fact of this year's coverage almost as much as the promise that there will be "next year's predictions" -- I geek me some Dork Bowl. You're doing valuable work here, Mr Akers. Look out, Street & Smith's!
And just think, only nine more years until your daughter is eligible to compete. You're not going to be one of those Dork Bowl parents, are you, screaming at Jim Jaggers and egging Dick Ranta's car after the match...? You don't want her freezing up on-camera like Cindy Brady.
Bet against the Red Devils at your peril.
-'91 and '92 GHS KB alum (and only two-time champ ever)... and don't doubt that that gets the chicks.
As a coach of one of the mentioned teams, let me say THANKS for publicity and geek support, especially for a school competition not featuring a ball, where the only thing that bounces is the incorrectly-answered question.
In addition to listing SAT/ACT and height-weight statistics, why not include sibling information? My daughter is on the St. Mary's team, and is the second of my three children to compete in Knowledge Bowl. The first was my son, Fred, who is now a sophomore at UTK.
Knowledge Bowl is such a useless thing, however, as we found out with our son who was the team captain for Munford in the 2007-2008 year. It is an image contest that has little (other than money for the overall winners) to do with the actual Quiz Bowl team tournament schedule and state and regional competition points accumulated.
Welcome to the party, everybody. Your comments are very much appreciated.
I'm very curious about your thoughts, Julie. For whatever reason, my team didn't play Quiz Bowl, so I must admit a total blind spot when it comes to that competition. What do those teams compete for? Do they also get scholarships/bonds/parting gifts? What do the points go toward for advancing Quiz Bowl teams?
As for including SAT/ACT/IQ/Height/Weight/40 time/sibling data: I'd love to do all of it. Impossible and probably illegal to accumulate/disseminate that data. Worry not, though: I'm working on a metric to satisfy the stat nerds in the audience.
I must say as a coach for one of the team's this year, this is hilarious! Please do more coverage of this worthy news story.
As a coach of one of the teams not mentioned, but playing in the tournment, I want to say thank you so much for doing this. I think this is great. I understand why we were not mentioned; but, just wait, you will be talking about us before it is all over.
I love that you coaches are chiming in. I strongly encourage more of your thoughts and perspectives. Best of luck to you all. (And for whoever has to play allthatjaza's team, look out! They've got fire!)
Britt, KB producer/director, showed me your blog after recording the shows this past Monday evening. Just got a chance to actually look through it. Very pleased that you are covering this competition where, as FlyerFan 60 said,nothing bounces but incorrectly answered questions. I try hard not to laugh at some of the answers (think I am doing better these days) but sometimes it is hard to choke a laugh down because some are so funny. As to the state Quiz bowl or whatever, did it start prior to 1987? Knowledge Bowl has been around giving scholarship rewards to bright, hard-studying students for 23 years now. KB started when no one was doing anything like this in town. It also gives the thousands of Saturday viewers that tune into News Channel 3's Knowledge Bowl notice that the competing schools can be proud of what they were constructed to do in the first place, educate our students, not just chase balls. It is now even copied by corporations, leadership groups, and other student quiz competitions. In 1989 the show was recognized by United States President's Citation Program for the Private Sector and received a "C-Flag" for "outstanding contributions to the American spirit of volunteerism and community action." The slogan on the flag might be of interest to you as it sounds very much like a more recent slogan, the flag bore the slogan "We Can - We Care". Even in these tough time, WREG-TV and the sponsors of KB still do.
Anyway, the buzzer has gone off and my round if finished. Good luck on your predictions. R3
Greg, I salute your stance on protecting the privacy of the (mostly underage) KB participants and the general integrity of the competition. It's the right thing to do.
In Quiz Bowl, however, it seems that ship has already sailed:
http://hsquizbowl.org/blog/?tag=high-schoo…
Well, I was appalled, anyhow.
well, we just lost tonight, lol. It was my third time and I never got past the first round, but it was also the first three years our school competed. I wouldn't mind my stats being posted, but the ACT scores don't come out for another hour and 45 minutes. thanks for reporting on Knowledge Bowl!
by the way, thanks for predicting we would win!
Greg -- Love that you're covering the brain bowls, though I must respectfully disagree with your choice of St. Benedict to beat St. Mary's and take the tournament. In fact, I think it'll be the other way around. Office pool anyone?
R3: Thanks for your comments, and I would be very very very interested in a hi-res jpeg pic of that flag. Call me at the Flyer office if such a thing is feasible.
Underhills: My stomach turned when I checked out that website. Please do your part in ensuring the Flyer's KB coverage never reaches that point.
AnonymousTeamCaptain: My condolences on your loss. Will there be a fourth year for you, or are you a graduating senior? Never forget: There's a place for you in this world as a Knowledge Bowl alum.
Smartgirlsrule: Thanks for your comments! I've got the St. Benny/St. Mary's tilt circled as a winner-takes-tournament type of matchup. Should make for some real drama.
And I'd take you up on the office pool, except for the disclaimer, always in effect, that Knowledge Bowl coverage and brackets are for entertainment purposes only. Please, no wagering. Especially if you're on or coaching a team! Knowledge Bowl doesn't need some kind of Pete Rose or Shoeless Joe Jackson scandal. Although that would legitimize KB in the eyes of sports fiends...
I have watched the KB for over 20 years and one thing is abundantly clear........the black public schools are a complete and utter failure! I'm at this moment watching Southside lose to Hernando 0 to 175 and the game isn't even over! This has been the norm for over 20 years! The public schools in Memphis are, at BEST, a JOKE but the black school are a crime! They are leaning absolutely NOTHING year after year after year. And it's NOT the students fault. The black school administrators and teachers should be fired and all the students should be sent to other schools. Of course that will never happen; just like the black students in Memphis will never get an education!
Knowledge Bowl is just a game. What's a crime is that in 2010 there are such things as "black schools" in Memphis or anywhere else. Everyone satisfied with getting their child into a safe private school should be mindful of the peers your child left behind in public schools and what the implications of this separate-and-not-equal schism cost our society, right now and tomorrow.
oldguy, if all the students are sent to "other" schools, then those "other" schools will just become...."black" schools. That's exactly what happened, year after year, when integration actually occured. Go read a little about the history of segregation in Memphis, then come back and we'll talk. And btw, for anyone who thinks vouchers are the answer, (and maybe they're part of the answer, I don't know) is St. Mary's and MUS and Lausanne, etc., going to accept all students, just like public schools have to?
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