It was a chilly, rainy night in New York, and we had a lighter turnout than I would have thought for Trivia on Tuesday night: 13 teams were in.
It was also one of those nights when the scores across the board were on the higher side. We've had nights like that, but I was most surprised that 7 of the teams got all five questions correct. It's rare to find that many teams turn that trick. I honestly thought it was going to be a tough round, but the players proved me wrong.
I promise you that IQ Trivia will be a bit more difficult next week.
The team of Write Anything rolled up 55 points, and won the night by two points. Second place was a tie, between With the Way He's Been Treated By The Jets, Is It Still Fair to Call Tim Tebow a Virgin? and Wait, Jodie Foster Is Gay? Lance Armstrong Dopes? Next You'll Tell Me John Quinn Likes Turtlenecks each with 53 points. We also had two tiebreakers for the first time, as both teams got the first question exactly correct. ("How many states have an "a" at the end of their names? 21 was the right answer.) So we broke it with, "How many first-ballot Hall of Famers are enshrined at Cooperstown? The answer was 44, and the Tim Tebow group was closest and grabbed second.
Best Team Name: Jodie Foster's Creepy Ginger Children
Current Events
1. What dramatic film was nominated for 12 Academy Awards last week, the most for any 2012 film?
2. White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew was nominated by President Obama for what cabinet post last week?
3. No one was elected to the MLB Hall of Fame last week for 2013. Between Craig Biggio, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, all first-time candidates, which one got the most votes?
4. A new investigation into the death of singer Amy Winehouse revealed she died from what cause?
5. Abby Wambach was named the female World Player of the Year for 2012 last week in what sport?
6. What was the great significance of Miss Montana, Alexis Wineman, being in this past Saturday's Miss America pageant?
7. As of last Sunday, name 1 of 3 US states where the recent flu outbreak was not considered "widespread."
Trivia of the Last Decade
1. In December 2007, Benazir Bhutto, onetime prime minister of what country, was assassinated by a bomb blast during an election rally?
2. In April 2009, US troops rescued Captain Richard Phillips of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama from pirates based in what African country?
3. In 2004, which US state became the first to recognize same-sex marriage?
4. Which North American city held the 2010 Winter Olympics?
5. In February 2003, which space shuttle disintegrated during re-entry over Texas, killing all seven astronauts on board?
6. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, swimmer Michael Phelps won how many gold medals?
7. Name 2 of the 3 teams to win the World Series twice in the past ten years.
5,6,7 or 8 Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. The number of points on a Star of David.
2. The center fielder in baseball is this numbered position.
3. The number of basketball players allowed on the court at any one time for one team.
4. One of George Carlin's best-known routines was "How many words you can never say on television?"
5. Virgo is this number sign of the Zodiac.
6. This number is retired for MLB HoF Mickey Mantle and NFL HoF John Elway.
7. This number iPhone is the latest generation of the Apple iPhone.
8. John Quincy Adams was this number US president.
9. This is the atomic number of oxygen.
10. The number of Super Bowls won by the Pittsburgh Steelers in their history.
General Knowledge
1. What US state is divided into parishes rather than counties? ( 1 pt)
2. Who was the US president during the War of 1812? ( 1 pt)
3. What pop singer renamed herself "Sasha Fierce" for a 2008 double album? ( 1 pt)
4. What finger is fractured twice as often as any other? ( 2 pt)
5. Topsy and Simon Legree are both characters in what classic 19th century novel? ( 2 pt)
6. Mozart's last symphony shares a name with which of the planets? ( 2 pt)
7. What song was playing when Tom Cruise famously danced in his underwear in the 1983 film "Risky Business? ( 3 pt)
IQ Trivia
1. What Midwestern state is the only one whose two-letter postal abbreviation is a preposition? ( 3 points)
2. Christopher Jones was the captain of what famed 17th century ship? ( 4 points)
3. In 1903, a Russian immigrant named Morris Michtom began marketing, with presidential permission, what toy he invented? ( 5 points)
4. What retail company was founded in 1902 in Minneapolis as the Dayton Dry Goods Company, but didn't open its first store under its current name until 1962? ( 4 points)
5. "Bush At War", "State of Denial" and "Plan of Attack" are a trilogy of books written by what famed journalist? ( 4 points)
Answers
Current Events
1. "Lincoln"; 2. Secretary of the Treasury; 3. Craig Biggio; 4. accidental alcohol poisoning; 5. soccer; 6. first contestant with autism; 7. California, Hawaii, Mississippi.
Trivia of the Last Decade
1. Pakistan; 2. Somalia; 3. Massachusetts; 4. Vancouver; 5. Columbia; 6. eight; 7. Red Sox, Cardinals and Giants.
5,6,7 or 8 Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. six; 2. eight; 3. five; 4. seven; 5. six; 6. seven; 7. five; 8. six; 9. eight; 10. six.
General Knowledge
1. Louisiana; 2. James Madison; 3. Beyonce; 4. pinky; 5. "Uncle Tom's Cabin;" 6. Jupiter; 7. "Old Time Rock'n' Roll."
IQ Trivia
1. Indiana (IN); 2. The Mayflower; 3. teddy bear; 4. Target; 5. Bob Woodward.