Yesterday the United States crowned their National Spelling Bee champion. An offshore gambling website offered wagering on the competition. What?!!? You mean you can bet on 13 year olds spelling? What kind of gambling junkie is so desperate as to wager on a spelling bee? The more sinister thought is that where there is gambling there is organized crime. You can bet the mob is going to want a piece of this action.
Announcer: “We are down to our final two contestants, Simranjit Parmasarathny of Seattle, Washington and Vinny Scarpelli of Brooklyn, New York. Simranjit, here is your word: Ursprache.”
Simranjit: “Ummm….Y-o-u-r-s-p-r-a-k?”
Announcer: I’m sorry, that’s incorrect. Vinny, if you can spell your word correctly you will win the 2006 Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee. Here is your word: Cat.
Vinny: “Uhh…K-A-T?”
Announcer: “I’m sorry Vinny that answer is..” (heavy handed tap on the shoulder by large burly man)”..That answer is correct! You are our new champion!”
Please note that I posted twice today, so feel free to read and comment on the post below as well.