Think Different Contest #149: Beating me at my own game (again!)

[goforthetie]

7. Name someone who has been President pro tem of the US Senate since the end of World War II.

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A great category in which to get a singleton, as you'd gain at least 20 points over almost 80% of the field. The current President pro tem gets no love whatsoever.

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Robert Byrd (9 -> 30 pts)
SkeeBallRaif
DadofTwins
Bamaman
Cortina431
Vanya
Turd Ferguson
MarkBarrett
plasticene
TreehugginCowgirl

Strom Thurmond (8 -> 26.7 pts)
Creed Bratton
spell4yr
gamawire
Le Master
Magna
econgator
billy pilgrim
jeff6286

Milton Young (7 -> 23.3 pts)
Woppy T
debramc
jpahk
amorris525
goforthetie
xxaaaxx
cheezguyty

John Stennis (3 -> 10 pts)
cbec
Paucle
Woof

Warren Magnuson (1 -> 3.3 pts)
gloriaclemente

James Eastland (1 -> 3.3 pts)
RandyG

Carl Hayden (1 -> 3.3 pts)
Peggles

Richard Russell, Jr. (1 -> 3.3 pts)
Austin Powers

INCORRECT ANSWERS:

Tom Daschle
dhkendall

CORRECT ANSWERS NOT GIVEN:

Kenneth McKellar
Arthur Vandenberg
Styles Bridges
Walter George
Allen Ellender
Ted Stevens
Daniel Inouye

[jeff6286]

INCORRECT ANSWERS:

Wu-Tang Clan
jpahk

Snoop Dogg
RandyG

Interesting that Snoop Dogg has been nominated for 13 Grammies, 12 in the rap genre, in categories such as Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Collaboration, covering 10 different songs, but was never nominated for Best Rap Album. He has also never won a Grammy, holding a Susan Lucci-esque career record of 0-for-13.

I also feel like I should point out that TOCer Joon Pahk answered Wu-Tang Clan despite it being listed in the question as a group that was nominated but never won. That's okay Joon, it happens to the best of us.

[Le Master]

I also feel like I should point out that TOCer Joon Pahk answered Wu-Tang Clan despite it being listed in the question as a group that was nominated but never won. That's okay Joon, it happens to the best of us.

And the worst of us.

[goforthetie]

8. Name a MLB team that will play most of its 2012 home games in a stadium that was erected earlier than 1992.

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Check out the only singleton.

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Oakland Athletics (5 -> 30 pts) (Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum: 1966)
amorris525
xxaaaxx
spell4yr
Bamaman
MarkBarrett

Boston Red Sox (4 -> 24 pts) (Fenway Park: 1912)
debramc
goforthetie
Magna
TreehugginCowgirl

Kansas City Royals (4 -> 24 pts) (Kauffman Stadium: 1973)
Woppy T
jpahk
Vanya
Turd Ferguson

Chicago White Sox (4 -> 24 pts) (US Cellular Field: 1991)
Creed Bratton
jeff6286
cbec
Woof

Los Angeles Dodgers (4 -> 24 pts) (Dodger Stadium: 1962)
gloriaclemente
Peggles
DadofTwins
plasticene

Tampa Bay Rays (3 -> 18 pts) (Tropicana Field: 1990, though the Rays weren't around then)
econgator
Paucle
Austin Powers

Toronto Blue Jays (2 -> 12 pts) (Rogers Centre: 1989)
dhkendall
SkeeBallRaif

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2 -> 12 pts) (Angel Stadium of Anaheim: 1966)
Le Master
RandyG

Chicago Cubs (1 -> 6 pts) (Wrigley Field: 1914)
gamawire

INCORRECT ANSWERS:

Cincinnati Reds (Great American Ball Park: 2003)
billy pilgrim

New York Mets (Citi Field: 2009)
Cortina431

Detroit Tigers (Comerica Park: 2000)
cheezguyty

CORRECT ANSWERS NOT GIVEN:

None!

Standings after Question 8:

Creed Bratton 209.3
spell4yr 206.7
dhkendall 201.7
Cortina431 194.5
Woppy T 191.7
debramc 187.8
Bamaman 185.0
DadofTwins 183.0
gloriaclemente 179.5
amorris525 173.2
gamawire 172.0
SkeeBallRaif 171.7
jpahk 171.2
cbec 170.9
Vanya 168.6
billy pilgrim 167.4
Turd Ferguson 167.3
MarkBarrett 158.6
Paucle 155.7
Le Master 155.5
Magna 155.4
econgator 148.7

The following players are beating me at my own game:

xxaaaxx 142.4
plasticene 142.1
Woof 131.6
TreehugginCowgirl 127.2
RandyG 121.9
Peggles 110.8
jeff6286 108.4
cheezguyty 104.6
Austin Powers 62.9

[econgator]

Tampa Bay Rays (3 -> 18 pts) (Tropicana Field: 1990, though the Rays weren't around then)

And, to be fair, it wasn't even Tropicana Field back then, it was the Florida Suncoast Dome (same building, though).

[bpmod]

Tampa Bay Rays (3 -> 18 pts) (Tropicana Field: 1990, though the Rays weren't around then)

And, to be fair, it wasn't even Tropicana Field back then, it was the Florida Suncoast Dome (same building, though).

I was gonna say that a few of them have changed names over the years, but maybe Rogers Centre is the only other one.

Brian

[MarkBarrett]

My subject header for the PM was, "The Dodgers were tails", so it was 5 points whether I went with Oakland or switched to LA for the stadium.

[goforthetie]

Tampa Bay Rays (3 -> 18 pts) (Tropicana Field: 1990, though the Rays weren't around then)

And, to be fair, it wasn't even Tropicana Field back then, it was the Florida Suncoast Dome (same building, though).

I was gonna say that a few of them have changed names over the years, but maybe Rogers Centre is the only other one.

Brian

US Cellular Field was (New) Comiskey for a year or so. Wrigley used to be Weeghman Park. Oakland's was named for a tech company for a bit. Possibly others.

[jeff6286]

Tampa Bay Rays (3 -> 18 pts) (Tropicana Field: 1990, though the Rays weren't around then)

And, to be fair, it wasn't even Tropicana Field back then, it was the Florida Suncoast Dome (same building, though).

I was gonna say that a few of them have changed names over the years, but maybe Rogers Centre is the only other one.

Brian

Several have changed, with the Oakland Coliseum being the only one not listed here under its current name, which is the O.co Coliseum. Chicago, Tampa, and Toronto all added corporate sponsors to their stadium names in the years since opening, and KC's stadium changed its name to honor the Royals's soon-to-be deceased owner. Anaheim's stadium was Edison International Field of Anaheim from 1998-2003 before the local utility company opted out of the naming rights deal and the stadium switched to the current name. As far as I can tell, Fenway has always been Fenway, Dodger Stadium has always kept its name, and after a couple changes in its early years, Wrigley Field has been the name since 1926.

US Cellular Field was (New) Comiskey for a year or so.

More like a decade or so, but who's counting?

[jpahk]

I also feel like I should point out that TOCer Joon Pahk answered Wu-Tang Clan despite it being listed in the question as a group that was nominated but never won. That's okay Joon, it happens to the best of us.

yeah, that's probably more embarrassing than confusing myself about the sacramento river. thanks for bringing it to everyone's attention, though.

[dhkendall]

Toronto Blue Jays (2 -> 12 pts) (Rogers Centre: 1989)
dhkendall
SkeeBallRaif

OK, SkeeBall, I think this is your first TD, so I'll let you in on a little secret: this is like the third or fourth question you've submitted the same answer as me, and I'll tell you right now, you are *not* going to win a TD if you copy my answers. Guaranteed. I should know.

[goforthetie]

Several have changed, with the Oakland Coliseum being the only one not listed here under its current name, which is the O.co Coliseum.

The Athletics actually still use the non-branded name on their website.

US Cellular Field was (New) Comiskey for a year or so.

More like a decade or so, but who's counting?

Huh. It felt like they went corporate a lot faster. Guess not!

[goforthetie]

9. Give a place name that appears in a Michener fiction title.

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Before I looked it up, I probably would only have been able to give one answer to this question, so nice job with all the answers. Two clever people wanted to go with "Space", but it's not a proper noun.

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Hawaii (8 -> 30 pts)
DadofTwins
gamawire
cbec
Turd Ferguson
Le Master
Magna
econgator
jeff6286

South Pacific (5 -> 18.8 pts)
spell4yr
dhkendall
goforthetie
xxaaaxx
RandyG

Alaska (4 -> 15 pts)
Vanya
billy pilgrim
Paucle
TreehugginCowgirl

Chesapeake (3 -> 11.3 pts)
amorris525
SkeeBallRaif
Peggles

Texas (3 -> 11.3 pts)
Woppy T
debramc
cheezguyty

Centennial (2 -> 7.5 pts)
Bamaman
MarkBarrett

Poland (2 -> 7.5 pts)
plasticene
Woof

Caribbean (1 -> 3.8 pts)
Austin Powers

INCORRECT ANSWERS:

Iberia (nonfiction)
gloriaclemente
jpahk

Montana (does not exist)
Creed Bratton

no answer (I wrote back but no response)
Cortina431

CORRECT ANSWERS NOT GIVEN:

Matecumbe
(Miracle in) Seville
(The Bridges at) Toko-Ri
Mexico

[Austin Powers]

I toyed with Toko Ri but I wasn't sure if it was a real place name (sorta like the bridge of San Luis Rey). I narrowed my guess to Chesapeake and Poland and made the right choice. And yes I was one of the people who tried to get away with Space.

I have never been so sure on a singleton as I was on the Rays. I still remember circa 1990 and the Giants using the Suncoast Dome as leverage to get a new stadium. Guess some Giants here?

[goforthetie]

10. Name a non-extinct species in the family Ursidae.

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People are going to hate me for this one.

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brown bear (Ursus arctos) (11 -> 30 pts)
This includes 3 answers of Kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi) and 4 answers of grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), which are subspecies of brown bears.
Woppy T
spell4yr
xxaaaxx
RandyG
Turd Ferguson
econgator
jeff6286
amorris525
SkeeBallRaif
billy pilgrim
Cortina431

polar bear (Ursus maritimus) (7 -> 19.1 pts)
debramc
dhkendall
Creed Bratton
DadofTwins
gamawire
Peggles
Bamaman

spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) (6 -> 16.4 pts)
cheezguyty
plasticene
Woof
cbec
Magna
MarkBarrett

sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) (2 -> 5.5 pts)
Austin Powers
TreehugginCowgirl

American black bear (Ursus americanus) (2 -> 5.5 pts)
goforthetie
jpahk

giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) (2 -> 5.5 pts)
gloriaclemente
Le Master

sun bear (Ursus malayanus) (1 -> 2.7 pts)
Vanya

INCORRECT ANSWERS:

California golden bear (Ursus arctos californicus) (extinct subspecies of brown bear)
Paucle


CORRECT ANSWERS NOT GIVEN:

Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus)

Standings after Question 10:

Creed Bratton 273.4
Cortina431 269.5
spell4yr 255.4
dhkendall 239.6
Woppy T 232.9
DadofTwins 232.1
gloriaclemente 229.9
Turd Ferguson 227.3
jpahk 221.7
gamawire 221.1
debramc 218.1
cbec 217.2
Paucle 215.7
amorris525 214.5
SkeeBallRaif 213.0
billy pilgrim 212.4
Bamaman 211.6
econgator 208.7
Magna 201.7
xxaaaxx 191.1
Le Master 191.0
Vanya 186.3
MarkBarrett 182.5

The following people are beating me at my own game:

RandyG 170.7
jeff6286 168.4
plasticene 165.9
Woof 155.5
TreehugginCowgirl 147.6
Peggles 141.1
cheezguyty 132.3
Austin Powers 72.1

[Austin Powers]

Oh Naughty by Nature is a funny one, after one person (Shutterly) became the first to see the million dollar question on WWTBAM - who won the first Heavy Metal Grammy? IIRC Naughty by Nature holds that distinction for rap album. There was a point in my life when learning that stuff was IMPORTANT.

[MarkBarrett]

I have never been so sure on a singleton as I was on the Rays. I still remember circa 1990 and the Giants using the Suncoast Dome as leverage to get a new stadium. Guess some Giants here?

Tampa Bay Rays (3 -> 18 pts) (Tropicana Field: 1990, though the Rays weren't around then)
econgator
Paucle
Austin Powers

I think you got coast to coasted. The "gator" portion of econgator covers Florida and Paucle has mentioned Bay Area ties previously I believe. You were joined by "Giants" as they often do well in these games and they especially know sports or at least baseball well.

[SkeeBallRaif]

Toronto Blue Jays (2 -> 12 pts) (Rogers Centre: 1989)
dhkendall
SkeeBallRaif

OK, SkeeBall, I think this is your first TD, so I'll let you in on a little secret: this is like the third or fourth question you've submitted the same answer as me, and I'll tell you right now, you are *not* going to win a TD if you copy my answers. Guaranteed. I should know.

Fair enough! At least now I've got a better list of whose answers to copy next time.

BTW, I figured Byrd vs Stevens was a coin flip for the sheep (well, or Thurmond with a three-sided coin) . . . Can't believe Stevens would've been a singleton!

[TreehugginCowgirl]

10. Name a non-extinct species in the family Ursidae.

sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) (2 -> 5.5 pts)
Austin Powers
TreehugginCowgirl

CORRECT ANSWERS NOT GIVEN:

Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus)

I almost said Asiatic Black Bear, but I figured "American Black Bear" being your given answer would remind everyone that there are two black bears and make it a sheep. At least I kept Austin from getting another singleton!

[Austin Powers]

My thought too. I eliminated sun and spectacled because I recalled them being on the show.

10. Name a non-extinct species in the family Ursidae.

sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) (2 -> 5.5 pts)
Austin Powers
TreehugginCowgirl

CORRECT ANSWERS NOT GIVEN:

Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus)

I almost said Asiatic Black Bear, but I figured "American Black Bear" being your given answer would remind everyone that there are two black bears and make it a sheep. At least I kept Austin from getting another singleton!