"Big League Dream: The Sweet Taste of Life in the Majors"

Three years ago, I read a book by a man named Roy Berger, a businessman from Long Island who grew up a passionate baseball fan. His book was called "The Most Wonderful Week of the Year", and it was all about his trials and tribulations being at a major league fantasy camp. He was a Pittsburgh Pirates fan (and a Yankees fan later in life), and chronicled the thrill of being not only at the Pirates fantasy camp, but also going to the Yankees and Detroit Tigers camps, all in a span of four years.

Roy Berger is now back with more tales from the world of fantasy camp baseball, this time with "Big League Dreams: The Sweet Taste of Life in the Majors." In this book, Berger sits down and chats amiably with many of the game's greats (and a few not-so-great) who have also shared his love of fantasy camp baseball, mostly from the 1960s and 1970s.

The book opens with a forward (which he calls a "pregame") with Bucky Dent. I seriously considered skipping it totally, and for obvious reasons. But I felt that would do a disservice to the author, so I sucked it up and read it. Dent talks about his career with the White Sox and Yankees, and of course, plenty about THAT GAME (I don't have to mention any names or dates, you know what I am talking about), and even about his brief managerial career. I got through that as fast as I could and got one with book.

I was surprised to see a familiar name on page 10 of the book, as Berger talks about his favorite moment ever in his fantasy camp career. At Yankees camp in a 10-10 tie game in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, Berger stepped to the plate. He describes the scene: "I looked over at the on-deck circle and saw my camp buddy Mike Dempsey waiting his turn. I knew Mike would enjoy being the hero too much, so I'd better make something happen on my own."

I write that because Mike Dempsey is a friend of mine, and he has been at the Yankee fantasy camps for many years. He is always posting pictures on Facebook of his many adventures there in January, and I get a kick out of seeing him with so many Yankee greats of the past. Mike is also a World Trade Center survivor, and a very nice guy as well.

Mike never did get the chance to bat in that situation, as Berger singled in the game-winning run.

Berger covers a lot of ground in his interviews, and I found his time with Mike (Doc) Emrick especially fascinating. Doc is well-known as hockey's greatest announcer, but he also describes his life growing up in Indiana as a rabid baseball fan, and how he was able to swing going to Pirates fantasy camp in 2012 despite the NHL All-Star Game going on that same weekend. He also covers the career of ex-pitcher Fritz Peterson, who will forever be known as one of the pitchers who swapped wives and families with teammate Mike Kekich in 1973. As a Red Sox fan, I quite enjoyed his take on Steve (Psycho) Lyons, and what he had to say about infamously dropping his pants at Tiger Stadium in 1987. (Lyons swears it wasn't done on purpose.) One of the most moving parts of the book was with Kent Tekulve, the Pirates closer from the 1970s and 1980s. Tekulve had a heart transplant many years ago, and it saved his life. He was able to throw out the first pitch at the Pirates' playoff game that year. But he also talked about not letting the heart donor's family who he was, and the reasons why he didn't. Quite a good story.

I did find a few goofs in the book. Berger talked with legendary Dodgers' shortstop Maury Wills, and Wills talked about how much he idolized Ty Cobb, whose stolen base record he broke in 1962. But Berger talked about how Cobb "made no secret about his racial biases." That his since been debunked by Charles Leerhsen's excellent book "Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty" a few years ago, and I suggest Mr. Berger pick up this book and read it, and it should give him a new perspective on the Georgia Peach.

In the same chapter, he talks about Bobby Bragan, a one time Brooklyn Dodgers player from Alabama who went out of his way to racially harass Jackie Robinson when broke into MLB in 1947. Bragan later completely changed his tune on black players, and by 1958 was managing in the Dodgers' system. But Berger says Bragan was brought back the team by Branch Rickey in 1958. That would not be possible, as Rickey left the Dodgers for good eight years earlier, in 1950, after he lost a power struggle with team owner Walter O'Malley and sold his shares of the club to him.

Not to nitpick too much. I did enjoy the book overall. Berger even covers ground with the first female fantasy camp players, and that is fun to read. I certainly recommend "Big League Dreams" to any and all baseball fans who have that dream of going up against their heroes of yesteryear one of these days. You may have to pay a pretty penny for the privilege, but Roy Berger believes it is worth every cent.

Trivia Q&A: June 28

The crowds keep getting bigger as the summer begins for Trivia at Professor Thom's, and we had 19 teams in last night. It was another spirited crowd that really enjoyed the night. It was good to see that, and thanks also to a few of my softball playing friends who came in last night and took part as one team.

It was a tight race all night, and by the time we reached IQ Trivia, it was a tie for first. But our friends from DIMS reached the winner's circle again, having a strong final round and winning with 50 points. Congratulations to them. Second place went to It's Worldwide, It's Worldwide with 41 points, and third place went to This Team Name Has Been Delayed By Train Traffic with 40 points.

Best Team Name: I've Been Waiting Five Years, But Trivia Baby Is Finally In The Oven

Current Events
1. What Oscar-winning actor announced his retirement from acting last week & he'll have one final film released later this year?
2. What Oscar-winning filmmaker was announced last week as the new director of the Han Solo "Star Wars" spinoff movie, after the two original directors were recently fired?
3. What actor appeared at the Glastonbury music festival in England last week and told the assembled audience, "When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?" in his diatribes at President Trump?
4. What celebrity couple bought Jackie Kennedy's Cartier watch at auction in New York last week for $379,500?
5. Over 150 people were killed last Sunday when an overturned oil tanker exploded in what Asian country?
6. Markelle Fultz of the University of Washington was the first player taken in the NBA Draft last week and was selected by what team?
7. What controversial actor, who has appeared in two baseball movies, put a Babe Ruth World Series ring up for auction, and the bidding has topped more than $600,000, which will make it the highest-priced championship ring ever sold?

July 4th Trivia
1. On this day in 1826, what two former presidents both passed away on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence?
2. In 1976, Israeli commandos rescued hostages on an Air France jetliner at Entebbe Airport in what African country?
3. In 1863, the city of Vicksburg, MS surrendered after a 47-day siege to what Civil War Union general?
4. Ron Kovic, a Vietnam veteran and peace activist, was born on July 4, 1946. What Hollywood actor portrayed him in a film based on his life?
5. In 1881, Tuskegee University opened in what US state?
6. In 1855, "Leaves of Grass," the most famous book published by what American poet, was released in Brooklyn, NY?
7. George Steinbrenner was born on this day in 1930. How many World Series titles did the Yankees win with as the principal owner?

The Q Train: 2000s Album Trivia
1. Born This Way
2. Take Care
3. The Rising
4. Red
5. Back to Black
6. Kid A
7. Stankonia
8. The 20/20 Experience (Part I)
9. The Suburbs
10. All That You Can't Leave Behind

General Knowledge
1. What musical group was Beyonce originally part of? ( 1 pt)
2. What American city holds the oldest annual marathon in the world? ( 1 pt)
3. The TV series "The Walking Dead" is set mainly in and around what major southern US city? ( 1 pt)
4. Hilary Swank won her first Best Actress Oscar for what film? ( 2 pt)
5. What is the only continent without an active volcano? ( 2 pt)
6. In what city is the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame located? ( 2 pt)
7. What sport would you make use of a cart called a sulky? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What is the smallest country in the world in terms of land area where French is an official language? ( 4 points)
2. Who was the only villain to appear in the first three of Christopher Nolan's "Batman" films? ( 4 points)
3. What Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was voted in 1999 as the best novel of the 20th century by American librarians? ( 4 points)
4. What Asian country was partitioned at the 17th Parallel by the Geneva Accords of 1954, though its own delegates refused to sign the agreement? ( 5 points)
5. Who was the best-selling music artist of the decade of the 2010s in the US, selling a combined 23.3 million albums and singles in this country? ( 3 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Daniel Day-Lewis; 2. Ron Howard; 3. Johnny Depp; 4. Kanye West & Kim Kardashian; 5. Pakistan; 6. Philadelphia 76ers; 7. Charlie Sheen.

July 4th Trivia
1. John Adams & Thomas Jefferson; 2. Uganda; 3. Ulysses S. Grant; 4. Tom Cruise; 5. Alabama; 6. Walt Whitman; 7. seven.

The Q Train: 2000s Albums Trivia
1. Lady Gaga; 2. Drake; 3. Bruce Springsteen; 4. Taylor Swift; 5. Amy Winehouse; 6. Radiohead; 7. Outkast; 8. Justin Timberlake; 9. Arcade Fire; 10. U2.

General Knowledge
1. Destiny's Child; 2. Boston; 3. Atlanta; 4. "Boys Don't Cry;" 5. Australia; 6. Springfield. MA; 7. harness racing.

IQ Trivia
1. Monaco; 2. The Scarecrow; 3. "To Kill a Mockingbird; 4. Vietnam; 5. Adele.

July 4th: Our Independence & A Whole Lot More

Trivia will be happening this Wednesday night, June 28th at 8:30 PM, with "July 4th Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions about events that happened in history on the day of our independence, which is coming up next Tuesday. The Q Train lightning round will be "2000s Albums Trivia." I will give you the names of ten hit albums from all different kinds of music that were released from 2000 until the present day, and you have to tell me who the artist that recorded the album is.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What American city holds the oldest annual marathon in the world?"

We've been getting bigger crowds as the weeks have gone on, so get in early to assure yourselves of a good table. Hope to see many of you Wednesday for a great night of Trivia Q&A!

Trivia Q&A: June 21

We had a very lively night of Trivia at Professor Thom's last night, with 15 teams taking part in the festivities. The crowds have been going up steadily since we returned to the main floor a few weeks ago, and it was good to see a big crowd back in. It was a tight race all night, as we had a five-way tie for fourth place after the second round, but still had five teams bunched together as we headed into IQ Trivia. But the team of Let's Not Call it a Miss Trial, Cosby Might Try to Roofee Her! came out victorious, getting 42 points and the win by five points. (Our friends from DIMS, who have racked up many wins, were not in the bar last night.) Congratulations to Michael and Brad, both Trivia regulars who hooked up as a team for the first time to grab the W.

Second place was actually a tie with 37 points between Jeter Swallows and Otto Warmbier's Travel Agents. We broke the tie with the question: "What is Pittsburgh's current population?" (It was based on the answer to an IQ question.) Jeter Swallows was the closest to the actual answer and got second place.

Best Team Name: Booty and The Beast

Current Events
1. Anita Pallenberg, a former model, died last week at the age of 73. With what rock guitarist was she a former girlfriend & mother of three of his children?
2. What American city honored the memory of late actor Adam West last Thursday by flashing the 'bat signal" from their city hall?
3. What rock star will make his Broadway debut this November, playing five nights a week for eight weeks at the Walter Kerr Theater?
4. Amazon.com announced on Friday that is was buying what grocery chain, which has 460 stores, for $13.7 billion?
5. Director John G. Avildsen died last Friday at the age of 81. He directed such films as "The Karate Kid" and "Lean On Me", but what 1976 film earned him the Oscar for Best Director?
6. At least 62 people were killed when more than 60 forest fires broke out in what western European country this past weekend?
7. Actor Stephen Furst died this past Saturday at the age of 63. He was best known for playing Flounder in the classic film "Animal House", but what 1980s medical TV drama did he play Dr. Elliott Axelrod?

2000s Movie Trivia
1. George Clooney won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2005 for what film?
2. The 2009 film "Inglorious Basterds" was set during what war?
3. Lindsay Lohan joins what A-list clique at her school in the 2004 film "Mean Girls?"
4. In the 2008 film "Fred Claus", who played the title character, the brother of Santa Claus?
5. What controversial director won an Academy Award in 2003 for the film "The Pianist?"
6. What was the name of the first sequel in the Harry Potter film series, released in 2002?
7. Name 2 of the 5 highest grossing films in the US in the decade of the 2000s.

The Q Train: True Or False Trivia
1. The dime is the only US coin that has no reference to either "cent" or "dollar" on it.
2. The Bronx is the largest of NYC's five boroughs in terms of area.
3. Fingernails grow faster than toenails.
4. Brad Pitt has been nominated twice in his career for the Best Actor Oscar.
5. Vladimir Putin & George W. Bush were both elected president for the first time in the same year.
6. In 2006, after opening to the general public, Facebook reached the 1 million user mark in 9 months.
7. Kim Kardashian won three beauty contests in her teenage years.
8. One of Charlie Chaplin's relatives starred on the TV series "Game of Thrones."
9. George Washington appeared on the first US postage stamp.
10. "NCIS" was the most watched program on TV for the 2015-16 season.

General Knowledge
1. The disease scurvy is caused by a deficiency of which vitamin? ( 1 pt)
2. Olympic Airlines is the national airline of what country? ( 1 pt)
3. In what city would you find McGill University, perhaps its nation's most prestigious university? ( 2 pt)
4. What celebrity was prosecuted by James Comey in the early 2000s? ( 2 pt)
5. Who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize? ( 2 pt)
6. What movie actress is the mother of "Fifty Shades of Grey" star Dakota Johnson? ( 2 pt)
7. What current TV show's title character has a postgraduate degree from the University of American Samoa? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. A July 23, 1985 press conference announced the return to the shelves of what product, after an absence of nearly three months? ( 4 points)
2. In Netflix's new TV hit, how many cassette tapes does Hannah Baker leave behind to explain her suicide? ( 4 points)
3. On November 19, 1950 at 12:30 PM, the Chicago Historical Society celebrated a notable anniversary by displaying all five extant copies of what document? ( 4 points)
4. The Allegheny and Monongahelia Rivers join together to form the Ohio River in what city? ( 3 points)
5. In 2013, what two Oscar-winning actresses topped Quigley Publishing's list of "Top Money-Making Stars", the first two women to do so since 1932? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Keith Richards; 2. Los Angeles; 3. Bruce Springsteen; 4. Whole Foods; 5. "Rocky;" 6. Portugal; 7. "St. Elsewhere."

2000s Movie Trivia
1. "Syriana;" 2. World War II; 3. The Plastics; 4. Vince Vaughn; 5. Roman Polanski; 6. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets;" 7. Avatar, The Dark Knight, Shrek 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Spider-Man.

The Q Train: True or False Trivia
1. true; 2. false, Queens; 3. true; 4. true; 5. true; 6. false, 100 million; 7. false, none; 8. true; 9. false, Ben Franklin; 10. false, Sunday Night Football.

General Knowledge
1. C; 2. Greece; 3. Montreal; 4. Martha Stewart; 5. Marie Curie. 6. Melanie Griffith; 7. "Better Call Saul."

IQ Trivia
1. Original Coca-Cola; 2. 13 (13 Reasons Why); 3. Gettysburg Address; 4. Pittsburgh; 5. Jennifer Lawrence & Sandra Bullock.

The 21st Century's First Decade Had Some Good Films

And we will be testing your knowledge of those films. Trivia will be happening this Wednesday night, June 21st at 8:30 PM, with "2000s Movie Trivia" as the Special Category. It will be seven questions about films that were released from 2000 to 2009, and the final question will be a multiple points question. The Q Train lightning round will be "True or False Trivia."

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"Olympic Airlines is the national airline of what country?"

Looking forward to seeing many of you on Wednesday for another great night of Trivia Q&A at Professor Thom's!

Trivia Q&A: June 14

We had 12 teams last night at Professor Thom's, which turned out to be a great night of Trivia. We had a tight race throughout the evening, with four teams battling for Trivia supremacy. The top three were separated by just two points going into IQ Trivia. But the team of Backchannel Surfers emerged victorious, by just a single point with 43 points. Congratulations to two of my old regulars who came in for the first time in a few months to snag the victory.

Our friends from DIMS finished second with 42 points. They had won an amazing 12 consecutive times, and 15 of the last 16 weeks. It was a "Ken Jennings"-like run, and I congratulate them on such an amazing run of wins. In all my years doing Trivia, I've never seen a team dominate like this.

Third place went to I Love Trivia So Much I'm Recording Part 3 of the Celtics-Lakers Documentary Tonight with 38 points.

Best Team Name: Manifest Destiny's Child

Current Events
1. What rock singer was forced to postpone shows on his tour in London last week and was hospitalized due to a head injury from a fall he took?
2. What Middle Eastern country apologized last week after its national soccer team didn't stand at attention for a moment of silence for the London terror attack victims in a World Cup qualifier against Australia?
3. What comedian made news on social media last week after the singer Kesha attempted to hug him and he rebuffed her attempt, later saying he doesn't hug total strangers?
4. What American athlete finished second behind soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest paid athlete for 2017 (in salary and endorsements) in Forbes magazine's yearly rankings?
5. Rafael Nadal won the men's French Open singles title on Sunday, extending his record for the number of titles won at the event. How many French Open titles has he won?
6. What musician and entrepreneur was ranked number one in Forbes maagzine's list of the richest celebrities, earning $130 million in 2017?
7. Jeff Immelt, the chairman and CEO of what American conglomerate corporation for the last 16 years, announced his resignation on Monday?

Sunday Trivia
1. The 1976 movie "Black Sunday" is about a terror attack at what event?
2. "Bloody Sunday" was a 1972 incident when 13 civil rights protestors were shot and killed where?
3. "Easy (Like Sunday Morning)" was a 1977 Top 10 hit for what musical group?
4. "Low Sunday" is observed one week after what holiday?
5. Sunday Island is a small low-lying island off the coast of what country?
6. "Sunday's at Tiffany's" was a 2008 best-selling book by what popular author?
7. "Sunday in the Park With George" was a 1984 Broadway musical with music and lyrics by what eight-time Tony Award winner?

The Q Train: Red, White & Blue Flags Trivia
1. Thailand
2. Sweden
3. Paraguay
4. Brazil
5. Haiti
6. Argentina
7. Iceland
8. Netherlands
9. Spain
10. Costa Rica

General Knowledge
1. How many degrees are there in a right angle? ( 1 pt)
2. What state borders both Wyoming and Missouri? ( 1 pt)
3. What is the most frequently transplanted human organ in the US? ( 1 pt)
4. Henry Kissinger served as secretary of state under which two presidents? ( 2 pt)
5. On the TV series "Dallas", what was the name of the ranch the Ewing family lived on? ( 2 pt)
6. The Jetta TDI is a model of what car manufacturer? ( 2 pt)
7. Who is currently third in line to the British throne? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. What was the first US state to join the Union after the Original 13? ( 3 points)
2. What city was the most recent and the only one in the last 50 years to have a king open its Summer Olympics? ( 4 points)
3. What movie star did Egypt ban in June 1956 when she converted to Judaism? ( 4 points)
4. Stacey Koon, Laurence Powell, Timothy Wind and Theodore Briseno were the four men who went on trial in 1992 for an incident involving what man? ( 4 points)
5. About 90% of the world's licorice is used not for candy but in what non-edible consumer product? ( 5 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Phil Collins; 2. Saudi Arabia; 3. Jerry Seinfeld; 4. LeBron James; 5. ten; 6. Sean Combs; 7. General Electric.

Sunday Trivia
1. Super Bowl; 2. Northern Ireland; 3. The Commodores; 4. Easter Sunday; 5. Australia; 6. James Patterson; 7. Stephen Sondheim.

The Q Train: Red, White and Blue Flags Trivia
1. yes; 2. no; 3. yes; 4. no; 5. yes; 6. no; 7. yes; 8. yes; 9. no; 10. yes.

General Knowledge
1. Ninety; 2. Nebraska; 3. kidney; 4. Richard Nixon & Gerald Ford; 5. Southfork; 6. Volkswagen; 7. Prince George.

IQ Trivia
1. Vermont; 2. Barcelona; 3. Marilyn Monroe; 4. Rodney King; 5. cigarettes.

Testing Your Knowledge of Flags & Sunday

Trivia will be happening at Professor Thom's on Wednesday, June 14th at 8:30 PM, with "Sunday Trivia" as the Special Category. I will ask you seven questions connected in some way to the first day of every week. In honor of Flag Day this Wednesday, The Q Train lightning round will be "Red, White and Blue Flags Trivia." I will give you the names of ten nations around the world, and you have to tell me if they have the colors red, white and blue in their national flag. And no, the good ol' USA will NOT be one of the choices.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is: 
"How many degrees are there in a right angle?"

We are back on the main floor for good for Trivia on Wednesday, as the NBA is now finally over, and I hope to see many of you in what should be a great night for Trivia!

Trivia Q&A: June 7

When I arrived at Professor Thom's for Trivia last night, I discovered that we were being moved upstairs to the Loft, and it was due to Game 3 of the NBA Finals. I learned that the bar was really crowded due to spillover from Finnerty's, the bar next door that caters to the fans of the Bay Area teams. And it was indeed crowded with Golden State Warriors fans last night. So we returned to the Loft for one last time.

It was a light crowd, as eight teams took part, and our friends DIMS kept their winning streak rolling with a 56 point effort. Congrats to them again. Second place went to Reality Winner, You're Fired with 49 points, and Scooter Corgi finished in third with 48 points.

Best Team Name: Comey, Comey, Comey, Comey, Comeyleon

We will back on the first floor next Wednesday, as even if the Cleveland Cavaliers stage an amazing comeback in their series, there will be no game next Wednesday.

Current Events
1. What Middle Eastern country banned the film "Wonder Woman" last week because the film's star is Israeli and served in their military?
2. What American billionaire said last week he'll make sure the UN gets $15 million it needs for the Paris Climate Agreement after the US pulled out?
3. An open-air concert this past weekend at a race track in what country was suspended on Friday and resumed on Saturday due to a possible terrorist threat?
4. A new Showtime documentary about what 1950s Hollywood leading man stated that at the age of 53 he submitted to 100 LSD therapy sessions to try to get over his problems with women?
5. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt all cut ties with the nation of Qatar this past weekend over that country's ties with what other nation?
6. What prestigious university rescinded offers to at least 10 students this past week after they posted offensive photos and messages on social media?
7. What nation that was once part of Yugoslavia officially became the 29th member of NATO this past week?

Q-Tip Trivia
1. Which of these films was not directed by Martin Scorsese? a. The Night of the Hunter; b. Gangs of New York; c. The Last Temptation of Christ; d. The Age of Innocence.
2. Which of these US presidents served their terms before the Civil War? a. Franklin Pierce; b. Benjamin Harrison; c. Zachary Taylor; d. James Garfield.
3. Which of these planets are smaller than Earth? a. Uranus; b. Mars; c. Mercury; d. Neptune.
4. Which of these entertainers has never won an Oscar? a. Glenn Close; b. Ed Harris; c. John Travolta; d. Johnny Depp.
5. Which of these universities and colleges are found in New York State? a. Rider University; b. Drew University; c. Williams College; d. Quinnipiac University.
6. Which of these teams didn't win a World Series in the decade of the 2000s? a. Houston Astros; b. St. Louis Cardinals; c. Chicago White Sox; d. Philadelphia Phillies.
7. Which of these countries are larger in area than the US? a. Australia; b. China; c. Brazil; d. Canada.

The Q Train: Even Numbered Trivia
1. This was JFK's age at the time of his assassination.
2. This is the number worn by sports Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax, Magic Johnson and OJ Simpson.
3. This is the total number found in a score.
4. In a normal deck of cards, there are this number of red cards.
5. In the Bible, this is the number of days between Jesus' resurrection and his ascension.
6. Visa bank cards have this many digits.
7. This is the total number of men who have walked on the Moon.
8. Most half-hour sitcoms on US TV today are this many minutes with the commercials removed.
9. The second point won in a game of tennis is this number.
10. Mariano Rivera was the last player in professional baseball to wear this number, now permanently retired.

General Knowledge
1. If the temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, how many degrees Celsius is it? ( 1 pt)
2. Who has been the only bachelor president of the US? ( 1 pt)
3. What current African nation was formerly called Rhodesia? ( 1 pt)
4. The Rosetta Stone was found in what country? ( 2 pt)
5. What is the Aurora Borealis more commonly known as? ( 2 pt)
6. In what team sport would you perform a maneuver called a "kong?" ( 2 pt)
7. What card game has a name that comes from the Spanish for "basket"? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. The motto of what US territory is "Where America's Day Begins?" ( 3 points)
2. What are the two official languages of the nation of Israel? ( 4 points)
3. The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is better known by what name? ( 4 points)
4. Of the eight Ivy League schools, which one was the only one founded after the American Revolution? ( 5 points)
5. What is the most populous state capital in the US? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Lebanon; 2. Michael Bloomberg; 3. Germany; 4. Cary Grant; 5. Iran; 6. Harvard; 7. Montenegro.

Q-Tip Trivia
1. a; 2. a,c; 3. b,c; 4. all; 5. none; 6. a; 7. d.

The Q Train: Even Numbered Trivia
1. 46; 2. 32; 3. 20; 4. 26; 5.40; 6. 16; 7. 12; 8. 22; 9. 30; 10. 42.

General Knowledge
1. zero; 2. James Buchanan; 3. Zimbabwe; 4. Egypt; 5. Northern Lights; 6. volleyball; 7. canasta.

IQ Trivia
1. Guam; 2. Hebrew & Arabic; 3. Gateway Arch; 4. Cornell; 5. Phoenix, AR.

Q-Tip Trivia Returns Tomorrow

Trivia will be happening at Professor Thom's on Wednesday night, June 7th at 8:30 PM, with the Special category "Q-Tip Trivia." I will ask you seven multiple choice general knowledge questions, each with four choices for the answer. It can be 1, 2, 3 all 4, or none correct. You get a point for each correct answer (and 1 point if the answer is none). However, you have to be very careful, as if you give an incorrect answer (even if you put down any correct answers for that question) you automatically get no points for that question. I first did the category back in April and it went rather well.

The Q Train lightning round will be "Even Numbered Trivia." I will ask you ten questions where every answer will be an even number from 1 to 50 (and every answer will be a different number).

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"If the temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, how many degrees Celsius is it?"

Looking forward to seeing many of you tomorrow night for another great night of Trivia!

Trivia Q&A: May 31

The crowd was on the lighter side last night at Professor Thom's, but we still had a great night of Trivia with 11 teams taking part. Both the Special Category and the Q Train lightning round were a bit tougher this week, and that was reflected in the scores. But our friends from DIMS won again last night, rolling up 48 points and winning by nine points. Their winning streak has taken on "Ken Jennings On Jeopardy"-like proportions. My congratulations to them.

Second place went to Best Coast All-Stars with 39 points, and third place went to Something's Bruin with 34 points.

Best Team Name: The Real Covfefe

Current Events
1. Greg Giantforte, a Republican candidate for Congress from what state, grabbed and body slammed a reporter who was pressing him about a report on the American Health Care Act?
2. Siesta Beach was ranked as the top beach in the US for 2017 by the expert "Dr. Beach." What state is Siesta Beach located?
3. Disney CEO Bob Iger said last week that a threat from a group of hackers that claimed to have stolen what recently released film was a hoax?
4. Jim Bunning, the Hall of Fame pitcher who died last Friday at the age of 85, was also a two-term US senator from what state?
5. The private jet of what music immortal was auctioned off for $430,000 last Saturday after sitting on a New Mexico runway for many years?
6. A group of 8th graders from New Jersey refused to take a photo with what DC politician last week after meeting him on a school trip to Washington?
7. Zbigniew Brzezinski, a career diplomat and political scientist, died last week at the age of 89. Under what US president was he the National Security Advisor?

Beatles Trivia
1. Which of the Beatles authored the books, "In His Own Write" and "A Spaniard In The Works"?
2. What was the only Beatles album to win the Grammy Award for Best Album?
3. Who was the last of the Beatles to join the group in 1962?
4. After their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the Beatles did their first ever US concert two days later in what US city?
5. What 1964 Beatles single sold over 5 million copies in the US by 1968, making it the best selling single of the decade of the 1960s?
6. What superstar British guitarist did a solo on the Beatles song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps?"
7. What Beatles song has been covered over 1600 times by other artists making it one of the most recorded songs in pop music history?

The Q Train: Comedy Movie Characters Trivia
1. Jonathan Mardukas
2. Dottie Hinson
3. Axel Foley
4. Mona Lisa Vito
5. Al Czervik
6. Peter Venkman
7. Steve Stifler
8. Hedley Lamarr
9. Penny Lane
10. Biggus Dickus

General Knowledge
1. In what sport would one use a shuttlecock? ( 1 pt)
2. The traditional gift for a couple celebrating their 20th anniversary is what? ( 1 pt)
3. "Caveat Emptor" is a Latin phrase meaning what? ( 1 pt)
4. What continent is the platypus native to? ( 2 pt)
5. Between Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Quebec, which Canadian province does not share a land border with the US? ( 2 pt)
6. To the closest foot, how many feet are there in 10 meters? ( 2 pt)
7. Within one year, what is the average age of a first-time grandparent in the US? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. Legionnaires' Disease, a respiratory infection, was discovered in 1976 after an outbreak at a convention center in what US city? ( 4 points)
2. Of all the North African countries that border the Mediterrean Sea, which is the smallest in area? ( 5 points)
3. In the 2016 season, three of the five oldest players in the NFL played what position? ( 3 points)
4. What 19th century historical figure died at The Petersen House? ( 4 points)
5. What is the only US state flag that features the Union flag of the UK in it? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Montana; 2. Florida; 3. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales;" 4. Kentucky; 5. Elvis Presley; 6. Paul Ryan; 7. Jimmy Carter.

Beatles Trivia
1. John Lennon; 2. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band;" 3. Ringo Starr; 4. Washington DC; 5. "I Want To Hold Your Hand"; 6. Eric Clapton; 7. "Yesterday."

The Q Train: Comedy Movie Characters Trivia
1. Midnight Run; 2. A League of Their Own; 3. Beverly Hills Cop; 4. My Cousin Vinny; 5. Caddyshack; 6. Ghostbusters; 7. American Pie; 8. Blazing Saddles; 9. Almost Famous; 10. Life of Brian.

General Knowledge
1. Badminton; 2. china; 3. "Buyer Beware;" 4. Australia; 5. Newfoundland; 6. 33; 7. 47.

IQ Trivia
1. Philadelphia; 2. Tunisia; 3. placekicker; 4. Abraham Lincoln; 5. Hawaii.