Deadspin: Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee

Down Goes Patel!

Leitch — Thu, 31 May 2007 12:45:50 EDT

It's official, folks: Samir Patel, the perennial favorite who always just misses at the Spelling Bee, has just been eliminated from the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. The word he missed was "clevis."

Samir spelled "clevice". There was the ding, then the gasp, and then it was true. Samir was down. The entire ballroom gave him a standing ovation as he exited but I don't think he noticed. He was too freaked out, he had that haunted look in his eye, that look Michelle Kwan has when she speaks of the Olympics. It's over for him. Either he'll be fine and get to be a regular kid now or he'll never recover and have nightmares about the Bee for the rest of his life.

Yeah ... we'd keep our distance from Samir for the next, oh, 10 years or so. The good news: Hey, Samir, those boobs you just started noticing are everywhere? There are more of those coming. So just hang in. B-O-O-B-S.

Samir Is Down! [A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago]

(They're still live-blogging the whole thing over there.)

(UPDATE: Much excellence from DC Sports Bog about this.)

Last Call For All Spelling Bee Bets!

Leitch — Tue, 29 May 2007 15:15:39 EDT

The Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee — so lovingly run down by Mr. Daulerio — begins tomorrow, and, as always, the great minds at Throwing Things will be live-blogging the whole thing. Even though Mike and Mike are calling this thing, we still can't wait: The Spelling Bee remains one of our favorite sports events. (Well, "sports.")

Over at CNBC, Darren Rovell does his yearly handicapping.

1. Samir Patel, No. 247
Patel is like the Peyton Manning of the Spelling Bee and, just like Peyton, I have to think this is his year. He's the only participant in this year's Spelling Bee that has been to this event five straight times. Patel really disappointed last year — people who bet on him and ABC, which couldn't feature him in its primetime broadcast when he tied for 14th place.

If Patel chokes yet again, he's clearly the Michelle Kwan of the spelling bee. Last chance, kid: Don't choke.

Spelling Bee Picks [CNBC]
Throwing Things

How Do You Spell "P-L-E-A-S-E L-O-R-D G-O-D S-T-O-P T-A-L-K-I-N-G?"

Leitch — Wed, 16 May 2007 13:45:33 EDT

Sometimes we wonder if we are too hard on ESPN. Sure, collectively, they seem to have sucked the very life out of sports, packaging schtick and corporate pablum into a stew of impossible-to-digest soulless muck. (And, unlike the rest of us, they mix metaphors!) But they're still just individuals, out there doing a job, trying to make a living, navigating this crazy planet like the rest of us. We should cut them some slack. Right? Right?

And then they go out and ruin one of our absolute favorite television events. That's right, kids: At the end of this month, the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee will be hosted by ... Mike and Mike.

"Mike and Mike will bring their unique perspective to the Bee Finals - an immensely popular competition," said Bob Toms, vice president of remote production, ESPN. "Their commentary will help us showcase the personalities of these remarkable young people, and the pressure these spellers face as they compete in front of a national Prime Time television audience."

Oh, and Lemme Know is gonna be there too. We no longer feel any guilt; you guys are destroying our souls.

Spell F-A-I-L-U-R-E, Kid [Deadspin]

Spell F-A-I-L-U-R-E, Kid

Leitch — Wed, 31 May 2006 15:45:07 EDT

We'll confess: We love the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. We watch every minute we can, and apparently we're not alone, considering ABC is broadcasting the finals live tomorrow night in primetime. (To the network's eternal credit, Robin Roberts will be hosting, not Stuart Scott. Whew.)

We've always kind of considered the spelling bee a reasonable alternative to the NCAA Tournament; a bunch of kids devoting their lives to a cause that will end up with them obliterating each other. It's drama, it's pathos, it's everything we love about sports, with more tattoos.

Anyway, if you can't wait for the finals tomorrow, the fine folks at Throwing Things are live-blogging the preliminaries, and they're joined, charmingly, by "Grey's Anatomy" founder Shonda Rhimes. (You can also follow it live right here.) Plus, it's fun to boo little kids when they screw up. Great times for all.

Spelling Bee Live Blog [Throwing Things]
Spelling Bee Finals Reach Prime Time [Boston.com]