My Husband on ESPN!
It's now official - Michael got the call. In 12 days, on September 21st, he will be flying to New York to try to Stump the Schwab.
Saturday before last, he woke up at 2 am and drove to Atlanta for an open casting call for ESPN's game show of the same name - Stump the Schwab. He passed the written exam, played mock games against other guys, was filmed, and then did a filmed interview. He just received word that he made it on the show. Now, the airfare and hotel expenses are on us - and the cost and time I'd have to take off work probably means I won't tag along.
If Michael can beat 2 other guys and then take on the Schwab one-on-one and win, he'll win $5,000. This may not seem like a lot to some, but to us it would be enormous.
I need to clarify here - few have beaten this guy. Go to the website and look at his 25-year career as a sports researcher and producer, and you'll see why. He's a monster. Beating him seems like luck for those who have - or catching him on a slightly-off day, or in the tie-breaker where they ask some incredibly difficult question answered by some ridiculously high number and then Schwab and the contestant write their answers on small white boards - the closest one wins.
The few who do win get to come back at the end of the season for the championship playoffs for a chance to go head-to-head with the guy for a chance at something like $25,000. You have a better shot winning on Jeopardy, or spinning the wheel on Wheel of Fortune. But for these guys, it's the mere challenge. For Michael, it's being on ESPN. He'll freakin' be on ESPN - the show to end all shows.
I'm thrilled for him. The meaning for me is different than the meaning for him. He saw something he wanted to go, and rather spontaneously, he decided to do it. It's risky. But most of all - it's fun and it makes him smile all over the place. And he needs to have more fun, and smile more. I just never expected it would be on national television.
Go Michael!
posted by No Longer In Crisis @ 9/09/2005 02:02:00 PM
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