Booyah! Sports Spelling Bee hits ESPN Zone
Can you spell this Mets pitcher's name?
The fact that Casey Baker was once victorious in his elementary school spelling bee could help him win first place Wednesday night.
More likely not.
The 25-year-old nonprofit recruiter, who left his native Los Angeles for Manhattan two years ago, joins 49 other sports-fan spelling buffs to participate in the first Sports Spelling Bee Wednesday in Times Square at ESPN Zone.
Baker and his competitors will have 30 seconds each to suss out some of the thorniest names in sports.
(The quarterfinal rounds of the ESPN-televised Scripps National Spelling Bee inspired the event. The real Bee starts Thursday.)
In a telephone interview Tuesday, Baker dispensed with names such as Henrik Lundqvist, Doug Mientkiewicz, Mark Buehrle and, of course, Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Casey Baker kicks back at an L.A. Kings game
How do you know these?
This is what a do. I’m a big fantasy geek and all that. It’s just stuff that I know for some inane reason that I probably shouldn’t.
Scott Schoeneweis.
S-C-H-O-E-N-W-E-I-S.
That was not correct.
Oh really? O-N-E?
No, no. S-C-H-O-E-N-E ...
Forgot the other “e.” Damn.
You’re an elite sports name speller. Do you imagine there are people who are even better?
I’m sure, but I think I’m ready to compete at this with anyone. I’m lucky in the fact that I come from California so I kind of pay attention to people outside of the New York area, too. Hopefully that will give me an advantage tomorrow.
I see.
And tomorrow I plan to sport my Dodgers hat and jersey. Hopefully that will not bring too many sneers and whatever from the crowd.
So you don't sound too nervous.
No. I mean, it's just something that sounds like fun. It's not a big prize. Just more something to do with me and my friends. I'm anticipating kind of like a bar trivia night. Just lots of people that are there to have fun and have a few drinks at the same time. I don't really anticipate too much drama or that much emotion going into it, but I'm sure once people start getting competitive and it starts to move on, you'll see some emotion come out in the contestants.
Your friends — have they ever remarked on this special talent of yours?
Well my girlfriend hates it because I talk to her about sports all the time. But it pays off in terms of winning fantasy leagues and stuff like that.
Is there one name that gives you problems?
Jarrod Saltalamacchia might screw me up once in a while, but hopefully I won't have problems with that.
— Max J. Dickstein
Top: Newsday Photo / Kathy Kmonicek; Middle: Courtesy Casey Baker
Comments (1)
go casey!!! kelley would be so proud. :)