A very sedate, post Thanksgiving pub quiz at the Lion & Crown in Allen this Thursday evening, with only five regular teams returning. The Pilarinski’s came back and showed their usual fine mettle, as well as IFFY!, Beer Logic, Stealth Texas and resident champions, The Ninja Turtles.
I say resident “champs” with some chagrin because the past few games, the Turtles have failed their normal, personal best by not taking first place and in some instances, not placing at all! But tonight, they got back into their groove again by not only grabbing first place but outdistancing second place by a stunning seventeen points! Of course, I noticed they had to bring in the elder clan members to do it, but that’s okay. After all, wisdom from your venerable elders should be valued and appreciated with honor. The more, the merrier, I say. (And what Quiz Master Lou says, is law! Uh, the rules say so…)
Yes, I could say that the Ninja Turtles sliced up the clan war competition in true ninjitsu style with their metaphorical ninjato’s slicing, kusarigamas dicing and shurikens whirling… Quiz Master Lou could say that… But that would be ridiculously over the top hyperbole, taking satirical advantage of the Turtle’s choice of monikers… So I won’t. Just disregard this paragraph.
Hats off to the quiz writers back at home base as well. The questions were a good cross section of sports, current events, history, geography and science. Well done! Until next week, I remain, loyally yours…
Thanksgiving day is one week away! Hooray! Hooray! The atmosphere at the Lion & Crown was festive and cheerful. A good sized crowd was there and all the regulars were represented. A new face appeared and played as well. A lone player calling himself “Phil Solo.” I asked him if he was related to Napoleon, but he corrected me and said, “No, I’m the bastard son of Han.” I went The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and he went Star Wars, but we both understood each other. That’s what I call a natural trivia fit.
Excitement was to be had. Stealth Texas grabbed the lead and held it almost to the end of the game, but fell to second place in Round Six, only to snatch it back for a Seventh Round win. Off and on again team Shredder Squad also took an early second position while regular resident champions the Ninja Turtles fell to third. Don’t worry, Ninja Turtles. I have every confidence that you will once again regain your title. And if you don’t, be happy that in playing at your always excellent peak, you have raised the bar for everyone else!
Good play and company from our regulars, IFFY!, Beer Logic, Pickles on a Plate, Men of Troy, and Ship It!, who all came and showed their colors with honor and enthusiasm!
A word about Stealth Texas. A couple of months ago, a lone man walked into the pub and started playing KTPQ by his lonesome. He has since formed his own team simply by drawing together from around him the Cliff Clavens and Norm Petersons who like to sit at their regular stool by the bar. Thus, by assimilation alone has this man climbed to victory. As Shakespeare said,
"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and
some have greatness thrust upon 'em."
A very happy Thanksgiving to all. Stay safe and I look forward to seeing you all again after the holidays! As always, I remain, faithfully yours…
~Quiz Master Lou~
Ahhh… A touch of autumn was in the gentle breeze last night at the Lion & Crown in Allen, Texas. The air was somewhere on the cusp of going from cool to chilly. The fireplace had a fire going in it when I arrived to set up. The teams were either already there, finishing up their pub grub, or just arriving and staking out their favorite tables or that portion of the bar where they can get their drinks quickly but still see and hear the Quiz Master.
Our publican, Derek, whom I have nicknamed, Derek the Mighty, due to the powerful cheerfulness of his character, is the quintessential barkeep. He knows his drinks, he knows his micro brews and he even knows your name. All the servers were walking around with smiles on their faces. No particular reason. Just a general atmosphere of good cheer.
For some reason, it got me to thinking about the film, It’s a Wonderful Life! As we all know, in that classic, a man’s life gets turned upside down by outside circumstances and can find no other way out except to kill himself. It is only when an intervening angel shows him how the world would be lessened by his absence that he realizes that no matter what curves life throws at you, it is always how you react to it that determines your outcome. We must all choose to be happy, despite our circumstances, for it is in that act that things will turn around for us.
A big welcome to newcomers The Pilarinski’s and The Bumblebees, who ended up taking second place! Until next week, I remain, yours…
