Tuesday, May 6, 2014

The quarterfinals - it's time!

The Battle of the Decades got off to a swift start last night with a great game between Roger Craig, Robin Carroll, and Leszek Pawlowicz.  Leszek jumped out to a big lead, but Roger worked his way back in typical Roger fashion with a couple big Daily Double bets.  He earned the first semifinal spot, but Leszek's $15K is also a strong total for a potential wild card.  Robin played very well also, but she was just getting outbuzzed by the other two.  It was fun to see three greats play the game at such a high level!

When the contestant coordinator (the wonderful Robert James) comes back into the green room to announce the players in the next game, it's a feeling of both eager anticipation and dread -- you both want him and really don't want him to call your name for that name.  He asks everyone to play a drum roll on the couches and tables and shouts out the players, and this time it was: Tom Nosek, Pam Mueller, and Russ Schumacher!  So, into the makeup chair for a touch-up, get some caffeine in the system, and off we go...

You already know that Pam and Tom are incredible Jeopardy! players, so I'll share a couple non-J! tidbits about them.  Tom has spent a long career in the aerospace industry, and it turns out that he worked on some weather/climate satellite missions.  Specifically, he had a role in the Aqua satellite, which I don't use directly in my research but I work with many people who do. 

Pam has been involved a little bit of everything: law, choreography, political campaigns, and now she's getting her PhD in psychology.  Just recently, she received some attention for a really interesting article showing that people tend to retain more information from a lecture or presentation when they take notes with pen/paper than when they take notes on an iPad or laptop. (http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/releases/take-notes-by-hand-for-better-long-term-comprehension.html)  Something important for me to consider in the classroom!  Really, the best part of the whole Jeopardy! experience has been meeting such friendly, interesting, and smart people, and Tom and Pam are no exception.

The show's on at 6 pm on channel 7 here in Colorado; check your local listings elsewhere, and enjoy the show. And since I know you've been anxiously wondering what I look like whilst carrying a suit through a hotel lobby...(hi Dan and Colby!):

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