Tom Waters & the Perfect Game (was Re: a question)

• From: tfmichael1 <no_reply_at_yahoogroups.com>
• Date: Mon, 04 Nov 2002 06:03:25 -0000
• Message-ID: <aq52jd+9sv3_at_...>

--- In quizbowl_at_y..., ajflemi <no_reply_at_y...> wrote:
> As far as I am aware, no team has ever gotten all the tossups in a 
> game of at least 20 questions.  Several teams have gotten 19/20, 
> including Tom Waters, who got the first 19 TUs in a game but 
couldn't 
> get the 20th.  (I suspect he's still irritated about it.)
> 
> ajf

Indeed. And, as the great Mr. Waters would often recount the tale, a 
teammate negged on #20 and cost him the perfect match. This is the 
reason he gave in the mid-90's for playing solo. He really wanted the 
Perfect Game.

In fact, the first time I ever heard him tell the tale was after 
watching him go 19 for 20 while playing solo at, IIRC, a tournament 
in Maryland.

Tom had already secured his place in legend with the "called shot" - 
the academic competition equivalent of Babe Ruth's pointing to the 
outfield and then homering to the spot. Coming down the stretch in a 
match, Tom had announced he was going to buzz in on the next question 
after one word. After hearing "Extremism" he rang-in with "Barry 
Goldwater," and nailed it. Though not the quickest correct buzz I've 
ever heard of (there was a player at Michigan State in the early 80's 
who signalled after one syllable - "Nim" [pron: Neem] with the 
answer "denim")I think it's the most impressive.

Anyone know what Tom is doing now? He sort of dropped off the face of 
the academic competition earth after a couple of years helping start 
NAQT. It would not surprise me at all to see him emerge some day, 
unannounced, at some open tournament, and finally go 20 for 20.

Tom Michael