Sunday 29 July 2012

The Game's the thing - ah yes, but . . .

Why do we play in pub quizzes ? Several reasons spring to mind - the excuse it gives us for a couple of hours away from the house - a chance to catch up with friends - an opportunity to pit one's skills and knowledge against others and just as importantly, against onesself - an opportunity to learn something one didn't know before. These are all fine and noble reasons, and certainly they are among the reasons why I for one try to play in at least 2 quizzes a week. However . . .

The thing is, I am honest to admit that my motivation isn't totally corinthian. I am immature enough to admit that I like winning. Oh, yes, I can still enjoy a good quiz even if I don't win , and I certainly wouldn't dream of stopping going if I had no chance of winning, which, come to think of it, is just as well at the moment, since I haven't won down the rugby club on a Thursday night for months.But I won't lie, I like to win, and I do start to get a little anxious if I go for more than a few quizzes without managing to put anything in the W column.

So you'll appreciate that after losing my last 3 or 4 quizzes in a row I was more than usually determined in the Dynevor Arms tonight. If you read my post last week you'll know that I was surprised and impressed by the performance of the team at the bar, who beat us by a point, only losing by one point themselves to Rob and his team. Well, their good form continued tonight, when they trailed us by just the one point at the interval. We knew we couldn't afford to make any mistakes, and for once we didn't, taking a full house on the second half of the quiz, to bring an end to my unwanted losing streak.

There was a lovely question right at the end of the quiz - a juicy little 4 parter. Name the last 4 European Capital cities to host the Summer Olympic Games before London this year. You'll get them, I'm sure, but we had to think for a moment or two. Good question.

2 comments:

Radinden said...

I'd be nervous of that Olympic question, as it has the potential for arguments (unless I've got it wrong myself, of course). To take the obvious ones: Athens 2004, Moscow 1980 and Rome 1960. But do you then give Stockholm 1956 as the fourth, or Helsinki 1952? Stockholm wasn't the host, but certainly hosted a major set of Summer Olympic events that year.

Londinius said...

Hi Radinden
Yes, I know what you mean, but we all took it for granted that he meant the main host cities.

Where there was a problem was when he asked who were the last two actors to play Batman on film . Not arguing with Christian Bale, but he said Michael Keaton. I mean come on - Val Kilmer followed Michael Keaton, then George CLooney followed Val Kilmer ( I think )