<p>Any other spelling bee junkies out there? A nice outcome this year!</p>
<p>I watched. Those 2 finalists made me feel humble. I never heard of the words they were asked to spell. They genuinely seemed happy to both win.</p>
<p>My friend’s sone almost made to semifinal </p>
<p>Couldn’t watch because don’t have cable… very annoyed that a few years ago they moved it to ESPN from network TV. Doesn’t seem to be in the spirit of type of competition (open to all comers). But not open to all viewers…</p>
<p>They spell some amazing words. I find it a bit esoteric tho. If it’s not a word you ever use, how helpful is it to spell?</p>
<p>Congratulations to Sriram and Ansun. I’ve been interested in how the national bee has become big show biz in recent years. While they have spread to a few other countries, spelling bees are a uniquely American invention, and some people from other cultures are baffled by the concept of a spelling bee. But it sure has been embraced big time by immigrant American families, especially those from India. </p>
<p>This year’s tie meant we didn’t get what always seemed to me to be the most dramatic moment - when the incipient champion, having eliminated all challengers, must correctly spell one more word to seal the victory. If s/he misses the final word the last challenger is reinstated and the match resumes. </p>
<p>Suggested new element to the National Spelling Bee: to win, contestant must be able to spell the last name of their opponent correctly. 
(or their first - wow!!!)</p>
<p>Yes, I watch the bee every year. These kids are certainly disciplined to put in the time it takes to master all those words. I’m amazed at how many other activities they’re involved in; where do they find the time?</p>
<p>I couldn’t believe how many of the words I could spell this year (not a usual occurrence). I guess all those years of French and having German-speaking grandparents helped.</p>
<p>I caught the end of the Bee in 2 parts, one when there were 6 contestants left, and then when they were down to 2. It was interesting to me that Sriram showed a just barely detectable reaction–like a blink or a small movement–when Ansun put the second o in antigropolos (really antigropelos). I think Sriram knew the root. In any event, it was a tremendous display of sportsmanship, because it put Sriram back in contention–but he wasn’t celebrating the error at all. Congratulations to both winners!</p>
<p>I agree with shellfell. The foreign words do seem easier. English words with indistinguishable schwa sounds and mixed language heritages are generally more difficult.</p>
<p>My favorite was the boy named Jacob who was eliminated-- his outraged “WHAT??” when the buzzer went off was hilarious. </p>
<p>ESPN has become the Eating, Spelling, Poker Network. :-)</p>
<p>The word I spelled wrong many moons ago was lavatory. I had never heard of the word so I tried to fudge it by spelling laboratory. We had finished spelling all of the words on our spelling lists so my step mom was pleased that I had studied hard. I was nervous standing in front of the entire school especially when we got down to the Final Two and tougher new words were being tossed to us. No one remembers who comes in second place.</p>
<p>My son was in our Countywide Spelling Bee for five school districts. He drew Speller Number One position which is the worst position to have. After each category of rounds they started all over with him in the number one slot. I figured he spelled more correct words than one or two finalists. But he was the last boy standing. I was more nervous sitting there watching him spell than I was at any of his sports games. It’s a real discovery moment when you realize your preteen can spell a word you can’t spell.</p>
<p>I didn’t watch this year’s Bee. </p>
<p>I caught some of the bee last night and it was a pretty exciting ending. I was trying hard and I am a pretty strong speller but couldn’t come up with the majority of the words for the final two. </p>
<p>TonyK, I was the soccer goalies mom for several years ( my son being the goalie from grade 2 -12) - watching the anxiety on those spelling bee parents face was like a round of penalty kicks with every word! Stress beyond belief!!!</p>
<p>abasket,</p>
<p>Our son was also a soccer goalie and I remember one penalty kick with less than 30 seconds to go and a tie score in HS Varsity. He dove and blocked it, but they eventually lost the game in overtime. </p>
<p>LOL @ abasket. Yeah, let them spell the other kids’ names. That’s a trophy anyone would have a hard time winning these days.</p>