SAY MY NAME, BITCHES—ANURAG KASHYAP!

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For all of those out there who had Anurag Kashyap in the spelling bee pool, congratulations. Kashyap secured the vicory with the word “hodiernal” in the 18th round and “appoggiatura” in the 19th to win. Coincidentally, Anurag’s name in actually means “appoggiatura”, so this victory makes perfect sense.

Speller No. 20, Anurag Kashyap

Sponsor:
The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego, California

Age:
13, eighth grade

School:
Meadowbrook Middle School, Poway, California

Bio:
Anurag is an avid reader and a straight A student. His favorite subject in school is science. Anurag recently participated in state-level Mathcounts and Science Olympiad competitions. He also represented his school in the California Geographic Bee. Anurag tied for 47th place in the 2004 national finals.

Oddjack Intangibles: Anurag loves riding horses, motorcycles, jalopeys, mechanical bulls, and mailboxes shaped like cows. He has a cat named Hodiernal.

Oddjack Odds: WINNER

Spelling Bee Final[Spellingbee.com]

Modi Eats It

READ MORE: Event Betting, National Spelling Bee

It’s A-l-e-m-b-e-r-t, you little bitch. Christ.

Round 10 starting now with 10 left…

Round 9 Updates [Spellingbee.com]
Previously: Arjun Modi, Speller No.149 [Oddjack]

Gamefaces: National Spelling Bee Spotlight

READ MORE: Event Betting, National Spelling Bee

It’s time to clear away the bitches and the chumps for this round…

We’re feeling like it’s Arjun Modi time.

Speller No. 149, Arjun R. Modi

Sponsor:
The Record and Herald News, Hackensack, New Jersey

Age:
13, eighth grade

School:
George Washington Middle School, Ridgewood, New Jersey

Bio:
Arjun likes to travel. He enjoys studying Latin and has earned perfect scores on the National Latin Exam. He participates in Mathcounts and competed in the New Jersey Geographic Bee. Arjun volunteers at his local library, reading to young children. He participated in the 2004 national finals.

Oddjack Intangibles: Arjun’s one of the more out of control contestants in this competition. He’s a notorious practical joker and his love of humor keeps his stress levels down. He’s also superstitous—he once wore the same underwear between states and nationals last year, sparking protests from many of the other contestants because of the smell and the fruit flies that constantly followed him.

Oddjack Odds: 3-1

Round 6 Update [Spellingbee.com]

Previously: Nidharshan S. Anandasivam, Speller No. 239 [Oddjack]

Gamefaces: National Spelling Bee Spotlight

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10 minutes until the big event, 51 contestants left, and a live broadcast on ESPN. Do you know the pony you’re riding today?

Nidharshan S. Anandasivam, Speller No. 239

Sponsor:
Valley Freedom Newspapers, Harlingen, Texas

Age:
12, seventh grade

School:
Saint Joseph Academy, Brownsville, Texas

Bio:
Nidharshan’s favorite subjects in school are history and math. His after-school activities include piano lessons, Kumon classes, and basketball and football practice and tournaments. Nidharshan participated in the 2003 and 2004 national finals, tying for 47th place in 2004.

Oddjack Intangibles: Nidharshan’s not a lover—he’s a fighter. And a deft one. He can attack the words from all angles and doesn’t rattle easily. In fact, at 2004’s competition one of the parents of another competitor attempted to throw him off by unleashing a live, rabid mongoose into his dressing room. Nidharshan picked up the frothing beast, broke its neck, and ate it. He went on to the next round without a problem.

Odds: 7-2

51 Contestants Left in Spelling Bee [Fox News]
Year of the Bee [ABC News]
Scrrips National Spelling Bee [Spellingbee.com]

Previous: Vaibhav S. Vavilala, Speller No. 81 [Oddjack]
Aravind Arun, Speller No. 219 [Oddjack]
Joseph F. Sheperd, Speller No. 59 [Oddjack]
Dheena Marie Ebuen Elayda, No. 60 [Oddjack]
Edwin Ho, No. 26 [Oddjack]

Spelling Bee Update: Noooooo!!!!!!

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From an Oddjack reader e-mail:

Unfortunately, your boy Vaibhav apparently screwed the pooch badly in the first written round—he was gone after Round 2.

There is no god…

National Spelling Bee Roundup for Round 2 [Spellingbee.com]
Live Spelling Bee Blog-o-Rama [Throwing Things]
Previous: Gamefaces: National Spelling Bee Spotlight(Vaibhav Vavilala) [Oddjack]

Gamefaces: National Spelling Bee Spotlight

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The National Spelling Bee gamblers are starting to get antsy as the field gets whittled down to a smaller and smaller bunch. We’ve got a great feeling about our boy Vaibhav S. Vavilala, however. Dude’s straight-up gangsta.

Vaibhav S. Vavilala, Speller No. 81

Sponsor:
Topics Newspapers, Fishers, Indiana

Age:
10, fourth grade

School:
Orchard Park Elementary School, Indianapolis, Indiana

Bio:
Vaibhav is an avid reader and an honor student. His favorite subject in school is math, and his favorite sports are soccer, tennis, and football. In his spare time Vaibhav may be found immersing himself in a chess match, playing video games, or practicing on his keyboard. He is a member of his school’s student council.

Oddjack Intangibles:
Big “V” is an absolute fire-shitting demon from the spellbound streets of Indianapolis . When he’s not occupying his time with multiplication flash cards and chess, he’s out rolling cats left and right with his unreal spelling prowess. Legend has it that one of his buddies tried to throw him off one time by tossing a made-up word (“zylgasticamalin”), but V didn’t even blink—he fired it off in 12 seconds flat. Should other competitors be scared? Yes. Yes, indeed.

Odds: 5/2

Scripps National Spelling Bee [Spellingbee.com]
Previously: Aravind Arun, Speller No. 219 [Oddjack]
Joseph F. Sheperd, Speller No. 59 [Oddjack]
Dheena Marie Ebuen Elayda, No. 60 [Oddjack]
Edwin Ho, No. 26 [Oddjack]

Gamefaces: National Spelling Bee Spotlight

READ MORE: Event Betting, National Spelling Bee

Oddjack continues to handicap this year’s Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee participants, set to do battle June 1-June 2nd in Washington, D.C.

Aravind Arun, Speller No. 219

Sponsor:
Caribbean Preparatory School, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Age:
12, seventh grade

School:
Colegio Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Hatillo, Puerto Rico

Bio:Aravind has received the “Meritorious Student Award” in three of his school years. He plays piano, both as an accompanist and as a soloist, and he plays flute in his school’s band. He has twice been chosen his Boy Scout troop’s “Scout of the Year.” Aravind will attend the National Scout Jamboree in July 2005.

Oddjack Intangibles: Aravind’s appearance may be a bit misleading, but don’t ever underestimate the type of blue-chip speller they breed at Colegio Nuestra Senora de Carmen, as many CNSDC spellers go on to become English professors, CIA operatives, or ultimate fighting champions. Aravind is no different; he sometimes will complete the word then inconspicuously punch the next speller in the throat with cobra-like quickness, leaving them gasping for air and, usually, out of the competition.

Oddjack Odds: 5-2

Scripps National Spelling Bee [Spellingbee.com]
Previously: Joseph F. Sheperd, Speller No. 59 [Oddjack]
Dheena Marie Ebuen Elayda, No. 60 [Oddjack]
Edwin Ho, No. 26 [Oddjack]

Gamefaces: National Spelling Bee Spotlight Player

READ MORE: Event Betting, National Spelling Bee

Oddjack continues its rundown of the major forces in the 2005 National Spelling Bee, which kicks off June 1…

Joseph F. Sheperd, Speller No. 59
Sponsor:
The Augusta Chronicle, Augusta, Georgia

Age:
13, seventh grade

School:
Home School, Waynesboro, Georgia

Bio:
Joe participated in the Georgia Geographic Bee and in state-level Mathcounts competition. He won first place in a 4-H forestry contest. His interests include developing outdoor survival skills, tracking, and hunting. Joe participated in the 2002, 2003, and 2004 national finals, tying for 47th place in 2004.

Oddjack Intangibles: Joe is gritty. He’s quick. He loves to throw around gerund phrases and has tatooed “Lexicon” in gang-script on his belly. If Joe gets put in a corner, he’s a snarling beast who will not be put down lightly.

Projected Odds: 16-1

Scripps National Spelling Bee [Spellingbee.com]

Gamefaces: National Spelling Bee Spotlight

READ MORE: Event Betting, National Spelling Bee

Today’s featured speller:

Dheena Marie Ebuen Elayda, No. 60

Sponsor:
Pacific Daily News, Agana, Guam

Age:
13, eighth grade

School:
Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja, Rota CNMI, MP

Bio:
Dheena plays guitar and piano. She is an avid reader of mystery books. In her spare time she may be found playing video games, using her computer, watching television, or spending time with friends. Dheena enjoys listening to music, especially R and B and rock. She would like to become a pediatrician.

Oddjack intangibles: Dheena “Cold-cockin’D” Marie Ebuen Elayda loves to rattle her opponents with her patented “wizard whack”, in which she distracts opponents by whipping them in the back of the legs with a plastic magic wand. Usually has trouble with Latin origins and words that start with the prefix “re”.

Predicted Odds: 35-1

Gamefaces: National Spelling Bee Spotlight

READ MORE: Event Betting, National Spelling Bee

In preparation for the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee, the Oddjack will feature one speller a day we think has a chance to make an impact in this year’s competition. Hopefully, with our guidance, some you will finally win your office pools. Are you ready to get this fucking shit on?

Today’s featured speller:

Edwin Ho, No. 26

Sponsor: National Post, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada

Age:
13, eighth grade

School:
Kennedy Public School, Scarborough/Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Bio:
Edwin is a member of charity groups, and he participates in fund-raisers. He plays clarinet in his school’s band. Edwin’s favorite pastimes include reading fantasy and psychology books and practicing piano. Science is his favorite subject in school, and he would like to pursue a career in medicine.

Oddjack intangibles: Missed spelling word “brucellosis” in CanWest CanSpell competition; Canadian; cool under pressure, but has trouble with root-origins and sometimes fidgets or wets himself during prefixes.

Predicted Odds: 75-1