In 1995, I misspelled “brilliance”

At least, in these trying times, there’s some good news. Scripps is cutting employees, but will continue the spelling bee, on which they take a loss.  This is great news–I don’t know how ESPN would have filled that time otherwise.

I have a VHS tape of the 1994 Syracuse Post-Standard spelling bee in my possession now. I survived 3 rounds, and the word I missed was mispronounced.  I’m tempted to digitize the video, make a highlight reel, and post it to YouTube, but I don’t think anyone needs that, least of all the 40 or so baby nerds who competed.

For years now, I’ve had the idea kicking around in my head of a short story about a woman in the same situation who decides to sue the television station decades later.  The background research would be fun.