A Field Goal Fiesta!

Feb 25, 2008

RAY: This is from my Wide World of Sports series. A few weeks ago, like millions of other Americans, my two sons and I got together to watch the Super Bowl. Of course we had the usual array of sandwiches, chips, soda pop, candy and enough of everything so we wouldn't have to budge from our seats until half time.

We had just barely settled into our spots on the sofa when my wife popped in. 'I know that you three know a lot about sports, maybe everything, right?' she said.

Well, we didn't want to brag but it's quite possible we would be able to answer just about any question you could ask about sports.

'Okay, then,' she said. 'Try this one. Your team is losing 6 to nothing. The opposing team scored two field goals to account for its 6 points. Your team then scores three field goals while at the same time holding the other team scoreless. And now your team leads 7 to 6.'

We all shake our heads. 'No, no, no, that's not possible, you got that wrong.'

'Oh, yes, it is,' she said and she's right. The question is, how could she be right?

Answer: 

RAY: Now we all know that a field goal is three points.

TOM: Yes, we do.

RAY: Yeah, except that it's not! If you thought about another sport other than football - like basketball - a basket in basketball can be either a three-point field goal or a two-point field goal. You could certainly score one three-pointer and two two-pointers, giving you seven points. And the other team had scored two three-point field goals and they had six points and you're ahead seven to six. Do we have a winner?

TOM: Yes, we do. The winner this week is Nancy Mullins from Haddonfield, New Jersey. And for having her answer selected at random from among the heap of correct answers that we got, Nancy's going to get a 26-dollar gift certificate to the Shameless Commerce Division at cartalk.com with which she can get a bright red embroidered Car Talk Plaza baseball hat just in time for spring training.

RAY: Oh, are you going to spring training this year? For drinking espresso?

TOM: No need to. I play in a winter league.

RAY: Congratulations Nancy!


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