EITM: Spelling Bee Fantasy Draft 5/30/24

Ironically, there are no words.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Now there was a lot of tensionand by the way I feel it in
the room again right now, becausethe pool is very small this year.
There's only eight finalists, which meanswe're drafted half the pool. Yeah,
but again I don't know why thatstresses you guys out right. You could
have a pool of one hundred andwe're only drafting four, or we could
have a pool of five. Emerally, we could have a pool of four.

(00:21):
Emm're only drafting four. Just lessoptions, yea when it could be
your turn to pick. Well,I have run, as I do every
year, a draft order generator,so I can tell you the order we're

(00:42):
drafting in. It'll go Diane,then it'll be Tyler, then it'll be
Kristen, and then it'll be me. If anybody should be pissy, it
should be me. Three people aregoing before I even go. But you
know what I did yesterday, whatI ranked yep, all eight. I

(01:04):
wouldn't say all late, because there'sthere's some I would rather almost just punt
very nice for those in ear shots. I'm sorry, say you get anybody
tune in so the preliminary or semifinalsand see any of these finalists in action.
I did not. That's a greatquestion, Diane. No, I

(01:29):
just that's right. You followed thetweets? Okay, okay, did you
follow online? No, just whatDiane said. And I was watching Ozark,
so keeping up. Okay, Sonobody watched yesterday to see how they

(01:49):
how they perform, like, nobodywent to any of their prelims. I
did not. Are you thinking somebodywas scouting? It's actually an attendance.
Oh no, no, no,no, no, I don't. What
I meant was like, did anybodylike go to opening night or second day?
No, I don't think there's anybodywho went and sat in that audience

(02:10):
yesterday. Okay, not out ofthis group before. No, why does
Diane have a puss on? Youget the first pick, you get eight
to choose from. I know,I realize I'll have five to choose from.
I mean, given given my chances, this is the best one,
maybe, Elliott. I'll tell youwhether it's the best watch, straight up

(02:35):
or something that's ever been allowed.I guess, but I'll give you my
pick next year. Like a whiteelephant gifts, okay, like a white
elephant. No, no, Kristen, nothing white about this. No,
no, no, we've never.I don't even know what we would do
though. It's just something that cameto mind. I didn't know if Diane

(02:59):
was to trade down Diane. DoesDiane like it when the universe sort of
edits for her, though, becauseall Diane doesn't go who finished the bands
last year? I don't sound anythinglike that, because sometimes you hear that
when it comes to sports, thatthe team picking second makes an argument for
them actually having it easier because theydon't have to make the choice. There's

(03:23):
two top guys, and it's like, okay, they take who they want.
We got them nothing we could doabout it. It's easier, said
thing to work through. Like theCommanders knew they were taking Jaden because everybody
knew Caleb was going to go numberone. But you could also go,
well, what if number two isn'tknown? Like if you look at the

(03:43):
NHL draft this year, maclin Celabrini, who Diane's getting ready to select,
is gone. The decision falls tonumber two. I know more about these
Spellers than I do the NHL prospects, all right, I don't the first
pick, oh boy in the Script'sNational Spelling Bee Fantasy Draft. Now granted

(04:12):
it isn't much. The first pickbelongs to Diane Stupar. It is very
different than it has been in yearspast due to the small pool a finalist
that we have, and I didgo back. I was really psyched early
on to see that there is alittle girl named Audrey, a thirteen year
old seventh grader who was sponsored byRadford University out of Salem, Virginia.

(04:33):
She's big into Chick fil A,and she's a swiftie and she loves competitive
dance sheet. Yes, she crapedthe bed. She Oh, so,
now we're going to name people thatdidn't even make it. Well, you
liked it like I say, Well, it's not right, all right,
hey, listen up, losers.So, given my pool of eight,
wait, you're already going with apick? Yes, because we don't want
to spoil their picks. Not spoilingmy pick, I'm gonna spoil all your

(04:56):
picks. Wait until I do rollcall. Given the pool of eight that
we did have to pick from,and he looks more like your brother's accountant.
But I did not go with him. What does this mean? I
have no idea. I went withgive us a speller number, No,

(05:20):
go with the name. Yes,Well, what do you look as I
spelled both with an L. Comeon, Oh, okay, I'll go.
I will go with the name.She is speller number two hundred and
twelve Kirsten Santos. I'm even intough. She is a thirteen year old

(05:45):
eighth grader out of Katie, TexasKatie Middle School, making her third straight
appearance. She was a finalist andfinished tied for fifth at Nationals in twenty
twenty two. Back in twenty nineteen, she was only eight years old,
she won the National Spanish spelling bee. Right, they're speaking English at the
well maybe Dan mcgirl's first year violin. Right. Also, I'd like that

(06:10):
you pointed out that she finished fifthtwo years ago because she slid that ass
back last year to twenty third.So yes, I'm taking number two twelve
Kirsten Santos. Yes, thirteen yearold eighth grader who again tried to finish
strong after underperforming last year. Allright, there is Diane's pick die and

(06:33):
that does not ruin Elliott's draft board. I mean, that's a shocking choice,
it really is. But I butyou know what I can tell you
right now why Diane did that?Because of everybody in the eighth finalists.

(06:53):
What's it? What's her name?Kirsten Heston, highest ranked finisher ever that
of the eighth So that's what shedid. She took a lead horse.
Nothing's changed, You know what it'slike predicting. It's like predicting who's a
general manager in the NHL. Youwould know George V. Yeah, not
a GM anymore. But I understandwhat you mean. It's really McCrimmon.

(07:15):
But anyway, honestly, an olddog, new trick or I don't know
if that's the right saying. Withthe second pick in this year's scripts National
Spelling Bee Fantasy Draft, Tyler MolnorSpeller, whoa, we're going right for

(07:36):
the person? Yes, hold on, here we go. Speller number eighteen
out of Herbert Crookshank Middle School.Get you a necktie, Herbert gets your
placard. We're going to the brishab Saha. That's the guy. I

(08:01):
say, it looks like the accountant. Yes. By the way, that
guy's got a full chin. Strapbeardmy friend. Outside of spelling, he
plays many instruments, the piano,the bells, the tuba, the suzophone,
and when those get too heavy,the euphonium. He likes math.

(08:22):
He's visited fifty nine of the sixtythree US National parks, which I always
am envious of people who've been ableto see so much of the United States.
He's fourteen. But here's my favoritepart. Finally, he is a
fan of this and that is words. Thank him frequently diving into dictionaries to
find new ones. Right now,I will tell you this. So you

(08:45):
took the speller number eighteen reschab saha. Yes, and his favorite word is
euphoria, which I hope to feelalong with him tonight. And I even
like his favorite color is which,of course you had to pick a color
that everybody when they changed the inkdoesn't know how to pronounce. That's right,
No, very good. I willtell you this if I'm being honest.

(09:07):
He was my second choice, Herbert, get your placard, and I'll
tell you why he was my secondchoice, for all the reasons that you
listed off. He likes chess,he likes reading, the piano, the
tuba, the suzophone, the bells, the euphoria, euphonium whatever. You

(09:28):
know what He never listed hanging outwith friends. That means he is studying.
No time for it. I don'tbelieve he has any previous the experience
though, Diane. No, that'swhy Diane walked right over his body.
Yeah, didn't even care. Now, I don't know, and listen,
I don't know what like, Idon't where's he from? Where's he from?
California, California. I don't knowif in the preliminary beast he shaved

(09:50):
before the finals, but he madetonight. That is fourteen year old who
you wish you could grow facial hairlike that? NU got full chid strap
with the third pick in the scriptsNational Spelling Bee Fantasy Draft, Kristen.

(10:13):
Okay, so my first choice wastaken. Oh which one was it?
Kirsten? Oh? Because I couldsay it? Yes, you're exactly right.
How Diane did you know that?Ever? You guess it? Can
if wait, you want to playa little game. So if she chose

(10:33):
Kirsten at number one because she couldpronounce it, can we guess who she
ranked eighth? That's Ching Bow fromthe National Zoo. Okay, all right,
and I like that she likes sushibecause I'm a sushi girl. Right,
We're still talking about Diane's pick.Yes, I know, okay,
Oh, that's because they just gotthat Jersey in the hat. Kristen is

(10:56):
interviewing her. No want to hearabout you. But my second, wait,
is this your pick? Or isthis another one that you're not taking?
Well? I mean Tyler's was forsure number eight because there's no way
I knew how to say his name. O God, and he looks like

(11:18):
stop. Dian's already has done enough. Herbert gets your placker. We're going
to uh they're actually Herbert get thescripts cup. That's what I said.
Okay, Yes, one more thing. Oh yes, none of my Ohio
kids made it, so that's alittle disappointing. That's okay, nobody expected

(11:39):
them to, none of them.All right, but my this is your
pick, my kid. Yes,With the third pick in the Scripts National
Spelling Bee Fantasy Draft, Kristen selectsspeller number. I'll give the number because
I don't know how to say thename. Twenty two Charrey Shrey, Peric

(12:01):
Parakh any assistant. No, you'redoing well? Okay, So my kid.
Something I really liked about him isthis last name? P A R
I K H. Yes, Obama, Peric. I didn't you know use

(12:22):
the Google translation pron Well, howwould you say it? Shrey? No?
His last name Prick, Prick,that's get him prick. That doesn't
look right, Trey right, he'stwelve, right, sixth grade. So

(12:46):
he's not the youngest. Last yearI chose like the youngest kid. You
can't take a small dog and puthim out there with the big beasts.
What are you gonna learn? No, he's not the youngest. He's pretty
young, Okay, Tyler, Okay, that's not why we're choosing. Tyler.
Took a fourteen year old eighth grader. Diane took a thirteen year old
eighth grader, and you are takinga twelve year old. No, No,

(13:11):
who did you pick? Oh,he's a twelve year old sixth graders.
That's a small dog on a bigdog porch. But listen. Oh,
he did compete in the twenty twentytwo He tied for eighty ninth,
so he has much more improvement thisyear, and I am rooting for him.
But something that I loved about him, he's not just a bookworm.

(13:31):
He does like mystery and fictional books. He also I was shocked that Diane
didn't like this or pick him becausehe loves solving math problems. I know
Diane's really great at that. Allright, shady, but something other than
learning at words. He's in theband. He does all percussion, which
is amazing, and he loves beingoutside. He loves nature. He also

(13:54):
guy outside. You know where Iwant you? I want you sitting at
a goddamn table with your head ina book in the dictionary. Right.
But by the way, the onlyother thing I better have you doing is
playing bells in the euphorium. Becauseyou ain't got no friends. Well,
he does have friends, he likes. That's why I don't want I don't
want friends. I want studying.This isn't mister geniality. This is the

(14:15):
script's national spelling big But you knowwhat really got me? Oh, here
we go. This is a bigspot in my heart. So he's twelve
years old and knows the movie TheGoonies, Right, kids these days don't
know that. That's why you chosem Yes, I love that movie,
right, you know what classic?Right? And instead of watching movies,
I want my person spelling words.Yeah, mine's a fan of words to

(14:39):
yours. I say the Goonies aren'tgood enough, but something else too.
Oh my god, his favorite foodis I hope I say this right?
Oh, this will be good.And I hope you've had it so you
can say if it's good or not, Dosa, tell me more about it.
I don't know if I've had itor not. I would believe.

(15:01):
I would believe from overseas, fromoverseas Americans, such as because US Americans
Iraq. I love that she wasdrawn to a food she doesn't know.

(15:26):
I like to try new food.I'm open to do. Is awesome,
dose is great? What is it? What is it? It's it's from
overseas. The no, no,how would you describe it. It's like
a it's kind of like a creep. Yeah, okay, really yeah.
I was gonna go with like areal fin dumpling almost, but yeah,
no, it's fantastic. It's reallygood. So my my boy, Shrey,
Peric, gosh, age twelve,there's no essen there, Peric.

(15:56):
Let's go boy, let's not yellat By the way, can I tell
you this. I have the fourthpick in the draft, and now I
know how a general manager feels whenthe number one person on the board falls
to number four because the person Iwanted from the get go was not selected.

(16:19):
No, not at all, mygirl. Oh uh oh, you
didn't go with beer hat. Wait, who's beer hat? No? Brew
hat name b are u h at Yes, Soma, here's my fourth

(16:42):
Yeah no, Why would I havetaken him? Because you can call him
beer helmet? Right? And Ithought you were going to say because he's
from Saint Jeter's Jeters Bird. Yeah, he's the he's the basket. Sam
picked a girl. Okay, yeah, my girl not only likes reading,

(17:03):
she writes her own story. DamI'm sorry. Is that a National Junior
Honor Society Outstanding Achievement Award? Oh? You bet your a. It is.
She happens to like something that Ilike, and that is the TV

(17:26):
show Gravity Falls. I've never seenit, unlike Kristen's Mind's not a small
dog on a big dog porch.My girl thirteen year old eighth grader out

(17:48):
of Denver, Colorado, nicknamed ToughSpeller thirty one a DT Kumar Duff of
DT. There it is, thereit is. I was waiting for that.

(18:11):
Yep. So that's when she says, when the rest of us get
eliminated, I'm guessing yourself. Whatare you doing? Anybody have any comments?
Speller thirty ones does hey Duff andDT? Oh, I hope that's

(18:32):
throwing right back in her face.First one out of our group. O
my god, ah yeah, Iget it up, my girl. So
with the fourth pick in the script'sNational spelling b fourth and final yes Speller

(18:59):
thirty one, Elliott Siegel takes aDT mutha Kumar out of Denver, Colorado.
Also, I feel like it's agood strong West Coast year stuff.
You picked her for one reason andone reason alone. Tough at DT hey.

(19:22):
None of the finalists earned a song, but I found her. By
the way, everybody in my familylove that, except Jackie. What a
wet blanket she was yesterday? Allright, Tyler has Speller eighteen, Kristen

(19:45):
has Speller twenty two, Elliott hasSpeller thirty one, and Diane has Speller
two twelve. Four of the eightYEP that will be going tonight again.
Normally Tyler would keep you up todate on X as to who's getting a
emanated. But we'll be on acruise with popa Roach, so we'll come
in tomorrow. Well, I no, I probably won't even check until tomorrow.

(20:08):
I don't know what my girl wouldbe screaming though. Tough a ty