The Well Oiled Machine..aka the WOM..was without question the best quiz bowl team in the area. The WOM was made up of 4 of the brightest minds at Mayfield High. Curt Cringle, Sam Worthington, Nathaniel "Nat" Frader, and Bob Castle. The WOM started their Senior quiz bowl year as the team to beat (That was no surprise, the WOM had won the last two league titles and were entering their final season together as an over-whelming favorite to 3-peat). Everything was looking good for the WOM, as expected they rolled through the regular Quiz Bowl season unscathed, and for the most part untested. The leauge title was their's for the taking, all they had to do was show-up, and the rest of the competition would just roll-over and hand them the coveted '3-peat' trophy..IT WAS A DONE DEAL..or so Bob Castle and the rest of the WOM thought.
"Heah Riggins, what do you have the WOM going off at in the league tournament" Kenny Riggins was the town 'bookie' and Bob Castle wanted to know what the line was for the WOM. "Castle I have the WOM at even money (bet a dollar win a dollar)" "What's the line for our closest competition?" Castle asked Riggins.."The scab's are going off at 10-1 (bet a dollar win 10 dollars)"..The scab's were the second team quiz bowl unit at Mayfield High..They were lead by a young up-start named Justin Krug..Krug and the rest of the scab's had served as punching bags for the WOM for most of the year. Every once in awhle they would give the WOM a run for their money, but never, and I mean NEVER, had they beaten the WOM in a head to head Quiz Bowl meet. "The scab's are the nearest competition" Castle thought to himself.."Riggins give me 5 bills on the WOM to repeat as champs" Castle stated..Riggins nodded his head and stated simply "You got it, 5 bills on the WOM to win it all." Castle was so confident that the WOM would trounce all of the competition, the thought of actually losing never entered his mind.
The scene was set, it was the finals of the leauge tournament and as expected the WOM had trounced all of their competition. By some miracle the scab's had made it to the finals.."The title and the money is as good as mine" Bob Castle thought to himself as the championship match was about to begin. Now most people think that Quiz Bowl competitions are mundane. You want to know how to get past that feeling? Wager some money on it! Castle had 5 bills riding on the WOM winning the championship and everything was looking good..All they had to do was beat the scab's one more time, and the trophy was theirs. One hitch, Sam Worthington, the ace player on the WOM was disqualified from the title match for excessive celebration in the previous match..That was gonna leave the WOM one man short, but Castle was still confident that the WOM had enough fire power to win.
It was the final question of the championship match. The score was tied and whichever team answered the last question correctly was going to be crowned leauge champions..At this point, Bob Castle was starting to get really nervous about the WOM..Not only were they going for their 3rd straight league title, but Castle had 5 bills riding on the WOM winning. If they lost he was going to be out his entire bankroll. Castle glanced across the room and noticed two things..Justin Krug, the captain of the scab's was mouthing "the WOM's going down" to him..Kenny Riggins, the town bookie was standing in the corner waiting to collect his money from Castle if the WOM lost..Everything was riding on the final question! You could hear a 'pin drop'..To this day Castle still remembers the final question..
The narrator asked "what Sesame Street character lived in a garbage can?" Without hesitation, Castle pushed the buzzer and answered "that would be Oscar".."Yes" Castle yelled out..He had the correct answer and the WOM had their '3-peat', not to mention Castle was 5 bills richer.."I'm sorry that answer is incorrect" the narrator replied.."WTF" Castle yelled..The next thing Castle knew, Justin Krug the dreaded leader of the scab's pushed the buzzer and answered "that would be Oscar the Grouch." "Correct" the moderator said.."The scab's are the new Quiz Bowl champs." Castle could not believe what had happened. He immediately asked that a protest be filed halting the outcome of the championship match..To his dismay it was denied. "Oscar was only part of the answer, the answer was specific..It was Oscar the Grouch, not Oscar." the ruling committee stated. After exhausting all of the WOM's options. Castle was forced to accept defeat, not to mention handing over 5 bills to Riggins..It turns out Justin Krug had placed a $50 dollar wager with Riggins at 10-1 on the scab's winning. "Here you go Riggins" Castle was getting ready to hand over the money he had lost..to add insult to injury, Riggins told Castle to give the money to Krug. Castle then walked over to Krug handed him the money and walked away without saying anything..As he was walking away, Krug yelled at him..Castle turned around to acknowledge...Krug than said.."Castle, i've been waiting a long time to tell you this..Thanks Scab."
