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Not for the Faint of Heart: BadBart

© Brooke E. Smith

For people who like to talk about trivia as well as play it, the BadBart discussion group provides a lively forum. Currently listserv members from locations large and small converse online about all things NTN (and some not). Recent threads have included: 1) the screwed-up Showdown rankings for the second week of league play; 2) NTN's intention to move "Six" to Thursday and Sports Trivia to Monday; 3) background of NTN player handles; and 4) Wichita Bash, along with weekly recaps of Showdown, Passport, and Playback and premium game location/player rankings.

BadBart is not however a genteel online klatsch. As is explained in the F.A.Q., newbie participants must be willing to be told they "suck" by frequent poster NYDAVY, spokesperson for "God's Own Trivia" team at Nickelodinn. Insults fly as people accuse others of being sandbaggers, Borgs, or the BadBart-original epithet, "a**buckets" Anyone who wishes to speak on either side of the computer use issue should be prepared to duck and cover. And if anyone even threatens to unsubscribe, two members stand ready to shoot the deserter's dog, at least metaphorically.

However, for those who can take the heat, BadBart can greatly enhance a serious player's enjoyment of the games. In recent months, NTN personnel have posted information to the group and sought input, even to the extent of inviting several members to participate in corporate conference calls. Before unveiling the "Big" and "Lucky" Brains of the Day promotion, NTN obtained feedback from BadBarters on whether they would want to wear a "Big Brain of the Day" shirt.

BadBart is also the home of several unofficial Showdown tournaments. In 1998 when only 32 teams made the NTN-sanctioned tournament, Kevin Vahey created a 64-team model competing for the McCarthy Cup. Catbirds won the initial outing, Team Las Vegas the second, and the traveling trophy currently resides at Stadium Café in Addison, Texas. Now that NTN has switched to a league-based format, the McCarthy Cup remains one of the few venues where teams may compete head-to-head. Other members have used BadBart to test other tournament structures, including one involving no use of resources and another based on handicapping.

The group has also been instrumental in organizing Bashes in which NTN players from all over the country have descended on cities such as Tampa, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Houston to meet others face-to-face. Recently the Bashes have featured special countdown games in which the answers/clues involved the handles and/or locations of BadBart participants. (These games have left some players scratching their heads, such as when a question involving a North American mammal caused BadBarters to screech out "QUAGGA" before the answers even appeared on the screen.) For those players who travel, BadBart has been an excellent way to link up with teams in other cities and get advice on the best/worst locations.