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The Binghamton team had made it to the finals, but the score was tied. The entire College Bowl competition — all their hard work, their hours of blood and intellectual sweat — came down to the next question (and their answer). It was the bottom of the ninth. The 90th minute. The forth quarter. Physics, history, even Morgan Stanley history, were fair game for the asking.
If Binghamton answered correctly, they’d be declared the national champions, with all the glory that accompanies victory.
“What year did Morgan Stanley join the stock exchange?” the announcer enunciated.
The group glanced nervously at one another. Before anyone could utter anything, Ricky reached over and confidently squeezed the buzzer.
BUZZZZ.
Andrea panicked when she heard the tocsin. Since day one, the team had developed a strategy: they’d all look at one another confidently before ringing in. But Ricky broke rank.
“1941!” Ricky answered.
“Are you sure?” Andrea barked at her teammate.
“Yes!” Ricky said without hesitation. “Have I ever been wrong when I’m so sure? I spent my summer internship on Wall Street. ”
Andrea, the team captain, took a breath and nodded sheepishly. “Fine.”
She stood up, looked at the three judges and reluctantly relayed Ricky’s answer.
“That is corre—.”
Before the chief judge could put the “ect” in “correct,” the entire team jumped up triumphantly. They’re made it. They were the national champions.
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