The score seesawed through most of a recent episode of “Sports Jeopardy” until late in the contest, when one of the three competitors grabbed a substantial lead.
But Birmingham resident Steven Silverman, a 19-year-old sophomore at Carnegie Mellon University and the youngest of the trio, remained undaunted in second place. The Final Jeopardy question remained, and the 2013 Unionville High graduate met the challenge, earning a $5,000 check, which he believes is “in the mail.”
Silverman, a math and sports aficionado who honed his buzzer skills on the Unionville High Academic Team, said he remembered seeing something about the inaugural season of “Sports Jeopardy” online this past spring and emailed an application.
He received a reply on May 28 inviting him to an audition with several hundred others in New York on July 19. After three hours that included a written test, a mock round, and a brief interview, Silverman and the other hopefuls left without knowing whether they had qualified.
Silverman said the aspiring contestants were told that if they were chosen, they’d get three weeks’ notice before the August taping in Los Angeles. He said when he got the call, he couldn’t believe how fortuitous the timing was – the taping was scheduled during the two days in between a baseball conference he was attending and his return to school in Pittsburgh.
Determining how much to wager on the Final Jeopardy question employed Silverman’s math skills, he said, adding that he quickly analyzed his competitors’ points. He said he considering betting the maximum, but calculated that he still wouldn’t reach the point totals earlier contestants had acquired – and he would risk losing a second-place finish.
Calling the experience “a ton of fun,” Silverman explained that the format of “Sports Jeopardy” differs a bit from the regular TV show. It airs online only once a week, and each contestant plays just one game. The top three scorers at the end of the season will face off during a championship match.
For Silverman, Final Jeopardy represented more than just bragging rights. His mother, Sharon Silverman, appeared on regular “Jeopardy” in 1991 and missed the Final Jeopardy question.
“I think she was also in second place before Final Jeopardy,” her son said. “I guess I’ve restored the family honor.”
But first Silverman had to be mum about his accomplishment. After the taping, he was sworn to secrecy about the results until the show went online last week. To watch Silverman’s buzzer-beating prowess, visit http://sportsjeopardy.com/.
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