Austin is Out on 'Jeopardy,' but Even in Defeat Gave Us One of the Great Moments Ever
We’re sorry to see you go, Austin! However, with stats like these, it’s not goodbye – it’s see you later. ???? https://t.co/W9f44pUTgt pic.twitter.com/APEhGgViLC
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) October 13, 2017
And thus, the dream is over. Austin Rogers, the goofy, irreverent, pantomiming, swearing, Richard Dreyfuss lookalike crackpot New York City bartender finally met his match in Scarlett, a mom from Tennessee. I could complain about how stacked the deck was in Scarlett’s favor. Like some of the categories seemed hand picked just for a Tennessee housewife. She ran a category about Dolly Parton, who’s from the same area as her and it sounded like Scarlett worships her, but I won’t. That’s Jeopardy! for you. The randomness of what you have to know is what keeps it from being Family Feud. And besides, he had the Final (It’s a Wonderful Life, so easy), Scarlett just out-wagered him. Beat him at his own game of betting on herself, hard, and winning. The other guys are out here trying to compete as well and sometimes all you can do is tip your cap.
But at least on his way out, Austin gave us one last, indelible moment:
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So this just happened . . .#jeopardy #dicktree pic.twitter.com/vwhAH7EZyD
— Maybe It’s Keith (@MaybeItsKeith) October 13, 2017
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Name me another Jeopardy! champ who ever got Trebek to say “Dick Tree.” You can’t. It was Austin’s Daryl Hammond-as-Sean Connery moment, and will forever be part of his legacy. I know I got bad case of Austin Fever last week and got ahead of myself saying he had a chance to be the GOAT. It was wrong, but I regret nothing. Sometimes you bet with your heart. And that’s OK. Having an emotional connection to these greats is why we watch in the first place. If anything, looking at the numbers just makes me appreciate Ken Jennings even more. It’s a cliche to compare him to Wayne Gretzky, but it’s the only apt comparison. 74 consecutive wins to Austin’s 12. $2.5 million in winnings to Austin’s $411,000. What he accomplished just defies logic, even after all these years.
But even the Great Jennings never had Austin’s flair. That can’t ever be duplicated. So goodnight, sweet prince. See you at the Tournament of Champions. Can’t wait.