We have a new champion, A champion who loves Math because he loves to play with numbers, A Champion who loves Music because it gives him the freedom to express his thoughts. Oh BTW he is also a black belt in japanese martial art (not sure but I think Taewando), doesnt love spelling words, but he is the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion and also home schooled by his mother. He is Evan O’Dorney and he spelled Serrefine with so ease. Congratulations Evan !!!

As a religion I have been following the National Spelling bee competition for the past 12 plus years now. As I did last year, I will give a quick overview on the words and the contestants. I didnt get a chance to watch the preliminary rounds (till round 6) live on ESPN but was following up live on the internet. The biggest disappointment was the elimination of Samir Patel (word was clevis, mis spelled as clevice in the 5th round). He was the face of the advt campaign on ABC tv for the spelling bee competition (the kid fainting out because of pressure) and then their was the youngest kid of last year Kavya Shivshankar also an Indian American to be eliminated (word was cilice, mis spelled as cilis in the 7th round).

On a side track I dont understand this american media, why do they have to show an elephant in the picture to tell that it is India.

About kavya, she has a younger sister Vanya Shivshankar (5 years old), who thinks she may be ready for the spelling bee too, good luck kido !!!

This year, the winner was decided in the 13th round and not like the 20th round last year.

Results & Stats Total Spellers: 286 Rank of spellers eliminated in round 2: 108th (tie) Rank of spellers eliminated in round 3: 95th (tie) Rank of spellers eliminated in round 4: 60th (tie) Rank of spellers eliminated in round 5: 34th (tie) Rank of spellers eliminated in round 6: 16th (tie) Rank of spellers eliminated in round 7: 8th (tie) Rank of spellers eliminated in round 8: 6th (tie) Rank of spellers eliminated in round 9: 3rd (tie) Rank of spellers eliminated in round 10: 2nd Rank of spellers eliminated in round 11: 2nd Rank of spellers eliminated in round 12: 2nd Rank of spellers eliminated in round 13: 1 (Winner !!!)

On this day..

• Deep Throat: Hero or Zero - 2005

Technorati Tags: Math, Music, japanese martial art, Taewando, spelling words, 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee, Evan O’Dorney, Serrefine, National Spelling bee competition, ESPN, Samir Patel, clevis, ABC, Kavya Shivshankar, Indian American, cilice, elephant, India, Vanya Shivshankar