Do you know the name of the military operation that was responsible for killing Osama bin Laden? The state which shares the shortest international border with Canada? Or the name of Lela Lee’s Angry Little Asian Girl character? These were just a few of the challenging questions posed at the Asian American Journalists Association Trivia Bowl XVI, held at ABC7 on October 14, 2011. JABA, the defending champion, emerged victorious after several rounds neck-and-neck with past winner Fong & Chun/Romben Aquino, Esq.
ABC newsman David Ono, emcee since 2000, read trivia questions to 39 teams, while making jokes about NBC. Despite their rivalry, the media teams were united in hissing at the attorney teams – JABA, Fong & Chun, and APALC, another former champion.
JABA was led by trivia king Jason Wilson, and the team included Dennis Yokoyama, Steve Yoda, Dee Hayashi, Don Denton, Dave Prechtl, Richard and Maribeth Mason, William Delgado, and Jerome Vered.
Volunteering as judges for the contest were several superior court judges: Hon. Akemi Arakaki, Hon. Lisa M. Chung, Hon. Fred Fujioka, Hon. Alan B. Honeycutt, Hon. John Ing, Hon. Roger Ito, Hon. Mark C. Kim, Hon. Bernie LaForteza, Hon. Tomson Ong, Hon. Rafael Ongkeko, Hon. Tammy C. Ryu, Hon. Timothy Saito, Hon. Paul Suzuki, and Hon. Gary Tanaka.
This year, a new award was added: the College Bowl Grasshopper Cup, for the top finisher among college teams. The Grasshopper Cup went to the USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association team. The final award, a case of ramen for the team which finishes in last place, was won by the Paradise Cookies Truck team; they may not be great at trivia, but they do make tasty cookies – a box was on each team table for participants to enjoy after the dinner supplied by Wahoo’s Fish Tacos. Thanks to AAJA for another terrific event, and congratulations to them on their 30th anniversary as a vital community organization!
(Want to know the answers to the trivia questions? Operation Neptune Spear, Pennsylvania, and Kim!)
For photos, see here.
