Did somebody here beat my wife in pinball (NBA FB) in the mid 90s on Chicago radio?
I have been thinking a lot about this lately. Not sure why...
In the mid 90s, there was a radio show called "Wendy and Bill" on Q101 in Chicago. They had a contest to give away a NBA Fastbreak Pinball. They were having a high-score contest and were randomly choosing people to compete. The winner would get the machine. I think they chose three people.
Anyways, my wife (or live in lover? Not sure if we were married yet) got chosen to compete. We were given a date and she had a few days to prepare. I was beyond excited!! WOOT!! An opportunity to win our own pinball machine!! Especially BACK THEN. Wow!
So.. I made her train. I was by no means a pinball playing expert, but I was determined to make her one. We went to Dave and Busters in Addison, IL and I made her play NBA Fastbreak for hours. I said "keep playing". She played and played and played and played. She was getting pretty good. She was getting ready. She was going to win this. She was pretty damn good at Fastbreak!!
Well, the day came and the contest took place on the air. My wife was kicking ass. It looked like she was going to win! But then the next opponent started playing. He had a stance. He would hunch over the pinball machine and get his head close to the glass. He was "one with the machine". He was a PRO!! He played well, and in the end he beat my wife.
After the contest, this opponent revealed his secret. It turns out this guy was a pinhead. He had twenty pinball machines already! If I remember right, he lived in Algonquin, IL. We felt cheated. We felt robbed. My wife was a mere mortal. This pinhead robbed us of our dreams! I was crushed. To this day I weep about that contest. "If only she had won" pops into my head every now and then. I often think about that day.
Now, flash forward 15 years. Here I am amongst all of these collectors. I have been wondering if this pinhead that beat my wife is one of YOU. Is it? Do you know this guy? Anyone? If so, can we please have the NBA FASTBREAK back?
I have been thinking a lot about this lately. Not sure why...
In the mid 90s, there was a radio show called "Wendy and Bill" on Q101 in Chicago. They had a contest to give away a NBA Fastbreak Pinball. They were having a high-score contest and were randomly choosing people to compete. The winner would get the machine. I think they chose three people.
Anyways, my wife (or live in lover? Not sure if we were married yet) got chosen to compete. We were given a date and she had a few days to prepare. I was beyond excited!! WOOT!! An opportunity to win our own pinball machine!! Especially BACK THEN. Wow!
So.. I made her train. I was by no means a pinball playing expert, but I was determined to make her one. We went to Dave and Busters in Addison, IL and I made her play NBA Fastbreak for hours. I said "keep playing". She played and played and played and played. She was getting pretty good. She was getting ready. She was going to win this. She was pretty damn good at Fastbreak!!
Well, the day came and the contest took place on the air. My wife was kicking ass. It looked like she was going to win! But then the next opponent started playing. He had a stance. He would hunch over the pinball machine and get his head close to the glass. He was "one with the machine". He was a PRO!! He played well, and in the end he beat my wife.
After the contest, this opponent revealed his secret. It turns out this guy was a pinhead. He had twenty pinball machines already! If I remember right, he lived in Algonquin, IL. We felt cheated. We felt robbed. My wife was a mere mortal. This pinhead robbed us of our dreams! I was crushed. To this day I weep about that contest. "If only she had won" pops into my head every now and then. I often think about that day.
Now, flash forward 15 years. Here I am amongst all of these collectors. I have been wondering if this pinhead that beat my wife is one of YOU. Is it? Do you know this guy? Anyone? If so, can we please have the NBA FASTBREAK back?
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