Sports Geniuses
Host: Matt Vasgersian
Co-host: Lisa Guerrero
Lifespan: 2000-2001, Fox Sports NET
Premise: Lighthearted Sports Jeopardy!
Play: In round one, four categories are shown, each with questions ranging from 10-50 points. A player is chosen to begin, and he picks a category and value, such as "Bjorn to be Mild for 30". Matt reads a question, and all players can buzz in. The first to buzz in gets to try. A right answer wins the value of the question and control of the board. A wrong answer locks that player out for the remainder of that question.
Panasonic Double Play: A film clip is shown, and Matt asks a related question. Whoever answers correctly wins the points, and exclusive right to try a follow-up question worth the same points.
At the end of round one is the ":30 Blitz." Seven sports headshots are shown in 30 seconds, and each correct identification is worth 30 points. The headshot is accompanied by the player's team, or if a solo sport, the sport played.
Round two is similar to round one, but with four new categories, and doubled point values. Wrong answers in this round cost the player the value of the question. The player in third place gets first pick from the board, but not before Lisa gives that player "The Shaft" (a sawed-off bat handle, in a pedestal, and delivered accompanied by appropriate music).
The Shaft allows the player in control to force any player to answer any question remaining on the board. If the player answers successfully, he gets the points, and keeps control of the shaft. If not, the opponents can try the question. Whoever is given the shaft keeps it, and may use it, until the shaft is given to a player who has already controlled it, at which point the shaft is out of play.
One category in the round invites a sports star or other celebrity to come out and read the questions from that category.
At the conclusion of round two, the low scorer is eliminated.
Before the Face-off, Lisa introduces the high scoring Internet player, shown via TeleEye. That player can win a DVD player by answering a question about his favorite team, but receives a watch if incorrect. Tge question is presented by Sal Iacono, cousin of "Win Ben Stein's Money" co-host Jimmy Kimmel.
In the Face-off, the two players alternate giving answers to a category like: "1999 New York Yankees World Series Game One Starting Lineup." The pot starts at 100 points, and 10 points are added for every right answer. The next category starts at 125, then 150, and if there's time, 175. The player with the most points wins a trip, and the runner-up gets a 36-inch Panasonic TV.
Nine of the former winners are invited back for the Tournament Week, and the three winners play on Championship Day. The winner of that game receives a new truck, as well as tickets to the finals of the four major sports championship events for that year.