FRANK CHESTERFIELD IS A PLUMBER FROM CHERRY HILL, NEW JERSEY, AND ONE OF THE FEW SURVIVING BLOOD RELATIVES OF LORD CHESTERFIELD. HERE, FRANK WILL OFFER HIS OWN UNIQUE 21ST CENTURY TRANSLATION OF ONE OF “UNCLE CHETTY’S” FAMOUS QUOTES.
One of the bars my friend Jim and I used to go to had a “trivia night” every Wednesday. We didn’t play but I think we could have done pretty well as a team. I could tackle any sports question (go ahead, try me) and Jim would handle anything related to cars or the Civil War and Vietnam (he didn’t really know much about the wars in between).
Anyhow, one Wednesday night Jimmy and I were at the bar minding our own business and working on a few Chetty’s when this one guy starts spouting off to this other guy about how he’s going to give him a good beatin’ in the trivia tournament that night. It wasn’t the good natured kind of trash talk either. This guy was really laying it on thick and the guy on the receiving end just took it all in and didn’t get over heated. Somehow the loud-mouthed guy didn’t get punched (Jimmy lost $5 to me in that bet) and the trivia tournament started.
After the third question (something about the MVP of the 1980 World Series… an easy one), Mr. Know-It-All was still running his mouth. By this time, even his own teammates had disowned him but that didn’t stop him from talking smack a little longer.
Then the questions turned to music and entertainment and Albert Einstein started to stumble. “What Australian rock band had a pair of #1 hits in the U.S. in 1982 with “Who Can It Be Now?” and “Down Under”? He had no idea. “What modern day director played “Meathead” in the 70s sitcom All in the Family?” He guessed Ron Howard. Are you kidding me?
Long story short, the guy with all the answers didn’t really have all the answers and the guy he was harassing took home the trophy that night (and the phone number of one of the waitresses, I might add). It seems Uncle Chetty knew what he was talking about. It’s good to be smart, but no one likes a smart ass. Knowing the difference could save you a lot of heartache… and a potential fat lip.
