Most basic cable TV packages include the Documentary Channel, and there is a good movie coming up next week:

"Word Wars
(2004) UR
In this character-driven documentary, filmmakers Eric Chaikin and Julian Petrillo follow four "word nerds" through their fastidious preparations and smaller tournaments that lead to the national championship Scrabble tournament in San Diego in 2002. Our favorite contender: Joel Sherman, a true dork with acid reflux trouble (he constantly quaffs Maalox) and no other discernable job besides playing Scrabble."

In my area, it is scheduled to run Monday, July 5 at 4 pm Mountain Time.

We rented the DVD from Netflix several years ago, and it is very interesting to meet these people and find out how they think. What makes them good at Scrabble is the ability to anagram any words they see, and they do it constantly, from street signs to words they hear in conversation.

Last time I played Scrabble was with my uncle Robert, who owns and operates Ismay Trading Post near the Four Corners area of the American Southwest. He came up with the word 'tarty' and said it had to do with ladies of the evening being late to school when I asked him if I would find it in the dictionary.



Anyhow, if your cable package includes the Documentary Channel, you might enjoy this movie.