The Question That Made Al Squirm
Average Rating: Not rated
[0 Comment]1 of 1
It's the spring of 1988, and they're taping The Newlywed Game. The brides are off stage, and Bob Eubanks is asking the kinds of questions that make husbands squirm, like "What insect does your mother-in-law look like?"
Now Al Joyner is really squirming. The other guys say "praying mantis" and "cockroach," which bring howls of laughter from the studio audience. But Al looks out and sees his mother-in-law in the crowd—and plays it safe.
"A beautiful butterfly," he tells Eubanks. The audience goes, "Awwww." They cut to a commercial, and the brides return.
When the mother-in-law question gets to Florence Griffith Joyner, she doesn't even think about it: "A black widow spider."
"WHAT?!?" Al asks, incredulous.
"Mom's long hair is braided really tight, and the kids always say, 'Grandma, you look like a spider,'" says Florence. "Al, we went over this."
The Joyners bicker, the audience giggles. Eubanks makes a sly remark. Typical Newlywed Game stuff.
It was the only question the Joyners missed, and they went on to win the contest—and some luggage, a video camera and a trip to Jamaica. They never took the vacation, because Florence was about to become the fastest woman in history. That summer, she set world records in both the 100- and 200-meter dash, winning both events at the Olympics. The records still stand.
But to this day, Florence won't let Al forget about missing that question. "I'm really competitive," she says. "We could've had a perfect score, but Al blew it."
The Joyners—who have a 7-year-old daughter, Mary—recently celebrated their 10th anniversary. Someone else joined the party—a beautiful butterfly, or maybe a spider. We're not sure which.
1998 by the author or Christianity Today International/Marriage Partnership magazine. For reprint information call 630-260-6200 or e-mailmp@marriagepartnership.com.
1 of 1
Originally published in: Marriage Partnership, 1998, Summer
More from Mark Moring:
Kyria.com | Books
Join the Kyria.com Community!
Become a member to have access to the following:
- Full access to the bimonthly Kyria digizine, each issue focusing on a spiritual discipline or theme
- 50 percent discount on all of the downloadable resources in the Kyria Store
- Hundreds of members-only articles for thoughtful, influential women
downloadable guides
Sabbath Rest in a World of Stress
Practical insights for how to live a life that honors the spirit of Sabbath-rest.
The Mentoring Series: Nancy Ortberg
Discover leadership principles from a well-known author and respected leader.Browse More Guides
back to top
Average User Rating: Not rated
Rate & Comment on this article *