Bowled Over

by Brian Howard

tournament

What with Philadelphia frothing in full-fledged Super Bowl dementia and arctic winds whipping our asses on a daily basis, we could all use a respite from the elements and a way to channel all that pent-up energy. Enter Johnny Goodtimes, Philadelphia's self-styled Quizzo Master, who's set to deliver the pub-trivia equivalent of Super Bowl Sunday — Quizzo Bowl I — on the weekend between the end of the NFL playoffs and the big game.

"I saw that there was one week between the NFC championship game and the Super Bowl where nothing was going on," says Goodtimes, who hosts regular Quizzo nights around the city at Doc Watson's, O'Neals, The Bards, Locust Rendezvous, The Black Sheep and Good Dog. The regular teams at each locale "are all curious about the other ones," he explains. "Everybody sees pictures of the other teams" on his Web site. "I figured, let's get all the great teams together and see who's the best one."

And so, heavy hitters like Yo-Ern (Locust Rendezvous), The Goats and Western Omelette (both from The Bards), WTF (The Black Sheep) and Team Hater (O'Neals) will square off in a battle royale of arcane knowledge. But lest you think this some exclusive competition only for heavyweights, the event is open to all comers. (Goodtimes says he's already sold 100 tickets without really trying.) And, in true Super fashion, the event will feature "halftime" entertainment, including belly dancer Najia (wardrobe malfunction, anyone?) and Johnny Cash impersonator David Stone.

The winning team will take home $300 cash ($125 for second, and $50 and $25 gift certificates for third and fourth), but the real prize for everyone is the possibility of hearing Goodtimes bust a rhyme. "There's been talk of me possibly rapping," says Goodtimes, a Virginia native who played summer-league hoops against Allen Iverson and claims to have once impressed Eve with his flow at an open mic. "But that's something Johnny Goodtimes Incorporated will neither confirm nor deny."

Quizzo Bowl I, Sun., Jan. 30, 6 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. kickoff, $10-$12 , World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, www.johnnygoodtimes.com.