Ayrton Oneill
In 2018, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel faced off in a highly-anticipated basketball game. The rivalry began when Kimmel, a self-proclaimed basketball enthusiast, mocked Cruz's appearance at a Houston Rockets game, comparing him to a blobfish. Cruz, who played basketball in high school, challenged Kimmel to a one-on-one game, which ended with Cruz winning 11-9. The game, which took almost two hours to finish, was played for charity, with Cruz donating his winnings to the anti-poverty charity Generation One Texas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | June 2018 |
| Winner | Ted Cruz |
| Final score | 11-9 to Ted Cruz |
| Original score limit | 15 points |
| Revised score limit | 11 points |
| Charity | Generation One Texas |
| Venue | Texas Southern University, Houston |
| Game duration | 2 hours |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The match was dubbed the 'Blobfish Basketball Classic'
The match between Ted Cruz and Jimmy Kimmel was dubbed the Blobfish Basketball Classic. The name came from Kimmel himself, who compared Cruz's appearance to that of a deep-sea fish, the blobfish. The game was a one-on-one charity basketball match, with each player pledging $5,000 to a charity of the other's choice if they lost. Cruz chose Generation One Texas, an anti-poverty charity, while Kimmel selected the Texas Children's Hospital.
The rivalry between the two began when Kimmel poked fun at Cruz's appearance at a Houston Rockets game. Cruz, a Texas senator, challenged Kimmel to a basketball game to defend his hometown team. The game took place on Saturday in Houston, with Cruz winning 11-9. Despite the players' good intentions, the game was not very thrilling, described by one reporter as a "slow-motion car crash".
Both players hammed it up for the crowd, with Kimmel offering to "apologize to the game of basketball", and Cruz quipping that the game set a "Guinness record for fouls". Kimmel also took a political dig at Cruz, saying, "Ted, you're a good sport, but I still think you're a terrible senator". In the end, the game raised more than $14,000 for charity, a result that was met with a roar of approval from the crowd.
Big East Tournament: When to Watch and What to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Cruz responded to Kimmel's joke about his appearance by challenging him to the game
The rivalry between Jimmy Kimmel and Ted Cruz began when the late-night talk show host poked fun at Cruz's appearance, comparing him to a blobfish. Kimmel also called the senator "Grandpa Munster". Cruz responded to Kimmel's jokes by challenging him to a game of one-on-one basketball. The game was played on a Saturday and was the culmination of their ongoing feud. The winner of the match would receive a $5,000 donation to a charity of their choice. Cruz, who played basketball in high school, promoted the match enthusiastically on Twitter.
Kimmel, a professional entertainer, was expected to spend more time goofing around on the court than trying to beat Cruz. Despite this, the Texas senator was still at risk of embarrassment if he took the game too seriously and was outplayed by a comedian. Kimmel had previously played basketball on his radio show in 1996, and there was plenty of footage of him taking on a variety of opponents. However, he didn't appear to be a very skilled player, missing many jump shots.
The game was close, with Cruz ultimately winning 11-9. The match, which was commentated by Houston Rockets announcer Matt Thomas, lasted nearly two hours and would have gone on even longer if the rules hadn't been changed mid-game. The original rules stated that the first player to reach 15 points, winning by two, would be declared the winner.
Cruz's victory came as a surprise to some, especially considering Kimmel's history of playing basketball. However, Cruz's height and weight advantage, combined with his experience playing basketball in high school, may have contributed to his win.
D3 Basketball: Will It Happen This Year?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The final score was 11-9 to Cruz
The game between Ted Cruz and Jimmy Kimmel was the culmination of a rivalry sparked by Kimmel's jokes about Cruz's appearance. The late-night talk show host compared the Texas senator to a "blobfish". In response, Cruz challenged Kimmel to a game of basketball, a sport he played in high school. The match was held on the campus of Texas Southern University in Houston.
The game was a one-on-one contest, with the winner decided as the first to 15 points. However, the game dragged on for almost two hours, with both players exhausted, leading to the rules being changed to a best-of-11-points format.
Kimmel, who had a wealth of footage of him playing basketball available, was expected to dominate the game and embarrass Cruz. However, the reverse happened, with Kimmel's performance leaving him open to embarrassment. Kimmel's game was characterised by big, performative flops, absurd shots, and ridiculous dunk attempts.
Despite this, the game was close, with Cruz eventually winning by a score of 11-9. The victory earned him a $5,000 donation to the anti-poverty charity Generation One Texas, while Kimmel's chosen charity, the Texas Children's Hospital, missed out.
The Finals: Who Took the Trophy Home?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The game was shortened as it was taking too long
The game between Ted Cruz and Jimmy Kimmel was originally supposed to be played to 21 points, but it was shortened to 15 points as it was taking too long. The game, which was played to raise $5,000 for a charity of the winner's choice, lasted nearly two hours. The rules were changed mid-game, with the winner now being the first to 11 points, and winning by two.
The game was the culmination of a rivalry that started when late-night talk show host Kimmel poked fun at Cruz's appearance at a Houston Rockets game, comparing the politician to a blobfish. The Texas senator responded by challenging Kimmel to a game of one-on-one basketball.
Cruz, who played basketball in high school, said he wasn't taking the loss lying down. He tweeted: "All right, big guy, you talk a good game." Kimmel responded by saying he would accept the challenge on the condition that they both wear very short shorts. Cruz declined, saying, "nobody wants to see that."
The game was expected to be a close contest, with Cruz predicted to use his filibustering skills to slow the game down and force Kimmel out of his comfort zone. However, despite the change in rules, Cruz still emerged victorious, winning the game 11-9.
Basketball's Arrival in Zimbabwe: The Pioneer's Story
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![The Game (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/714lW6gr1xL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
The game raised money for two Houston charities
The game between Ted Cruz and Jimmy Kimmel raised money for two Houston charities. The game was the culmination of a rivalry that began when Kimmel poked fun at Cruz's appearance at a Houston Rockets game, comparing the politician to a blobfish. The game was held on the campus of Texas Southern University in Houston.
The stakes were high, with a $5,000 donation on the line for the winner's charity of choice. Cruz, a senator from Texas, chose the anti-poverty Generation One Texas charity, while Kimmel, a late-night talk show host, selected the Texas Children's Hospital. The game received a lot of attention, with some predicting that Cruz would use his filibustering skills to slow down the game and batter Kimmel with kicks and elbows.
Kimmel, on the other hand, was expected to spend more time goofing around on the court than trying to win. True to form, he made big, performative flops and attempted ridiculous dunks. Despite the light-hearted nature of the game, there was also a serious side, with the winner getting to support a charity close to their heart. In the end, Cruz won the game 11-9, and the $5,000 donation went to the Generation One Texas charity.
The game itself was not without controversy. It took place while 1,500 migrant children were being held in a Texas Walmart, leading to criticism of both participants. Additionally, the game lasted for almost two hours, with the original target score of 15 points being lowered to 11 due to the players' exhaustion. Despite the lengthy game, neither player displayed impressive skills, and the crowd eventually lost interest, hoping for the game to end.
The Basketball Key: Understanding the High School Court Dimensions
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Ted Cruz won the game 11-9.
The game was one-on-one and the winner was originally supposed to be the first to 15 points, winning by two. However, the rules were changed mid-game and the winner was then decided to be the first to 11 points.
The game was the culmination of a rivalry that started when Kimmel, a talk show host, poked fun at Cruz's appearance, comparing him to a blobfish.
The game was not well-received. One source mentions that the game would set basketball (and politics) back years. Another source mentions that the game was "so bad" and that "they both sucked really bad at basketball".
![DSS Games You Laugh You're Out [Try Not to Laugh Family Card Game for Adults & Teens | White Elephant Gift for Adults | 125 Prompt Fun Cards for Family Game Nights, Thanksgiving, & Parties Ages 14+]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71lk77mQeUL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
