# Fat Albert: Buck-Buck champion of the world **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829 "2003-03-12T15:19:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/1 "2003-03-12T15:19:27Z")
At 4:30am on Sunday morning, a college friend of mine calls me up. He’s been having a lengthy, non-sober discussion with another friend over the status of Fat Albert’s Buck-Buck number. They couldn’t remember it, and neither could I. Feeling utterly useless, I turn to you. For those who don’t know, Bill Cosby introduced the character of Fat Albert on one of his comedy albums, _Revenge_ (I believe). The track “Buck Buck” introduced a sport that Cosby purported to play as a child, which involved jumping on a increasingly large pile of other people until the people on the bottom of the pile collapsed. Pictures can be seen [here](http://www.geocities.com/mtnfireplace/c2002/buck2.html). A person’s “Buck Buck Number” corresponded to the number of people you could pile on you without collapsing, IIRC. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that Fat Albert was never on the bottom of the Buck-Buck pile, he was the ringer they brought in to break the other team’s pile. Can anyone help out? Please? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/2 "2003-03-12T15:38:11Z")
“What was that? A mosquitah?” “A piece of paper! Someone threw a piece of paper on me!” I know the bit, but not the number. I don’t remember if he gave a number. I remember “Ok, next…Fat Albert” “Hey hey hey!!!” Is it possible that the Fat one didn’t have a number? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/3 "2003-03-12T15:41:49Z")
That’s what I’m thinking. I think Fat Albert was only used as a last resort to crush the other team, but not as the base. He’d be a great base, but I don’t think it was mentioned. However, it has been about 20 years since I’ve listened to the album, so I’m most likely wrong. Coming Soon: the correct usage of the word “gunkie”. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/4 "2003-03-12T15:55:01Z")
Bill Cosby was from “Philadelphia,” so he and his friends called the game “Buck Buck.” But in New York City, it was “Johnny Ride a Pony.” Same game, same rules. I remember the routine, but I don’t recall if Albert had a number. If he had one, he’d never have gotten a chance to use it, because as soon as the team on the bottom knew Albert was coming, the game was OVER! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/5 "2003-03-12T15:55:01Z")
“Fat Albert was the baddest buck-buck breaker in the world, and he loved to hear us call his name.” ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/6 "2003-03-12T16:06:15Z")
“Fat Albert weighed 2000 pounds!” ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/7 "2003-03-12T16:06:48Z")
I just popped in here to say I’m relieved to discover that Buck-Buck wasn’t a figment of my imagination. I’ve never heard this particular Cosby routine, but we played Buck-Buck when I was in grade school in Chicago, and whenever I mention this to my suburbanite friends, they look at me like I am insane. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/8 "2003-03-12T17:26:22Z")
Fat Albert’s car had an airplane motor, a load of bricks in the trunk as a counterweight, and could only make left turns. “Fat Albert got [a hernia] and knocked down three buildings!” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/9 "2003-03-12T17:42:44Z")
Why aren’t the _Fat Albert_ cartoons playing on Nick or TV Land or someplace? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/10 "2003-03-12T18:01:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*Why aren’t the _Fat Albert_ cartoons playing on Nick or TV Land or someplace? \*\* Because they suck? No offense to Bill Cosby, but ALL Filmation cartoons sucked (especially He-Man) And I don’t like my cartoons to try to teach me a lesson unless it’s Schoolhouse Rock or G.I. Joe. And now you know. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/11 "2003-03-12T18:07:32Z")
And knowing is half the battle. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/12 "2003-03-12T19:03:08Z")
Fox was attempting to get a live-action movie off the ground but that project has been on the shelf for nearly a year. [cite](http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,9768,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/13 "2003-03-12T19:09:32Z")
Here’s the guy who was reportedly selected to play The Fat One: [Omar Benson Miller](http://us.imdb.com/EGallery?source=granitz&group=1741&photo=Events/1741/OmarBenson_Grani_732439_400.jpg&path=pgallery&path_key=Miller,%20Omar%20Benson). He was in [8 Mile](http://us.imdb.com/EGallery?source=ss&group=0298203&photo=Ss/0298203/K2787-3.jpg&path=pgallery&path_key=Miller,%20Omar%20Benson). ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/14 "2003-03-12T19:50:48Z")
Uh oh…repressed childhood memory brought to the forefront. My god, I did used to play buck buck. It’s one of those things that was almost completely wiped from my brain. This was in Jersey, and we did have our “ringers.” Be careful, or you might accidentally learn something… ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/15 "2003-03-12T20:46:35Z")
There was the Fat Albert Christmas special on this year during primetime. ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/16 "2003-03-12T21:01:49Z")
Oh wow, this thread is bringing back some memories. My mom had a bunch of Bill Cosby’s records and I used to listen to them over and over when I was a kid. Yep, Fat Albert was the deal-breaker in the Buck-Buck championships. He was only brought out at the very end and smushed all the other kids. {hijack} I also remember my other favorite routines: The Chicken Heart that ate up Chicago (“THE CHICKEN HEART IS OUTSIDE YOUR FRONT DOOR!”), the long monlogue about him and his brother Russell sleeping in the same bed, Noah’s conversation with God (_ding_ God: NOAH! Noah: What? _ding_ God: I want you to build an ark 40 cubits by 60 cubits. Noah: Riiight. What’s cubit?), the bit about the Playground ("…you go round and round and round and then you throw up.") Pure comedy genius. 🙂 [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/17 "2003-03-12T21:57:08Z")
**Noah** (to God) _You’re supposed to know all and see all like I said before and you never even looked in the bottom of that ark! No! Not me I’m tellin’ ya. I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’m letting all these animals out, I’m gonna burn down this ark, and THEN I’m goin’ to Florida or somethin’ ‘cause you ain’t done nothin’ and …it’s raining…It’s not just a shower is it? All right Lord, just me and you, 'cause I knew all along…_ ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/18 "2003-03-12T22:38:08Z")
Bill Cosby stuck in the snow on the side of the road when a VW Bug speeds by: “::buddabuddabudda: Hey! We get 200 miles to the gallon too! If the fan belt breaks, we use a rubber band! :buddabuddabudda:” ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/19 "2003-03-12T23:29:45Z")
…I forgot I was _behind_ him… ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829/20 "2003-03-13T00:04:22Z")
…and I _missed him_… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-albert-buck-buck-champion-of-the-world/160829.md?page=2)