# Greatest living American elimination game (game thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [June 16, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715 "2025-06-16T19:12:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/181 "2025-07-09T20:55:48Z")
Well, ultimately, Kareem didn’t do any better than a blow-up doll. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/182 "2025-07-09T20:58:17Z")
That blow-up doll flew 30 combat missions in WWII! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/183 "2025-07-09T21:03:06Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > > > Kareem > > Also Magic Johnson never co-piloted a big jet plane. Neither did Kareem; that was Roger Murdock. The _co-pilot_. He even had a nametag to prove it! ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/184 "2025-07-09T21:09:51Z")
Kareem ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/185 "2025-07-09T21:54:22Z")
If the choice boils down to Kareem vs. Magic, I regretfully vote to eliminate Magic. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/186 "2025-07-10T00:26:16Z")
I guess the NBA’s should go sooner rather than later and in which sequence I care not. But looking ahead: Joe Biden: An extraordinary life of public service, though probably more for persistance than results But if you want to drop the ball to bookend a career, he’s a doozie ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/187 "2025-07-10T00:31:40Z")
And another for Jose Andres. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/188 "2025-07-10T04:30:41Z")
Magic Johnson ---
**Author:** ![Bicycle\_Bill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bicycle_bill/32/6208_2.png) [@Bicycle\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bicycle_Bill)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/189 "2025-07-10T13:29:35Z")
As @Maserschmidt said, I too feel that sports figures should not be mentioned in the same sentence with the phrase “Greatest Living American”. It’s time for Magic to be benched. _ **-“BB”-** _ ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/190 "2025-07-12T04:04:51Z")
Our votes this round: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Athlete, writer, activist - 2 votes José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef - 2 votes Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer - 1 vote Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration - 7 votes Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist - 2 votes The great (but not great enough) Magic Johnson hits the showers. Our remaining nominees: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Athlete, writer, activist José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer Warren Buffett: Level-headed billionaire Bob Dylan: Poet of generation Anthony Fauci: Physician, immunologist, scientist Bill Gates: Futurist, philanthropist, billionaire Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader Mark Kelly: Senator, astronaut, aviator Stephen King: Great American writer Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist Barack Obama: President, statesman, lawyer Dolly Parton: Artist, humanitarian Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist leader MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist Steven Spielberg: Director, writer, entertainer Bruce Springsteen: Singer, songwriter, activist Elizabeth Warren: Fighting political foes **Eliminated** 1. Jim Gaffigan: Comedian, author, commentator 2. Craig Ferguson: Polymath, director-writer, comedian 3. Mitt Romney: Senator, impeachment juror 4. Buzz Aldrin: Second on Moon 5. Taylor Swift: Musician, songwriter, icon 6. Tim Walz: Honorable political messenger 7. Simon Biles: GOAT gymnast 8. Judy Blume: Children’s literature icon 9. Amanda Gorman: Poet, activist, prodigy 10. Jim Lovell: Apollo 13 astronaut 11. Spike Lee: Filmmaker, Knicks fan 12. Janet Yellen: Economist, Treasury secretary 13. Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration Voting for our next round will end at noon EST on Mon. July 14. José Andrés again. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/191 "2025-07-12T04:10:13Z")
Lovins ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/192 "2025-07-12T04:21:28Z")
Steven Spielberg ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/193 "2025-07-12T05:51:37Z")
Stephen King ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/194 "2025-07-12T08:51:30Z")
Lovins ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/195 "2025-07-12T09:21:17Z")
Kareem ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/196 "2025-07-12T10:24:05Z")
Kareem. I mean I like the guy, but honestly. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/197 "2025-07-12T11:36:50Z")
Kareem ---
**Author:** ![Bicycle\_Bill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bicycle_bill/32/6208_2.png) [@Bicycle\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bicycle_Bill)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/198 "2025-07-12T12:20:17Z")
We’ve got two recording artists still in the mix — one described as a _**‘Poet of (a) generation’**_, and the other as a _ **‘Singer, songwriter, activist’** _. Personally, I think Bob from Minnesota is/was more influential than Bruce from New Jersey. Sorry, Boss. Here’s bus fare back to Asbury Park. _ **-“BB”-** _ ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/199 "2025-07-12T20:44:12Z")
Nitpick: we have three recording artists in the mix. But my vote goes to Lovins this round. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2025, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/200 "2025-07-13T04:15:15Z")
I picked a bad week to stop voting for former Lakers. Kareem it is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715.md?page=11)