# MVP, Oscar, or Nobel Prize **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 13, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329 "2011-06-13T17:15:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/1 "2011-06-13T17:15:31Z")
Poll coming. Suppose that you find a magic lamp, complete with Genie. This particular Genie doesn’t do the whole three wishes thing, but he will grant you all of the talent, skill, luck, resources, etc to legitimately win either an Academy Award, a Most Valuable Player Award (any sport, and either season or major championship, your choice) or a Nobel Prize. The only catch is if you take the Nobel Prize, you don’t get a world changing discovery like a cure for cancer or anything–but you do get a reasonably major accomplishment. Which do you choose and why? Note: There is no “other” category. You get an Oscar, MVP, Nobel Prize, or nothing at all. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/2 "2011-06-13T17:22:53Z")
The Nobel Prize for the Benjamins. If I could win a Nobel Prize for a sport or for acting, that would be cool too. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/3 "2011-06-13T17:27:14Z")
Should have stated in the OP that financial security for life comes with whichever option you choose. You’ll make millions for your part in a movie, or as a pro athlete, or as a really super-science/literature/peace person. And for my answer, I’ll be giving Drew Brees a year off while I quarterback the Saints to another Super Bowl title. Since I only get to choose one, I’ll take the NFL’s MVP for the season, instead of Super Bowl MVP. ---
**Author:** ![Troubles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Troubles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troubles)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/4 "2011-06-13T17:37:18Z")
Nobel Prize in literature or peace, please. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/5 "2011-06-13T17:46:04Z")
Bravo on the “no Other” choice! I went with Nobel since I would hope that accomplishment would matter 100 years from now. Short term notoriety/fame is no way to squander a Genie gift. However, a reasonable fourth choice might be something like an endless supply of your beverage of choice. That way you get to enjoy the gift yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/6 "2011-06-13T17:47:47Z")
I’ll take superbowl MVP please. Especially since I was a lineman and what ever I’d have to do to win the MVP as a lineman would be so cool that I would be forever famous. I did debate on winning the Oscar since the career lenght would be much longer and the money would probaby be greater. I have no urge to win a nobel prize. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/7 "2011-06-13T17:53:00Z")
Huh, so far I’m the only Oscar vote. But I did community theater all through high school and majored in television/film in college, so it wasn’t a difficult choice at all. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/8 "2011-06-13T18:01:29Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Huh, so far I’m the only Oscar vote. But I did community theater all through high school and majored in television/film in college, so it wasn’t a difficult choice at all. I almost webt with Oscar for reasons along your lines. If I were to extrapolate my skills and interests to something reasonable to shoot for it would be in Acting. The OP allowed me the freedom to disregard my real life limitations. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/9 "2011-06-13T18:15:52Z")
The money and fame are of no interest to me, and so Nobel Prize is the only reasonable choice. I really hope to make a meaningful contribution to the world, and though I don’t expect I’ll ever do anything on the level of curing cancer, the type of change I’d hope I could make would be the kind of thing that would theoretically be most in like with the Nobel Prize. Now, of course, athletes and actors often make use of their fame and money to back causes that are near and dear to them, but they generally don’t really do anything to further them other than bring funds and other volunteers. That’s not the type of contribution I want to make, I’d really want to be down in there doing the research or developing the ideas that fundamentally drive or even create the changes. I’m just not that kind of leader to make the sort of difference that those types do. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/10 "2011-06-13T18:23:22Z")
Well, IF YOU INSIST. :mad: I would win the Nobel prize for discovering how to get the world to transition from fossil fuels to something else. Which I also discovered. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/11 "2011-06-13T18:33:28Z")
I’d go with the Nobel. It may not have the fame of the other two but it’s got more prestige. ---
**Author:** ![Animastryfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Animastryfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Animastryfe)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/12 "2011-06-13T18:55:00Z")
To me, the choices are ridiculously lop-sided. One of my life’s goals is to do Nobel-prize level work. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/13 "2011-06-13T19:09:28Z")
Choices, choices. The Nobel would mean I did something worthwhile for humankind. The Oscar would mean that I got to strut my stuff as an artist. But being MVP in MLB means I’ve been rejuvenated and given a body that stand all that stress and wear. Plus the chicks. I’ll go MVP, if you please. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/14 "2011-06-13T19:17:01Z")
I see I’m in the minority, but I went with the Oscar. I think making movies would be the career I’d fit best into. Not that I wouldn’t take Superstar Shortstop or Famous Novelist (if I get to choose my Nobel field)… but Movie Star wins. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/15 "2011-06-13T20:35:01Z")
Given no financial differences between the two choices, I’ll take the Nobel. I get my money, my sense of accomplishment, doing something positive for humanity and (generally speaking) my privacy. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/16 "2011-06-13T20:41:09Z")
I chose the MVP, but heck, I’d rather just play one MLB season and be mediocre than win either of the other awards. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/17 "2011-06-13T20:47:26Z")
This is a hard one. I mean, the choice between MVP and Oscar winner. Nobel Prize? They give things away like candy, apparently. Yes, that was a shot at Obama, even from a dyed-in-the-wool tree-hugging hippie liberal such as myself. Besides, I bet Oscar winners and MVP’s get laid a whole lot more. I think I’m going let my testosterone do the driving on this and go with MVP. I think being Footballer of the Year would be pretty cool. But then that probably wouldn’t get me much play in the States. Damn. I think I just changed my mind. Yeah. Screw it. I’ll take the Oscar. I can win it for playing an MVP. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/18 "2011-06-13T20:55:48Z")
I would like an oscar for documentarian [directing and writing] and it would be a bonus if the subject were meaningful to people [and not like supersize me, I want to make a change for the positive on people.] ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/19 "2011-06-13T21:16:16Z")
I’d take an Academy Award. A lot of Nobel prizes are shared by multiple people, I wouldn’t like to share my accomplishment. If I could be the sole recipient of a Nobel, then maybe I’d choose that over an Oscar, but I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329/20 "2011-06-13T21:17:43Z")
I’d choose an academic prize, but my field’s top one is not a Nobel, so I can’t vote in the poll. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mvp-oscar-or-nobel-prize/585329.md?page=2)