From the Stevens Point Journal December 5, 2003:

'Oz' keeps Trivia fans guessing about theme

By KATE GARSOMBKE
Journal staff


Enthusiasts of the world's largest trivia contest will have to wait until Saturday to find out the theme of next year's game. Until then, the contest's organizer, Jim "Oz" Oliva, will only drop hints.

Like this: "So many people are young and forget - or look at people like Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears," he said. "A lot of them forget the people who paved the way." Oliva, who picks the contest theme each year, will announce the Trivia 2004 theme at 11 a.m. as part of WWSP-FM's fund-raiser, Radiothon.

IF YOU LISTEN Jim "Oz" Oliva will announce the Trivia 2004 theme on WWSP-FM (89.9) at 11 a.m. during the station's annual fund-raiser, Radiothon.

Buffs say the Trivia theme is a key to answering some of the questions during the weekend-long contest. However, Oliva contests that notion: "There's just the theme. It doesn't imply there's going to be more questions about that theme," he said.

Trivia 2004, the contest's 35th year, also will feature the return of a live webcast, which allowed participants to listen to the college radio station over the Internet.

The station dumped its webcast programming in September 2002 for logistical and financial reasons. Getting back the Internet broadcast will be good not only for out-of-town Trivia players but also for people in the area who don't get good reception, Oliva said.

In coming up with the Trivia 2004 theme, Oliva said he worried his choice would only show his age. "At first I thought, 'Am I just an old fart that should get out of it and let the young people take over?'" he said. "I was real enthused when I heard younger people guess it. I was afraid of pulling in somebody old."

Garsombke can be reached at 715-344-6100, Ext. 2509, or at kate.garsombke@cwnews.net.