The board game Scrabble is a great way to develop one’s vocabulary and also to spend time around the table with family and friends.
Scrabble has been around since 1938 and has spread across the world. You know when a board game has its own website, it is an institution.
As you probably know, letters are assigned point values that are added up to determine your score.
According to scrabble.com, there are 100 tiles, made up of 98 letters and two blanks that total 187 possible points. These tiles are played on a board consisting of 225 squares.
Those that have played Scrabble understand some letters are stamped on more tiles than others. For instance, the letter E has 12 tiles, while the letters J, K, Q, X and Z have only 1 tile. As a result, you might conclude J, K, Q, X and Z are more valuable. However, when we also look at their point values, we get help in prioritizing them even more. K is worth 5 points, J and X are worth 8 points and Q and Z are worth 10 points.
The letter X is a letter that has always intrigued me.
It’s more than a crossing of two lines to sign someone’s name like in an old Western movie, yet alphabet books usually represent X by showing only a picture of x-rays or xylophones.
There are some interesting words related to sports that have the letter X in them.
For instance, the X Games have come to represent an opportunity for those who’ve chosen a sport outside the traditional scope of athletic events. Skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, skiing, BMX and rally/motocross are sports that never crossed my path and unfortunately seemed to have a national stereotype attached to those who participated.
Thankfully, that has all changed, since the world has seen how these athletes also pursue excellence — an important X word — just like participants in other sports.
Athletes want to win championships, no matter what their sport of choice.
Miami Heat President Pat Riley stated in his book, “The Winner Within:” “Every team has to learn that excellence isn’t a destination. It’s a process that must be continually improved.”
It’s one thing to talk about excellence, but is it practiced on a daily basis?
It’s especially important for leaders to practice excellence because that’s what’s expected from those they lead.
Excellence is also something that should be pursued in everything we do. Many pursue excellence only when they feel like it, or doing something they like.
The National Scrabble Association recognizes more than 300 expert Scrabble players in the United States. These are players that average 35 or more points per turn, and are people who know quite a few words and how to utilize the more valuable letters.
How do these players become exceptional at Scrabble?
They pursue excellence and make sure they use the letter X for more than just signing their name.
Bill Gosse writes a youth sportsmanship column for Press-Gazette Media. Email him at email@example.com.