Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Wonder-licked

The Wonderlic test is kind of like "American Idol." You can gain fame by performing very well, or by bombing it. Those that bomb are just funnier.
Contrary to widely-held belief, the Wonderlic test isn't just administered to college players at the NFL combine. It is a personnel test for managment in all kinds of professions to evaluate potential employees.
The NFL edition, however, reads like those "Iowa" standardized tests you get in fifth or sixth grade. The questions are challenging in some areas, but can be generally deciphered with a pencil and some scratch paper.
That's why those that score in the single digits get so much attention, like Chris Gamble and (we have heard) Vince Young.
Now, we don't want to get carried away and assume Gamble and Young are as dumb as lamp posts. They might have test-taking anxiety problems, or never had their cognitive abilities developed because every adult they've ever been associated with has been infatuated with their football talents. (No! That never happens!)
If you wants to see if youz'n been learnin' up reel good, ESPN.com reposted a sample Wonderlic test from 2002. At 15 questions, it is one-third the size of the Wonderlic given NFL prospects. Take your final score and multiply by three to see how you match up against the gridiron boys.

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