The first-ever, and probably last, "Blobfish Basketball Classic" between Texas Senator Ted Cruz and ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel was held Saturday night at Texas Southern University.
After sparring with words, Senator Ted Cruz challenged Jimmy Kimmel to a basketball game to prove who was the bigger baller, and the late-night host accepted. Both men were playing for a charity, with the loser ponying up $5,000 to the charity of the winner's choice. It was a close game, which viewers will be able to see Monday night, but apparently it was also a slow game, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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View StoryThe rules of the game heading onto the court was that the first to 15 points (each basket was one point) would be declared the winner. Sounds exciting enough. Instead, fans were treated to a couple of slow, middle-aged men running back and forth in front of thousands of fans, with neither of them scoring that many points before they just decided to call it. Kimmel is 50, while Cruz is 47.
Cruz was playing for Generation One, while Kimmel backed Texas Children's Hospital. But proving that there was a sense of fun and charity about the whole event, both men pledged to donate $10,000 to the charities regardless of the outcome. In the end, though, the former varsity basketball player was victorious, edging Kimmel 11-9.
There was a playfulness in the air from both men, with Guillermo showing up to provide pre-game interviews and help Kimmel stretch, while Cruz went so far as to put a note in Kimmel's locker room. He shared the message via Twitter, which offered the helpful advice, "Don't dribble off your foot!"
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View StoryThe rivals chronicled the entire day via social media, ultimately declaring both charities the true winners of the day.
The winner tonight? @generation1TX and @TexasChildrens
@tedcruz
Support them below:
Generation One: https://t.co/w1DSdwizi1
Texas Children's: https://t.co/qtF1BnAvLI pic.twitter.com/gVCKirPHxz
Agreed. Two great charities run by great people. https://t.co/VBDhB8YNso
@jimmykimmel
The whole thing came together after Kimmel likened Cruz to a blobfish after the senator attended Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference Finals. In response, Cruz challenged Kimmel to a one-on-one game to settle their differences on the basketball court. Things escalated from there in a surprisingly positive way, utltimately benefiting two charities.
Kimmel and Cruz likely still don't agree on a lot of things, as evidenced by the tough questions about policy that Kimmel lobbed at Cruz throughout the game, but they were still able to come together and deal with their beef in a positive way that benefited others. If only other feuds could be so magnanimous.