Marc Kelly Smith had Cubs slugger Ernie Banks in mind when he chose a name for these literary events he had “invented”
The Final Jeopardy clue for Friday, September 25, 2026, appeared in the category “Coinages of the 1980s” and read: “Marc Kelly Smith had Cubs slugger Ernie Banks in mind when he chose a name for these literary events he had ‘invented.’” The clue points to a performance format that transformed poetry readings by introducing competition, audience scoring, and a more energetic style of presentation.
What Are Poetry Slams?
The correct response is poetry slams. Marc Kelly Smith is widely credited with creating the poetry slam format in Chicago during the 1980s as an alternative to conventional poetry readings, which he felt could be too formal and disconnected from audiences.
The clue’s reference to Ernie Banks provides the wordplay. Banks, the beloved Chicago Cubs star, was famous for the phrase “Let’s play two,” reflecting his enthusiasm for baseball. Smith chose the word “slam” with baseball in mind, drawing on the expression “grand slam” and giving his new literary competition a name that sounded energetic, competitive, and distinctly Chicago.
Marc Kelly Smith and the Birth of the Poetry Slam
Smith was a construction worker and poet who wanted poetry readings to feel more immediate and engaging. In the mid-1980s, he began staging events in Chicago that gave poets a limited amount of time to perform their work before an audience.
Instead of relying on judges from the literary establishment, the format encouraged ordinary audience members to score the performances. That gave the events a competitive structure while also making the crowd an active part of the experience.
The Ernie Banks Connection
Ernie Banks was one of the most famous players in Cubs history and one of Chicago’s most recognizable sports figures. His upbeat public persona and association with baseball made him a natural reference point for Smith when naming his new event.
The term “slam” already carried a strong sports meaning, especially through “grand slam.” Applying it to poetry suggested impact, force, competition, and performance rather than a quiet literary recital.
How Poetry Slams Changed Live Poetry
Poetry slams helped make spoken-word performance more visible in the United States and later around the world. The events rewarded delivery, timing, stage presence, and audience connection as well as the text itself.
That format opened poetry to performers who might not have entered traditional literary circles. It also encouraged work that was conversational, political, personal, comic, confrontational, or highly theatrical.
Why the Coinage Lasted
The term “poetry slam” quickly became broader than Smith’s original Chicago events. Competitions spread to other cities, colleges, festivals, and eventually international circuits.
The name survived because it captured exactly what distinguished the format: poetry presented as a live, competitive event with the energy of sport. By the 1990s and 2000s, “slam poetry” had become a widely recognized term in its own right.
Why This Final Jeopardy Clue Works
This clue works because it connects literary history with Chicago sports culture. Marc Kelly Smith points toward the origin of the poetry slam, while Ernie Banks provides the clue to the event’s sports-inspired name.
The correct response, poetry slams, fits every part of the clue. Smith developed the format in the 1980s, the events combined poetry with competition, and their name drew on the language and spirit of baseball.