The Three Stooges started as a "knock-about" act in vaudeville working with Ted Healy. They were know as Ted Healy and his Stooges. Moe and Shemp were brothers (last name Howard) and Larry was their friend (last name Fine). When they got dumped by Healy and went to California to make movies, Shemp was replaced by their other brother Curly (real first name - Jerry - and he was billed as Jerry early in their career). When Curly had a heart attack, they brought Shemp back to replace him.
Moe and Larry tried to make it in feature films with other Stooges, namely Curley Joe (DeRita) and Joe (Besser), but the magic just wasn't there.
My favorite knock-knock joke comes from Curly.
Knock-knock
Who's there?
New York
New York who?
NYORK, NYORK, NYORK!
Also, there's a scene where their old army sergeant tries to trick them into re-enlisting. He has them put their heads in a water bucket, then fires a gun into it to affect their hearing. He then tries to get them to repeat the oath.
Sergeant: "Would you fight for this great republic and..."
Moe: "Republican? Not me. I'm a Democrat."
Larry: "Me too."
Curly: "Not me. I'm a pedestrian. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk."
Here's one more: Moe and Larry are trying to teach Curly pig-latin. They give this as an example -
Moe: "It's easy. Moe, omay. Larry, arrylay. Curly,..."
Curly: "Curly-Q. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk."
Classic.
Now - back to basketball. By now, I guess most of you have figured out all the answers to the quiz are false. At our annual coaches meeting, after giving them some time to answer on paper, I then simply ask how many thought at least 10 of the answers were true. Then I ask how many have between 5 and 9 true, then 1 and 4 true. I then ask how many thought they were all false, and congratulate anyone who raises his or her hand.
It really embarrasses them, which is the point.
