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 the competitive poetry format that Smith helped create in Chicago during the 1980s, a format that later spread around the world.

What Are Poetry Slams?

The correct response is poetry slams. Marc Kelly Smith is widely credited with creating the modern poetry slam format in Chicago in the 1980s, turning poetry readings into judged live competitions.

The clue’s reference to Ernie Banks provides the wordplay behind the name. Banks was famous as a Chicago Cubs power hitter, and the word “slam” naturally evokes a forceful hit in baseball. Smith adapted that energetic term for the literary events he was developing.

Marc Kelly Smith and the Birth of the Slam

Smith began organizing poetry events in Chicago as an alternative to more conventional poetry readings, which he felt could be too formal and detached from audiences. His format encouraged direct performance, audience reaction, and competition.

The idea took hold because it changed the atmosphere around poetry. Instead of simply reading from a page, poets performed their work in front of a crowd, often with judges or audience members scoring the performances.

The Ernie Banks Connection

Ernie Banks was one of the most famous figures in Chicago sports history and a longtime star for the Cubs. Smith’s choice of the word “slam” drew on that baseball language and on the sense of force and excitement associated with a big hit.

That connection also suited the style Smith wanted. A poetry slam was meant to feel immediate, energetic, and public rather than quiet or academic, so a sports-derived term gave the format exactly the tone he was looking for.

How Poetry Slams Work

In a typical poetry slam, performers recite original work before an audience and are judged on both the poem and the delivery. Time limits are common, and scores are usually given by selected audience members rather than professional critics.

The format places equal emphasis on writing and performance. Voice, rhythm, pacing, emotion, and stage presence can matter as much as the words themselves, which helped poetry slams develop a distinct identity from traditional readings.

Why the Format Became So Influential

Poetry slams spread rapidly from Chicago to other cities and eventually became an international movement. They helped bring spoken-word poetry to new audiences and gave performers a platform outside conventional literary institutions.

The format also influenced schools, youth programs, festivals, and televised performance poetry. Its competitive structure made poetry more accessible to audiences who might not otherwise attend a literary event.

Why This Final Jeopardy Clue Works

This clue works because it combines literary history with a sports reference. The name Marc Kelly Smith points toward spoken-word culture, while Ernie Banks provides the clue to the term “slam.”

The correct response, poetry slams, fits every part of the clue. Smith developed the format in the 1980s, and the name drew on the energetic sports language associated with a famous Chicago Cubs slugger.