Denver & The WestThis reporter figured being more than four times as old as Colton and a college graduate might count for something in a game whose most dramatic move is "King me."
Wrong.
Colton finished up in six minutes and 32 seconds, most of which was wasted in a certain panicky reporter delaying the inevitable by asking strategy advice.
Reporter: "You took red. That's not fair. There must be an advantage taking red, just like in chess, where it's better to be the white than the black. What's the advantage? Who's in charge here?" (For the record, there is no advantage.)
Colton didn't trash talk much, but he sure smirked a lot. Even his mother, Rebecca, noticed that.
This reporter asked if the smirking Colton shouldn't be disqualified under some Byzantine rule of checkers etiquette. At which point, Rebecca Cardie started smirking too.
It should be noted the reporter overcame the performance-enhancing smirking of the Cardie family and took two of Colton's red pieces before losing.
The photographer, who also took a turn, would like the record to reflect that he captured six of Colton's pieces before the final humiliation. Thus proving he is at least three times as smart as the reporter.
Colton would rather play than chat. Two out of three? A quick nod.
The reporter asks: "Did I do anything right in that first game?"
"No."
Determined to finish off his mouthy visitors in his own style, Colton lays out the board and explains the most important rule of tournament checkers.
"You're not allowed to talk."