The rock (paper, scissors) star treatment

There’s a national championship for the game rock, paper scissors, and a kid from Baton Rouge nearly won the whole thing.

How does one actually compete in the schoolyard game designed to settle minor disputes? David Borné’s technique was to trash-talk to his opponent.

“Let’s rock! You ready? Please, please… Sweet!”

The local musician would utter this steady stream of suggestion, choosing words that started with an R, P or S, the idea being to condition his opponent into “shooting” what’s just being said.

“Sweet!” might trigger his opponent to throw scissors. “Please!” might trigger paper.

His strategy seemed to have merit. Borné entered the local Bud Light-sponsored qualifier at the Mellow Mushroom on a whim and he won an all-expense-paid trip to Vegas for the national competition.

Upon entering his Mandalay Bay hotel room, complete with plasma screens and free beer, it hit him. He was being treated like a rock star.

“As ridiculous as it sounds is as ridiculous as it was,” Borné says.

ESPN covered the boxing ring-style competition, SportsCenter co-host Trey Wingo hosted, and poker star Phil Gordon refereed.

Borné made the Sweet 16. The pressure was on. He was the only guy left from the South, but he still had a cheering squad, chanting “L-S-U, L-S-U.”

He finished second and took home $5,000.

Watch Borné’s moves on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. July 7.