The internet is always good for a meme, and the latest social media sensation involves a mashup between The Lord of the Rings and Moneyball.
The gag involves mirroring half-elven Lord of Rivendell Elrond and former Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane putting together their “teams,” respectively.
While Elrond was tasked with assembling the Fellowship of the Ring to lead the fight for Middle Earth, Beane’s forward-thinking roster building methods turned the A’s into a contender on a dime.
It’s fair to argue that Elrond had a bit more on his plate than Beane did, but how can you not be romantic about sending four hobbits to destroy The One Ring To Rule Them All in the fires of Mount Doom?
Elrond putting together the Fellowship roster https://t.co/Ov5cQT7Iiz pic.twitter.com/bVe4aYsNS8
— QQ (@HeylKatme) December 26, 2023
This is the meme that keeps on giving, and we’ve assembled some of our favorite LOTR/Moneyball jokes from this unexpected collaboration that easily wins the week in memes.
Mouth of Sauron: "My master, Sauron the Great, bids you welcome. Is there any in this rout with the authority to treat with me?”
Aragorn: https://t.co/Ga3Pf9Al2o pic.twitter.com/rEDN1zEjUi
— Nick Poulimenakos (@NickMenakos) December 27, 2023
"Billy, we have Tom Bombadil practically signed already. He's got some years on him, sure, but he was never once tempted by the One Ring."
"If we give Tom Bombadil the ring, he'll just forget he has it. No, we take his 1 spot and bring in *sharpie noises* 4 halflings."
*groans* https://t.co/cCm4WVVRnn pic.twitter.com/adTCcKMfKY— Ben Crew (@BenjaminCrew1) December 27, 2023
Billy, this is Frodo Baggins. He's less tempted by the ring than any men, elves or dwarves in the fellowship. His defect is that he's four feet tall. https://t.co/Xg8GUpYWI5 pic.twitter.com/cesodjm4xp
— L.C. Norton (@ByLCNorton) December 26, 2023
Mount Doom exploding during the battle of the Morannon https://t.co/qKTy0QucrK pic.twitter.com/WWDJNjobYR
— Andy Flynn (@Andyflynn74) December 27, 2023
Other elves: “Elrond why do you want Samwise Gamgee? We didn’t even intend for him to be here, why do you like him?”
Elrond: *points at Gandalf*
Gandalf and everyone in unison: “Because he will support Frodo.”
Elrond: https://t.co/cEZDPFXoUU pic.twitter.com/uTuJxhn7JQ
— Rev. Dr. Spookas 🎃 (@LukasFields) December 27, 2023
Big Budget Teams: You have failed. The world of Men will fall.
:Horn of Rohan sounds in the distance: https://t.co/NGpcqPWrAk pic.twitter.com/a9jVXESy5Z
— Dan Chibnall (@bookowl) December 27, 2023
Boromir: One does not simply walk into Mordor.
Elrond: Boromir, the last time I checked, you were not the general manager of this fellowship. I am. And I'm not looking for ten thousand men. I'm looking for nine. So either you're on board or you're not. What's it gonna be? https://t.co/79aRme9qAB pic.twitter.com/1VC9dPw3yA
— Machine Learning Kelly (@Undersized_5) December 27, 2023
“The beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!” https://t.co/FdeI3pYhjN pic.twitter.com/qJnCm8UVoW
— Tom Shea (@tomshea) December 27, 2023
When the Hobbit you signed for the league minimum takes a walk into Mordor then bloops that Ring back up the middle and into the Volcano https://t.co/lpU6II9KIC pic.twitter.com/hkXgpK9Hie
— Quincy Wheeler (@QuincyWheeler1) December 27, 2023
Elrond letting Glorfindal walk only to sign a random ranger from the north to a vet min and then find out that he is the rightful king of Gondor https://t.co/zudvHBRkF6 pic.twitter.com/oMl6ZTkipM
— Ryan Lynch (@rlynch2013) December 26, 2023
“You can’t just sign four hobbit halflings to vet minimums to round out the fellowship roster and expect to contend with Lord Sauron for the pennant”
Elrond: https://t.co/c7fS95W5hQ pic.twitter.com/vH8XJAFydz
— Dev (@Devvy__Devito) December 27, 2023
“If we try to play like Mordor in here, we will lose to Mordor out there” https://t.co/8U5mKMHZzF pic.twitter.com/wdZlaJiYu7
— Conor Sheeran (@conor__sheeran) December 27, 2023
