Shaq and Malone. The elder Bush and Reagan.

Add debaters Audrey Mink and John Hrabe to that list of adversaries turned allies. The parliamentary debaters at Cal State Long Beach twice faced off while Hrabe was at another college in Ventura County.

Mink and her teammate won each time, but Hrabe was so impressed, he transferred to CSULB.

"I decided if I couldn't beat them, join them,' Hrabe said.

Added Mink, "After I begged him for long enough, he gave in and agreed to debate with me.'

Now the team is dominating the college debate circuit. This year, the first the two have debated together, they have occupied the top two spots in the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence rankings, used to seed the national championship tournament.

(They recently were bumped down to No. 2. "We'll get it back. Don't worry,' Mink promised.)

They head to nationals next weekend, where Mink is seeking her second title as top speaker.

The two enjoy the adrenalin rush parliamentary debate provides. Each round, the team is given a surprise current events topic, such as gay marriage, and has 20 minutes to prepare before debating the other team.

In a recent practice round, the two furiously wrote notes as the other team argued about the merits of Russia's new prime minister. After the speaker finishes, it was Mink's turn to argue the "pro' side, saying that the new prime minister will diversify and deregulate Russia's economy.

"Those things seem like substantive reforms to me,' she said in an authoritative voice.

Mink and Hrabe are part of the debate circuit and live the rough debate lifestyle road trips, cheap hotels, fast food and 12 hours a day spent either waiting around or debating.

Not how most college students want to spend their weekends. But for Hrabe and Mink, it's fun. The two have complementary styles, they said.

Mink, a 22-year-old senior, says she admires Hrabe's honesty and straight-forwardness.

"I hate debaters who look like they are game-playing,' she said.

Hrabe, an 18-year-old senior who graduated from high school early, said Mink is assertive and commanding.

"You want to believe everything she's telling you,' he said.

The two have racked up victories while, in large part, staying true to themselves. Even if they are assigned to a debate position they don't readily agree with, they will try to spin the topic to the point they can honestly support the idea.

"We prove that you don't have to sell out,' Mink said.

They haven't, said debate coach Matt Taylor. The two perform well together, though Hrabe is sometimes annoyed on the road when Mink's chatting keeps him from going to sleep. (Mink bought him earplugs and a sleep mask.)

"A debate team is a lot like a marriage,' Taylor joked. "It takes work.'