FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about The Generals of Washington
Quiz about The Generals of Washington

The Generals of Washington Trivia Quiz


Every team needs an arch-nemesis and the Harlem Globetrotters are no different. See how well you know the Washington Generals.

A multiple-choice quiz by bernie73. Estimated time: 5 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Entertainment Trivia
  6. »
  7. Entertainment Other

Author
bernie73
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
405,012
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
146
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. The Washington Generals were founded by Louis "Red" Klotz. Apart from the Generals, with which team was Klotz most associated? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. For whom were the Washington Generals named when they were founded in 1952? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The Washington Generals were designed to be a purposely bad team and were made up of players with little basketball experience.


Question 4 of 10
4. One occasion where the Washington Generals did not play against the Harlem Globetrotters was when they played in the 2017 edition of The Basketball Tournament. How did the team do that year? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. To give the appearance that the Harlem Globetrotters are part of a league, the Washington Generals will sometimes use another name. Which of the following names was NOT used by the Generals during the 20th century? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. What have historically been the team colors for the Washington Generals? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Contrary to popular belief, the Generals have beaten the Globetrotters on occasion. After one such win in 1971, Red Klotz described the reaction of the fans. Who or what did he say the fans reaction suggested they had killed? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Some players played for both the Washington Generals and the Harlem Globetrotters at different times. Which player did not play for both teams during his playing career? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In 2015, the Washington Generals ceased operations for approximately two years. In which resort town did the team play its final game before temporarily shutting down? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. In 2017, the Washington Generals were reborn. From 2017-2019, the Generals conducted a mock draft where various well known people from sports and entertainment were selected. Who was not chosen during those drafts? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Sep 21 2024 : meandyou2011: 5/10
Sep 14 2024 : Luckycharm60: 10/10

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The Washington Generals were founded by Louis "Red" Klotz. Apart from the Generals, with which team was Klotz most associated?

Answer: Philadelphia SPHAs

Klotz was a member of the Philadelphia SPHAs (South Philadelphia Hebrew Association) for four seasons in the American Basketball League (1942-1943, 1945-1948), where they won the 1942-43 title. With the SPHAs, he had 516 career points in the regular season and 65 career points in the playoffs.

Klotz was also a member of the 1947-48 Baltimore Bullets (a distinct team from the modern Washington Wizards). The team won the 1947-48 Basketball Association of America title (a predecessor of the National Basketball Association). This makes Klotz, at five feet, seven inches, one of the shortest players to ever have been of a BAA/NBA championship team.
2. For whom were the Washington Generals named when they were founded in 1952?

Answer: General Dwight D. Eisenhower

The year of 1952 may be the key clue. The Generals were named after popular World War II commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower (as confirmed via Wikipedia and the team's website), who was elected to his first of two terms as President in 1952. Red Klotz, who founded the team, was also a veteran of World War II, though he served stateside. I have not been able to find a specific reason why the Generals, a barnstorming team, chose Washington as their official "hometown", though I suspect it may have been that reversing the words would almost be the phrase "General Washington".
3. The Washington Generals were designed to be a purposely bad team and were made up of players with little basketball experience.

Answer: False

The typical Harlem Globetrotter may have been arguably somewhat more skilled than the typical Washington General, but both teams were fundamentally solid. Like the Globetrotters, the Generals were made up of many players from the college ranks (albeit often Divisions II and III). The big difference was the the role each team played in the exhibition games. The Globetrotters provided the trick plays and the humor. The Generals played the role of the straight man, reacting to the Globetrotters' actions. If the Generals had been no-talent scrubs, what the Globetrotters did would not have seemed as impressive or entertaining.

When the Generals were able to play in straight basketball games, they did have success, defeating at different times the National Team of Taiwan and a team fielded by the Red Army, as well as various college teams. "Red" Klotz always claimed that the Generals legitimately tried to win every game that they played against the Globetrotters.
4. One occasion where the Washington Generals did not play against the Harlem Globetrotters was when they played in the 2017 edition of The Basketball Tournament. How did the team do that year?

Answer: They lost in the first round

The Basketball Tournament was sponsored by ESPN and had 64 teams competing that year. The Washington Generals lost in the opening round to the Matadors in a close one, 76-72, on July 08. The Generals were a Number 9 seed in the South Division of the tournament.
5. To give the appearance that the Harlem Globetrotters are part of a league, the Washington Generals will sometimes use another name. Which of the following names was NOT used by the Generals during the 20th century?

Answer: Chicago Packers

The names Boston Shamrocks and Atlantic City Seagulls were both used by the Washington Generals during the 1971-1972 season. The Generals were known as the New York Nationals from 1995 to 2006. Additional "alternate names" the Generals have used have included the Baltimore Rockets, New Jersey Reds, and International Elite.

The Chicago Packers were a 1961 expansion team in the National Basketball League. Like the Generals, the Packers were unsuccessful in their first season, going 18-62 for fifth place in the Western Division. Multiple relocations and name changes later, the Packers would be known as the Washington Wizards.
6. What have historically been the team colors for the Washington Generals?

Answer: Green and Yellow

The green and yellow of the Washington Generals uniforms provides a nice contrast with the red, white, and blue of the Harlem Globetrotters' uniforms. The uniforms of the Generals, like many basketball teams, consists of a tank top and shorts. Green is the primary color with yellow stripes on each side.

At different times the word "Washington" and the word "Generals" has been emphasized in the team name on the uniform.
7. Contrary to popular belief, the Generals have beaten the Globetrotters on occasion. After one such win in 1971, Red Klotz described the reaction of the fans. Who or what did he say the fans reaction suggested they had killed?

Answer: Santa Claus

While the Washington Generals lost over 10,000 games during the 20th century, how many they won is a matter of debate with one win (1971), three wins (according to the Generals' website with additional wins in 1954 and 1958) and six wins all as possibilities.

The one undisputed win took place on January 5, 1971 in Martin, TN. Playing as the New Jersey Reds, the Generals took a 12-point lead late into the fourth quarter. The Globetrotters realized that they had to play catch up and switched to straight basketball in order to rally back. The rally fell short due to a basket made by Red Klotz himself with about 10 seconds left and Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon missing the last shot of the game. With a 100-99 win, Klotz said of the fanbase, "They looked at us like we killed Santa Claus."
8. Some players played for both the Washington Generals and the Harlem Globetrotters at different times. Which player did not play for both teams during his playing career?

Answer: Frederick "Curly" Neal

Derrick Grant (Carlos English ) played for the Generals during the 2005-2006 season while they were the New York Nationals. He was able to then successfully audition for the Globetrotters and join the team in 2010. Jonte "Too Tall" Hall, who stands at five feet, two inches, also played for the Generals before joining the Globetrotters in 2011. Paul Sturgis, who stands seven feet, seven inches, played for the Globetrotters from 2011 to 2013, before joining the Generals in a villainous role as "Cager".

"Curly" Neal was one of the best known of the Globetrotters, playing with the team from 1963 to 1985. He never played for the Washington Generals.
9. In 2015, the Washington Generals ceased operations for approximately two years. In which resort town did the team play its final game before temporarily shutting down?

Answer: Wildwood, NJ

The game took place on August 01, 2015 at Wildwood Convention Center. According to archival information, ticket prices for the game ranged from $21 to $75. In addition to the game itself, admission included a skills clinic and interactive event conducted by the Globetrotters. Like thousands of other games, the Generals also lost this one.

It is said that the team folded when the Harlem Globetrotters were no longer interested in splitting the gate receipts with the Washington Generals.
10. In 2017, the Washington Generals were reborn. From 2017-2019, the Generals conducted a mock draft where various well known people from sports and entertainment were selected. Who was not chosen during those drafts?

Answer: Liam Hemsworth

Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham), a successful recording artist, was selected in the 2019 draft. Terrell Owens, Hall of Fame wide receiver from the National Football League, was selected in the 2018 draft. Conor McGregor, a successful mixed martial arts competitor, was selected in the 2017 draft. Liam Hemsworth, an actor known for appearing in the "Hunger Games" films, was not selected in any of the drafts.

The rights to the Washington Generals franchise were purchased in 2017 from the Klotz family by Herschend Family Entertainment, the same team that owns the Harlem Globetrotters.
Source: Author bernie73

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
10/31/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us