Sports in Literature Trivia Quiz

Answer: Brooklyn Dodgers

Roger Kahn grew up in Brooklyn. He started his career in journalism as a reporter for the "New York Herald Tribune". He follows the players from those early 1950 Dodgers after they leave baseball. The book is about change, history and tragedy. In 1958 the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and in so doing, took Brooklyn's soul with it. Kahn writes about memorable games and the Dodgers' penchant for "choking".

An auto accident turns catcher Roy Campanella into a quadriplegic. Jackie Robinson is mourning the death of his son. No book quite humanizes ballplayers as does "The Boys of Summer".

Answer: Ball Four

Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn called "Ball Four" "detrimental to baseball," and tried to force Bouton to sign a statement saying that the book was completely fictional. Bouton refused. Many of Bouton's teammates never forgave him for publicly airing what he had seen and heard in the lockerroom. Bouton told of beer drinking and "poppin' greenies" during games. But what really got him in hot water with his teammates and led to his banishment from the "Yankee family" were his comments about Mickey Mantle's heavy drinking.

"Ball Four" became a TV series in 1976 and starred Jim Bouton. It was cancelled after only five episodes.

Answer: True

"Semi-Tough" was made into a film in 1977, based on the novel by Dan Jenkins, starring Burt Reynolds and Jill Clayburgh. It is a hilarious movie and book about professional sports in general and professional football in particular. It has been called "the funniest sports book ever written".

Answer: George Plimpton

George Plimpton was a writer for "Sports Illustrated" who appeared on television and in films and started what has come to be called participatory journalism. Plimpton got a bloody nose while sparring with Archie Moore in 1959. He pitched against MLB all-stars in 1960 and got trounced in golf by Jack Nicklas and Arnie Palmer in 1967, all the while trying to show what the "average" man could do against professional athletes.

In the mid-1960s, Plimpton talked his way into the Detroit Lions' pre-season training camp. In "Paper Lion" he recounts his experience of a month practicing and living with the team. With humor he recalls all the practical jokes and various stunts reserved for rookies in the NFL.

Answer: True

"Fat City" is a novel about hope, the pain of losing and the realization that all good things must come to an end. It tells the story of two boxers from Stockton, California. No matter how hard they train, neither boxer will ever get anywhere near a championship, but the younger one is still dreaming.

Answer: Ken Dryden

Ken Dryden was the most decorated goalie of his era. He retired at the top of his game, aged 31. He won a total of six Stanley Cups, five Vezina Trophies (best goalie), the Calder Trophy (best rookie), and the Conn-Smythe Trophy (most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs). In the book he told the tale of the daily life of a player in the National Hockey League.

Answer: Arsenal Football Club

"Fever Pitch" is the essence of sport, from the player to the fan. It combines passion, humor, agony and ecstasy. It is about Hornby's obsession for football and the Arsenal Football Club. The book spawned two movies one in the UK and one in the US.

Answer: Rocco Mediate

In 2008 Rocco Mediate was a 46-year-old player and 20-year golf professional. He had 6 PGA Tour wins. Tiger Woods was 33 years old and the number one ranked golfer in the world.
On the final day of the tournament both ended play tied at par, forcing a playoff. In the playoff Mediate played Woods to another tie. He finally lost in sudden death.

In "Are You Kidding Me?", Mediate and Feinstein tell the full story of these five harrowing days.

Answer: A Season on the Brink

During the 1985-1986 Indiana basketball season John Feinstein was granted full access to the Indiana basketball program, including its practices, locker room, as well as insights into Bob Knight's personal life.
As a result of "Season on the Brink" the NCAA passed a rule banning members of the media from being in the locker room of a team before or during a game, or if one member of the media was allowed access then access must be granted to all.
The book became a made-for-television sport drama, the first of its kind to appear on ESPN in 2002.

Answer: Laura Hillenbrand

"Seabiscuit" was Laura Hillenbrand's first book. The book spent 42 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It inspired a film of the same name, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture in 2003.
While still in college Hillenbrand was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, from which she continues to suffer.

She is also the best-selling author of "Unbroken", the true story of Louis Zamperini who survived 42 days when his aircraft ditched in the Pacific Ocean during WWII.

Answer: University of North Carolina

Deford's character is on the cover of national magazines and he appears on national TV. Everyone wants his attention. After college he has a fine career in the NFL. Soon the cheering stops and he is left only with memories.
The University of North Carolina is located in Chapel Hill, NC.
The book was turned into a full-length film in 1988.
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Answer: basketball

"Heaven Is a Playground" describes the author's observations of street basketball in Brooklyn during the summers of 1973 and 1974. The book is both funny and sad. All but a rare few of the "streetballers" would realize the dream fanatically attached to "basketball deliverance" from the ghettos of Brooklyn.
The 1991 film "Heaven Is a Playground" is based on the book.
The book was ranked #15 in a 2002 Sports Illustrated list of the Top 100 Sports Books of All Time.

Answer: 1979-1980 Portland Trailblazers

"The Breaks of the Game" is an account of the Portland Trail Blazers' 1979-1980 season.

Halberstam identifies the "breaks of the game", such as unforeseen injuries, good luck, and how a team or individual handles each circumstance and capitalizes on opportunities.

Answer: Dallas Cowboys

"Instant Replay" is one of the first books ever to reveal the inner workings of a professional sports franchise. He also offers a rare view of the Packers leader, Coach Vince Lombardi.
Kramer recorded his day-to-day experiences throughout the 1967 season. It was Kramer who threw the decisive block that allowed Bart Starr to score the winning touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys.

Answer: False

"When Pride Still Mattered" is a 1999 biography of Vince Lombardi. Lombardi's leadership of the Green Bay Packers to five world championships in the 1960s was the stuff of legend. Lombardi coached the Packers to wins in the first two Super Bowl championships. He was said to have had an obsession with winning.

Answer: 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers

Blount's book is about football, but it doesn't have a lot of football in it. While he was given access to the players, he didn't "play" in the way Plimpton did. The book humorously describes the interactions among the players, such as Terry Bradshaw, Joe Green, and owner Art Rooney.

Answer: Life on the Run

Bradley, years after the end to his political and professional sports careers writes in "Life on the Run" about the tumultuous life of the professional athlete. He tells of the abuse at the hands of the press alongside the adoration of the fans. The reader learns of the beating of Earl Monroe outside Madison Square Garden just after twenty thousand people were cheering for him. Hopefully the reader develops some empathy for those professionals who entertain us.

Answer: Mt. Everest

Jon Krakauer, a working journalist, chose to join an expedition to the summit of Mt. Everest in May 1996. "Into Thin Air" is his account of the deadliest season in the history of Everest. Five members of his expedition died.

Krakauer discusses what it is about Everest that has drawn so many people to willingly subject themselves to such risk, hardship, and expense. His eyewitness account of what happened on the ill-fated climb and descent is compelling.

Answer: False

"A Savage Business" is a 1998 book by Richard Hoffer that is actually about a savage business, professional boxing. It follows the life of Mike Tyson from his release from prison to his fight with Evander Holyfield. It's a story of Tyson's comeback after prison to his downfall with the ear-biting incident.

Answer: Casey Stengel

In 1984 Creamer wrote "Stengel: His life and Times". Casey Stengel managed the New York Yankees from 1949-1960. His teams won 7 World Series, including 5 in a row, and 10 American League pennants.
Creamer's book about Ruth has been described as the best biography about "The Sultan of Swat".
Creamer joined Sports Illustrated in 1949, its first year of publication.