Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The ABA (American Basketball Association) began play in 1967 with 11 teams. One of those teams, the Pittsburgh Pipers, were the first ever champions of the new league. However, upon winning the ABA title, instead of defending their title the next season, the Pipers picked up and moved to what city?
2. When the WHA (World Hockey Association) began play in 1972, like all start up leagues, they wanted to have a team in New York City which was the largest TV market in the world, so the New York Raiders were born. They were set to begin play in the Nassau Coliseum but the owners of the Coliseum didn't want a WHA team so the NHL granted Long Island a franchise (Islanders). The Raiders were thus forced to play in Madison Square Garden where they were 4th fiddle behind the Rangers, Knicks, and whatever else was going on (concerts, circus, etc.). After the first season of poor crowds and lackluster play the team was sold and the new ownership changed the name to the Golden Blades, but after just 20 games in front of a nearly empty building the team picked up and moved south and became what team?
3. The Houston Oilers were a charter member of the AFL in 1960 and won the first 2 AFL championships. They were a staple of the NFL post merger (post 1970), making the playoffs many times but are best remembered for blowing a 32 point second half lead to the Bills to lose 41-38 (playoffs in January 1993). A few seasons after this devastating loss the team left Houston to become what team?
4. The New Orleans Jazz began play in the NBA for the 1974-75 season but in 5 seasons in The Big Easy, the Jazz found no success and moved to Salt Lake City in 1979. All seemed lost for New Orleans but in 2002 another team left and moved to New Orleans. What was that team?
5. Major League Baseball doesn't have a lot of movement but in 1901, when the American League was founded, there were teams everyone is familiar with like the Philadelphia Athletics, Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Stockings (White Sox), There was another team whose name is familiar, the Baltimore Orioles, but they're not today's Orioles. They were only around for two seasons before moving and becoming what team?
6. During the 7 years the WHA operated (1972 to 1979), teams moved or folded nearly every season as well as an occasional expansion team somewhere. In 1975 an expansion team was granted to Denver, Colorado and they were christened the Spurs. But this didn't last too long. After only 34 games, due to poor attendances, the team moved and became what team?
7. Kansas City Scouts came into the NHL for the 1974-75 season along with the Washington Capitals. However, the Scouts had trouble drawing due to several factors including an economic downturn in the midwest so, after only two seasons, the team moved to Denver and became the Colorado Rockies. This wouldn't be their last move. After six lackluster seasons in Denver, the second of which resulted in the franchises first ever playoff appearance, the team moved again and became what team?
8. When the NHL expanded in 1972 one of the new teams was the Atlanta Flames. The Flames played in Atlanta for 8 seasons and even though they were moderately successful finishing above .500 in 5 of those seasons and making the playoffs every season but two (only winning one playoff game in the process), the team had problems drawing crowds and eventually moved to what Canadian city?
9. In 1930 the Portsmouth Spartans (OH) began play in the NFL. They existed for four seasons until they moved and became what beleaguered team?
10. The USFL was only around for three seasons (1983 to 1985), but they were three eventful seasons. The most successful franchise in this league was undoubtedly the Stars who appeared in all three championship games winning two of them. The first two seasons saw the Stars play in Philadelphia but after the league announced they were going to move to the fall for the 1986 season, knowing they wouldn't be able to share a stadium with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Stars had to find a new city. Where did they move to prior to the 1985 season?
Source: Author
Rockhound6165
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gtho4 before going online.
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