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Jinx Illustrated Trivia Quiz

The magazine 'Sports Illustrated' has been a main staple of information to millions of sports fans since 1954. To athletes, it's a sign of deserved recognition to be featured on the cover. Or is it? Good luck.

A multiple-choice quiz by Ikabud. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Ikabud

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
65,803

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
1368

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was the first person affected by the "cover jinx"? Hint

Eddie Mathews

Roger Bannister

Rocky Marciano

Vince Lombardi

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Question 2 of 10

2. Swimmer Carin Cone was undefeated for four years, when she appeared on the cover of the magazine. What happened to her, shortly after? Hint

She was beaten and failed to qualify for the Olympics

She was in a car crash

She tested positive for drugs and was banned

She hit her head on the edge of the pool and needed hospital treatment

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Question 3 of 10

3. Another athlete, Jim Beatty, failed to make the Rome Olympics, due to a foot injury suffered shortly after his cover appearance. In what event was supposed to compete? Hint

Long Jump

5, 000 meter race

Pole Vault

50 Km Walk

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Question 4 of 10

4. The 'Sports Illustrated' 1958 preview of what famous race featured driver Pat O'Connor on the cover? Hint

Le Mans

U.S. Grand Prix

Daytona 500

Indy 500

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Question 5 of 10

5. Skier Jill Kinmont suffered what fate in the week that the magazine featuring her on the cover hit the newsstands? Hint

Nothing, she was not affected by the cover jinx

She lost the next ten races in a row

She was paralyzed from the neck down

She was hit by a chair lift and broke two ribs

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Question 6 of 10

6. Two days after being featured on the cover, skater Laurence Owen was killed in a plane crash. What was the title of the cover story? Hint

'The unbeatable skater'

'This girl can't lose'

'Going all the way to gold'

'America's most exciting girl skater'

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Question 7 of 10

7. The goalie of NHL team the Boston Bruins got the cover 'treatment' in January of 1962. What was his name? Hint

Nev Yashin

Don Head

Charlie Stones

George Bettis

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Question 8 of 10

8. Basketball great, Larry Bird, was hit by the jinx three times, as a college player, as a professional player and as a coach. True or false?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 9 of 10

9. After appearing with Lawrence Taylor in a 1986 cover, Mark Gastineau missed his first football game for seven years. Which team was he playing for at the time? Hint

The Jets

The Patriots

The Giants

The Steelers

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Question 10 of 10

10. The man who was to have been 'Sports Illustrated' Sportsman of the Year for 1955, was struck by the jinx after posing for the cover photo, and had to be replaced. What was his fate? Hint

He was accidentally shot and killed by his wife

He suffered a heart attack

He died in a car crash

He was convicted of murder

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the first person affected by the "cover jinx"?

Answer: Eddie Mathews

Milwaukee Braves power-hitter, Eddie Mathews was on a nine-game winning streak, when he was featured on the cover of the first issue of 'Sports Illustrated'. He lost the very next game, and a week later he suffered an injury that kept him out for seven games.

2. Swimmer Carin Cone was undefeated for four years, when she appeared on the cover of the magazine. What happened to her, shortly after?

Answer: She was beaten and failed to qualify for the Olympics

Carin Cone was beaten in the nationals and subsequently failed to qualify for the 1960 Rome Olympics.

3. Another athlete, Jim Beatty, failed to make the Rome Olympics, due to a foot injury suffered shortly after his cover appearance. In what event was supposed to compete?

Answer: 5, 000 meter race

He was the U.S. record holder in the 5,000 meters.

4. The 'Sports Illustrated' 1958 preview of what famous race featured driver Pat O'Connor on the cover?

Answer: Indy 500

Pat O'Connor was sadly killed in a 15 car pile-up, during the first lap of the gruelling event.

5. Skier Jill Kinmont suffered what fate in the week that the magazine featuring her on the cover hit the newsstands?

Answer: She was paralyzed from the neck down

During a practice run in 1955, Jill struck a tree and was left paralyzed from the neck down.

6. Two days after being featured on the cover, skater Laurence Owen was killed in a plane crash. What was the title of the cover story?

Answer: 'America's most exciting girl skater'

Laurence, and the rest of the U.S. skating team were lost in the tragedy, in 1961.

7. The goalie of NHL team the Boston Bruins got the cover 'treatment' in January of 1962. What was his name?

Answer: Don Head

Poor Don didn't believe in the jinx, even when his teammates teased him by saying 'You're doomed', but later in the month he was sent to the minor leagues by the Bruins and never played in the NHL again.

8. Basketball great, Larry Bird, was hit by the jinx three times, as a college player, as a professional player and as a coach. True or false?

Answer: true

The jinx struck when he was featured on the cover as a college player for Indiana State, as a pro-player for the Boston Celtics and as a coach for the Indiana Pacers.

9. After appearing with Lawrence Taylor in a 1986 cover, Mark Gastineau missed his first football game for seven years. Which team was he playing for at the time?

Answer: The Jets

The two rival players appeared on the cover of an issue featuring the rivalries of New York football teams.

10. The man who was to have been 'Sports Illustrated' Sportsman of the Year for 1955, was struck by the jinx after posing for the cover photo, and had to be replaced. What was his fate?

Answer: He was accidentally shot and killed by his wife

Bill Woodward Jr, a horseman, was replaced by Brooklyn Dodger pitcher, Johnny Podres after the tragedy, which happened on the weekend the magazine was to print. All these events can be explained away as unfortunate coincidences, maybe... During the creation of this quiz, my computer froze... And I had to start over THREE TIMES... Coincidence? You decide.

Source: Author Ikabud

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor natsim before going online.
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