A Kettle of USA Sports Quiz | USA

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The National Football League lost someone who dedicated most their life to the game and structure of the NFL. Who was this that died in December 1996?

Answer: Pete Rozelle

Rozelle was NFL Commissioner from 1960-1989. He was instrumental in making the NFL what it is today. One of his most famous battles was with Raider owner Al Davis, which resulted in Davis moving the team to Los Angeles.

2. In the National Hockey League, the Conn Smythe Award is presented to the season's Stanley Cup playoffs most valuable player. Which NHL hockey player won this award in the 1985-86 season with the Montreal Canadiens?

Answer: Patrick Roy

Roy won the Conn Smythe in his rookie season by leading the underdog Canadiens to a Stanley Cup win. He was also named to the NHL All-Rookie team that season. Patrick won his second Conn Smythe Award in the 1992-93 season again with the Canadiens, and his third in the 2000-01 season with the Colorado Avalanche.

3. This Los Angeles Dodger shortstop broke Ty Cobb's season stolen base record of 96 that lasted almost 50 seasons. Who was this that stole 104 bases in 1962?

Answer: Maury Wills

Maury played from 1959-1972. In 1962, he stole 104 bases which broke Cobb's record. The Dodgers and Giants tied for the National League pennant and had a playoff series between the two. The games that were played in Candlestick Park ended up with the Giants organization being sued by the Dodgers.

The suit stated that the head grounds-keeper at Candlestick, intentionally soaked the infield during the playoffs to slow Wills down. The Giants won that playoff series, lost in the World Series, then the suit was later dropped by the Dodgers organization.

4. This tennis great set a record for playing in the most matches at Wimbledon with 326, playing until she retired at the amazing age of 40, quite the age for a tennis professional competitor. Who was this female tennis great?

Answer: Martina Navratilova

Martina won an unprecedented nine Wimbledon singles titles, seven women's doubles titles, and four mixed doubles Wimbledon titles. She won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Martina also won four consecutive French Open crowns from 1984-1987.

5. Who was boxing's first Light Heavyweight Champion to win the Heavyweight Championship crown while giving Larry Holmes his first-ever professional defeat?

Answer: Michael Spinks

Spinks defeated Larry Holmes by decision in the heavyweight title bout in 1985. It was Holmes' 21st title defense before Michael stopped him. Holmes was shooting for the victory to tie the great Rocky Marciano with a 49-0 record. It wasn't to be. Spinks won it with a unanimous 15-round decision.

6. Which driver in Nascar racing was the first-ever to win consecutive Nascar Winston Cup Championships?

Answer: Buck Baker

In 1956 and 1957, Elzie Wylie "Buck" Baker Sr. fought Tim Flock and Lee Petty to win consecutive crowns. He was voted one of Nascar's top 50 drivers. Buck was a city bus driver before beginning his racing career. He made 682 Nascar starts in his career. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990, then died at the age of 83 on April 14, 2002.

7. The National Hockey League's Vezina Trophy is awarded to the top goalie in a season. Which goalie won this trophy in five consecutive seasons?

Answer: Jacques Plante

Jacques Plante won the Vezina Trophy five times in a row with the Montreal Canadiens from 1955-56 season to the 1959-60 season. Plante would also win another Vezina Trophy in the 1961-62 with the Canadiens, and yet another with the St. Louis Blues in the 1968-69 season. He also picked up the 1961-62 NHL Hart Memorial Trophy.

8. In Major League Baseball, the expansion team Los Angeles Angels began their franchise in 1961. Where did they play their home games in 1961?

Answer: Wrigley Field

The Angels played their home games at Wrigley Field, but not the famous Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Angels went 70-91 at Wrigley in 1961, then shared Dodger Stadium with the Dodgers in 1962 and ended up with a 86-76 record, improving by 16 wins in the season. In 1966, the Angels moved into their own Anaheim Stadium near Disneyland in Orange County.

9. Jackie Slater of the Rams was the first National Football League player to play in 20 seasons with one franchise. Who came along and tied Slater's record when he retired in 2002?

Answer: Darrell Green

Slater played with the Rams in Los Angeles, then made the move with the franchise to St. Louis in 1995. Green was all Washington Redskin from 1983-2002. He was selected to seven Pro Bowls, won the 1996 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2008.

10. Which USA female Olympic gymnast won five gold medals at the Barcelona Olympics and two in the Atlanta Olympics?

Answer: Shannon Miller

The 1992 Barcelona Games made Shannon famous worldwide for her Individual All-around competition. She would add another two in Atlanta for the beam and team competition.

Source: Author Nightmare

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A Kettle of USA Sports Trivia Quiz

A mix of sports in the USA in all multiple choice. I hope you do well. :)

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