Sports Genius Finder Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ed Fiori

During the early 1990s, Tiger Woods dominated the world of professional golf and was almost unbeatable on the final day of tournament competition on the PGA Tour. It seemed that no matter who his opponent was, Woods always managed to come out on top. However, in 1996, a relatively unknown golfer named Ed Fiori managed to defeat Woods in a dramatic final round showdown.

This win was a significant milestone in Fiori's career as it helped to establish him as a formidable player on the PGA Tour. Although Woods would go on to win countless more tournaments and become one of the greatest golfers of all time, Ed Fiori will always be remembered as the first player to beat him on the final day of a tournament.

Answer: Gallant Fox

Gallant Fox was an exceptional Thoroughbred racehorse, achieving the rare feat of winning the U.S. Triple Crown in 1930. But what sets him apart even further is the fact that he sired another Triple Crown winner, his son Omaha. The success was clearly in the bloodline, as both horses came from the same trainer, Jim Fitzsimmons. Omaha went on to win the Triple Crown in 1935, cementing their spot in horse racing history as one of only two instances where a Triple Crown winner also sired another Triple Crown winner.

The impressive legacy of Gallant Fox continued through his other progeny, including a number of other notable winners in the racing world.

Answer: Tug of War

Tug of War was once a popular and thrilling event at the Olympics, until it was abolished in 1922. The sport involved two teams pulling at opposite ends of a rope. The objective was to drag the other team across a designated line on the ground. Tug of War made its Olympic debut at the 1900 games in Paris and continued to be a competitive sport until it was eventually discontinued due to the lack of worldwide interest.

However, the sport still retains its popularity in some corners of the world, especially in rural and remote areas where it is played among local communities as a celebration of strength and camaraderie.

In some countries, there are even specific championships and international competitions held, bringing together teams from around the world to showcase their strength and technique.

Answer: Bowling

The question of which sport was the first to be invented sparks curiosity and intrigue amongst avid sports fans. According to historical records, the sport of bowling is believed to be the first game ever invented due to its ancient roots. Dating back over 5,000 years, ancient Egyptians played a game called "Knocking Down Nine Pins" which involved rolling a ball to knock down nine objects arranged in a diamond shape.

The game later evolved to incorporate ten pins, which is the modern-day version of bowling that we know and love today.

It's incredible to think that a game played thousands of years ago still remains popular across the globe.

Answer: William

Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest golfers of all time, was born on January 21, 1940, in Columbus, Ohio. His full name is Jack William Nicklaus, and he is often referred to as "The Golden Bear" due to his impressive golfing skills and his bear-like build. Over the course of his illustrious career, Nicklaus won 18 major championships, including six Masters, five PGA Championships, four US Opens, and three British Opens. Additionally, he won 73 PGA Tour events and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Nicklaus's middle name, William, pays homage to his father, who was also named William.

The name is of German origin and means "resolute protector." Nicklaus's middle name is just one small piece of trivia that makes up his larger-than-life career in the world of golf.

Answer: Alydar

The 1978 triple crown race in horse racing was one of the most highly contested races in the history of the sport. Affirmed, ridden by jockey Steve Cauthen, was up against his biggest rival, Alydar. Alydar was ridden by jockey Jorge Velasquez, and the two horses were neck and neck in every race of the triple crown.

However, Affirmed came out on top in all three races, making him the 11th and most recent horse in history to win the triple crown. Despite coming in second in each race, Alydar still holds the record for the highest purse winnings for a runner-up in the triple crown races.

The rivalry between Affirmed and Alydar is considered one of the greatest in horse racing history and their battles in 1978 are still talked about today.

Answer: Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle is a name that is synonymous with professional wrestling, but he also has an impressive pedigree in amateur wrestling. In 1996, he won a gold medal in the freestyle wrestling event at the Atlanta Olympics. This made him the first American wrestler to win both a gold medal at the Olympics and a professional wrestling world championship. Angle's Olympic gold medal came just a year after he won the NCAA wrestling championship as a senior at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

His success as an amateur wrestler laid the foundation for his future career in professional wrestling, where he became one of the biggest stars of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Angle's Olympic victory in 1996 is a testament to his skill and perseverance as a wrestler, and it remains an important milestone in his legendary career.

Answer: True

Greg Norman, also known as 'The Shark', was undoubtedly one of the most accomplished golfers of his time. He was consistently in top form, having won countless tournaments and was a world number one golfer for 331 weeks in total. However, it may come as a surprise to many that he had led every major championship in one year without winning one of them.

This happened in 1996 when Norman held the lead in the Masters, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. Norman's brilliant performance that year was an unprecedented feat, but it ended in utter disappointment as he faltered in the final round of each tournament, failing to clinch the title. Nonetheless, his incredible display of golfing prowess is still remembered and admired by sports enthusiasts around the world.

Answer: Rick Rhoden

The Celebrity Player Tour, founded in 1999, was a golf tour comprised of former professional athletes and other celebrities. While some participants took the competition lightly, others, like Rick Rhoden, took the tournament seriously and found great success. Rhoden, who played 16 seasons as a pitcher in Major League Baseball, won eight events on the Celebrity Player Tour and accumulated over $2 million in prize money.

He was widely considered to be one of the best players on the tour and even competed in the U.S. Senior Open in 2014. Rhoden's success on the Celebrity Player Tour showcased his versatility as a world-class athlete and his dedication to the game of golf.

Answer: Bo Schembechler

Bo Schembechler was not only a legendary football coach, but also a pioneer in coaching philosophy. He is mainly remembered for his tenure as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1969 to 1989. During his time at Michigan, Schembechler led the Wolverines to 13 Big Ten Conference titles, but was unable to win the National Championship.

In 1987, he suffered a heart attack and soon after had to undergo quadruple bypass surgery. Despite his health issues, he continued to coach and led the Wolverines to victories in 1988 and 1989. Schembechler was known for his emphasis on physical conditioning, and for his famous ?Michigan Man? philosophy, which prioritized toughness, discipline, and the ability to bounce back from adversity. He remains an enduring figure in the world of college football, and his impact on the game is still felt today.

Answer: True

Jim Thorpe is considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, having excelled in multiple sports such as football, baseball, and track and field. He won two gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon events at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden.

In addition to his Olympic successes, Thorpe was also a standout football player. He played for the Canton Bulldogs, Rock Island Independents, and New York Giants, helping to popularize the sport during the early 20th century. Thorpe's achievements in multiple sports earned him inductions into three Halls of Fame: the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, and the National Native American Hall of Fame.

His legacy endures as a symbol of excellence and perseverance in athletic achievement.

Answer: True

Craig Kilborn is known for his time as a sports anchor on ESPN, but he also made a name for himself with his own late-night talk show, "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn." The show originally aired on Comedy Central in 1999 and then moved to CBS in 2005. Kilborn brought his unique humor and wit to interviews with celebrities and political figures, while also showcasing his love for sports with comedic segments like "Five Questions" and "Yambo." While he may no longer be in the late-night talk show circuit, Kilborn's time as a host on his own show solidified his place in television history.

Answer: 1972

Jack Nicklaus is widely considered one of the greatest golfers of all time, having won a record 18 major championships throughout his career. His fourth Masters Championship win, in 1972, was particularly significant as it solidified his status as the dominant force in the sport at the time. Nicklaus famously shot a final round 74, battling through difficult weather conditions to secure the victory by three strokes over Bruce Crampton and Bobby Mitchell. With this win, Nicklaus became the second player in history (after Arnold Palmer) to have won the Masters four times.

The victory also marked his seventh major championship overall, firmly establishing him as one of the sport's true icons.

Answer: True

Izzy, short for Whatizit, was the official mascot for the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia. Designed by children's book illustrator John Ryan, Izzy was a blue, iridescent, elf-like character with big eyes and a big head. He was meant to embody the spirit of the Olympic games and encourage children to be active and participate in sports.

Despite mixed reactions to his design, Izzy became a beloved figure of the games and continued to make appearances at various sporting events for years after the Olympics.

His name, Whatizit, was a play on the question "What Is It?" and his creators hoped he would inspire curiosity and excitement in children. The decision to have a mascot for the Olympics was a relatively new one, with the first Olympic mascot debuting in 1968 at the Grenoble Winter Olympics. Since then, mascots have become a beloved tradition and integral part of the Olympic games.

Answer: True

In 1998, a small town in New Jersey called Toms River became the talk of the Little League World Series after they emerged victorious against their rivals from Japan. This was a momentous occasion for the town as it marked the first time a team from New Jersey had ever won the prestigious international tournament.

The Toms River team was led by their coach, Mike Gaynor, who had instilled a winning mentality in his players through rigorous training and a never-say-die attitude. The team's success was all the more impressive when one considers that they had to overcome a number of challenges along the way, including a loss in the regional championships and a hard-fought semifinal against Panama.

But in the end, Toms River prevailed and etched their name into Little League history by becoming the champions of the world.