Sports Mix Alphabetically - the N's Quiz

Answer: Joe Namath

Namath was drafted out of Alabama by both the St Louis Cardinals of the NFL the New York Jets of the AFL in 1965. He decided to sign for the Jets, and won the AFL Rookie of the Year Award in his first season. The 1968-69 season saw him lead his team all the way to the Super Bowl, where they faced the heavily-favoured Baltimore Colts. Namath fulfilled his brash pre-match prediction by leading the Jets to a 16-7 upset victory in Miami.

Answer: Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest was struggling in the second tier of English football when Clough took over in 1975. He led them to the second division title in 1976-77, and then to the championship of the top tier the following season. Their first venture into the European Champions Cup was a triumphant one, Malmo FF of Sweden being defeated in the final in Munich. Twelve months later, Germany's Hamburg SV was beaten in the final in Madrid.

Answer: Netball

Netball evolved from basketball in the last decade of the 19th century, and is a sport normally played by females. Teams consist of seven players, each of whom is designated a certain position, which limits the part of the court they are allowed to enter. Four yearly World Championships were introduced in 1963, with Australia and New Zealand dominating the event in the 20th century.

Answer: Jack Nicklaus

Nicklaus, from Columbus, Ohio, won two US Amateur Championships before turning pro in 1961. His first major soon followed when he defeated Arnold Palmer in a playoff to win the 1962 US Open at Oakmont. He won his first Masters and first USPGA in 1963, and his first British Open in 1966.

His final major was the 1986 Masters when he defeated Tom Kite and Greg Norman by a single shot to become the oldest-ever winner of the event at age 46.

Answer: New York Rangers

The NHL comprised just six teams between 1942 and 1967. The New York Rangers was one of thse teams, alongside the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs. The New York Islanders joined the league in 1972, the New Jersey Devils in 1974 under their original name of Kansas City Scouts, and the Nashville Predators in 1998.

Answer: Martina Navratilova

Navratilova was born in the former Czechoslovakia in 1956, and defected to the USA in 1975. She won the first of a record nine Wimbledon crowns in 1978, defeating Chris Evert in the final. Her first of three Australian Open titles came along in 1981. In 1982, she won the first of her two French Opens.

She completed the full set in 1983, winning the first of four US Open crowns. In addition to her singles success, she also won 31 Grand Slam women's doubles and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles for an overall 59 Grand Slam titles.

Answer: Nebraska

Based in the state capital of Lincoln, the University of Nebraska was a member of the Big 12 Conference until 2011 when they moved to the Big Ten. The school is most famous, in sporting terms, for its American football team, which won five National Championships in the 20th century.

Other sports in which the school have been crowned national champs include women's volleyball, men's gymnastics, and women's track and field.

Answer: Paavo Nurmi

Born in Finland in 1897, Nurmi made his Olympic debut at Antwerp in 1920, winning gold in the 10,000m, and both the individual and team cross country events. Four years later in Paris, he won no fewer than five gold medals in the 1500m, the 5000m, the team and individual cross country events, and the team 3000m.

His Olympic swan song came in Amsterdam in 1928, where he won gold in the 10,0000m. He would have defended his 10,000m title in Los Angeles in 1932, but was banned for professionalism.

Answer: Hal Newhouser

Newhouser was born in Detroit, and signed for his hometown team in 1939. He won his first MVP Award in 1944, but the highlight of his career came the following season, throwing a Triple Crown on his way to a second MVP accolade. His heroics continued into the postseason, winning two games as the Tigers defeated the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series in seven games.

He remained with the Tigers until 1953, then finished his career with two seasons in Cleveland, helping them to the 1954 AL pennant. Unfortunately for Newhouser, a second World Series ring wasn't to be, as the New York Giants defeated the Indians in the Fall Classic.

Answer: Newmarket

The first recorded horse race in Newmarket took place in the 12th century, and the Suffolk town's racecourse nowadays hosts two of the five English classics, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas. As well as the Jockey Club and National Stud, the town is home to the horse auctioneers Tattersalls, and to the National Horseracing Museum.