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Quiz about Stay in Your Seats
Quiz about Stay in Your Seats

Stay in Your Seats! Trivia Quiz


Sports are amazing spectacles to watch because they put the best athletes against each other, but occasionally fans get a little too into the game. These are some of the most famous instances of fan involvement.

A multiple-choice quiz by illiniman14. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
illiniman14
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
311,153
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
472
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. In 1993, one of the most harrowing incidents of fan interference hit the tennis world. An obsessed fan came out of the stands during a match between Monica Seles and Magdalena Maleeva, and stabbed the 19-year old Seles in the back with a 10-inch boning knife. Where did this horrendous assault take place? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. James Miller, nicknamed "Fan Man", made his name by parachuting into sporting events. Before he flew into an NFL game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Raiders and a World Cup soccer match in Bolton, England, he had already made his name. Whose boxing match did Miller interrupt by flying into Caesar's Palace on November 6, 1993? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The most famous city for fan involvement is Philadelphia, but for all the wrong reasons. The fans began their legend in 1968, when during halftime of an Eagles game against the Minnesota Vikings, they began to boo Santa Claus! At the peak of the ruckus, what were the Eagles fans throwing at Santa while he was in the end zone? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. In what is considered one of the ugliest moments of fan-player violence, "The Malice at the Palace", started as a game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, but ended in a fight between fans and players both on and off the court. After a cup of beer hit a Pacers player in the chest, two players went into the stands and began fighting fans who they (mistakenly) thought were responsible. Who were these two players? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. College sports are certainly not immune to fan interference. One example was on November 15, 2008, when a Colorado football fan forced Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson to call a timeout halfway through the 2nd quarter. What did the fan do to distract Robinson? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In a case that Chicago Cubs fans won't forget any time soon, Steve Bartman tried to catch a foul ball in the left field seats in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS between the Cubs and the Marlins. The only problem was that the Cubs' left fielder was also trying to catch the ball, and had he made the play the Cubs were only 4 outs from making the World Series. Who was the left fielder that was prevented from catching the ball? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. In the Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles, 12-year old Jeffrey Maier reached over the right field wall and deflected a fly ball into the stands. Unfortunately for Baltimore, the umpire ruled the play a home run and the game was then tied 4-4 in the bottom of the 8th inning. Who hit the "home run"? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In 2004, Cornelius Horan jumped out of the crowd during a marathon wearing a kilt and knee-high green socks and grabbed leader Vanderlei de Lima. Thanks to the intruder, Stefano Baldini was able to win the race, and de Lima was pushed back to third after getting back into the race. During what event did this happen? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. On September 9, 1989, a boxing match ended rather strangely. In the 3rd round, Steve McCarthy began pummeling Tony Wilson against the ropes, and the referee was about to stop the fight, but somebody interrupted the match. Who came into the ring to save Wilson? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Most instances of fan involvement in sports involve people who have no prior relationship with each other. An attack in 1994 did not fit this mold, as Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by Shane Stant, and Kerrigan was not able to compete in the 1994 Olympic trials due to her injured knee. Stant was hired to attack Kerrigan to benefit which other competitor? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In 1993, one of the most harrowing incidents of fan interference hit the tennis world. An obsessed fan came out of the stands during a match between Monica Seles and Magdalena Maleeva, and stabbed the 19-year old Seles in the back with a 10-inch boning knife. Where did this horrendous assault take place?

Answer: Hamburg, Germany

Monica Seles was in many experts' opinions, on her way to becoming the top women's tennis player in the world in 1993. In order to do that, she would have to take over reigning champ Steffi Graf's spot. An obsessed Graf fan, Günter Parche, leaned over the railing and plunged the knife into Seles' back during a break in the match. Seles did not return to tennis until over 2 years later, when she won the Canadian Open in August 1995.

After winning 8 Grand Slams before the attack, she only won the 1996 Australian Open afterwards.
2. James Miller, nicknamed "Fan Man", made his name by parachuting into sporting events. Before he flew into an NFL game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Raiders and a World Cup soccer match in Bolton, England, he had already made his name. Whose boxing match did Miller interrupt by flying into Caesar's Palace on November 6, 1993?

Answer: Holyfield v. Bowe

After 'Fan Man' flew into the 1993 heavyweight title bout, he quipped, "It was a heavyweight fight, and I was the only guy who got knocked out". In actuality, Miller really did get knocked unconscious after being pummeled by fans and security.
3. The most famous city for fan involvement is Philadelphia, but for all the wrong reasons. The fans began their legend in 1968, when during halftime of an Eagles game against the Minnesota Vikings, they began to boo Santa Claus! At the peak of the ruckus, what were the Eagles fans throwing at Santa while he was in the end zone?

Answer: Snowballs

On December 15, 1968, over 54,000 fans showed up at Franklin Field in Philadelphia to watch the 2-11 Eagles take on the Vikings. It had been snowing heavily the night before, and the man who was supposed to play Santa at halftime could not make it to the field. So, the entertainment director for the Eagles pulled Frank Olivo, dressed in a Santa costume out of the stands to walk around the field. Olivo finished in the end zone, where he got pelted with dozens of snowballs.

When asked if he wanted to do it again the next year, Olivo said, "No way. If it doesn't snow, they'll probably throw beer bottles".
4. In what is considered one of the ugliest moments of fan-player violence, "The Malice at the Palace", started as a game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, but ended in a fight between fans and players both on and off the court. After a cup of beer hit a Pacers player in the chest, two players went into the stands and began fighting fans who they (mistakenly) thought were responsible. Who were these two players?

Answer: Ron Artest & Stephen Jackson

The entire melee started after Ron Artest fouled Ben Wallace with 45.9 seconds left. Wallace shoved Artest, and both teams met near the scorer's table. Artest lied down on the table, only to be hit in the chest with a cup of beer. He and Stephen Jackson charged into the stands and began attacking the wrong fan.

When they finally got back on the court, two more fans confronted them. Artest punched one and knocked over the other, and when the latter attempted to get up, Jermaine O'Neal punched him in the jaw.

The remaining 45.9 seconds were voided and the Pacers won 97-82.
5. College sports are certainly not immune to fan interference. One example was on November 15, 2008, when a Colorado football fan forced Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson to call a timeout halfway through the 2nd quarter. What did the fan do to distract Robinson?

Answer: Shone a laser in his eyes

Just before Zac Robinson was about to call for a hike, a large green laser swept across his helmet and uniform, hitting him in the eyes. Distracted, he was forced to call a timeout. The next play, Robinson hit Dez Bryant for a 29-yard touchdown pass, and put OSU up 13-0. Oklahoma State went on to win the game 30-17, proving yet again that cheaters never win.
6. In a case that Chicago Cubs fans won't forget any time soon, Steve Bartman tried to catch a foul ball in the left field seats in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS between the Cubs and the Marlins. The only problem was that the Cubs' left fielder was also trying to catch the ball, and had he made the play the Cubs were only 4 outs from making the World Series. Who was the left fielder that was prevented from catching the ball?

Answer: Moises Alou

Following the "Bartman incident", the Cubs went on to give up 8 runs in the 8th inning (only 2 of them earned) and lost the game 8-3. While Cubs fans were quick to blame Bartman entirely for the loss, they were still up 3-1 with 1 out when shortstop Alex Gonzalez booted a double play ball only two batters later.

The Cubs would then lose Game 7, and the Marlins won the World Series over the New York Yankees.
7. In the Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles, 12-year old Jeffrey Maier reached over the right field wall and deflected a fly ball into the stands. Unfortunately for Baltimore, the umpire ruled the play a home run and the game was then tied 4-4 in the bottom of the 8th inning. Who hit the "home run"?

Answer: Derek Jeter

Thanks in no small part to Jeff Maier's actions in Game 1 as the Yankees beat the Orioles in extra innings. Eventually the Yankees would win the series 4-1, and later won the World Series over the Atlanta Braves. Maier became a local celebrity, even earning the Key to the City from Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

In 2006, Maier tried out for the Yankees following a successful career at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, but did not make the team.
8. In 2004, Cornelius Horan jumped out of the crowd during a marathon wearing a kilt and knee-high green socks and grabbed leader Vanderlei de Lima. Thanks to the intruder, Stefano Baldini was able to win the race, and de Lima was pushed back to third after getting back into the race. During what event did this happen?

Answer: Olympic Marathon

Cornelius Horan, a defrocked Irish Roman Catholic priest, jumped out of the crowd during the Olympic marathon run and pulled de Lima into the stunned onlookers. It was not Horan's first run-in on a major race - he jumped into the 2003 British Grand Prix, causing cars to swerve around him. Horan also planned a protest at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where he would carry posters proclaiming "Adolf Hitler was a good leader who was following the word of Christ".

He was arrested by German police before beginning the protest.
9. On September 9, 1989, a boxing match ended rather strangely. In the 3rd round, Steve McCarthy began pummeling Tony Wilson against the ropes, and the referee was about to stop the fight, but somebody interrupted the match. Who came into the ring to save Wilson?

Answer: His mother

Mina Wilson, Tony's mother, came storming into the ring to save her son when he was surely going to lose. McCarthy was hit on the head multiple times by Mina, who was swinging her stilettos at him. McCarthy refused to continue the fight, and Wilson was declared the winner by TKO.
10. Most instances of fan involvement in sports involve people who have no prior relationship with each other. An attack in 1994 did not fit this mold, as Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by Shane Stant, and Kerrigan was not able to compete in the 1994 Olympic trials due to her injured knee. Stant was hired to attack Kerrigan to benefit which other competitor?

Answer: Tonya Harding

Nancy Kerrigan was allowed to take Michelle Kwan's spot on the Olympic team, despite not taking part in the trials. Kerrigan took the silver medal at the 1994 Olympics to Oksana Baiul's gold. Tonya Harding finished 8th overall, and maintained her innocence, despite helping to cover it up. Harding was stripped of her title won at the US Figure Skating Championships (the event at which Kerrigan was attacked) and resigned from the USFSA.
Source: Author illiniman14

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