The Runner-Up Trivia Quiz

Answer: Chicago

None of the Chicago teams reached the pinnacles of their sport in 1989, but each was eliminated in the game before. In January of 1989, the San Francisco 49ers won in Chicago 28-3 in the NFC Championship game leading the 49ers to a decisive 55-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Superbowl XXIV. Later that year, the Chicago Blackhawks lost 4-1 to the Calgary Flames in the Western Conference Finals before the Flames would hoist the Stanley Cup with a win over the Montreal Canadians.

The Chicago Bulls followed suit with a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals before the Pistons won their second NBA title in a row, 4-1 over the Portland Trailblazers.

It was the Bulls third straight loss to the Pistons in the Eastern Finals and the fourth straight season that the Pistons ended their season. Finally, in the National League Championship, baseball's Chicago Cubs were beaten 4-1 by the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants went on to get swept 4-0 by the Oakland A's in a "battle of the bay" series that was remembered for an earthquake that struck during the warm ups for game 3, delaying the series.

Answer: True

Shaquille O'Neal's first NBA Finals appearance was with the Orlando Magic in 1995 and the Houston Rockets summarily swept them, 4-0. The Rockets were a 6 seed and did not have home court advantage in any series including the finals.

Answer: False

This was actually GAME 6 of the World Series. The Red Sox took the first two games at Shea Stadium and looked like a lock before losing 2 of 3 at Fenway Park. Then the champagne was on ice in the locker room in Game 6 before Buckner's blunder allowed the Mets to score and stay alive and force a 7th game. The Red Sox led that game 3-0 as well before succumbing to the New York Mets 4-3.

Answer: None of them did

All these teams had 0-4 Super Bowl records at one time. The Minnesota Vikings lost SB IV to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-7, SB VIII to the Miami Dolphins 24-7, SB IX to the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-6, and SB XI to the Oakland Raiders 32-14. The Buffalo Bills have the dubious distinction of losing 4 straight Super Bowls: 20-19 to the New York Giants in SB XXV, 37-24 to the Washington Redskins in SB XXVI, 52-17 to the Dallas Cowboys in SB XVII, and 30-13 to the Dallas Cowboys again in SB XXVIII.

The Broncos lost SB XII to the Dallas Cowboys 27-10 and reappeared 9 years later in a 39-20 loss to the New York Giants in SB XXI.

They returned the following year to lose SB XXII to the Washington Redskins 42-10 and then two years later, lost to the San Francisco 49ers 55-10 in SB XXIV.

The Broncos did win SB XXXII over the Green Bay Packers 31-24 and SB XXXIII over the Atlanta Falcons 31-19 however, to erase some of the memories of the earlier defeats.

Answer: Vancouver Canucks

A nail biting Eastern Conference Finals comeback over the New Jersey Devils left many Rangers' fans with their hearts in their throats. The Canucks took the first game of the series in New York, but the Rangers responded by winning the next three, including two in Vancouver.

They returned home to Madison Square Garden for Game 5, hoping to end the series, but lost 6-3. A trip back up to Vancouver ended in a loss and the familiar chants of 1940 were heard again. However, in an exciting 7th game, the Rangers finally erased their demons with a 3-2 win.

Answer: Tennessee Titans

Kevin Dyson of the Titans was caught on the one-yard line in St. Louis territory as time expired. All other choices here were teams that won or lost on a field goal with no time remaining: Jim O'Brian kicked the winning 32 yard field goal to give the Baltimore Colts a 16-13 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Scott Norwood missed a 47 yard field goal, preserving the New York Giants 20-19 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV. Adam Viniteri kicked a 48 yard field goal to give the New England Patriots a 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Answer: False

Either the Celtics or the Lakers were INVOLVED in every series between 1980-1989, but there were other winners and losers. The Philadelphia 76ers lost to the L.A. Lakers in 1980 and 1982 and defeated the L.A. Lakers in 1983. The Boston Celtics defeated the Houston Rockets in 1981 and 1986.

The Detroit Pistons lost to the L.A. Lakers in 1988 and defeated them in 1989. 1984 had the Boston Celtics defeat the L.A. Lakers, while 1985 and 1987 had the L.A. Lakers return the favor to Boston.

Answer: Missouri

The Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals met in the 1985 World Series and were already bitter rivals due to their close proximity. Both resided in the state of Missouri, so some of the state rejoiced while some of the state hung their heads. The Cardinals had won 9 of 13 Fall Classics while the Royals were still attempting to win their first.

The Cardinals grabbed the first two games in Kansas City, Missouri and bragging rites certainly seemed as if they would belong to the Cards. However, the Royals won 2 of 3 in Busch Memorial Stadium (in St. Louis, Missouri), before returning to Kauffman stadium where the Royals tied it at 3-3.

The Royals won their first title in Game 7 crowning them as comeback kings as they had survived a 3-1 deficit to the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Pennant and a 3-1 deficit in the World Series. Kansas City is not in Kansas as you have probably figured out by now if you guessed Kansas.

Answer: All were swept 4-0

For four years in a row, the NHL Stanley Cup Finals were not very competitive. The New Jersey Devils swept the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings in 1995. The Colorado Avalanche swept the Cinderella storied Florida Panthers in 1996, turning their chariot back into a pumpkin. The Detroit Red Wings then returned to the Finals sweeping the Flyers and Capitals in back to back years.

Answer: New York Yankees

There was no loser in MLB in 1994 as the World Series was cancelled due to a MLB players strike. This left an ugly shadow on baseball.

Answer: San Antonio Spurs

The L.A. Lakers made good on Pat Riley's guarantee in 1988 by defeating the Detroit Pistons 4-3. The Pistons won the next two NBA Finals only to have the Chicago Bulls, with Michael Jordan aboard, win the next 3. Michael Jordan spent most of the next two years in baseball's minor leagues with the Birmingham Barons, while the Houston Rockets won back to back championships. Michael Jordan returned to the Bulls in time for a second three-peat. Both of these were accomplished with Phil Jackson as coach.

In 1999, the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Finals over the New York Knicks 4-1 in a strike-shortened season. (Phil Jackson is on record stating that there should be an asterisk next to the Spurs name in the record book). Phil Jackson, who was now the coach of the L.A. Lakers, won his third three-peat as the Lakers were the toast of the NBA through 2002.

The Spurs did win the 2003 NBA Finals over the New Jersey Nets, 4-2 to claim a second title in five years.

Answer: Mitch Williams

With the Blue Jays leading the series 3-2 and heading back to the Toronto Sky Dome, the Phillies lead game 6 by the score of 6-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Mitch Williams already had had a shaky series but was their top reliever and was sent in to close out the Blue Jays and force a seventh game. After the 3 run blast and cheering crowds, Mitch Williams never seemed the same.

Answer: Scott Norwood

Scott Norwood missed a 47 yard field goal as the New York Giants held on to defeat the Buffalo Bills 20-19. The Bills would go on to lose the next three Super Bowls. Who knows what would have occurred had that kick gone through the uprights in the Bills legacy?

Answer: Flyers

In 1987: The Washington Redskins scored 35 points in the 2nd quarter en route to a 42-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII, the Minnesota Twins won a thrilling 4-3 World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the NBA Finals and the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in an exciting Stanley Cup Final.

Answer: 1982

In January of 1982, Joe Montana won the first of his four Super Bowl rings, 26-21 over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI, the New York Islanders swept the Vancouver Canucks 4-0, the St. Louis Cardinals won a hard fought World Series 4-3 over the Milwaukee Brewers, and the L.A. Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2.