Only A Real Sports Fan Can Score Over 75% On This Test
- by Dylan Jacob
- – on
- in Sports
October is a fun time to be a sports fan. Your baseball team has most likely already been knocked out of the postseason if they even made it, your football team may have called their season quits, your basketball team is probably suffering major injuries, and unless you're an Oilers fan, what fun is there in hockey?
Today, we're going to quiz your sports knowledge not on how well you know baseball's rules or how to score an NFL game, but on sports events and facts. How many MVP awards did this player win? When did this athlete win a championship and if he had more than one, how many did he finish with?
For this one, the only real ground rule is that we're looking at things that have mostly happened from 2000-2017, although some athletes may have played in the 1990s. This isn't the type of quiz that's going to ask you how many NFL players have participated in anthem protests or how many managers have been fired across baseball since 2007, but it's a fairly basic quiz for any sports fan.
If that all sounds good, grab whatever piece of sports equipment you need, pick your favorite Gatorade flavor, and let's discuss modern day sports.
How many MVPs did Kobe Bryant win?
While today's NBA could certainly use Kobe Bryant in his prime, if only for his deadpan snarks about how the game is evolving, his recent transition into social media advisor seems to be more than enough. From challenging other NBA players to accomplish certain goals to appearing on TNT's broadcasts, Bryant has stayed close to the game he loved and continues to win over more fans. When Bryant retired in early 2016, how many MVP awards did he finish his career with?
The following team does not have a Super Bowl title
Compared to every other league and their championship series, the Super Bowl almost feels like a newborn infant at 52 years old this upcoming winter. Pittsburgh, Dallas, San Francisco, and New England have all dominated the most popular night of the year in the past 50+ years, so it shouldn't be a surprise there's still a fair number of teams who have yet to claim the Lombardi Trophy of their own. Which of the following teams, as of 2017, are still chasing a Super Bowl title?
True or False: Alex Rodriguez was named Rookie of the Year
How many athletes have gone from universal icon and face of the sport to reviled villain that said league tries to exile...and then finish their career as a fan favorite both on the field and on TV? Alex Rodriguez's journey over the past two decades is a work even Shakespeare might have deemed unrealistic, but things seem to have worked out for the potential future Hall of Famer. When Rodriguez was a young shortstop in Seattle, did he win Rookie of the Year?
This rapper attempted his hands at an NBA career
With how often he's around the NBA, I won't be surprised if Drake eventually lands a tryout with the Toronto Raptors and suits up for a meaningless game, but there once was a rapper who legitimately tried to play in the association...and, he did! Well, he played in scrimmages and preseason games, but to go from the studio to playing alongside of the greatest basketball players in the world is fantastic. Can you tell us which of the following rappers accomplished that feat?
Nick Saban was the head coach of this NFL team
From calling the media "rat poison" to chewing out Lane Kiffin for simply being Lane Kiffin, Nick Saban has almost become a cult hero among college football fans - and turning the Crimson Tide into a legitimate collegiate dynasty surely helps his case. Every year, rumors pop up of Saban leaving college football to return to the NFL pop up - wait, return to the NFL? Yes, Saban actually was the head coach of an NFL team, but do you remember which one?
How many championships does Michael Jordan have?
Don't let the Crying Jordan meme fool you into thinking Michael Jordan was by any stretch of the imagination overrated or mediocre. Possibly the most influential player in NBA history (Stephen Curry is making his own case), Jordan remains the greatest of all time in many people's eyes. Part of what separates LeBron James from Jordan in the GOAT argument is the latter's championship total, one LeBron has yet to eclipse as of 2017. How many championships did Michael Jordan win?
The Cubs fan who caught the foul ball was named...
With a rare exception, the majority of times when fans get national attention are either when they make a major mistake (i.e. interference), get into a fight, or are Marlins Man. For this Cubs fan, he falls into the category of making a major mistake, reaching for a foul ball in the 2003 National League Championship Series that some believe prevented Chicago left fielder Moises Alou from making a catch. Five outs from the World Series, the Cubs bullpen blew a lead after this play and lost Game 7 as well. Who was this fan?
How many MVPs did Peyton Manning win?
For nearly two decades, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning utilized a love for audibles, brilliant field awareness, and an ability to make any receiver look like the next Jerry Rice to win two Super Bowls and multiple MVP awards. While some of those awards may have been a bit dubious, The Sheriff still has earned his statue outside Lucas Oil Stadium and a Hall of Fame induction in the coming years. How many regular season MVP awards did Manning finish with?
Which of these players was not named NBA Rookie of the Year?
Milwaukee Bucks rising star Malcolm Brogdon may have been the strangest Rookie of the Year winner last season, coming from nowhere as a second-round pick in a weak season for first-year players. Brogdon deserved the award by far, but more often than not, NBA fans tend to have two or three names who are locks for the Rookie of the Year each season; this year, the consensus seems to be the Lakers' Lonzo Ball or the Sixers' Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons. Which of these players (surprisingly) did not win ROY?
How many championships does Wayne Gretzky have?
The greatest hockey player to take the ice? You'll have some fans that will still contest Bobby Orr, but Gretzky remains a highlight to watch all of these years after his retirement (and a forgettable coaching stint in Phoenix). If Gretzky isn't your vote for the best player of all time, let us know who is. When all was said and done with Gretzky's career, how many Stanley cups did the NHL Hall of Famer win? Enough to make him the GOAT, many say.
How many championships did the Los Angeles Lakers win from 1999-2017?
Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and the Los Angeles Lakers may be in a rebuilding state now, but fans who only recently started watching the NBA when Stephen Curry's Splash Brothers took over the association would be surprised to learn the Lakers were a dynasty not too long ago. Behind Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and current coach Luke Walton, the Lakers were able to win these many titles in the past two decades. In other words, how many titles did Kobe win?
What was Derek Jeter's final career hit?
When Derek Jeter retired in 2014, there was some talk he was among the top three shortstops in baseball history. Now, as baseball has moved on from the RE2PECT farewell tour and gone over the advanced stats, Jeter's legacy is certainly undisputed, but arguments have arisen over Jeter's place on the shortstop list. Still, Jeter went out with a bang in his final season, winning his final home game with a walk-off single and recording this type of hit in his final career at-bat at Fenway Park.
How many points did Kobe Bryant score in his final game?
Farewell tours for athletes have become the norm in today's sports world, but what Kobe Bryant did in his final game last April remains legendary. Derek Jeter had a walk-off hit in his final home game and Peyton Manning retired after winning a Super Bowl, but for Bryant to take the floor in his final career game and score bucket after bucket against the Utah Jazz only felt right. Bryant took more shots than he probably should have, yes, but how many points did Kobe finish with?
Which season did the NHL lockout?
How did the NHL go from such a popular sport to one that many people wouldn't touch in the years before Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel? Losing an entire season to a lockout - not the 2012-13 one that was resolved and led to a strike-shortened season - in the 2000s is partially to blame. Even now, we're left asking ourselves how losing an entire season and the income that came with it was possible, but in this year, all fans felt was outrage.
The NFL and NBA both had a lockout in....
While the NHL lost an entire season because of a lockout, both the NBA and NFL came close in the same year. Players wanted more money and more benefits, the owners wanted to keep things the way they were, and all four sides battled before reaching resolutions; the NFL played all 16 games but had a shortened training camp, while the NBA lost 16 games and began their season on Christmas. Which year did both of these lockouts take place?
Which team did Terrell Owens NOT play a regular season game for?
You can cross the Dallas Cowboys off that list, but this should be an easy question for any Terrell Owens fan. Not unlike Cris Carter, all T.O. did was catch touchdowns, but the future Hall of Famer has yet to earn his spot in Canton as several voters have been open about the receiver's attitude issues, media battles, and perhaps being slightly overrated by the same people casting those votes. If Canton had jerseys on their Hall of Fame busts, you wouldn't see T.O. rock this jersey...
This quarterback does not have a Heisman Trophy
To this point, no player has won a Heisman Trophy twice - Louisville's Lamar Jackson may have a case for a second this season, but he'd need a strong final few weeks - and these quarterbacks are no exception to the rule. Actually, one of these quarterbacks never even won a Heisman Trophy before graduating to the NFL, surprising as that is given their hype and collegiate success. Do you remember which quarterback it was? Hint: he still was a first-round pick regardless.
True or False: All 30 MLB teams have made the playoffs since 2000
Critics may claim baseball to be slow and boring, but what the sport always gets critical acclaim for is its parity. With the Chicago Cubs' NLCS loss, that ensures no team will have repeated as World Series champions since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees. Parity has struck the league hard, but have all of the league's 30 teams made the playoffs in the past 18 seasons? Because the Expos relocated and turned into the Nationals, the Expos/Nationals are counted as one team here.
Which season saw Patriots quarterback Tom Brady tear his ACL?
If Patriots coach Bill Belichick gets any serious hate or criticism for being a "system coach", fans almost always point to this moment as the reason why he's among the greatest coaches in NFL history. Losing Tom Brady in the season opener, Belichick still guided the Patriots to an 11-5 season and a near-playoff berth if the math went their way. That same season saw an 8-8 and a 9-7 team make the playoffs in the NFL, so Belichick had reason to be upset in....
Colin Kaepernick began his national anthem protest in...
We're not going to editorialize or heavily discuss Colin Kaepernick, but we will ask when his national anthem protest happened. Though recent protests have been from everything about Donald Trump to the government as a whole, Kaepernick decided to kneel for the anthem to protest police brutality and raise awareness for that issue. Since his initial protest, Kaepernick has devoted his time to assisting young black men and trying to make a difference in the United States. When did Kaepernick's anthem protest begin?
How many MVP awards does LeBron James have as of 2017?
How will LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers fare with Kyrie Irving now in Boston and Kevin Love upset about a transition to center? If the Cavs' early play is to go off of, LeBron and friends should be fine so long as King James doesn't suffer a Gordon Hayward-esque injury. With the MVP contest so wide open this season, James may not add to his current total, but adding another title remains the priority. How many regular season MVPs has James won to this point?
Of NCAA basketball teams to win titles since 2000, this team is not on there...
In the same way that a fair number of NBA fans say they don't care until the playoffs start, the same can be said for college basketball and March Madness. What once was 64 teams fighting for a championship has now blossomed into 68 featuring one of the craziest four day stretches across any sport. Who will cut down the buckets at the end of this season? Well, one of these teams has yet to do it since we hit the 2000s - who is it?
Which NFL team did Donald Trump nearly buy in 2014?
Regardless of what side you fall under on the political spectrum, imagine how different things would be if Donald Trump went into the NFL rather than into the 2016 election. Who would Trump have as his coach? Would Trump try his business tactics when it came to signing free agents and drafting? Believe it or not, Trump came extremely close to becoming an NFL owner in 2014 but passed up on the opportunity when it became too expensive. What team was this?
True or False: Tom Brady has thrown for over 500 yards in a game
500 yards in a game may not seem like much in today's pass-happy NFL, but the list of quarterbacks who have accomplished the feat remains fairly slim. Some of the more notable quarterbacks NOT in the 500 yard club but came extremely close? Jake Plummer (499), Kurt Warner (484), Aaron Rodgers (480), and Peyton Manning (472). Then, you have guys like Vince Ferragamo and Elvis Grbac who randomly joined the club. Is Tom Brady one of those players, or is he still on the outside looking in?
True or False: Ken Griffey Jr. finished with over 660 home runs
During his prime in the 1990s, it seemed like a legitimate bet that Seattle Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. was going to at least join the 700 home run club. Alas, Griffey finished short of that mark in a club that only Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Barry Bonds occupy, but The Kid still had no problems getting to 600 home runs. Was Griffey able to pass Hall of Famer Willie Mays, who ended his career with 660 homers, on the all-time list?
This former New Orlean Saint has become a hero for both his on-field heroics and his fight with ALS
"Life is difficult. Not just for me or other ALS patients. Life is difficult for everyone. Finding ways to make life meaningful and purposeful and rewarding, doing the activities that you love and spending time with the people that you love - I think that's the meaning of this human experience." - the player in question, who has blocked punts and battled the tragic disease in his time on this planet and is still going strong. Do you know which player we're talking about?
This MLB star did not reach the 3,000 hit club
Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre joined the 3,000 hit club this summer and, along with Los Angeles Angels DH Albert Pujols, is likely among the last to reach that number for the foreseeable future. Among active players, only Carlos Beltran (275 away) and Miguel Cabrera (264) are within 300 hits, while Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano is a little over 600 away but turned 35 on the 22nd. Which of the following MLB players did not join the 3,000 hit club?
How many NBA titles did Shaquille O'Neal win?
Whether he's throwing jabs at current players on TNT or starring in insurance commercials for The General after replacing the penguin (get low rates from an army guy, as Family Guy pt it best), Shaquille O'Neal has remained extremely relevant in today's NBA. One of the greatest centers of all-time - and there's a legitimate case for him as the best of the modern game - how many titles did Shaq Diesel walk away with? Hint: he didn't win one with the general.
How many NFL teams did Deion Sanders play for?
It's prime time, baby. From the same two-sport athlete who said, "If you look good, you feel good, If you feel good, you play good, If you play good, they pay good", Sanders has joined his fellow 1990s stars in making bold TV takes and starring in other advertisements for stuff, things, and thangs. Best known for his time with the Dallas Cowboys, how many teams did Sanders play for in his career? And when we ask that, we mean NFL teams, not MLB teams.
This NBA player never was an NBA 2K cover athlete
Though NBA 2K has come under fire of late for a heavy devotion to pay-to-play and their virtual currency, fans still call it the premier basketball simulation on the court. Kobe Bryant, seen here in NBA 2K16, is one of many retired players to appear in this year's game as a legend; Bryant also donned the covers of NBA 2K10 and NBA 2K17's special editions. Which of the following NBA stars, as surprising as this may seem, never was a 2K cover athlete?
Who holds the all-time postseason home run record?
Yankees star Aaron Judge may have hit several long home runs this postseason, but he's still a numbers away from reaching the record set by one of the following players. It should be no surprise this comes down to players from the Yankees and Red Sox, but all four of these players had some major, major home runs over the years. With the Yankees primed for more postseason berths in the next decade, Judge may wind up surpassing this player for the record.
True or False: Advanced sports stats are known as sabermetrics
Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics made advanced stats popular in the mainstream, but teams have been using variations of them for years. On-base percentage is technically one, as are stats that tell you the average yard per rush for a running back. They may not seem like advanced stats, but they're ones involving math that help determine how good a player is, right? You don't need to have seen Moneyball to tell us if advanced stats, for the most part, are known as sabermetrics.
When did Tim Tebow win the Heisman Trophy?
Now playing baseball and serving as a college football broadcaster on ESPN, it can become easy to forget how electric Tim Tebow was while playing for the Florida Gators from 2006-09. Tebow could run, he could make passing plays, and he had the positive charisma and personality that inspired an entire fanbase. By the time Tebow graduated, he walked to the NFL in 2010 with two national championships and a Heisman Trophy. When was it that Tebow was awarded college football's most prestigious honor?
How many MLB stadiums opened from 2000-09?
With expansion and a heavier income stream came the ability for more and more teams to build new stadiums during the 1990s and early 2000s. Did you know that only five current stadiums are older than 1990? Even the New York Yankees, who had made major alterations to The House That Ruth Built in the mid 1970s, went with a new stadium that opened in 2009 - and yes, we just gave you one of the answers. Can you figure out the exact total with Yankee Stadium III factored in?
True or False: The MLB, NFL, and NBA all have had teams set the lowest single-season winning percentage since 2000
Each of these sports have had record-setting (or record-tying) winners since 2000 - MLB had the 2001 Seattle Mariners, who tied a record with 116 regular season wins; the NFL had the undefeated New England Patriots in 2007; and the NBA had the 73-9 Warriors in 2015-16 - but what about the other side of the scoreboard? Have each of these leagues seen teams set the lowest single-season winning percentage? Make sure to think hard on this one because the teams involved may surprise you.