Bored at home during no-sports coronavirus threat? Accept this challenge. I dare you. | Opinion
You are at home, social distancing against the coronavirus threat. You need a break from online, from binge-watching. You finished Tiger King. You’re caught up on my new podcast (!). You’re a sports fan lost in the abyss of no live sports.
Now what?
I’m here for you, fellow pandemic fighter.
I present to you the ultimate all-time South Florida major sports trivia challenge.
Do you dare? Are you good enough?
Warning: The is not beginner’s level. If you’re expecting, “What NBA star took his talents to South Beach in 2010?” you better leave now while you still can. This is a challenge. It is difficult.
Gather all of the sports fans under your roof or go on Zoom with friends and make a game of it. This is geared to greater Miami sports but you can create a challenge of your own for your city and your teams. Answers are at the very bottom here but no peeking, no cheating. Smart phones off. No Googling!
Let us begin:
1. In the Dolphins’ first game ever (1966), as Joe Auer famously returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, what then-famous comedian/actor and Fins part owner joyously ran along the sideline along with Auer?
2. The Miami Floridians (later the Floridians) played four seasons (1968-72) in the old ABA. Who was that franchise’s all-time leader in total points scored?
3. Hialeah-born Charlie Hough famously was starting pitcher in the Marlins’ first game (1993). But who was the leadoff hitter who had the first franchise at-bat?
4. What was Miami’s first ever professional sports team, and in what league did it play?
5. What four men are the all-time franchise leaders in Dolphins TDs scored, Panthers goals, Marlins hits and Heat three-point field goals?
6. Who was the most famous horse to win the Florida Derby and then go on to win the Kentucky Derby?
7. The Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL from 1977 to 1983 were the most prominent pro soccer team here before the MLS’ Miami Fusion and now Inter Miami. But what team team directly preceded the Strikers?
8. What was the name of South Florida’s foray into World Team Tennis?
9. Who have been the Dolphins’ only two overall No. 1 draft picks?
10. Though he played only eight games here, in 1993-94, who has been the tallest player in Heat history?
11. Who have been the starting quarterbacks in the five national championships won by the Hurricanes?
12. What was the name and league of the hockey team, predating the Florida Panthers, that signed NHL stars Bernie Parent and Derek Sanderson for its inaugural season here?
13. After moving from the Orange Bowl, who was the Dolphins’ starting quarterback in team’s first home victory in the new Joe Robbie Stadium?
14. Who have won the most men’s and women’s singles titles in the 35-year history of the Miami Open tennis tournament?
15. The event no longer exists, but who won the first Doral Open golf tournament on the famed “Blue Monster” in 1962?
16. Homestead-Miami Speedway hosted 18 consecutive NASCAR season championship races from 2002 to 2019. Who won the most of them?
17. Who is the most recent Dolphins-drafted player to make the Pro Bowl more than once for Miami?
18. Why is a person named Adam Greenberg in this trivia challenge?
19. What Miami pro team was named after a restaurant chain?
20. Why was Miami Beach the center of the sports world on February 25, 1964?
21. Who has coached more Hurricanes football games than any other head coach?
22. Who were the first future Hall of Famers to wear a Dolphins, Marlins, Heat and Panthers uniform?
23. Which Marlins managers have managed in at least 500 games?
24. The original Miami Marlins were a Triple A International League team from 1956 to 1960. Who was, by most estimation, their most notable player?
25. What Heat player’s name was misspelled on the arena jumbo screen at the team’s 2018 home opener?
I knew around 15, including lucky guesses, before research.
How did you do?
ANSWERS:
1. Danny Thomas; 2. Donnie Freeman; 3. Scott Pose; 4. Miami Seahawks played one season, 1946, in All-America Football Conference; 5. Mark Clayton, Olli Jokinen, Luis Castillo and Tim Hardaway; 6. Spectacular Bid in 1979; 7. The Miami Gatos/Toros played in NASL from 1972 to 1976 before relocating to Lauderdale; 8. Miami Beach-based Florida Flamingos played in WTT’s inaugural season, 1974, before folding; 9. Jake Long in 2008 and Jim Grabowski in 1966; 10. Manute Bol at 7-7; 11. Bernie Kosar (1983), Steve Walsh (1987), Craig Erickson (1989), Gino Torretta (1991) and Ken Dorsey (2001); 12. Miami Screaming Eagles were charter franchise in new WHA in 1972, but never played a game due to issues finding suitable arena; 13. Kyle Mackey, a “replacement player,” during brief players strike of 1987; 14. Serena Williams (8) and Andre Agassi and Novak Djokovic (both 6); 15. Billy Casper; 16. Jimmie Johnson (7); 17. Jarvis Landry in 2014; 18. Marlins signed Greenberg to one-day contract in 2012 so he could get his only official major-league at-bat; 19. Miami Hooters were Arena Football League team from 1993 to 1995; 20. Cassius Clay (soon to be Muhammad Ali) won by technical knockout over Sonny Liston in stunning upset; 21. Andy Gustafson, 161 games from 1948-63; 22. Bob Griese (1967), Trevor Hoffman (1993), Alonzo Mourning (1995) and Pavel Bure (1998); 23. Don Mattingly (646), Jack McKeon (560), Fredi Gonzalez (555) and Rene Lachemann (506); 24. Leroy (Satchel) Paige; 25. Dwyane Wade’s first name appeared as “Dywane.”
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 2:05 PM.
