# One of the best sports trivia questions I've ever heard...give it a shot! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 8, 2001, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261 "2001-11-08T20:03:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/1 "2001-11-08T20:03:52Z")
Here’s the question: There have been a total of 9 sports figures (singular or plural) that have been on the covers of _Sports Illustrated, Time,_ and _Newsweek_ in THE SAME WEEK. Name them, and bonus points if you can name what event warranted the publicity. This isn’t easy. The ones that probably jump out at you as being easy are not even correct. After about 100 wrong guesses, I had gotten seven of them. Now, the disclaimer: Someone ran this question by me last night at a bar – I have not verified his answers – but he was very sports knowledgeable and seemed confident. I’ll tell you how many you have right (but not which ones) to start with. If it drags on too long, then I’ll tell you which ones are correct. Now, have at it! ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/2 "2001-11-08T20:06:29Z")
Two other things…If you already know the answer, don’t spoil it. And don’t cheat! Looking for answers on the web is no fun! ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/3 "2001-11-08T20:07:20Z")
Here’s one guess: 1. Jesse Owens ---
**Author:** ![uberDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f04885/32.png) [@uberDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uberDave)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/4 "2001-11-08T20:20:36Z")
1. Magic Johnson anouncing he was HIV positive. 2. Curt Flood decision breaking baseball anti-trust exemption (partially) 3. Jackie Robinson playing in major league baseball. 4. Mark McGwire 70 home run season. 5. Mohommed Ali/Cassius Clay refusing to serve in the armed forces. Any of these correct? ---
**Author:** ![uberDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f04885/32.png) [@uberDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uberDave)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/5 "2001-11-08T20:22:36Z")
Here’s another guess. 1. USA Olympic hockey team winning gold metal in 1980. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/6 "2001-11-08T20:28:00Z")
Hamlet, sorry. uberDave, you have 2 right – good job, you’re way ahead of where I was after six guesses. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/7 "2001-11-08T20:30:42Z")
Jordan un-retiring the second time. Not that I think it’s on the level of the other accomplishments, but he’s so popular with the media that I’d have to guess he’d be on all 3 at some time. But I’m not sure enough to make it a #7 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/8 "2001-11-08T20:33:26Z")
I suck at sports trivia but will give it a shot. I like ubers picks except for Jackie. Has Sports Illustrated been aroiund that long? I’ll guess: Cal Ripkin Muhammed Ali Michael Jordan Magic Johnson Joe Namath and/or '69 Jets US hockey team beating Russians Michael Johnson Joe Montana Mark Spitz ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/9 "2001-11-08T20:35:40Z")
HubZilla, nope. lieu, you’ve got 3 of them right. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/10 "2001-11-08T20:37:29Z")
The '98 US women’s world cup soccer team? Eric Heiden? I would also second the '80 hockey team, Mark Spitz, and Ali ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/11 "2001-11-08T20:37:56Z")
I will guess Nancy Kerrigan and/or Tonya Harding after Nancywas attacked on the ice. Am I right? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/12 "2001-11-08T20:40:49Z")
Yes, I know she’s skank on ice butt she was newsworthy… Tonya Harding? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/13 "2001-11-08T20:46:06Z")
D’hop! Beat me to it, shag! Maybe Mary _Lieu_ Retton? Who suffered the heart attack, Flo Jo? Larry Bird? Dave Winfield? ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/14 "2001-11-08T20:46:17Z")
[Horshack] ohhh,ohhh,ohhh, just thought of another one [/Horshack] OJ? Granted he was an ex-athlete, but I’d bet he was on a _lot_ of covers right after he was charged. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/15 "2001-11-08T20:49:27Z")
Shagnasty, nope. lieu, none of those 4. And jk, from all your, you’ve got 3. And you’re really close on another. ---
**Author:** ![uberDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f04885/32.png) [@uberDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uberDave)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/16 "2001-11-08T20:49:47Z")
**mouthbreather** , Can you please tell us which one’s we guessed are correct? ---
**Author:** ![Vinnie\_Virginslayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/53a042/32.png) [@Vinnie\_Virginslayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vinnie_Virginslayer)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/17 "2001-11-08T20:51:58Z")
Hmmmm . . . doesn’t look like we have 9 yet. Well, I get Newsweek, and I don’t recall him on the cover, but I will guess **Dale Earnhardt after he died.** **Joe DiMaggio** when HE died? **Jackie Robinson** 50th year anniversary of the integration of baseball **George W. Bush** (owner of Texas Rangers???) **Bjorn Bjorg** **Mickey Mantle or Roger Maris** during the 1961 home run race **Jesse Ventura** after winning Minnesota gubernatorial election **Pete Rose** when he got kicked out of baseball Tough question . . . ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/18 "2001-11-08T20:55:24Z")
Magic Johnson Muhammed Ali Michael Jordan Bear Bryant Ray Lewis Dan Jansen Phil Mahre & brother Franz Klammer Lance Armstrong ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/19 "2001-11-08T20:55:51Z")
Here’s the correct ones so far: [ul] [li]Muhammad Ali – stripped of his title for draft dodging[/li][li]OJ – arrested for murder[/li][li]1980 US Hockey Team – gold medal[/li][li]Joe Namath – 1969 Superbowl[/li][/ul] And on preview, nope Vinnie, no dice but good guesses. ---
**Author:** ![uberDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f04885/32.png) [@uberDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uberDave)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261/20 "2001-11-08T20:57:21Z")
**Secretariat** winning triple crown first time in 25 years. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-best-sports-trivia-questions-ive-ever-heard-give-it-a-shot/92261.md?page=2)