Sports Trivia Help, Anyone?

The Game Room
1

A New York sports talk station is having a trivia contest in which they dole out hints – once all the hints are out there, first one to call in with the answer gets Super Bowl tickets*. Here’s what they’ve given out so far:

[ul]
[li]1987[/li][li]Six[/li][li]First time ever[/li][li]Isiah Thomas[/li][/ul]
Plus there is still one more clue to be given out tomorrow. The only thing they’ve said about the answer is that it’s a noun.

Thomas won his first NBA All-Star Game MVP award in '84, but I don’t see how the “six” fits in there. Any guesses, anyone?

*Thanks, but no thanks – it’s just game tickets, not transportation or accommodations, so as much as I’d love to be there to see my Giants play, I’m not going on a road trip I can’t afford to a city where every hotel is booked solid. I still want to figure out the answer, though.

2

You can sleep in my spare bedroom if I can have the other ticket!

3

In 1987, Isiah won his first ever (and only) J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. I don’t know how 6 works into that.

4

ESPN Sunday Night Football started in 1987 with a game between the Pats and Giants. So that ties in nicely. The game was on Nov 8, 1987 and the Giants won 17-10.

Of course I don’t see what Isiah Thomas has to do with it.

5

Just checked, Thomas didn’t play a game that day.

6

Isaiah Thomas was named NBA Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 5 – Jan. 11, 1987. I’m having trouble finding a lot of information on Player of the Week honors, but this French site seems to indicate that he won the award 6 times, so that might be an angle worth pursuing further.

7

When Isiah Thomas won his first-ever All-Star Game MVP Award in the 1984 season, he had six turnovers.

1984 All-Star Game box score

8

I’m a little confused. What does his 1984 All-Star MVP have to do with the year 1987?

9

The 86-87 season was the first with the three-point shot.

Hakeem Olajuwon became the first player to record a five-by-six (sixes or better in five statistical categories) on March 10, 1987. He recorded six total in his career.

The Pacers won their first ever playoff game in the 1987 NBA playoffs, and made their first playoff appearance in six years. Thomas was the Pacers’ coach from '00 to '03. The Pacers have six conference championships (five ABA, one NBA). The Pacers drafted Reggie Miller in '87.

Magic Johnson became the first player ever to win three Finals MVP awards.

The Sonics were the first #7 seed ever to beat a #2 that year.

Washington and Houston were the #6 seeds.

10

A couple of things spring to mind.
Thomas’ Game 6 performance in the 1987-88 Eastern Conference Championship?
1987 was the first Superbowl, where the game MVP (Phil Simms) says “I’m going to Disneyland”

11

It…ummm…well, if you look at…err…ah, crap. It has nothing to do with it at all. I just mixed up '84 and '87.

To clarify, 1987 is the hint, 1984 has nothing to do with this, except in my muddled brain.

12

hat was also the first SB to use instant replay, the Giants’ first, and the sixth in LA. The first TD came on a 6 yard pass.

13

Hal & Barkis, you guys are geniouses.

Hal’s a genious for posting this on a msg board. I have been driving myself nuts trying to figure this out myself.

Barkis you are a genious because i’m thinking your answer has to be the correct one.

I think the number 6 has to do with it being his 6th season in the NBA when he won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

Hal, if you win, i’ll drive us to Indy baby!!

GO BIG BLUE!

14

It’s gotta have something to do with Indiana.

The SB is in Indy
Isiah played at Indiana
Indiana won its last basketball national championship in 1987 (which was their 5th, not 6th).

That was apparently also the first tourney with the 3 point shot, though that may be irrelevant.

15

It was 6 years since the last Piston won the award?

Other than that, I got nothing.

16

But it was the 6th anniversary of their previous title in 1981, when Isaiah played there!

17

Last clue is “84”

Now what???

18

it has to do with the hoosiers no?

19

The answer is…

Former Giants and Patriots tight end Zeke Mowatt

20

What was the Thomas connection?