Just Say “Know”: A 1980s Sports Quiz
Written by Kevin McCaffrey
Last updated · 3 min play time
Open your Grays Sports Almanac, and let’s go back to the future for an ‘80s sports quiz. It was the “Me First Decade” but, we’ll also talk about some famous teamwork.
12 questions about sports in the 1980s.
Quiz written by
Kevin McCaffreyKevin McCaffrey is a comedian and radio/podcast host with an excellent outside shot and a mild hangover. His album “Nice & Drunk” debuted at #1, and you can hear him talk baseball on the “Away Games Podcast,” about Sex and the City on “Sex and the Cidiots,” and about everything else on “Celebrate!” on Sirius XM Channel 99.
1980s Sports Quiz Questions
12 Questions · 345 Plays · No comments
Question 1
Which of these was a phenomenon related to a rookie pitcher in the ‘80s?
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ACastlevania
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BHulkamania
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CFernandomania
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DLisztomania
Fernandomania
Fernando Valenzuela got thrown into an opening day start at 20 years old, and was about as good as anyone has ever been to start his career: 8-0 with five complete game shutouts and an ERA of 0.50, leading to Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards.
Question 2
What woman won the greatest number of Grand Slams in the ‘80s?
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AMartina Navratilova
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BSteffi Graf
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CChris Evert
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DMonica Seles
Martina Navratilova
Evert led the way in the ‘70s with nine, and added another nine in the ‘80s. But her biggest rival, Martina, won 15 in the decade.
Question 3
Michael Jordan had his first shoes banned because they didn’t have enough of what color?
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AWhite
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BBlue
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CBlack
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DRed
White
The NBA banned the Air Jordan 1’s because they were mostly red and black, thus not complying with the NBA’s rule at the time that shoes had to be 51% white. So they banned them, and they became the most popular sneakers ever.
Question 4
Who was the only player besides Wayne Gretzky to win the NHL’s MVP award in the ’80s?
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AMike Bossy
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BBrett Hull
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CMario Lemieux
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DMark Messier
Mario Lemieux
Bossy’s Islanders and Gretzky’s Oilers ruled the decade, with four cups apiece (the Canadians took the other). Gretzky took literally every Hart Trophy for MVP except for the ‘87-’88 season, when Super Mario won it.
Question 5
What player became the first to win an MVP for a last place team?
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ABarry Bonds
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BAndre Dawson
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CDale Murphy
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DMark McGwire
Andre Dawson
Last place? In the ‘80s? Go Cubs Go! In Andre Dawson’s first year with the Cubs he hit 49 homers -- tied for Mark McGwire for most in a season in the decade -- and took home the MVP for a 76-85 team.
Question 6
At what course did Jack Nicklaus win his final major?
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APebble Beach
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BAugusta National
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CSt. Andrews
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DShinnecock Hills
Augusta National
The Golden Bear came out of hibernation at the age of 46, 23 years after he won his first Masters. He shot 5-under on Sunday’s back nine at Augusta to win by a stroke, for his record 18th major.
Question 7
Before a Super Bowl-winning drive, Joe Montana calmed the team by pointing out what celebrity?
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AMadonna
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BPrince
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CJohn Candy
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DMichael Douglas
John Candy
In ‘89, the Niners were down three to the Bengals with three minutes left and 92 yards to go. Montana said the huddle seemed nervous -- wonder why -- and before he called the play, he said “isn’t that John Candy?” It was, they scored, and won. Joe Cool, baby.
Question 8
Who did Team USA defeat in the final game of the 1980 Olympics?
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AUSSR
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BSweden
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CCanada
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DFinland
Finland
The “Miracle” was when the US amateurs defeated the Soviets, who were the four-time defending Olympic champions. You may have heard about this. But the final game the US had to win for gold was against Finland.
Question 9
Which of these college football teams led D1 in wins during the ‘80s?
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ANebraska
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BBYU
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CMiami
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DNotre Dame
Nebraska
The answer to this is the only one of these teams that did NOT win a national title during the decade: the Nebraska Cornhuskers. They won 103 games in the ‘80s, one more than the BYU Cougars.
Question 10
What was the only team to get swept in the NBA Finals in the ‘80s?
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ACeltics
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B76ers
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CRockets
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DLakers
Lakers
The ‘80s were one of the golden eras of the NBA, with the Lakers and Celtics mostly dominating when it came to titles. In the finals, only the Lakers got swept, and they got swept twice! By the 76ers in ‘83, and the Pistons in ‘89.
Question 11
In what event did Jackie Joyner-Kersee win both Olympic gold and silver in the ‘80s?
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AHeptathlon
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BHigh jump
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C100 meters
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DLong jump
Heptathlon
Jackie won gold in both the heptathlon and the long jump in ‘88, but she also added a silver in the heptathlon in ‘84. When she won silver, she did it in a year when she also scored 12 points per game for UCLA women’s basketball.
Question 12
What team did NOT choose Bo Jackson in the MLB or NFL draft in the ‘80s?
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ALA Raiders
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BTampa Bay Bucs
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CChicago White Sox
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DNew York Yankees
Chicago White Sox
Bo ended up playing for the White Sox, but they never drafted him. The Bucs picked him first overall, but Bo never signed. The Yankees picked him in the second round...and he also never signed. Bo eventually signed with the Raiders and the Kansas City Royals.
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