FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about 1980s AllAmerican Sports
Quiz about 1980s AllAmerican Sports

1980s All-American Sports Trivia Quiz


This is the third in a series of quizzes on the people and events in the sports world in the 20th century.

A multiple-choice quiz by brewster76. Estimated time: 4 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Sports Trivia
  6. »
  7. USA by Year
  8. »
  9. USA by Year: 1980s

Author
brewster76
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
299,936
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
1064
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 172 (8/10), Guest 74 (5/10), Guest 107 (4/10).
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. In 1985 the Chicago Bears drafted Clemson University defensive lineman William Perry, who was better known in the NFL by what nickname? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. What are the names of the American twins who made Olympic history by finishing 1-2 in the Slalom event at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In 1989 pitcher Jim Abbott garnered headlines when he made his major league debut as a California Angel without having ever played in the minors. What physical feature also made Abbott notable? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. The 1984 NBA draft is thought to be one of the best of all time with four of the first-round picks later being named as the NBA's 50 Greatest Players of All Time. The four were Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and a guard from Gonzaga University, who went on to a 20 year career with the Utah Jazz where he set the NBA record for career assists and steals. He is ____ . Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Which tennis player (born in Hoboken, New Jersey) became the youngest male winner of a Grand Slam event when he won the 1989 French Open at the age of 17? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In 1980 this Pirate outfielder and first baseman was named "Sports Illustrated" magazine's Co-Sportsman of Year (along with the Steelers' Terry Bradshaw). Nicknamed "Pops", he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988, his first year of eligibility. Who is he? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. In 1982 this runner set six world record at distances ranging from the mile to 10,000 meters and the same year received amateur athletics' top honor, the James E. Sullivan Award. Do you know the runner who failed to medal in three tries at the Olympics? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Which sports icon, who entered professional sports in the 1979-80 season, is nicknamed "The Great One"? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The first two women to win this event, Libby Riddles and Susan Butcher, did so back-to-back in 1985 and 1986. What did they win? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. In 1989 this nine-time NBA All-Star and former player-coach of the Seattle Supersonics was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player. In 1998 he became only the third player in NBA history to also be inducted as a coach. He is ____ . Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 172: 8/10
Mar 26 2024 : Guest 74: 5/10
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 107: 4/10
Mar 23 2024 : Guest 172: 8/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 71: 6/10
Mar 16 2024 : Guest 174: 7/10
Mar 12 2024 : Guest 174: 5/10
Mar 10 2024 : Guest 174: 8/10
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 74: 7/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In 1985 the Chicago Bears drafted Clemson University defensive lineman William Perry, who was better known in the NFL by what nickname?

Answer: Refrigerator

Perry stood 6'2" and weighed in at well over 300 pounds. In addition to his lineman duties, Perry also served as an offensive blocker for star running back Walter Payton. It's said his size 25 Super Bowl ring is the largest ever made.
2. What are the names of the American twins who made Olympic history by finishing 1-2 in the Slalom event at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo?

Answer: Phil and Steve Mahre

Phil Mahre was chosen for his first US Ski Team at the age of 15 in 1973. Steve Mahre was actually in the lead in the Slalom at the '84 Games going into the final run but a few mistakes gave his fraternal twin the gold. At the '84 Olympics the US won 5 medals in skiing, all of them by skiiers from the Pacific Northwest: the two by the Mahres (Yakima, WA), Debbie Armstrong (Seattle, WA) and Christin Cooper (Sun Valley, ID) went 1-2 in the women's grand slalom and Bill Johnson (Portland, OR) won the downhill event.
3. In 1989 pitcher Jim Abbott garnered headlines when he made his major league debut as a California Angel without having ever played in the minors. What physical feature also made Abbott notable?

Answer: He had only one hand

Abbott was born without a right hand. A desiginated hitter was used when he was at bat although he did get two hits when he later played for the Milwaukee Brewers.
4. The 1984 NBA draft is thought to be one of the best of all time with four of the first-round picks later being named as the NBA's 50 Greatest Players of All Time. The four were Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and a guard from Gonzaga University, who went on to a 20 year career with the Utah Jazz where he set the NBA record for career assists and steals. He is ____ .

Answer: John Stockton

All choices were drafted by the Jazz: Dantley in 1979, Malone in 1985 and Wilkins in 1982, though he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks prior to the start of the '82-83 season. A larger than life statue of Stockton stands outside of the Jazz's home court, Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

He is a native of Spokane, WA a city of fewer than 250,000 people that between 1978 and 1981 graduated from its high schools not only Stockton but also MLB Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg and 1992 Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien.
5. Which tennis player (born in Hoboken, New Jersey) became the youngest male winner of a Grand Slam event when he won the 1989 French Open at the age of 17?

Answer: Michael Chang

Agassi won his first Grand Slam tournament (Wimbledon) in 1992 at the age of 22. Courier was a few months shy of 21 when he won the French Open in 1991. Becker was born in Germany. Chang, Courier, Agassi and Pete Sampras formed the core of a new generation of American players to dominate men's professional tennis in the 90s.
6. In 1980 this Pirate outfielder and first baseman was named "Sports Illustrated" magazine's Co-Sportsman of Year (along with the Steelers' Terry Bradshaw). Nicknamed "Pops", he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988, his first year of eligibility. Who is he?

Answer: Willie Stargell

Willie Stargell was the first player to win three MVP trophies in one year: 1979 World Series, National League Championship Series and the National League season (tied with Keith Hernandez). Retiring after the '82 season, Stargell late coached the Atlanta Braves and was the last person to throw out the first pitch at Three Rivers Stadium.

He died on April 9, 2001, the same day his statue was erected at the Pirate's new home field, PNC Park.
7. In 1982 this runner set six world record at distances ranging from the mile to 10,000 meters and the same year received amateur athletics' top honor, the James E. Sullivan Award. Do you know the runner who failed to medal in three tries at the Olympics?

Answer: Mary Decker

Mary Decker Slaney famously fell off the track, allegedly pushed by South African rival Zola Budd, in the '84 Games. She later disputed that Budd had acted purposely and stated that she was simply not accustomed to running in a pack. Decker Slaney also went without a medal in '88 and failed to qualify for the '92 Games.

In 1996 she qualified for the 5000 meters at the Atlanta Games but later failed a drug test. Though cleared to compete years later by the US Track & Field Association Decker never tasted Olympic victory.
8. Which sports icon, who entered professional sports in the 1979-80 season, is nicknamed "The Great One"?

Answer: Wayne Gretzky

The NHL waived its standard waiting period before induction into the Hall of Fame for Gretzky (#99), who was made a member in 1999.
9. The first two women to win this event, Libby Riddles and Susan Butcher, did so back-to-back in 1985 and 1986. What did they win?

Answer: Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

Riddles won the world famous dog sled race in Alaska in 1985 and Butcher won three consecutive years, '86-88 and again in '90. She was the second musher to win four titles, and the first to win in four out of five years. Butcher died from leukemia in 2006. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin signed a bill in 2008 making the first Saturday of March, the tradtional start day of the Iditarod, "Susan Butcher Day."
10. In 1989 this nine-time NBA All-Star and former player-coach of the Seattle Supersonics was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player. In 1998 he became only the third player in NBA history to also be inducted as a coach. He is ____ .

Answer: Lenny Wilkens

The first two double-inductees were John Wooden and Bill Sharman.
Source: Author brewster76

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
3/28/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us