Select Sports Savvy Trivia Quiz

Answer: Out to Swim Angels

In June, 2012, the "Out to Swim Angels", a British male team of synchronized swimmers, wrote a letter to the International Olympic Committee and FINA to ask for a ruling change to include men's teams in the Olympic sport of Synchronized Swimming. Female Synchronized Swimming has been an Olympic event since 1984. Strength, flexibility, gymnastic type moves, muscular power and the ability to breathe underwater in various positions all contribute to what is said be an arduous sport for either gender.

The United States, Canada and France are some of the countries that recognize all male synchronized swimming teams in national, college, or local competitions.

Answer: Philadelphia, Pennysylvania

Joe Frazier, nicknamed "Smokin Joe Frazier", was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, but adopted the city of Philadelphia as his home. After winning the Olympic Gold Medal in Boxing, Joe donated his gold medal to the city of Philadelphia. Prior to his renown as an olympic boxing medalist, Joe Frazier's first job in Philadelphia was at a beef processing company. Famous for his left hook and his defeat of Muhammed Ali in 1970, Joe Frazier also opened a gym in North Philadelphia. Joe's gym was sometimes referred to as Frazier's White House and it was helpful to inner-city youth and young boxers in training. Located in the North Philly section of the city at North Broad Street and West Glenwood Avenue, the National Park Service has added Joe Frazier's gym to the National Register of Historic Places. Michael Nutter, the Mayor of Philadelphia, commissioned the sculptor, Lawrence Nolan to create a statue of Joe Frazier which will eventually be placed by the new Xfinity Center.

This statue commemorating Philadelphia's Smokin' Joe Frazier joins another famous Philadelphia statue which is that of Rocky Balboa located by the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Answer: Jack Nicklaus

Greg Norman, nicknamed the Great White Shark, cited Jack Nicklaus as his guide and teacher to the game of Golf. At Norman's 2011 Induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Greg Norman, in a video of this event, told the audience that when he was a teenager, he would hide Jack Nicklaus's book, "Golf My Way" under one of his homework assignment books and study it instead. Greg Norman also spoke of the values Nicklaus presented to the world and to other golfers, especially teaching Norman "the way to lose" and "the way to win". Greg Normans's Induction Speech into the World Golf of Fame where he also thanks his fellow inductees, his caddy and his wife can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oesRspSB_8s

Answer: A semi illegal move

A crow hop is an illegal move in some diving competitions. This move may happen when divers prepare to do a backward press dive. As the divers raise their arms and stand at tiptoe, a crow hop can occur if the divers feet leave the level of the board prior to their take off release.

This manouever is used to gain more lift to their dive. It is not a double jump. The main concern in using a crow hop is accidental injury as the divers may lose balance during their take off. In Olympic competition points may or may not be subtracted depending on the discretion of the Judge. Olympic diving does not require a subtraction of points from their score.

However, the US National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations does require at least a one half point deduction if a crow hop occurs.

Answer: Street Sense

In May, 2007, Street Sense, a three year old thoroughbred dark bay horse, came from next to last to win the 133rd "Run for the Roses", as the Kentucky Derby event is frequently called. Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II of England watched the race from the fourth floor balcony which is part of the exclusive area, Millionaires Row, at the Churchhill Downs race track.

The winning jockey, Calvin Borel, reportedly said in reference to the Queen's attendance that it meant everything in the world to win before the Queen.

The second place horse in this race was Hard Spun and Curlin came in third. Street Sense came in second in the Preakness and did not run in the Belmont Stakes.

Answer: She carried her country's flag in the closing ceremony

Mao Asade of Japan was the flag bearer for her country at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Olympics held in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. The flag bearers for the closing ceremony are usually chosen by their countries team captain. It is interesting to note that there were six figure skaters chosen by their countries to be their country's flag bearers in the 2010 Olympics.

Other 2010 Olympic figure skaters who carried their countries flag were: Joannie Rochette representing Canada, Tugba Karademir of Turkey, Elene Gedevanishvili of Georgia, Ri Song Chol of North Korea and Zhao Hongbo of China. Each of these skaters had a special distinction in their country's history of figure skating competitions.

Answer: Cross

The word, "cross" is a fitting term in tennis as "cross-court" is a style of play where the ball is hit diagonally across the court. In the sport of ice hockey a "cross check" is a minor two minute penalty and a major penalty if an injury occurs. "Cross-country" racing is ordinarily run outdoors in the open air over flat surfaces and/or hills. "Cross-country" racing can be either an individual or team event.

It is said that in the sport of boxing a "right cross" delivered by a right handed boxer can be one of the most powerful punches in boxing and it may deliver a knock-out punch. Speaking of "crosses" in the game of lacrosse, the player's stick with a webbed pouch on the end is many times referred to as the "crosse".

Answer: The second Saturday of June

On the second Saturday of June, The Texas Water Safari canoe race which was started in 1963 occurs. This canoe race billed as the "world's toughest canoe race", takes four days and four hours to complete. Besides racing a canoe on flat water, there are white water rapids, and some portages to accomplish. Participants must cover 260 miles of the San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers.

The starting point of the race is from the waters of Aquamarina Springs in the village of San Marcos to the Texas seacoast town of Sea Drift. All contestants must bring their own food and other necessities, only water and ice are supplied during the route. To prepare for this strenuous race a preliminary race, (The Texas River Marathon) is held in early May. The governing body of this race recommends that the contestants for the Safari race try the Marathon first as it gives the canoers a chance to see the white water rapids in the daylight as opposed to encountering them for the first time in the dark during the Safari run. Advertised as the toughest canoeing race, the promoters also tout the very hot Texas weather as part of the challenge of the Texas Water Safari.

Answer: Alpine Roller Derby Championship

"Alpine Roller Derby Championship" exists only in the mind of this quiz creator but the three events cited as incorrect are held each year in St. Moritz. "The Cresta Run" is an amateur toboggan run held in St. Moritz in the mornings shortly before Christmas and lasts until the end of February and possibly into early March as the run is made of natural ice.

The Cartier Company initiated the "Cartier Polo World Cup in Snow" in 1985 which began on a frozen lake in St. Moritz. To enable polo to be played humanely and successfully the Cartier Company had special horseshoes created so that the horses would have a better grip on the ice.

Held in late summer in St. Moritz, usually on Lake Moritz, the "St. Moritz World Match Racing" competition is the 6th stage or Swiss stage of the St. Moritz World Match Racing competition sponsored by the ISF,(The International Sailing Federation of World Match Racing). Those participants contending in the St. Moritz sailing race are competing to be future entrants in the Alpari World Match.

This race held on a lake surrounded by mountains is beautiful to behold and it can be seen at: http://www.stmoritz.ch/en/summer/activities/water-delights/sailing.htmlis

Answer: Curling

In the sport of curling, pebbling the rink ice is done to create some friction for the stone to curl. When curling was first played it was played on a frozen lake's natural surface. It is said that the first noticed "pebbling" may have occured when it rained and the droplets froze on a lake and the players liked the improvement. Today the maintenance people "pebble" the ice rink.

They strap on a back pack which resembles a small cannister vacuum cleaner that is filled with ionized water. The canister has a hose with a special head attached which varies in the size and amount of the holes in it. Prior to the start of the game the ice preparers will sprinkle the ice with tiny water droplets from the hose which then freeze on the surface of the ice.

A broom can than be used to sweep the ice and loosen the top of the ice droplets. Today a 'nipper' can be used in place of a broom. The 'nipper' is a modern gadget that looks something like a sponge floor mop but has three or four blades on the bottom instead of a sponge.

The maintenance help then sweep the ice with a nipper "nipping the droplets" prior to the game.