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30 Minnesota Sports Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about Minnesota Sports? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to Minnesota Sports (Sports). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
Related Questions & Answers:   Minnesota Twins    Minnesota Vikings    Minnesota (States M)  
1 John Gagliardi was a college football coach who retired in 2012 with the then-record of 489 career wins, the most of any coach in any or all college football divisions. 465 of those wins came at which Minnesota college?
Answer: St John's

Gagliardi was appointed head coach of the St John's Johnnies in 1952. He spent an amazing 60 seasons in charge at Collegville, leading his teams to four national titles - two in NAIA and two in NCAA Divsion III. He eventually retired in 2012 aged 86.
    Your options: [ Winona State ] [ Hamline ] [ St John's ] [ St Thomas ]
  From Quiz: Sports in Minnesota
2 Who did the Minnesota Vikings play in the first week of the 2010 regular season?
Answer: New Orleans Saints

Vikings played the Saints in the 2010 season opener in New Orleans, and they lost 9-14.
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports in 2010
3 The Minnesota Twins franchise moved to Minnesota in 1961. What was the former name of the franchise before the move?
Answer: Washington Senators

The Senators started play in 1901 as one of the original 8 franchises in the American League. Rather than a new expansion team in Minneapolis, the Senators team president Calvin Griffith asked that his team be moved to Minnesota so the expansion team could be placed in Washington DC. Major League Baseball agreed to move the franchise. The Senators were American League champions in 1924, 1925, 1933, and won the World Series in 1924.
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports Potpourri
4 The Minnesota Timberwolves began NBA play in 1989, but which other franchise played their home games in the state between 1947 and 1960?
Answer: Lakers

The Minneapolis Lakers began life as the Detroit Gems in 1946, but moved to the Minneapolis Auditorium after just one season. The team won five NBA titles during their stay in the Twin Cities, before relocating to Los Angeles in 1960.
    Your options: [ Hawks ] [ Bulls ] [ Lakers ] [ Knicks ]
  From Quiz: Sports in Minnesota
5 The Minnesota Twins were knocked out of the 2010 playoffs by which team?
Answer: New York Yankees

Yankees knocked the Twins out 3-0 in the AL Division Series.
    Your options: [ New York Yankees ] [ Texas Rangers ] [ Tampa Bay Rays ] [ LA Angels of Anheim ]
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports in 2010
6 How could anyone forget the team owner of the Minnesota North Stars that moved the team to Dallas? Do you remember his name?
Answer: Norman Green

Green moved the franchise to Dallas in 1993. The North Stars never did win a Stanley Cup Championship, only making it to the finals twice in 1980-81 and 1990-91 seasons. An infamous quote from the booster club president of the North Stars Julie Hammond appeared in a "Sports Illustrated" article in 1993. "When [Norm Green] came here he said, 'Only an idiot could lose money on hockey in Minnesota.' Well, I guess he proved that point."
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports Potpourri
7 The Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs were the national collegiate champions in which sport in 2011?
Answer: Men's Ice Hockey

The Bulldogs compete at Division II level in most sports, but the men's and women's hockey squads are Division I outfits, both being members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The women's team won five national titles between 2001 and 2010, and the men joined in the act in 2011, beating Michigan 3-2 in the championship game.
    Your options: [ Women's Cross Country ] [ Women's Gymnastics ] [ Men's Ice Hockey ] [ Men's Wrestling ]
  From Quiz: Sports in Minnesota
8 The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team won the NCAA National Championship 3 times in the 20th century. All three came in the same decade. Which decade was it?
Answer: 1970s

The Gophers won the NCAA Championship in 1974, 1976, and 1979. Legendary head coach Herb Brooks was behind the bench for all three championships as well. Eight players from the three championship teams played for Brooks on the Gold Medal winning 1980 USA men's ice hockey team.
    Your options: [ 1990s ] [ 1970s ] [ 1950s ] [ 1930s ]
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports Potpourri
9 The Minnesota Vikings made it to four Super Bowls between January, 1970 and January, 1977, all under the guidance of which head coach?
Answer: Bud Grant

Grant was head coach of the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking over at the Vikings in 1967. He quickly turned the Vikings into a regular contender, reaching Superbowl IV in January, 1970, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. Further big-game appearances followed at Superbowls VIII, IX and XI, but, sadly for the Vikings, they lost them all, to the Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Oakland Raiders respectively.
    Your options: [ Vince Lombardi ] [ Jerry Burns ] [ Bud Grant ] [ Norm Van Brocklin ]
  From Quiz: Sports in Minnesota
10 What city was Gopher quarterback Adam Weber from?
Answer: Shoreview, MN

Adam Weber's hometown was Shoreview, Minnesota.
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports in 2010
11 The first known use of the phrase "Hail Mary Pass" to describe a deep pass was on December 28th, 1975, in a NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings. To which wide receiver did Roger Staubach complete the hail mary to?
Answer: Drew Pearson

With 24 seconds left in the game, Staubach called a deep pass play and completed the pass to Drew Pearson at the 5-yard line then ran with the ball into the end zone. Staubach later told the press that he closed his eyes, threw the ball, and said a Hail Mary prayer.
    Your options: [ Michael Irvin ] [ Drew Pearson ] [ Randy Moss ] [ Bob Hayes ]
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports Potpourri
12 Which Minnesota golf course hosted the US Open in both 1970 and 1991?
Answer: Hazeltine

Hazeltine National Golf Club is located in Chaska, Minnesota. In 1970, Britain's Tony Jacklin won the US Open there by a seven-shot margin over Dave Hill. In the 1991 US Open there, Payne Stewart beat Scott Simpson in a play-off. Rich Beem and Y.E. Yang both won the PGA Championship there in the first decade of the 21st century. Hazeltine was also selected to host the 2016 Ryder Cup.
    Your options: [ Braemar ] [ TPC Twin Cities ] [ Hazeltine ] [ Interlachen ]
  From Quiz: Sports in Minnesota
13 Which Gopher basketball star got hurt for season in 2010-2011 season?
Answer: Al Nolen

Al Nolen broke his foot in January and was declared out for season.
    Your options: [ Al Nolen ] [ Rodney Williams ] [ Blake Hoffarber ] [ Al Nolan ]
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports in 2010
14 The Minnesota Twins won the 1991 World Series. Which player hit the game-winning home run in the 11th inning of game 6, to extend the series to a 7th and decisive game against the Atlanta Braves?
Answer: Kirby Puckett

Charlie Leibrandt was on the mound for the Atlanta Braves, and on the 4th pitch to Puckett, Puckett hit the ball into the stands in left centerfield to win the game 4-3. The Twins won game 7, 1-0, winning their second World Series title in 4 years.
    Your options: [ Dan Gladden ] [ Kirby Puckett ] [ Randy Bush ] [ Kent Hrbek ]
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports Potpourri
15 Which sport is played by the Minnesota Lynx?
Answer: Basketball

The Minnesota Lynx are a women's basketball team who began play in the WNBA in 1999. Based at the Target Center in Minneapolis, they won their first championship in 2011, defeating the Atlanta Dream in the finals.
    Your options: [ Lacrosse ] [ Soccer ] [ Basketball ] [ Ice Hockey ]
  From Quiz: Sports in Minnesota
16 What was Randy Moss traded to the New England Patriots for?
Answer: 3rd Round Pick

After Locker Room mishaps between Moss and Brady, Moss was traded after 4 games (in October 2010) by the Patriots to the Vikings for a 3rd round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Less than a month later, having played just 4 games, he was released and placed on the waiver list. His waiver was claimed vy Tennessee Titans, where he played the final 8 games of the season, and his pro football career.
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports in 2010
17 The Minnesota Timberwolves began play in the National Basketball Association in the 1989-90 season. Who was the first head coach of the Timberwolves?
Answer: Bill Musselman

After just two seasons, Musselman was fired by the Timberwolves' front office. His record in two seasons with the Timberwolves was 51 wins and 113 losses. The first winning season for the Timberwolves didn't come until the 1997-98 season when they went 45-37 under Flip Saunders, and advanced to the playoffs for the first time.
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports Potpourri
18 Which manager led the Minnesota Twins to World Series titles in both 1987 and 1991?
Answer: Tom Kelly

Kelly had been involved with the Twins organisation as a player and coach since 1971, mostly in the minor leagues. He was appointed team manager in 1986, and, in just his second season in charge, led them to World Series glory with a 4-3 win over the St Louis Cardinals. Four years later, the Atlanta Braves were their victims in another seventh game series decider.
    Your options: [ Jim Leyland ] [ Buck Showalter ] [ Tom Kelly ] [ Mike Hargrove ]
  From Quiz: Sports in Minnesota
19 The Minnesota Wild began play in the National Hockey League in the 2000-01 season. Who did the Wild select as their first-ever draft pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft?
Answer: Marian Gaborik

Gaborik, born in Czechoslovakia was selected 3rd overall in the draft. His rookie season saw him contribute right away with 18 goals and 18 assists. In the 2002-03 season, he was selected to his first NHL All-Star game and led the Wild to its first-ever appearance in the NHL Western Conference Finals. He played with the Wild until after the 2008-09 season, when he became a free agent and signed with the New York Rangers.
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports Potpourri
20 What was the only professional Minnesota team to make the playoffs in 2010?
Answer: Twins

The Twins and Wild were they only to finish with a record over .500, but the Twins finished first in the whole American League division. They were the only playoff team.
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports in 2010
21 Which city would you need to travel to if you wanted to watch a Minnesota Wild home game?
Answer: St Paul

In 2013, the Wild played home games at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul. The team began NHL play in 1997 as an expansion team to replace the Minnesota North Stars, who relocated to Dallas in 1993.
    Your options: [ Rochester ] [ Duluth ] [ St Paul ] [ Minneapolis ]
  From Quiz: Sports in Minnesota
22 Who was fired as coach of the Timberwolves after the 2010-11 season ended?
Answer: Kurt Rambis

Kurt Rambis coached the Wolves to 15-67 and 17-65 losing records over two seasons and was then fired; it was 5th straight losing season for the Wolves.
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports in 2010
23 What is the team nickname for Minnesota's WNBA team that began play in 1999?
Answer: Lynx

The Minnesota Lynx was a WNBA expansion team starting play in 1999 along with the Orlando Miracle. The Lynx struggled in their first 4 seasons before making the playoffs in 2003, with their first winning record. They again made it into the playoffs in 2004, but both appearances would result in first round eliminations.
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports Potpourri
24 Which tennis player from Edina, Minnesota, won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics?
Answer: Mardy Fish

Fish was born in Edina in 1981. Turning pro in 2000, he won his first ATP tour title in Stockholm in 2003. At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, he went all the way to the final before losing to Chile's Nicolas Massu.
    Your options: [ Andy Roddick ] [ Sam Querrey ] [ Mardy Fish ] [ John Isner ]
  From Quiz: Sports in Minnesota
25 Who did the Twins pick up in the offseason to play Shortstop in the 2010 season?
Answer: JJ Hardy

JJ Hardy was picked up from the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2009 offseason, he was only there for 1 year.
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports in 2010
26 The 1941 Heisman Trophy was awarded to University of Minnesota football player, Bruce P. Smith. What position did Smith play for the Golden Gophers?
Answer: Running back

Smith was a major factor in the back-to-back National Championships won by the Gophers in 1940 and 1941. He was the first player from the University of Minnesota to win the Heisman Trophy. After college, Smith served in the United States Navy as a fighter pilot in World War II. He died of cancer in 1967 at the age of 47.
  From Quiz: Minnesota Sports Potpourri
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