Sports Quotes Trivia

1. While coaching the New York Jets, Herm Edwards let loose a rant with a very simple message. "You play to --- " do what?

From Quiz I Didn't Hear You

Answer: Win the game

The soundbite "You play to win the game" came from a midweek press conference on October 30, 2002. The Jets were 2-5 at the time, and had just come off a loss to Cleveland Browns. Perhaps this speech sent a message to his team, as they responded by winning their next four games, and finished the season 9-7. The Jets claimed the division title, and after embarrassing the Indianapolis Colts, they lost in the divisional round to the Oakland Raiders. Edwards remained with the Jets until 2005.

From Quiz Did They Really Say That? Memorable Sports Quotes

Answer: Lou Gehrig, New York Yankee first baseman

Suffering from an incurable disease which prematurely ended his career and would soon take his life, Lou Gehrig delivered his farewell address - what has become possibly the most memorable sports related speech of all time - to an enthralled Yankee Stadium crowd on July 4th, 1939. The disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is routinely called "Lou Gehrig's disease," and tragically has not been eradicated.

From Quiz Who Said That?

Answer: "Playoffs? Don't talk about-playoffs?! You kidding me? Playoffs?!

Obviously angry and bitter, Mora attended his required post-game press conference. He absolved his defense but pointed out that teams can't win with five turnovers. He surely did not want to be there and when asked about the team's possibility for a playoff berth, Mora, lost what emotional grip he had, and shouted his response. This a You-Tube favorite. Jim Mora learned his coaching craft with stops at Occidental, Stanford, Colorado, UCLA, and Washington. After serving on several NFL staffs, he became the head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 1986 where he remained for 9 and a half years, resigning in mid-season after a 2-6 W-L start. Migrating to Indianapolis, he made his 2001 team his last year as head coach. Overall, as an NFL coach he had a record of 125-106 W-L. His teams made the playoffs 6 times with a 0-6 W-L record. No, the 2001 Colts did not make the playoffs that year.

From Quiz Sports Soundbites

Answer: 1980 Winter Olympics - USA Olympic hockey team defeats the Soviet Union

Although the other three were miraculous in their own right, it was the Lake Placid hockey win that still reigns as the greatest upset in sports history. Legendary sports announcer Al Michaels provided us with those classic words. Members of the team were impressed in the aftermath by the American fans who said, "WE beat the Soviets". They didn't play but they felt it their victory as well.

From Quiz Calm Down Coach!

Answer: "Playoffs?"

Mora's Colts were 4-7 after losing 40-21 to the San Francisco 49ers. In his postgame press conference, he made an animated speech about the team's five turnovers and that no team on any level can win a game in which it turns the ball over that many times. A reporter then asked him about the playoffs (the Colts had done well and made the playoffs the previous two seasons). Mora screwed up his face and in a squeaky and incredulous voice said "*Playoffs?* Don't talk about *playoffs?* You kidding me? *Playoffs?* I just hope we can win a game!" Just that single word "Playoffs?" rejoinder became an instant comic staple on radio and television sports shows and later, beer commercials. The Colts wound up the season 6-10 and Mora was fired, replaced by Tony Dungy. Mora already held a special place in the hearts of many coaching meltdown fans for a 1996 outburst while coaching the New Orleans Saints, in which he raged that the team's offense, "couldn't do diddly poo" during the game.

From Quiz Athletes Say the Darnedest Things # 2

Answer: Ty Cobb

Spoken in 1925, Cobb must be spinning in his grave today.

From Quiz Athletes Say the Darnedest Things #1

Answer: Bo Schembechler

Schembechler coached at Michigan from 1969 to 1990 compiling a career 234-64-8 record as head coach at Michigan and Miami (OH). In 1982, he turned down a then unheard of offer of 2.25 million dollars over 10 years to become AD and head coach at Texas A and M.

From Quiz Quotes and Their Owners

Answer: Johnny Unitas

Unitas spent eighteen seasons in the NFL (1955-1973), mainly with the Baltimore Colts. After retirement, he not only went into broadcasting but was also eventually voted in to the Hall of Fame in 1979.

From Quiz Did They Really Say That? Memorable Sports Quotes

Answer: Heywood Campbell Broun, Jr.

Well, you could eliminate Pete Rozelle, influential National Football League commissioner, and Ronald Reagan who, although he got his start as a sportscaster, cannot be considered a journalist. Broun is the correct answer. He was born in Brooklyn in 1888, started his career as a baseball writer for the NY Morning Telegraph, and later founded the Newspaper Guild. He was a socialist and a strong believer in using journalism to support the disadvantaged and correct society's injustices. He also ran for congress and lost to Franklin Roosevelt. This quote or some variation of it has been attributed to his son, Heywood Hale Broun, to John Wooden, legendary former UCLA basketball coach, and to former Texas football coach Darryl Royal. Obviously, many coaches share the sentiment.

From Quiz Who Said That?

Answer: Bill Terry

This remark was made in January 1934 prior to spring training. Although it incensed Brooklyn fans, its record for 1934 was 71-81, 23 games behind. However, while in a heated pennant race between the Giants and the Cardinals, the Giants lost the last two games of the season to Brooklyn and settled for second place. Poetic irony. Bill Terry was one the great first baseman of his time. He was the last National League player to hit over .400 (401). Terry signed baseballs "Bill Terry .401". He continued with Giants for five years as manager/player and another five years as manager amassing a 823-661 W-L record.

From Quiz Sports Soundbites

Answer: Jack Buck

Jack, the father of baseball announcer Joe Buck was broadcasting the 1988 World Series between the Dodgers and the Athletics along with legendary announcer Vin Scully. Playing for the Dodgers was former Detroit Tiger slugger Kirk Gibson. Gibson wasn't going to be used by manager Tommy Lasorda since he had a bad left hamstring and a swoolen right knee both which he suffered in the NLCS. But the opportunity presented itself when Gibson was called in as a pinch hitter. After wobbling to the plate, Gibson hit a walk off homerun off of Dennis Eckersley and while rounding second base he pumped his arms and Buck spoke what we were all thinking.

From Quiz Calm Down Coach!

Answer: Doughnut

Schoenfeld, a fiery hockey player who spent most of his years with the Buffalo Sabres, was coaching the New Jersey Devils in a 1988 playoff game against the Boston Bruins. Upset by what he regarded as bad officiating (what impact that had on the Devils losing 6-1 is unknown), Schoenfeld confronted referee Don Koharski outside the officials' dressing room. After the two made accidental physical contact and Koharski had told Schoenfeld to get his hands off of him, the coach started yelling, culminating in saying, "Have another doughnut, you fat pig." Schoenfeld was suspended for one game, the Devils appealed, the officiating crew refused to work the next game with Schoenfeld behind the bench, and he finally served his suspension later in the series. That summer, Schoenfeld played in a celebrity golf tournament hosted by Koharski and the two buried the hatchet.

From Quiz Did They Say That?

Answer: Andre Dawson

I found this in a "Sports Illustrated" article called "Why Athletes Should Not Be Role Models." Andre Dawson was an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs at the time.

From Quiz Athletes Say the Darnedest Things # 2

Answer: John Kruk

Kruk was a career .300 hitter with the Padres, Phillies, and White Sox. Born February 9th, 1961 in Charleston WV. He was well known for his wittism and bodily girth.

From Quiz Athletes Say the Darnedest Things #1

Answer: Yogi Berra

One of sports most endearing legends, Berra signed with the Yankees.

From Quiz Quotes and Their Owners

Answer: Joe Pepitone

Joe Pepitone spent the first several years of his career as a member of the New York Yankees (1962-1969), before eventually ending his career in 1973, jumping from the Astros, the Cubs, and then the Braves. He spent a majority of his time playing first base and in center field.

From Quiz I Didn't Hear You

Answer: Deion Sanders

In October of 1992, Sanders played a 1:00 NFL game with the Atlanta Falcons at Miami and then flew to Pittsburgh to suit up in Game 5 of the NLCS with the Atlanta Braves. While Sanders didn't get to play in the game, he was mentioned by McCarver on the broadcast, who added he was not impressed that Sanders left the Braves during the playoff run. After the Braves won the series in 7 games, Sanders sought out McCarver in the locker room and proceeded to dump four buckets of water on him. Sanders was fined $1,000 for the incident.

From Quiz Did They Really Say That? Memorable Sports Quotes

Answer: Johnny Most, Boston Celtics radio announcer

Johnny Most's excited and joyfully spontaneous account is a classic testament to the thrill of sport. The setting: Boston Garden, game seven, 1965 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. The teams: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics. With a one point lead and possession, Hall of Fame center Bill Russell egregiously turned the ball over by inbounding it and hitting a basket support wire. With one more miraculous chance to steal the game and finally defeat their hated rivals in Beantown, Philadelphia was stymied yet again by Havlicek's heads-up play.

From Quiz Who Said That?

Answer: John McEnroe

McEnroe was playing Tom Gullikson in the 1981 Wimbledon tournament when he made this outburst. McEnroe would go on, however, to win the singles title. McEnroe joked once that it became expected for him to have an outburst during a tourney as he feared being docked prize money if he didn't. McEnroe was the number one ranked tennis player for much of his career. He had a record of eight singles and doubles wins at both Wimbledon and the US Open. He has been a color commentator for tennis tourneys, appeared as himself in numerous television programs, and for awhile had his own talk show.

From Quiz Calm Down Coach!

Answer: "Who we thought they were"

The 2006 Chicago Bears lit up the NFL, starting the season 5-0 and usually crushing opponents on both offense and defense. For their sixth game, they faced the 1-4 Cardinals, who had looked pitiful to that point. Somehow, the huge underdog Cardinals ran up a 20-0 halftime lead in the Monday night contest. Yet in the second half, the Bears got two touchdowns from their defense, one from Devin Hester on a punt return, built a 24-23 lead, and finally won when the Cardinals missed a field goal in the final minute. After the game, Green struggled, calmly at first, to explain letting the game get away. He finally stormed "The Bears are what we thought they were. They're what we thought they were ... the Bears are who we thought they were! ... Now, if you want to crown them, then crown their [behinds]! But, they are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!" With that, he turned and walked from the podium. The meltdown, roughly 40 seconds long, became an instant classic. Green was fired after the Cardinals finished the season at 3-13.

From Quiz Athletes Say the Darnedest Things # 2

Answer: Yogi Berra

Another great Yogi quote!

From Quiz Athletes Say the Darnedest Things #1

Answer: Richard Williamson

Former Tampa Bay Bucs coach didn't win much but he could spell.

From Quiz Quotes and Their Owners

Answer: "I didn't see that he had anything to be proud of."

Ryan spent 27 seasons as a coach, mostly an assistant, in the NFL. He was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1986-1990.

From Quiz I Didn't Hear You

Answer: Patrick Roy

After scoring two goals in Game 3 of the 1996 Western Conference Semi-finals, Roy stopped Roenick on a breakaway, and said he would of stopped Roenick, even if he had not been tripped up by Sandis Ozolinsh. Roenick retorted by asking where Roy was in Game 3, "probably getting his jock out of the stands, out of the rafters, of the United Center.". Roy ended the brief saga with his now famous line of "I didn't actually hear what Jeremy said, because I had my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears." Roy's Avalanche would win the series, and the Stanley Cup, giving Roy his third of four rings.

From Quiz Did They Really Say That? Memorable Sports Quotes

Answer: Diego Maradona, Argentina

Maradona's first of two goals put Argentina up 1-0 in a game they would win 2-1, much to the chagrin of the English. There is little doubt now that he pounded the ball into the net with his left fist from close range, even though he's never admitted it; and the referee, Ali Bin Nasser of Tunisia, claims he never saw a hand ball. Maradona's direct quote after the match was "un poco con la cabeza de Maradona y otro poco con la mano de Dios" (translation- "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God"). Adding spice and controversy to the event was the fact that only four years earlier, Britain and Argentina had had a military confrontation regarding control of the Falkland Islands off the coast of Argentina. Many Argentinians viewed the defeat of England in the World Cup as some kind of retribution for that humiliation.

From Quiz Sports Soundbites

Answer: Allen Iverson

Iverson's press conference came after he failed to show up at the 76ers practice, where he played from 1996 to 2006. I guess he wanted to let people know that because he was a star, he didn't need practice. Well in the entire ranting he used the word "practice" 24 times.

From Quiz Calm Down Coach!

Answer: Unemployed

During a slow 1983 start (the Cubs started 5-14), Elia gave a memorable and profane tirade to the press, largely focusing on the heckling fans. The Cubs played all day games in 1983 and Elia fumed that "85% of the [expletive] world is working. The other 15% come out here. A [expletive] playground for the [expletive]." The uncensored rant is widely available on the internet and could probably strip varnish off furniture. Elia later managed the Phillies and has coached for several other major league teams.

From Quiz Athletes Say the Darnedest Things # 2

Answer: Jack Dempsey

After losing his title to Gene Tunney.

From Quiz Athletes Say the Darnedest Things #1

Answer: Don King

Boxing's most flamboyant figure financed his college education by becoming a numbers runner.

From Quiz Quotes and Their Owners

Answer: Jimmy Hoffa

Milton Berle was a comedian and an actor for most of his life, beginning as a child in 1913 and finally retiring in the year 2000.

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