Well, this is almost as traditional as fireworks and hot dogs on the Fourth of July. My annual Independence Day Trivia Contest arrives early this year so you have more time to share with friends and family.
Okay, so I exaggerated with my opening paragraph, but I am delivering 18 questions about Minnesota sports to test your trivia IQ. Answer 16 to 18 correctly and you might become a future trivia quiz contributor. With 12 or more correct, don’t hesitate to test the know-it-all at work who thinks he is “Mr. Minnesota Sports.” Nail 8 to 11 correct answers and figure you were (somewhat?) competitive. Less than eight right answers? Start prepping for the 2019 quiz.
In composing the quiz I kept reminding myself earlier quizzes had too many difficult questions. Admonish me if I remain too harsh of a taskmaster. So dive into the 18 questions, with no peeking at the answers below until answering every darn one.
And Happy Fourth of July!
Trivia Quiz Questions
1. Name the deceased former Vikings coach who will have his name added to the franchise’s Ring of Honor later this year.
2. Kirk Cousins signed an $84 million contract with the Vikings earlier this year, but coming out of college what round of the NFL Draft was he selected by the Redskins?
3. During training camp the Vikings will host another NFL team for joint practices. Name the team.
4. Name the Twins pitcher who struck out 12 Rangers in Minnesota’s win over Texas on Sunday.
5. Who did the Twins trade to the White Sox in July of 2012 to acquire infielder Eduardo Escobar?
6. When these three Twins are in the outfield they like to say, “Nothing falls (between them) but raindrops.” Who are they?
7. This Twins relief pitcher wears his cap cockeyed and during an early season game pursued snowflakes with his tongue. Who is he?
8. Name the Golden Gopher baseball player who the U announced last week has signed a contract with the St. Paul Saints.
9. Name the new Minnesota Wild advisor who once was the Minnesota North Stars’ GM?
10. Where was Wild star Zach Parise born?
11. Who did the Wild select with the 24th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and how do you spell his name?
12. Who is the former Golden Gopher basketball player who once made such a spectacular dunk at Williams Arena that ESPN referred to him as the “Jewish Jordan?”
13. This Golden Gophers basketball starter has a sister who was an All-American at Northwestern. Who is he?
14. Who is the Minnesota Lynx guard who also is head women’s basketball coach for the Golden Gophers?
15. The Timberwolves have two players on their roster who played high school basketball in the state of Minnesota. Name them.
16. Where did Timberwolves first round draft choice Josh Okogie play collegiately?
17. Name the Golden Gophers’ junior wide receiver who is a preseason All-Big Ten choice.
18. What’s the name of the Minnesota United’s soon-to-be home stadium?
Trivia Quiz Answers
1. Dennis Green referred to himself as the “Sheriff” and he rounded up more wins than any Vikings head coach in history except for Bud Grant (101 versus 168).
2. Kirk Cousins was drafted in the fourth round by the Redskins in 2012 and no one could have predicted he would one day sign a three-year $84 million deal.
3. The Jaguars will come to Eagan for joint practices with the Vikings August 15 and 16 at the TCO Performance Center.
4. Jose Berrios, looking increasingly like the staff ace, struck out 12 Rangers and gave up two hits in seven innings in Minnesota’s 2-0 win on Sunday.
5. The Twins sent one-time star pitcher Francisco Liriano to the White Sox in a deal that brought infielder Eduardo Escobar and pitcher Pedro Fernandez to Minnesota.
6. Byron Buxton, Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario are so slick in the field they can (presumably) even run down raindrops.
7. Fernando Rodney is the Twins closer who wears his cap like he put it on in the dark and during a snowy game in Pittsburgh pursued snowflakes.
8. Golden Gopher senior infielder Luke Pettersen, who was an All-Big Ten third team selection at second base, has joined the St. Paul Saints.
9. Jack Ferreira, 74, once directed the personnel decisions for the North Stars and now Wild GM Paul Fenton has made Ferreira an advisor to him.
10. Even if you can’t skate, hope you got this one: Zach Parise was born in Minneapolis.
11. The Wild chose 18-year-old defenseman Filip Johansson, and please note the first name begins with the letter “F” and there are two “S’s” in Johansson.
12. ESPN’s SportsCenter was blown away by Sam Jacobson’s spectacular dunk but incorrectly referred to him as “Jewish.”
13. Golden Gopher forward Amir Coffey’s sister, Nia, was an All-American at Northwestern and their dad, Richard, was a member of the Gopher teams from 1986-1990.
14. WNBA and Lynx veteran Lindsay Whalen, 36, was named Golden Gopher women’s coach earlier this year (another uncontested “layup” question and answer for you).
15. Timberwolves guard Tyus Jones played for Apple Valley in high school, while center Cole Aldrich was a prep at Bloomington Jefferson.
16. Josh Okogie, who the Timberwolves selected with the No. 20 pick in the first round, played collegiately at Georgia Tech.
17. Golden Gophers junior Tyler Johnson is a third-team preseason All-Big Ten pick at wide receiver by Athlon magazine.
18. Allianz Field, located in St. Paul, will host the MLS United starting in 2019.