Draft/NBA Factoids

[The Gipper]

These are the answers to my trivia questions that no one attempted. Bad timing I guess. Now you can read this and not have to exercize your "little gray cells":

 

Here are some trivia on some current topics:

 

1. Of the 256 players selected last year in the NFL draft, all but one attended college in the USA. Where did the one player that did not come from the US go to school? (and if possible give name and team that drafted him)

 

Vaughn Martin, the #113 pick of the 2009 by the San Diego Chargers played at Western Ontario Univ.

 

 

2. How many players drafted last year, 2009, made the Pro Bowl their rookie year?

 

There were six: first round picks Brian Orakpo of the Redskins, Brian Cushing of the Texans, Percy Harvin of the Vikings, and Clay Matthew III of the Packer. Second rounder Jarius Byrd of the Bills, and 5th rounder Johnny Knox of the Bears

 

3. Chicago, Alabama, Notre Dame, Iowa, TCU, West Virginia, San Francisco, Michigan St., Ohio U.

What does this list represent?

 

These are the schools that the First Rounders of the very first NFL draft in 1936 attended: Jay Berwanger, Univ. of Chicago picked by the Eagles (never played in the NFL). Riley Smith, Alabama by the Redskins. William Shakespeare, Notre Dame by the Steelers. Dick Crane, Iowa by the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jim Lawrence of TCU by the Chicago Cardinals. Joe Stydahar of West Virginia by the Bears (only Hall of Famer from this group). Russ Letbow of the Univ. of San Francisco by the Packers. Sid Wagner of Michigan St. by the Lions, and Art Lewis of Ohio U. by the Giants.

 

 

4. There is a person who was in the same year chosen with the LAST pick of the NFL draft (Mr. Irrelevent) and also picked with the FIRST overall pick of the NBA draft. Who was that?

 

Jimmy Walker (father of Jalen Rose). Yep, last pick of the 1967 NFL draft but the first pick of the 1967 NBA draft. (though the Mr. Irrelevent title didn't come along until about 10 years later, he was the guy!!

 

 

5. Name the only player who was NOT a part of the Celtics dynasty that has won 7 NBA Championship rings?

 

Robert Horry who won rings while with the Rockets, Spurs, and Lakers.

 

 

6. Which active NBA franchises have never made the NBA Finals.

 

Charlotte Bobcats, Toronto Raptors, Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans/Charlotte Hornets, LA/SD Clippers/Buffalo Braves, Denver Nuggets....though the Nuggets did play in the ABA Finals in 1976.

 

 

7. Two teams that are now defunct once played in the NBA Finals. Name those two teams.

 

The Chicago Stags and the Washington Capitols (yes there was an NBA team by that name before there was a hockey team)

 

 

8. What is the only 8th seeded team to make the NBA Finals? Team and year.

 

The 1999 New York Knicks made the NBA Finals as an 8th seed.

 

 

9. What cities have won an NBA title that no longer have a team?

 

Baltimore...Bullets won in 1948 (now Washington Wizards)

Rochester...Royals won in 1951 (Now Sacramento Kings)

Syracuse...Nationals won in 1955 (now Philadelphia 76ers)

St. Louis...Hawks won in 1958 (now Atlanta Hawks)

Seattle...Supersonics in 1979. (franchise now inactive. Note...Oklahoma Thunder is NOT considered same franchise)

 

 

10. How many times has the same city had a team win both an NBA and NHL title in the same year?

 

None. It has never happened. This year the only possibilities for that happening were for Boston with the Bruins and Celts in the playoffs, Chicago with the Bulls and Blackhawks, Denver with the Nuggest and Avalanche, Phoenix with the Suns and Coyotes, and LA with the Kings and the Lakers.

 

 

Big 10/11 bonus question: There has been talk about the Big 10 expanding, but in a certain sense there are already 12 schools that are a part of the Big 10. What is the 12th school and how is it connected?

 

The 12th "Big Ten" school is The University of Chicago, which at one time was a playing member of the Big Ten. However, in the late 40s/early 50s it dropped its Division I sports programs. However, it always to this day has maintained its membership in the "Committee on Institutional Cooperation" which is the academic consortium which consists of all the Big 10 schools plus the Univ. of Chicago. So, perhaps if the Big Ten were to conduct an "Academic Challenge" (and perhaps they do as far as I know) Univ. of Chicago might participate, but they don't participate in sports. Their sports teams are conducted at the Division III level. I know because where my son goes to school (Kenyon) they compete against Chicago in several sports.