The Ultimate General Sports Quiz

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
The Ultimate General Sports Quiz
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Sports can be both inspiring and entertaining for the athletes who play and for the fans who watch. Whether you're a participant or an observer, a sport is always better when you have a general knowledge of its history as well as the current events that surround it. Do you think your general sports knowledge rivals the average fan? Here's a quiz where you can find out.

When it comes to sports, most fans who spend time invested in them have a base understanding, especially in an age where sports analysts are constantly spurting facts, and dozens of articles are written daily. But it takes a true sports buff to have a base knowledge of all sports and the major events that surround them. 

From baseball to hockey to football and many more, this quiz is filled with some of the biggest events that have shaped the current state of sports. Are you going to be able to rise to the challenge by getting all 35 questions right, or will those boxing questions knock you out of the fight? 

When you're ready to jump into the arena that is this quiz, get started and find out if you've really been paying attention to the world of sports. 

Led by Michael Jordan, the Bulls proved they were the most dominant NBA team in the '90s by winning how many championships?
3
4
5
6
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Michael Jordan won his sixth championship in 1998 in a matchup against the Utah Jazz, who the Bulls also beat the year prior in the Finals. The series went six games, with Jordan scoring the final points in Game 6 to seal the victory.

If you were betting on a Super Bowl winner, you'd probably bet on the Patriots, a team coached by who?
Pete Carroll
Bill Belichick
Mike Tomlin
John Harbaugh
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bill Belichick runs a tight ship in New England, where players either get with the program or get out of town. Recognized as both a great coach and general manager, Belichick isn't afraid to trade a player a year early if he think that player's on the decline, leading to many labeling him cold-hearted.

Venus Williams, a tennis star in her own right, is the sister of which all-time great?
Serena
Caroline
Petra
Ana
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As fiery a competitor as you will find, Serena Williams has been criticized in the past for being too emotional on the court. However, those emotions have often played in her favor, as she has won 39 majors in her career.

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Which NHL team from Boston do fans proudly root for each season?
Jets
Predators
Bruins
Penguins
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The oldest NHL team in the United States, the Boston Bruins were one of the first teams in the NHL before the league expansion in 1967. Not long after they were founded in 1924, the team was competing for titles, winning their first Stanley Cup in 1929.

The winners of 27 World Series, the Yankees are clearly the best at what they do, but which player launched them to national prominence when they traded for him in 1920?
Lou Gehrig
Babe Ruth
Joe DiMaggio
Mickey Mantle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

By the time the Yankees acquired Babe Ruth, he was already a star in MLB. His time in New York, however, would change the future of the sport, as he almost single handedly started the live ball era by hitting home runs at a rate never seen before.

After 11 years without a major championship, Tiger Woods finally won which tournament?
The Open Championship
U.S. Open
Masters Tournament
PGA Championship
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's fitting that the first major tournament that Tiger Woods won in 1997 would be the same tournament that relaunched his career in 2019. That's exactly what the Masters did for this legendary golfer, giving him his fifth victory on those grounds and his 15th major.

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Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players ever. Do you know what country this legend comes from?
Argentina
South Africa
Spain
France
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lionel Messi was already a rising star when he competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics with the Argentina national team. That team went on to defeat Nigeria in the finals of the tournament, earning Messi an Olympic gold medal.

Auburn University plays the University of Alabama each football season in which rivalry game?
The Civil War
The Cotton Bowl
The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry
The Iron Bowl
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 2013 Iron Bowl proved exactly why this college football rivalry is so exciting to watch. In a tie game with a single second left on the clock, Auburn returned a missed field goal by Alabama for a touchdown to give Auburn the victory and a trip to the SEC Championship.

At the height of his boxing career, Muhammad Ali famously fought who in the "Rumble in the Jungle"?
George Foreman
Sonny Liston
Joe Frazier
Floyd Patterson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali was forced to miss over three years of his prime boxing career due to his refusal to enter into the Vietnam War. He wouldn't face George Foreman until after his return, when his skills had diminished at the age of 32. That, of course, didn't stop him from putting on an excellent bout.

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Bill Russell led which NBA team to 11 NBA championships during his Hall of Fame career?
Lakers
76ers
Celtics
Bucks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Former players and analysts often talk about how championships define a player's legacy and place on the Mount Rushmore of basketball. If that's true, then Bill Russell sits at the top of the basketball world because no other superstar has close to 11 titles.

At which UFC event did Connor McGregor become the first UFC fighter to hold championships in two different weight divisions?
UFC 198
UFC 205
UFC 224
UFC 236
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

UFC 205 cemented Connor McGregor's rise to the top of mixed martial arts when he knocked out Eddie Alvarez in the second round. McGregor stepped away from the octagon after the fight, electing to take up a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. instead.

The Pittsburgh Steelers won multiple championships in the '70s behind their defensive line, known as the "Steel Curtain," which was led by who?
J.J. Watt
Reggie White
Bruce Smith
Joe Greene
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Younger NFL fans will likely remember "Mean" Joe Greene from his famous Coca Cola commercial, where he gives away his jersey to a kid. However, true Steelers' fans know Greene as the dominant force behind their four Super Bowl victories between the 1974 and 1979 seasons.

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At the 1980 Winter Olympics, the United States defeated which team in a match known as the "Miracle on Ice"?
Canada
China
USSR
Germany
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The United States put forth the youngest team on the ice in the 1980 Winter Olympics, which was made up entirely of amateur players. Their chances of winning the tournament, and especially of defeating the Soviet Union, which had already won five gold medals in previous years, was slim, but they pulled it off.

After 86 years without a championship, the Red Sox finally defeated which team to win the World Series in 2004?
Marlins
Mets
Dodgers
Cardinals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Even before facing the Cardinals in the 2004 World Series, the Red Sox had to come back against almost insurmountable odds in the ALCS. Down 3-0 in the series against their hated rival, the Yankees, the Red Sox were the first MLB team to win four straight games while in such a deep hole.

Danica Patrick helped establish a place for women in which industry?
Hockey
Racing
Basketball
Golf
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Danica Patrick retired from racing full time in 2018, when it was announced that the Indianapolis 500 would be her final race in NASCAR. While competing for Ed Carpenter Racing, she finished 13th in the race, the highest spot for any member of her team.

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Already a star in the tennis world, Roger Federer finally completed a Career Grand Slam by winning which tournament in 2009?
French Open
Australian Open
Wimbledon
US Open
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Roger Federer's victory at the 2009 French Open remains his only win at that tournament. He has won every other major tournament at least five times over the course of his career, with his latest win coming at the 2018 Australian Open.

Dominated for most of the fight, how did Mike Tyson lose his second match against Evander Holyfield?
Knockout
Technical knockout
Unanimous decision
Disqualification
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mike Tyson was one of the most lethal punchers to ever step foot inside the ring, but he met his match against Evander Holyfield. Their second bout ended after Tyson's infamous ear-biting moment, where he ripped off part of Holyfield's left ear.

How far behind in the series were the Cleveland Cavaliers when they came back to win the NBA championship in 2016?
3-0
3-1
3-2
3-3
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After a four-year stint in Miami, LeBron James returned to Cleveland in 2014, where he promised to deliver a championship to the city. He almost failed to keep that promise when his team went down 3-1 against a 73-win Golden State Warriors team, but they fought back to win the series in seven games.

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Which golfer has the most major championship in the history of the sport?
Jack Nicklaus
Walter Hagen
Ben Hogan
Gary Player
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jack Nicklaus had a rivalry early in his career against another legend on the golf course, Arnold Palmer. The two went back and forth at the 1960 and 1962 U.S. Open, with Palmer winning the former and Nicklaus the latter.

Recognized as the fastest man in the world, who holds the world record for the 100 meter dash?
Nesta Carter
Justin Gatlin
Usain Bolt
Tyson Gay
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Usain Bolt not only holds the world record for the 100 meter dash, but he holds the record for the 200 meter dash as well. This Jamaican athlete set both records while competing at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics held in Berlin, Germany.

The Los Angeles Rams returned to California after playing more than two decades in which city?
New York
St. Louis
Atlanta
Boston
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Rams won the only Super Bowl in franchise history while playing in St. Louis, Missouri. Known as "The Greatest Show on Turf," the championship team was led by a dominant offense that included stars like Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and Torry Holt.

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No player dominated the NHL quite like Wayne Gretzky, who earned which nickname?
The Great One
Boom Boom
The Golden Jet
The Pocket Rocket
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Great One," as Wayne Gretzky is called, sits near or at the top of most records in the NHL. This hockey legend's records include most regular season and post season goals, assists and points.

Khabib Nurmagomedov has been a dominant force in the UFC because of his mastery of which style of fighting?
Striking
Kickboxing
Muay Thai
Wrestling
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thanks to UFC stars like Khabib Nurmagomedov, wrestling has been pushed to the forefront of mixed martial arts. Even UFC commentators like Joe Rogan say wrestling might be the most important attribute a fighter can have. The style certainly has worked for Khabib, who has an undefeated record.

If you were looking for a reliable athlete in MLB, then you'd want Cal Ripken Jr., who played how many games straight?
1,988
2,014
2,632
3,087
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The previous record for the most consecutive games played was held by Lou Gehrig, who played over 50 years before Cal Ripken Jr. passed it. Ripken decided to end the streak himself in 1998 because he didn't want an injury or bad play to take the streak from him.

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Do you know which national team is lucky enough to have Cristiano Ronaldo?
The United States
Brazil
Portugal
Canada
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Playing the forward position, Cristiano Ronaldo has the honor of being the captain of the Portugal national team. He became the captain in 2008 and, eventually, helped Portugal win its first major tournament in 2016.

Standing 6 feet, 9 inches tall, Earvin "Magic" Johnson was an outlier at what position in the NBA during the '80s?
Shooting guard
Point guard
Power forward
Center
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Earvin "Magic" Johnson was the point guard for the "Showtime" Lakers, who were known for their flashy play on the court. Behind Johnson's magical passing ability, the Lakers won five NBA championships, and Johnson was named the Finals MVP for three of those titles.

Known as "The Intimidator," Dale Earnhardt Sr. created a legacy on the track while driving which number car?
3
24
40
88
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Driving behind his famed #3 car, Dale Earnhardt's final race was at the 2001 Daytona 500. During the race, Earnhardt was involved in a crash in the final lap that killed the racing legend instantly.

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The UConn women's basketball team had a winning streak of 111 games between 2014 and 2017. Which team ended this streak?
Penn State
USC
Kansas
Mississippi State
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After winning 111 straight games, UConn faced Mississippi State in the Final Four of the 2017 Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament. The Bulldogs won the game on a buzzer beater by Morgan Williams, with the final score being 66-64.

How high in the 2018 NFL draft was Saquon Barkley taken before becoming the NFL Rookie of the Year?
1st pick
2nd pick
29th pick
53rd pick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With their veteran quarterback, Eli Manning, on the downside of his career, the Giants were criticized for taking Saquon Barkley with the second pick instead of drafting a quarterback. However, the only bright side to the Giants' 2018 season was Barkley, who finished the year with 1,307 rushing yards.

Where did Patty Berg win her first LPGA Tour major championship?
U.S. Women's Open
Women's PGA Championship
Western Open
Titleholders Championship
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Patty Berg proved she was an elite golfer by winning 15 major championships, the most of any female golfer. Seven of those titles came at the Titleholders Championship, a tournament where she clearly held an advantage.

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By earning 18 Golden Glove Awards, Greg Maddux proved he was one of the best fielders in MLB at what position?
Catcher
Right fielder
Pitcher
Third base
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Greg Maddux proved he was one of MLB's greatest pitchers when he won four straight Cy Young Awards between 1992 and 1995. Randy Johnson is the only other pitcher to have such a dominant four-year run.

After going 12-0, who did Ronda Rousey lose her first MMA fight against?
Holly Holm
Amanda Nunes
Alexis Davis
Cat Zingano
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As other opportunities began to pop up, Ronda Rousey's attention began to fade from the octagon, where she had risen to stardom. When she faced Holly Holm at UFC 193, she wasn't the same fighter who won 12 straight MMA matches, and after a second loss at UFC 207, Rousey left the sport for the WWE.

Can you recall which NBA player finished his career as the all-time leading scorer?
David Robinson
Larry Bird
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Charles Barkley
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Every player in the NBA has their go-to move, but none of those moves proved to be as dominant as the sky hook launched by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Even in his later years, Abdul-Jabbar used the sky hook to score at will in a league that was becoming more dunk-focused.

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How many times did Marvelous Marvin Hagler defend his middleweight title in the '80s before finally losing to "Sugar" Ray Leonard?
5
6
9
12
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Marvelous Marvin Hagler became the undisputed middleweight champion in 1980 after knocking out Alan Minter in the third round of their bout. He would go on to defend the title against opponents like Roberto Duran and Vito Antuofermo before finally losing to "Sugar" Ray Leonard in 1987.

Coached by Vince Lombardi, which NFL team won the first ever Super Bowl?
Steelers
Packers
Giants
Eagles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I, the Green Bay Packers would return to the championship game the next season. In Super Bowl II, they faced the Oakland Raiders, winning the game in a dominant fashion with a final score of 33-14.

You Got:
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