Our hometowns have more impressive ties to the world of sports than you can shake your hockey stick at. Take our quiz and see if you can name the athlete, team or sports figure in question.
No peeking! Answers are posted below.
Quiz Questions
1. What native of Batavia became the University of Kentucky’s all-time leading scorer, was dubbed “dangerous big man on the perimeter,” was a seven-time ABA and NBA All-Star, was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1970 and was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993?
2. When he attended Marian Central Catholic High School, in Woodstock, this football player was not only tackle and tight end on offense, but also defensive end and linebacker. He attended the University of Iowa and was named the Big 10’s 2009 Offensive Lineman of the Year. Next, he became a rookie starter with the 2010 Green Bay Packers team that won the Super Bowl, earning distinction as the youngest player to start in a Super Bowl.
3. This Major League Baseball starting pitcher currently plays with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He graduated from Crystal Lake South High School before being drafted 173rd overall during the sixth round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. He holds the single-season record for most strike-outs by a Marlin rookie, with two 10-or-more strike-out games.
4. This Aurora native competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich at age 15 and ranked 6th in the Women’s 800-meter freestyle. She’s a former world record holder in both the 800- and 1500-meter freestyle.
5. This McHenry native, often called the “father of the modern metal wood,” founded TaylorMade Golf in 1979.
6. What McHenry High School (East Campus) student went on to play football at Michigan State University and then with the New England Patriots?
7. What local city had a minor league baseball franchise that played from 1910-1915 in the Illinois-Wisconsin League? Its most famous player was Casey Stengel, who played one season with the team before being bought by the Brooklyn Dodgers. Stengel batted .352 and was league batting champion for 1911. The team played in a stadium on the west side, in the former Riverview Park.
8. This National League All-Star is a Chicago native and ISU graduate who pitched for the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. In 1974 he won the league ERA crown, averaged the fewest hits per nine innings of all NL pitchers and set an Atlanta Braves consecutive victory mark. Now 63, he coaches at the Fox Valley Sports Academy in Elgin.
9. Once an honor roll student at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, this 25-year-old men’s figure skating star is now the 2010 Olympic champion and the 2009 World champion.
10. This team is the 2008 World Champion in Women’s Softball. Last June, softball diva Jennie Finch pitched a perfect game against the Akron Racers while playing with this team that competes in Elgin at Judson College.
11. This Crystal Lake native turned golf pro in 2004 and had his best finish this year on the PGA Tour at the Puerto Rico Open, hitting 50th on the leaderboard. He ranks 17th in Victory Leaders on the PGA Tour and has a driving distance average of 288.2 yards.
12. What Batavia native holds the NFL record for season completion percentage (70.6), and set the mark for consecutive completions (20); was 1981 MVP; played his entire professional career for the Cincinnatti Bengals and returned to coach? Hint: He also coached the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks from 2007 to 2009 before retiring from coaching.
Quiz Answers
1. Dan Issel
2. Bryan Bulaga
3. Scott Olsen
4. Jo Ann Harshbarger
5. Gary Adams
6 Jace Sayler
7. Aurora: The Aurora Islanders/Blues/Foxes
8. Buzz Capra
9. Evan Frank Lysacek
10. The Chicago Bandits
11. Joe Affrunti
12. Ken Anderson