Rock's Ridiculous Sports Quiz

Please enter you answers as a comment to the post.


1. Make a list of sports where the low score wins. Note that all timed sports are excluded e.g. running, swimming, auto racing ,etc. (10 point for each sport)


2. (Essay Question) Identify the sport where ambidexterity is most valuable. (40 points)


3. There are two kinds of sports – sports where the boundary line is “in bounds” and sports where the boundary line is “out of bounds.” Make a two column list of such sports with column A representing "in bounds" sports and column B representing "out of bounds" sports. (10 points for every complete row, i.e. correct answer in column A and column B)


4. Identify the sport whose time structure (hint: this is not the same as the length of the game) changes from high school to college to the pros. (15 points for each sport)


5. Consider the following sports: baseball, football, and soccer. Which sport gives the greatest number of combinatorial lineups given the restricted interchangeability of playing positions. For example, in baseball:
a. Any outfielder can play any outfield position
b. The first baseman only plays first base
c. The other three infielders can play any infield position (except first base)
d. The pitcher and catcher cannot exchange position

Given the assumptions above there are 36 lineups here. Your answer should state assumptions and the number of lineups. (20 points)


6. Name a sport which has a scoring system in which you can win more points than your opponent, win more games than your opponent, and still lose the match to your opponent? (10 points)

Give the specifics of losing a match such a match (more points than opponent and more games than opponent). Assume that every game of the match had the fewest possible points scored. (20 points)


7. List the size of the items below in increasing order of diameter: baseball, basketball, golf ball, hockey puck, tennis ball. (5 points for each correct answer in the list)

8. In baseball to “bat around” means that every player bats exactly once in a half inning. When this occurs what is the maximum # of runs that can be scored? The minimum # of runs? (Hint: the maximum is > 6 given an extraordinary set of circumstances for the home team). (5 points for the correct minimum number; 40 points for the correct maximum number)

9. Here’s another “there are two kinds of sports” questions. Sports that do not have an unlimited overtime play and those that do. As before make a two column list. Column A lists sports that have unlimited OT to settle the contest and column B lists sports that determine the victor by some kind of “shootout.” (10 points for every complete row)

Answers below (keep scrolling) but give it a shot before giving up.


















1. Golf, cross-country, show jumping (equestrian sport)

2. This question is extremely hard to score because it is hard to pick the correct sport in the first place. Some sports by their nature are symmetrical in the sense that any asymmetry would be considered a distinct handicap. Take for example, swimming (or running). If the player were not ambidextrous he or she would probably be at a serious disadvantage. So is the answer swimming?

The question is loaded because you tend to think of sports that are “handed” (also “footed”). But even in sports that are “handed” you would not expect ambidexterity at all positions. Have you ever heard of an ambidextrous quarterback or an ambidextrous pitcher? I haven’t.

My preferred answer is soccer. Now soccer players are born “footed,” that is, they have a favored kicking leg, but through constant training the superior player does not show a preference for either leg. Such a player must be able to dribble, pass, and score with either leg when the opportunity arises.

3.
Out of Bounds In Bounds
Football Baseball
Basketball Soccer
Tennis* Tennis*
Relay Race
Long Jump

*When serving a player “foot faults” when he steps on the baseline before striking the ball. Once the ball is in play it is considered in bounds if it touches any part of the court boundary.

4. Basketball. High school: 4 quarters, college: 2 halves, pros: 4 quarters. Why it changes like this is a mystery to me.

5. Football. Non-interchangeable positions: Quarterback, Center, Middle Linebacker. Interchangeable positions: Guards and Tackles (24 combinations), Left and Right Linebacker (2 combinations), Free Safety and Cornerbacks (6 combinations). Total permutations: 288.

6. Tennis. Player A loses to Player B in a five set match 6-0, 6-6 (7-5), 6-0, , 6-6 (7-5), 6-6 (7-5). Every gave won by player A was a shutout (50-love) and every game won by player B was won by the minimum margin of two points (50-30). Thus player A won 30 games to player B’s 21 games (tiebreaker counts as one game). Player A won 167 points to Player B’s 105 points.

7.
Golf ball: 1.680 inches
Tennis ball: 2.575-2.700 inches
Baseball: 2.87 - 2.94 inches
Hockey puck: 3 inches
Basketball: 9.39 inches

8. Max = 9, min = 3. Most people would give 6 as the maximum # of runs that can be scored in a half inning with each player batting exactly once, however consider this situation. A team is down by 8 runs in the bottom of the ninth and makes a miraculous comeback scoring 9 runs without incurring a single out. Nine players have batted and the ninth has hit a walk off grand slam. The half inning ends not due to the third out being made, but because the game has ended.

9.
Unlimited OT Limited OT
Baseball Football
Basketball Soccer
Hockey * Hockey *

* In profession hockey during the regular season shootouts determine the games winner; however in the playoffs unlimited overtime is the norm.