Click Order Form to Order
Review:
The Ultimate Basketball Trivia Challenge
Did you know that Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball in 1891, is the only head coach in the University of Kansas' storied hoop history with a career losing record? How about that Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were first teammates at the 1978 World Games, not at the 1992 Olympics? Or that Gene Conley is the only player to win a World Series title and an NBA championship?
Fascinating trivia tidbits like these abound in The Ultimate Basketball Trivia Challenge, a simulated basketball game book designed to test and delight the casual and expert hoop fan alike. The book is divided into 25 games of 40 multiple choice questions each, totaling 1,020 questions overall, on hoop history from 1891 to the present. Every game is divided into four quarters of 10 questions each, with one overtime fill-in-the blank query at the end of each "game." Each quarter concerns questions on a specific topic like Buzzer Beaters, Bird vs. Johnson, Passing Fancy, Great Rivalries, The 1980s, The Celtics, Nicknames & Numbers, Streaks & Records, Chairmen of the Boards, Hot Shots, Slam Dunk Kings, All in the Family, and over 40 others.
Every quarter contains 10 questions-two lay up/ dunks, two free throws, four jump shots and two three-pointers. The layup/dunks are the easiest type of question/shot (as in real basketball) and have just two answer choices. The free throws are a little harder with three options, while the jumpers are even harder with four choices. The three-pointers, as in actual hoops, are the most difficult with five choices. As in real hoops, two points are awarded for layup/ dunk and jump shot questions answered correctly, one point for free throws and three for each three-point question gotten right. Points are accumulated at the end of each game and assessed against an opponent or a score rating scale. The game can thus be played alone, one on one, or in teams.Take a short preview quiz (answers below, 15 points possible):
Dunk-Who holds the NBA record for rebounds in a single game?*how many
A) Wilt Chamberlain B) Bill Russell
Free throw-What team ended UCLA's streak of seven straight NCAA titles in -1974?
A) Indiana B) North Carolina St. C) Marquette
Jumper-Which country won the 1980 men's Olympic gold medal at Moscow?
A) USA B) Yugoslavia C) USSR D) Spain
3-pointer-Who is the only man to play in the NCAA Finals with two different schools?
A) Steve Krafcisin B) Bob Bender C) Delray Brooks D) Sam Bowie E) Cliff Rozier
Overtime: Name the six schools that have won back-to-back NCAA titles (1 point each).
Author Cort Reynolds was born in Bloomington, Indiana and raised with basketball in his blood. He has been a player, coach, sports information director, sports editor and writer. His total recall memory and love of games have been combined in this book for casual fans and hoop fanatics. He graduated with honors from Ohio Northern University in the late 1980s with degrees in English/writing and philosophy. Reynolds is finishing similar trivia game books on Sherlock Holmes and baseball. He publishes his own college/ pro basketball newsletter called Cort's Court Report and is also completing a book on basketball history. His book covers all aspects of basketball history from 1891 to the present, from Mikan to Olajuwon, Cousy to Stockton, Maravich to Jordan, the NCAA to ABA to NBA to the Olympics, Naismith to Knight, Chamberlain to O'Neal, Pettit to Bird, Baylor to Erving, Wooden to Kryzezewski, the Big O to Magic, Auerbach to Riley and much more!
Quiz answers:
Dunk: A. Chamberlain snared 55 in a 1962 game. Russell once had 51. If you got the exact number of boards right, give yourself an extra point on a conventional three-point play.
FT: B. N C. State upset UCLA 80-77 in a double overtime classic at the 1974 NCAA semifinals.
Jumper B. The U.S. boycotted but Yugoslavia upset the Soviets and beat upstart Italy for gold.
3-pointer: B. Bob Bender played for Indiana in the 1976 finals vs. Michigan. He then transferred to Duke and played for the Blue Devils in their 1978 to Kentucky. Kraficsin played for North Carolina who lost to Marquette in the 1977 finals, and then transferred to Iowa, which lost to eventual champion Louisville in the 19830 semifinals.
Overtime: Oklahoma A & M (1945-46), Kentucky (1948-49), San Francisco (1955-56), Cincinnati (61-62), UCLA (1964-65,1967-73), Duke (1991-92).
Scoring scale:
15 points-All-time MVP; 14-Hall of Famer; 13-Season MVP; 12-1st team all-league; 11-All Star; 1 10-NBA starter; 9-NBA 6th man; 8-Role player; 7-College starter; 6-College reserve; 5-High school starter; 4-High school JVer; 3-Freshman backup; 2-Junior high player; 1-First day cut; -pulled groin on first day of tryouts.
Expert testimonial: Dr. Peter Bjarkman, author of over 30 basketball and baseball books, including Hoopla: A Century of College Basketball (1996, Masters Press) and History of the NBA (1992, Random House) says this about the book: "Fascinating reading of great interest to hoop buffs."
Ric Bratton, host of The Ric Bratton Show on WLIO-TV 35 in Lima, Ohio. "The book is a great conversation piece. Once you start reading it the hours pass when the memories of past games and players come back to you."
