Somewhat off topic - trivia

Mark Padgett · #1 (**permalink**) Sun Jun 05, 2005, 06:32pm

Just heard this on the radio yesterday. Who is the only person to be a player on a pro US championship team and be a head coach (or manager) for another pro US championship team in a totally different sport?

Here's a hint - both sports involve using a ball. Gee - that narrows it down.

Junker · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 06, 2005, 12:20pm

Judging from the replies, no one knows. When do we get the answer?

ChuckElias · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 06, 2005, 12:25pm

What replies?

socalreff · #4 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 06, 2005, 12:26pm

Bill Sharman?

BktBallRef · #5 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 06, 2005, 01:12pm

Jim Thorpe

M&M Guy · #6 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 06, 2005, 01:37pm

Quote:

Originally posted by BktBallRef
Jim Thorpe

I hadn't thought of him at first because I thought he was involved in track as well as football? Mark mentioned both sports involve using a ball, so I thought maybe it was a trick question involving the shot put. I did a check, and it appears he also played MLB as well as leading the Canton Bulldogs football team to championships. Of course, this doesn't even include his Olympic medals. No wonder he was voted ABC's Athlete of the Century.

TriggerMN · #7 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 06, 2005, 02:02pm

Bud Grant was a member of one of the Minneapolis Lakers teams who won the NBA championship in the 1950's.

He also was head coach of the Minnesota Vikings when they won the NFL championship in 1969.

(Before you start, remember in 1969, there was the NFL and AFL. The AFL's Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl IV, but the Vikings were still credited with the National Football "League" championship.)

Mark Padgett · #8 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 06, 2005, 02:11pm

Quote:

Originally posted by TriggerMN
Bud Grant was a member of one of the Minneapolis Lakers teams who won the NBA championship in the 1950's.

He also was head coach of the Minnesota Vikings when they won the NFL championship in 1969.

(Before you start, remember in 1969, there was the NFL and AFL. The AFL's Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl IV, but the Vikings were still credited with the National Football "League" championship.)

You nailed it. Grant was a reserve guard on the 1950 Lakers. He was "slightly" overshadowed by George Mikan.

M&M Guy · #9 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 06, 2005, 02:19pm

Quote:

Originally posted by TriggerMN
(Before you start, remember in 1969, there was the NFL and AFL. The AFL's Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl IV, but the Vikings were still credited with the National Football "League" championship.)

Hey, if that's the case, then my Cubbies have had championships since 1904 as well. There's the NL East Division Championships in 1984 and 1989, and the NL Central Championship in 2003.

So I guess maybe Thorpe didn't win any baseball championships. But since he won Olympic medals in track and field, which includes the shot put (a very heavy ball, by the way), doesn't the Olympics count as pro sports?

26 Year Gap · #10 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 06, 2005, 08:16pm

And I believe Bud coached a championship CFL team or two as well althought that is not a US pro championship. Not sure when they changed to Super Bowl from afl-nfl championship game but the first 4 SBs had the AFL champ versus the NFL champ. Division titles don't count. I think you only have to go back to 1908, though, for the Cubbies.

rainmaker · #11 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 06, 2005, 09:04pm

Quote:

Originally posted by M&M Guy
...doesn't the Olympics count as pro sports?

It didn't back then. A lot of it does now.