A million years ago (i.e. in my 20s) I was in a relationship with someone who was slowly but surely slipping away from me. If it were today, I would have understood what was happening, and why, and how there wasn’t much to do about it. Except it wasn’t today. It was then, when I knew nothing about the world and even less about relationships. Anyway, the long and the short of it is that I did everything in my power to make being with me more appealing and though it worked for a little while, it didn’t work for long. Reality bites, after all.
The Milwaukee Bucks know this feel acutely, I’m guessing, because they just mortgaged their future to Go For It™ now. Three first-rounders, George Hill, and Eric Bledsoe for Jrue Holiday? I mean, Jesus; that’s more than Lelaina Pierce put on her dad’s gas card.
Still, I can’t say I blame them. For better or worse, their entire franchise depends on re-signing Giannis Antetokounmpo. With him, they’re a perennial Eastern Conference contender that everyone notices, cares about, and fears. Without him, they’re the Milwaukee Bucks. Before Antetokounmpo, when was the last time anyone cared noticed, cared about, or feared the Milwaukee Bucks? If you say anytime after 2001, when their “Big Three” of Sam Cassell, Glenn Robinson, and Ray Allen got to the Eastern Conference Finals before getting outlasted by Allen Iverson and the Sixers, I’ll say you’re only hearing what you want to.
Anyway, it’ll be a while before we see how this shakes out but for what it’s worth, it was nice to think about something other than COVID-19 and the clusterfuck of 2020 for a few minutes. — DJ
#answers
Here are the questions/answers from last week’s issue.
Three NHL franchises have moved cities, where the original and new cities weren’t both provincial/state capitals. What are the three franchises?
The three franchises are the Calgary Flames (Edmonton is the capital of Alberta), Dallas Stars (Minneapolis and Dallas aren’t state capitals), and the New Jersey Devils (Kansas City and East Rutherford are not state capitals).
What NFL player has received the most Pro Bowl selections (with 11) while wearing the #11 jersey?
In a thirteen-year span (2005-2017), Larry Fitzgerald was selected to the Pro Bowl eleven times.
The last time the MLB team with the longest active postseason drought made the playoffs, who was their manager?
The Seattle Mariners last made the playoffs in 2001 with Lou Piniella at their helm.
Among the five players who scored the most points in a Toronto Raptors uniform, only one never made an All-Star team. Who is he?
As hardcore Raptors fans, we here at Oddball believe that the perennial All-Star snubbing of Andrea Bargnani (fifth-most points in franchise history) has been one of the grossest injustices in NBA history. (NB: Jonathan and David West wrote that part.)
#warmup
You can’t just run headlong into sports trivia. You’ve got to stretch.
Theo Epstein is stepping down as the Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations.
Sports Illustrated ranked all 31 of the NHL’s “reverse retro” jerseys.
James Harden turned down a shot at being the NBA’s first $50 million a year player because he wants to be a Brooklyn Net.
#allanguesster
We’re only going to do two questions this week, because they’re both doozies. As per our new custom, answers will come next issue.
For each of the countries that bear a Nordic cross on its flag, name the top active NHL goal scorer born in that country. (NB: Don’t include Iceland in this, as there are no Icelandic-born players, despite what you learned from D2: The Mighty Ducks.)
New Phoenix Suns PG Chris Paul has the most career points of any player from the 2005 NBA draft class. Behind him are two players who were drafted in the second round, one of whom is still active. Who are they?
#postscript
Many thanks to Allan Bester for being named his name and to you for being named your name. Additional thanks to the small but dedicated group of people (Geoff, Jeff, Briggins, Paul, etc) who take the time and spend the energy answering our weekday questions on Facebook — which you can do as well, if you dare!
Additional additional thanks in advance for clicking the heart and sharing this issue hither and yon with all of the townspeople in your hamlet.
Also: Dave is thinking of doing a trivia show via Instagram Live. If you’d be interested in playing, leave a comment saying that, please and thanks.
DJ/JY
Question 2: Lou Will and Monta