Pop (up) quiz: Knock it out of the park

Considering the futility of psychoanalyzing Manny Ramirez, Tiger Woods, or the Boston Red Sox, and since we all need to have some fun, how about a quiz? I feel pretty good about anything that keeps me from writing more than ten words about Manny Ramirez, but I can’t avoid him altogether, so let’s get him out of the way first.

1. With or without performance enhancing drugs, would the recently retired 38-year-old designated hitter Manny Ramirez have been of any use to the Tampa Bay Rays?
a. Of course! He has 555 career home runs.
b. Maybe, but he had only one hit in 17 at-bats this season.
c. Get real. Anyone that egotistical, uncaring, or stupid (he’d already been caught once for PEDs) is nothing but a liability. Plus, he’s washed up.

2. Which former ESPN analyst and current sports radio host said “Thank God for steroids. It [sic] brought the game back from extinction,” when discussing the Barry Bonds’ perjury trial?
a. Dan Patrick
b. Keith Olbermann
c. Steve Phillips
d. Sean Salisbury

3. The Boston Red Sox, ranked number one in the AL East in Sports Illustrated’s baseball preview, won how many of their first eight games this season?
a. 1
b. 3
c. 5
d. 7

4. When the University of Florida unveiled life-sized statue of its three Heisman winners (Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, and Tim Tebow), what caused a bit of controversy?
a. Danny Wuerffel’s name was misspelled.
b. Tim Tebow was running with, not throwing, the ball.
c. Steve Spurrier said, “I only wish I could have won the Heisman for South Carolina."

5. College baseball teams are hitting half as many home runs as last season (averaging one fewer per game). Why?
a. NCAA rules have moved the outfield fence back ten feet.
b. Smaller sweet spots decrease ball speeds off the bats.
c. 2011 is the year of the pitcher.

6. What have the San Francisco Giants done for their gravely ill clubhouse attendant, David Loewenstein, that made headlines?
a. Given him a full share of their World Series earnings.
b. Paid for around-the-clock nursing care at an assisted-living facility.
c. Continued to give him full health benefits and kept him on the payroll even though he’s too ill to work.
d. All of the above.

7. After two Dodgers fans brutally beat San Francisco fan Bryan Stow (who remains in a medically induced coma) following the Giants’ victory on Opening Day, L.A. owner Frank McCourt decided to take what action?
a. ban alcohol from Dodgers home games
b. eject rowdy fans
c. put off-duty cops in uniform rather than in plain clothes
d. both a & b
e. both b & c

8. With the NBA trying to hammer out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, what major change do executives expect?
a. A return to the 2005 rule that allowed players to join the NBA straight out of high school
b. Requiring benched players to wear suits and ties
c. Changing the draft age limit from one year out of high school and 19 years old to two years out and 20 years old.
d. A ban on trade talks during the regular season

9. After losing his 100^th consecutive race, Dale Earnhart Jr. cited what as contributing to his losing streak?
a. not wrecking other cars on purpose
b. lack of support from team owner Rick Hendrick
c. being boxed in by other drivers
d. power problems with his car

10. Charl Schwartzel became the first Masters champion to do what?
a. refuse the green blazer unless women were allowed to play the course
b. finish with four birdies
c. hail from South Africa
d. finish with a hole in one

Answers:
1. most likely c, 2. A, 3. A, 4. B, 5. B, 6. D, 7. E, 8. C, 9. A, 10. B
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Juanita lives on a farm in Charlotte County with her husband, son, and many dogs.