Avoiding the Drop

I think I may have finally- after 82 attempts by myself and a few guest challengers- found the sweet spot for this series.  We had good participation this week and the questions that were guessed correctly/guessed incorrectly were the ones that should have been.  As usual, I’d like to take a moment to put the ATD spotlight on those who took part this week:  Andrew B., Brooks M., Harry J., and Keith C. (that’s a fine Scottish name you have their, laddie!).  All did well- between two-thirds and three-quarters correct- and a few of you came up with some answers I had not considered!  Join me as we take a look at the actual answers!1. What non-soccer player once dethroned Pelé as the world’s highest paid athlete?

In 1972, Boston Bruin’s center Derek “Turk” Sanderson jump from the NHL to the WHA and signed a 5-year $2.6m contract with the Philadelphia Blazers.  The Blazers bought him out for $1.0m a year later when it was clear he wasn’t worth the original contract (duh.).

As a postscript, if you ever want to know why Bobby Orr is absolutely worshipped by New England sports fans, take a look at what he did for Derek Sanderson when Sanderson’s career was over.

2. Based on the following information, name the two players:

• Both played in the Premier League
• Both played in MLS
• Both managed in MLS
• Both played in their home country, plus three others
• Both were international players
• When in the Premier League both were part of their team’s last win (to date) at Old Trafford.

Mo Johnston and Robert Warzycha fit all of these criteria and they both played on the last Everton side that defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford- in 1992.

3. What does the following list represent?

• Scotland (6)
  
• England (5)
  
• Italy/France/Wales (2)
• Ireland/Israel/Spain (1)

I really didn’t think this would be as much of a “stumper” as it was.  This is a list of the nationalities, in order of frequency, of the current Premier League managers.  I’ve added the actual numbers next to each nation for my own gloating purposes.

4. What distinction do SFL Second Division side Dumbarton F.C. hold in Scottish Football?

There were lots of good- and correct- guesses to this question, but none of them were the ones for which I was looking.  Dumbarton F.C. are the only original/founding member of the Scottish Football League still playing in the Scottish Football League.  All of the other founding members currently play in the Scottish Premier League.  Was that too sneaky?

5. What football club uses the same crest (with different initials) as the Portuguese National team?

FC Lusitanos la Posa of Andorra’s Campionat de Lliga use the same crest as the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol.

6. What soccer world championship will be held this summer on July 15^th and July 16^th?

The World Swamp Soccer Championship will be held this summer in Finland.

7. Conventional wisdom holds that Alexi Lalas was the first American-born player to play in Serie A, but he was actually the third U.S.-born player to do this. Who were the first two?

Alfonso Negro (born 6/27/1915 in NYC) played for Fiorentina (1934-1938) scoring 5 goals in 51 matches before moving on to Napoli, where he scored 3 goals in 22 matches. Negro is also the only American-born player to earn a cap for Italy.

Armando Frigo (born 8/5/1917 in Clinton, NJ) first appeared for Fiorentina in the 1939-1940 season, he there three wartime scoring 6 goals in 43 matches.

Both of these players, though born in the U.S., moved back to Italy as children and worked their way up through the lower divisions before making it to Serie A.

8. What three cities once made up the U.S.’s “Golden Triangle” of soccer?

Pawtucket (RI), New Bedford (MA), and Fall River (MA)

Thanks again to everyone who took part- if you’re answers were on the late side feel free to raise your virtual hand in the comments section.

I’ll see you at 10am sharp tomorrow with the new challenge!