Archive by Author | Adam Villani

Quiz Corner: Title Town, USA

Aug4

When the Bruins hoisted the Stanley Cup in June, Boston became “Title Town, USA,” having won championships in all four top-level professional sports leagues (the NHL, NFL, NBA, and MLB) within the span of less than a decade. The Patriots won Super Bowl XXXIX in February 2005, the Red Sox won in 2007, and the Celtics won in 2008.

Five other American cities have achieved this distinction, but they all took longer than Boston—some of them, much longer. Can you identify these other us Title Towns below by matching them with the shortest span over which they won championships in all four leagues?

For clues, I have included the leagues and years that began and ended the span. (For example, Boston (A) is #1.)

A. Boston
B. Chicago
C. Detroit
D. Los Angeles/Anaheim
E. New York/Northern New Jersey
F. Philadelphia

  1. 6 years, 129 days (NFL 2005–NHL 2011)
  2. 11 years, 133 days (NFL 1969–NHL 1980)
  3. 19 years, 300 days (NFL 1960–MLB 1980)
  4. 23 years, 135 days (NFL 1984–NHL 2007)
  5. 34 years, 60 days (NHL 1955–NBA 1989)
  6. 73 years, 210 days (MLB 1917–NBA 1991)

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Quiz Corner

Apr2

Q: In the latest Census data, Boston is the only city in Massachusetts to rank among the  most populous in the nation. A century ago, in the 1910 Census, no fewer than 12 Massachusetts cities ranked among the top 100. How many can you name? (Answers below.)

Quizmaster Adam Villani won Ben Stein’s Money, but lost to all-time champion Ken Jennings at Jeopardy! From the April 2011 issue of Happiness Pony. [PDF]

A: (In descending order) Boston, Worcester, Fall River, Lowell, Cambridge, New Bedford, Lynn, Springfield, Lawrence, Somerville, Holyoke, & Brockton.

Source: http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/ twps0027/twps0027.html

Bonus: Search the source for tables from years farther back in the 1800s to see Massachusetts cities or towns such as Salem, Gloucester, Charlestown (which has since been annexed to Boston), & even Newburyport make the list.