Image: Keith Allison / Chensiyuan via WikiCommons / MLB via YouTube
About This Quiz
$8.1 billion. Another $8 billion. $10.3 billion. Curious what those numbers represent? (No, it's not what you'll win if you ace this quiz.) This combined $26 billion and some change is what the NFL, NBA and MLB pulled in during their 2018 seasons. Mind? Blown.
Except, not really. Americas have a crazy obsession with sports, from Little League moms who shout at volunteer umpires to grown adults who spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on sports memorabilia, jerseys and tickets. We also spend an inordinate amount of time watching sports. According to figures from Nielsen, a company that tracks that kind of thing, we logged more than one trillion minutes sitting in front of a television for on- and off-the-field moments.
The "Big Three" of pro sports — the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball — make up a majority share of what we spend our money and time on. Add in collegiate athletics and even games from the National Hockey League, and what we've got is a clear cry for help. (As in, hey, go outside, or maybe read a book?)
Just how closely do you follow the member organizations in the Big Three, though? Do you know which Giants team belongs in which league? Where are the Lions, the Tigers and the Bears? (Hint: Two of the three are in the same town.) Put on your thinking, er, ball cap, and tackle this quiz that asks: Is this team from the NFL, NBA or MLB?
NFL
The Scouting Combine is a yearly NFL meeting where future player prospects put their abilities on display for the NFL's head coaches. The Indianapolis Colts have hosted the event since 1987.
NBA
MLB
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NFL
NBA
Sharing a division with two Los Angeles-based teams, the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors, as well as three other California teams, the Phoenix Suns are the lone team from another state, Arizona, in the NBA's Pacific Division. The Suns play at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
MLB
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NFL
When the Houston Texans were established in 1999, franchise owners sought to pay homage to Texas' history and the Lone Star State nickname by incorporating a single star into the team's Spanish fighting bull logo. The team is the newest franchise in the NFL.
NBA
MLB
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NFL
NBA
This team made its way from Oklahoma City to New Orleans, playing as the Hornets. Paying homage to costumed Mardi Gras paraders, the owners of the New Orleans team considered changing the name to "Krewe" in 2012, but they opted instead to go with Louisiana's state bird, the pelican.
MLB
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NFL
NBA
The Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association are the city's only professional sports franchise, a fixture in the community since 1985. The team actually got its start in Rochester, New York, before making the cross-country move via Cincinnati, Ohio, and Kansas City, Missouri.
MLB
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NFL
NBA
The Miami Heat is a member organization of the National Basketball Association, founded in 1988. The Heat has won three NBA championships, including two with current Laker LeBron James.
MLB
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NFL
Starting in Cleveland and then bouncing between St. Louis and Los Angeles, the NFL's Rams have been a bit road weary over the years. They've been back in Los Angeles since 2016. Let's see how long they call California home!
NBA
MLB
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NFL
NBA
MLB
The Miami Marlins, formerly the more state-inclusive Florida Marlins, have gone by numerous nicknames since they joined MLB in 1993. Fans have called them the Fish, the Fighting Fish and even the Miracle Marlins.
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NFL
Few teams have touchdown traditions as cool as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who fire a cannon after each score. The stadium where they play also has a replica pirate ship, where fans can sit (or stand) during home games.
NBA
MLB
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NFL
NBA
This team originated as the Buffalo Bisons, then moved and became the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. They shortened the name to the Hawks and moved to Milwaukee, then St. Louis and finally Atlanta, and the rest is history.
MLB
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NFL
The Washington Redskins, a team that is actually based in Landover, Maryland, is the U.S. capital's representative in the NFL. The Redskins' headquarters and training facilities are in Virginia. (We promise, they're the WASHINGTON Redskins.)
NBA
MLB
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NFL
NBA
The 76ers, or Sixers as they're more commonly known, have been a part of the National Basketball Association since 1946. They haven't always been in Philly, though, getting their start in Syracuse, New York, as the Nationals.
MLB
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NFL
The New York Football Giants, as they are sometimes called, are members of the NFL's National Football Conference East. In 1929, they were named to match baseball's New York Giants, but that team moved to San Francisco in the 1950s.
NBA
MLB
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NFL
NBA
MLB
Founded in 1977, the Seattle Mariners gained their name for the city's natural association with the sea and the marine life in the area. Fun fact: If you visit Seattle's Pike Place Market, you can try your hand at catching a fish that's thrown at you!
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NFL
Situated in Denver, one mile above sea level, the Denver Broncos play at Empower Field at Mile High. The altitude has been known to cause issues for some visiting team members, who may require time to adjust to the altitude.
NBA
MLB
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NFL
NBA
You can frequently see Mavs owner Mark Cuban sitting courtside at his NBA team's home games, held at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Cuban, who you may have seen on "Shark Tank," has owned the Mavericks since 2000.
MLB
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NFL
NBA
MLB
The Washington Nationals are the descendant of the Montreal Expos. The Nationals captured the World Series title in 2019 — the franchise's first-ever championship. Since 2005, their home stadium has been Nationals Park.
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NFL
NBA
MLB
That's right! Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants have the most wins of any team in professional baseball. Maybe that's because they were founded in 1883? That's a whole lot of time for baseball games!
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NFL
NBA
MLB
Poor Cleveland, they can't catch a break. Whether it's the struggling Cleveland Browns or the Indians, who hold the league's longest World Series championship drought, Cleveland's sports fans could use a victory. At least they have the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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NFL
The Atlanta Falcons played their first season in the NFL in 1966 and won their most recent conference championship in 2016. Sometimes nicknamed the Dirty Birds, the Falcons complement another bird-based Atlanta team, known as the Hawks.
NBA
MLB
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NFL
The Minnesota Vikings are members of the National Football League, and their frequent chant, "Skol!," is a reference to Viking chants of old. "Skol" is a derivative of "Skål," which means "cheers!"
NBA
MLB
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NFL
NBA
The Raptors not only won their first NBA title in 2019, but they also brought the first-ever NBA title to Canada. The Toronto-based franchise has earned six division titles since 2007.
MLB
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NFL
NBA
The Milwaukee Bucks sounds a little more appealing than the Milwaukee Skunks, doesn't it? Nevertheless, the Skunks and the Robins were both contenders when the team was founded in the late 1960s.
MLB
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NFL
NBA
MLB
The St. Louis Cardinals are a fixture in Major League Baseball, where they've won 13 World Series titles, behind only the New York Yankees. Though their name has changed a few times in the team's history since 1882, they've always been situated in St. Louis.
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NFL
NBA
As a member of the National Basketball Association, the Boston Celtics have recorded some 17 league championships and rosters full of all-stars, including Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Dave Cowens and Larry Bird. Their leprechaun mascot is named Lucky.
MLB
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NFL
Sure, there are Cardinals in other sports, but these Cardinals — the Arizona Cardinals — are members of the National Football League. Their home turf is State Farm Stadium, situated in Glendale, Arizona.
NBA
MLB
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NFL
NBA
MLB
For years, the Twins played at Metropolitan Stadium. In 1982, they moved to the Metrodome, and, almost 30 years later, they took up residence at Target Field. The Met, as Metropolitan Stadium was nicknamed, was razed to make way for the Mall of America.
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NFL
The Philadelphia Eagles are members of the National Football League, and they earned their only Super Bowl victory in 2017. The Eagles have also claimed four conference titles and 14 division championships.
NBA
MLB
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NFL
NBA
MLB
The Mets are one of New York's representatives in Major League Baseball. The name "Mets" is a nod to the New York Metropolitans, a professional baseball team that played from 1880 to 1887.
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NFL
Don Shula coached for NFL teams, including the Dolphins, Lions and Colts. The Dolphins, who played their first league season in 1966, were under Shula's direction for a quarter of a century, starting in 1970.
NBA
MLB
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NFL
NBA
Washington, D.C., has long had an NBA franchise. In the early 1970s, the team was known as the Capital Bullets, later transitioning to the Washington Wizards. As the Bullets, the team won an NBA title.
MLB
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NFL
NBA
The Phoenix Suns have enjoyed some very talented rosters over the years as a member of the NBA. Thanks to that, they are among the Top 10 in the NBA in terms of winning percentage, despite never winning an NBA title.
MLB
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NFL
NBA
MLB
The Los Angeles Dodgers' name comes from Brooklyn pedestrians who used to "dodge" trolley cars on New York's streets. The team has since moved to California, but the Dodgers name stuck.
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NFL
NBA
Charlotte has had an NBA franchise since 1988, even if they've had some naming issues. They began as the Hornets before the franchise relocated to New Orleans, taking the Hornets moniker with them. When New Orleans changed their team's name to the Pelicans, Charlotte reclaimed the Hornets' name and team history.
MLB
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NFL
NBA
MLB
Did you know that MLB's Oakland Athletics have an elephant as a mascot? The pairing, while odd, seems to date back to a comment made by a previous manager of the New York Giants, who called the A's a "white elephant," meaning "expensive but useless." Athletics' ownership took the comment and ran with it, adopting the elephant as the team's mascot.
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