Sporting News is turning 135 in 2021 and to help us celebrate our birthday, we're putting you to the test. Since SN was born as a print magazine in 1886, there have been many iconic sports legends who have graced the cover over the years.
MORE: 135 classic Sporting News covers
Here's seeing what you know and remember about them. How well can you answer these 25 questions about the biggest names in the biggest sports SN has covered since its founding?
Question 1: "Groundbreakers"
What MLB legend was the first person to letter in four sports — baseball, basketball, football and track — at UCLA?
Answer 1
Jackie Robinson. Two of his Bruins football teammates, Kenny Washington and Woody Strode, helped integrate the NFL.
Question 2: "Dear Basketball"
Which NBA great won league MVP, Finals MVP, a league scoring title, All-Star Game MVP, the Slam Dunk Contest and an Academy Award?
Answer 2
Kobe Bryant. Just two years before the late Lakers superstar tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020, he accepted an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film.
Question 3: "He Knows"
Which all-time great athlete made the MLB All-Star Game in 1989 and the NFL Pro Bowl in 1990?
Answer 3
Bo Jackson. He hit a leadoff home run a Royal in the All-Star Game. He rushed for 698 yards to earn his Pro Bowl nod a year later, but he did not play as a Raider.
Question 4: "Racing Into History"
Who is the most recent driver to win a seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship?
Answer 4
Jimmie Johnson. He joined "The King", Richard Petty and "The Intimidator," Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Question 5: "Greatness"
Who has won the most Hart Trophies (nine) as NHL regular-season MVP?
Answer 5
Wayne Gretzky. "The Great One" is the NHL all-time leader in goals, assists and total points. He has more assists than anyone else has points.
Question 6: "Let Him Reign"
Who led his high school basketball team to a 101-6 record and won three state championships?
Answer 6
LeBron James. The James legend was born as the prince of St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio.
Question 7: "It Was Meant To Be"
What defensive back, who won a national championship in the Rose Bowl and a Super Bowl ring in the Superdome, was born in Saint Rose, La.?
Answer 7
Ed Reed. He won big with the Miami Hurricanes and the Baltimore Ravens.
Question 8: "Gamebreakers"
Who holds the NFL record for most receiving touchdowns (23) in a single season?
Answer 8
Randy Moss. He did it for the Patriots catching passes from Tom Brady in 2007.
Question 9: "Big Men"
Who was the No. 1 pick in the 2002 NBA Draft?
Answer 9
Yao Ming. The Houston Rockets took the stout, skilled 7-6 center from China.
Question 10: "Planebreakers"
Who holds the NFL record for most rushing TDs (28) in a single season?
Answer 10
LaDainian Tomlinson. The Chargers legend had 31 total TDs that season and won 2006 NFL MVP.
Question 11: "Bluebloods"
Which coach has the most wins in Division I college basketball history?
Answer 11
Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K has 1,097 wins after the 2020-21 season and no other Division I coach has reached 1,000.
Question 12: "Captains"
Who is No. 6 all-time in MLB career hits with 3,465?
Answer 12
Derek Jeter. The former Yankees shortstop trails only Pete Rose, Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial and Tris Speaker.
Question 13: "Even Bigger Men"
Who is No. 8 all time in NBA scoring, right behind Wilt Chamberlain?
Answer 13
Shaquille O'Neal. He won two regular-season scoring titles, first with the Magic in 1995 and second with the Lakers in 2000.
Question 14: "Big Games"
Who is the only player in NBA history to score 50 or more points in consecutive playoff games?
Answer 14
Michael Jordan. He dropped 50 and 55 points in the first two games of a Bulls series against the Cavaliers in 1988.
Question 15: "Firsts"
Who was the first player in NCAA FBS history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season?
Answer 15
Vince Young. He did it in his spectacular national championship season for Texas in 2005 with 3,036 yards passing and 1,050 yards rushing.
Question 16: "Hitting Machines"
Who was the last MLB player to bat higher than .390 in a season?
Answer 16
Tony Gwynn. The Padres legend hit his career high of .394 in 1994.
Question 17: "Passing Marks"
Who holds the record for the most three-TD passing games in the Super Bowl (four)?
Answer 17
Tom Brady. He added his fourth in Super Bowl 55 with three first-half scores against the Chiefs in the Buccaneers' 31-9 rout.
Question 18: "Give Him Five"
Which NHL star scored goals five ways — even strength, shorthanded, power play, penalty shot and empty net — on Dec. 31, 1988?
Answer 18
Mario Lemieux. "Super Mario" did it for the Penguins and no other player has accomplished this before or since.
Question 19: "Unbreakable"
Who holds the MLB record for most career total bases with 6,856?
Answer 19
Hank Aaron. The late Braves slugger also holds the record for most career RBIs (2,297) and extra-base hits (1,477).
Question 20: "Rushing Up The List"
Who is No. 5 all time in NFL rushing yards with 14,820?
Answer 20
Adrian Peterson. He trails only Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Frank Gore and Barry Sanders.
Question 21: "More Big Games"
Which college basketball player scored 44 points on 21-of-22 field-goal attempts to help his team win the 1973 NCAA championship game?
Answer 21
Bill Walton. He ensured UCLA would wrap up a seventh consecutive title under John Wooden by throwing down on Memphis.
Question 22: "Sluggers"
Who was the first player in MLB history to hit 100 home runs for three different clubs?
Answer 22
Reggie Jackson. The Hall of Famer did it for the Athletics, Yankees and Angels.
Question 23: "Triple Threats"
Paul Hornung and Earl Campbell are two of three players to win a Heisman Trophy, go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft and end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Who is the third?
Answer 23
O.J. Simpson. He ran to the 1968 Heisman for USC before being drafted first by the Bills in 1969. He was inducted into Canton in 1985.
Question 24: "Crossovers"
What two-time Cy Young Award winner was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 1984 NHL Draft, ahead of Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille?
Answer 24
Tom Glavine. The Braves took him in the second round of the 1984 MLB Draft. The 10-time All-Star was also World Series MVP in 1995 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.
Question 25: "First Family"
How many combined Pro Bowls did Archie, Eli and Peyton Manning make in their careers?
Answer 25
20. Archie Manning was named to two. Eli Manning made it four times. Peyton Manning got 14 nods.
