Take the First Annual Tote Board Global Sports Quiz and Win Valuable Prizes!

The world sports year is only a month old and already it’s been a season of surprises. (The Cardinals?)  While 2009 is unlikely to provide all the thrills of 2008 – an all-star year with Euro 2008, the rugby World Cup, the Beijing Games, and perhaps the greatest men’s final at Wimbledon ever  – it still promises to provide more than its share of  excitement on the world scene.

How will it all play out? Match wits with the first annual 2009 World Sports prognostication quiz. (My answers are below). Beat the Tote Board and win the honor of hosting the Tote Board blog for a day and being your own pundit! (Great thing to put on the resume too!!)

Post your answers in the comment space below with an email address by February 8 to be eligible.

1. The return of Tiger Woods is sure to be golf’s leading story. Will Woods at his first major at the Masters in April:
(a) win the Green jacket;
(b) make a run at the title, and finish 2nd or 3rd;
(c) finish further back in the pack;
(d) delay his return until later in the year.

2.    The European Champions League in soccer will be won by:
(a)    Barcelona
(b)    Inter Milan
(c)    An English team
(d)    None of the above

3.    The English Premier League in soccer will be won by:
(a)    Liverpool
(b)    Manchester United
(c)    Chelsea
(d)    Aston Villa or Arsenal

4.    At the end of the European season, David Beckham will:
(a)    return to the LA Galaxy;
(b)    stay with AC Milan;
(c)    move to an English team;
(d)    None of the above

5.    The NBA title will be won by:
(a)    LA
(b)    Boston
(c)    Cleveland
(d)    None of the above

6.    The Wimbledon men’s title will be won by:
(a)    Rafael Nadal
(b)    Roger Federer
(c)    Andy Murray
(d)    None of the above

7.    At the Tour de France where Lance Armstrong is planning a comeback:
(a)    Armstrong wins, in one of the most amazing stories in cycling’s history.
(b)    Armstrong is the leader for much of the Tour but fades at the end and finishes 2nd;
(c)    Armstrong finishes further back in the pack;
(d)    Armstrong pulls out before the Tour starts.

 8. This year’s Formula One championship will be won by:
 (a) Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)
 (b) Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
 (c) Kimi Raikonnen (Ferrari)
 (d) None of the above

9. In October, the 2016 Summer Olympics will be awarded to:
(a) Madrid
(b) Tokyo
(c) Chicago
(d) Rio de Janeiro

10. The American pro sport that will first noticeably feel the financial crunch with a team in trouble is:
(a) basketball
(b) baseball
(c) hockey
(d) None of the above

11. The English soccer manager who will no longer be coaching his team next season is:
(a) Rafa Benitez (Liverpool)
(b) Phil Scolari (Chelsea)
(c) Alex Ferguson (Man U)
(d) At least two of the above

12. The American League representative in the World Series will be the:
(a) Yankees
(b) Red Sox
(c) Rays
(d) None of the above
   
13. Barack Obama will attend the following sports events:
 (a) the NCAA basketball final
 (b) an NBA playoff game
 (c) a Nationals game
  d) any combination or none of the above

14. The biggest international news/sports story of the year will turn out to be:
(a) Tension in the cricket world as hostilities between India and Pakistan heat up;
(b) The continuing takeover of English soccer clubs by Arab interests;
(c) Trouble in South Africa in advance of the 2010 soccer World Cup;
(d) The UK finds itself increasingly unable to fund parts of the 2012 London summer Olympics

15. The European nation that will surprisingly fail to qualify for the 2012 soccer World Cup is:
(a) Portugal
(b) France
(c) Czech Republic
(d) All of the above

For the record, our picks are in order –b,d,b,c,d,b,a,b,c,c,b,d,c,d,d. Check the Tote Board blog early next year to see if you won!