Question of the Week

Donald, East Lansing, MI
Subj: Smartypants
In your opinion, who is the smartest guy in the history of sports?

That depends a lot on whom you ask. Reggie Jackson once claimed he had an IQ of 160, thereby putting him on par with Albert Einstein, Bill Gates and Stephen Hawking. However, his assertion prompted more ridicule than respect and led fellow Yankee Mickey Rivers to quip, "Reggie's got an IQ of 160? Out of what - a thousand?"

One undeniably smart athlete was Pat McInally, a Pro Bowl punter from Harvard who remains the only football player to ever record a perfect score on the NFL’s vaunted Wonderlic Test. Unlike most of his peers, McInally wasn’t fazed at all by the dreaded quiz. "It really did seem like an easy test at the time,” he recalls. “One of the reasons I did so well is because I didn't think it mattered. So I think I didn't feel any pressure at all. It was more of a lark, and that's when you do your best. If I took it 100 times I'd probably never do that again."

McInally displayed his smarts once again during the final year of his career in 1986 when he developed Starting Lineup, a sports-themed collection of action figures that went onto generate millions of dollars in sales.

As brilliant as McInally and Jackson may be, they both pale in comparison to New York Knicks center Jerome James. After all, the lumbering pivot man was smart enough to trick the Knicks into rewarding him with a five-year, $30 million contract despite the fact he has the get up and go of a punch drunk sloth. James started 20 games over a three year span and never averaged more than 3 points and 2 rebounds per game for the Knickerbockers. Now that’s using your noggin!

College Stars Who Fizzled In The NBA

Every year the NBA drafts a new batch of collegiate superstars and every year nearly half of them fall flat on their faces as they struggle to adapt to the speed and athleticism of the pro game. From recent rejects like Evan Turner to veteran busts like Shelden Williams, the league is full of can’t miss prospects who have kept on missing from all over the court. Come along as I examine the top 10 college stars of the past 25 years who have fizzled in the NBA. To narrow the field I’ve chosen to examine only bona fide team leaders and All-Americans who were top 10 picks in their respective draft classes. Read more by clicking here.

Question of the Week

Roger, Canton, IL
Subj: Simply the best
In your opinion, which state has produced the best quarterbacks?

My vote goes to Pennsylvania. The Keystone State has given us some of the finest signal callers in the history of the game, including Johnny Unitas, Johnny Lujack, Joe Namath, George Blanda, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Jim Kelly, Tom Clements, Chuck Fusina, Arnold Galiffa, Charlie Batch, Kerry Collins, Jeff Hostetler and Terry Hanratty. So, what is it that makes Pennsylvania a cradle for quarterbacks? Unitas has gone on record crediting the state’s no-nonsense blue collar background and spirit of "Toughness, dedication, hard work and competitiveness.” Certainly, any state known for its steel mills and coal mines is bound to produce athletes infused with an unyielding resilience and a refusal to quit.