Memories usually fade, but good sports fans pride themselves on having accurate memories — particularly about players, teams and events those fans deem most important.
The past year in Bay Area sports included a no-hitter by a Giants pitcher, an epic season by a Stanford running back and two big-time golf tournaments separated by only a few days and a few miles. Still, nothing was more memorable than the Warriors’ ride to the NBA title and their subsequent start as defending champs.
What follows are 26 questions about 2015 intended to test the memories of Bay Area sports fans. The Warriors deservedly account for nearly half the questions. If you want to take an interactive version of this quiz, please go to www.sfgate.com/sports
. Here’s hoping you find the process memorable:
Steve Kroner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
E-mail: skroner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveKronerSF
1. Klay Thompson set the NBA record for points in a quarter with 37 in the third period Jan. 23. Who was the Warriors’ opponent that night?
a) Clippers
b) Kings
c) Lakers
d) Spurs
2. Which two players shared the previous record of 33 points in a quarter?
a) George Gervin and Carmelo Anthony
b) Wilt Chamberlain and Pete Maravich
c) Rick Barry and David Thompson
d) Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley
3. Thompson did not miss a shot from the floor or the foul line in that quarter. He also set the NBA mark for three-pointers in a quarter. How many treys did he make?
a) 7
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10
4. In the calendar year of 2015, the Warriors lost only one regular-season home game. Which team beat them?
a) Bulls
b) Cavaliers
c) Jazz
d) Spurs
5. Stephen Curry set the NBA record for three-pointers in a season with 286 in 2014-15. Who held the previous mark of 272?
a) Ray Allen
b) Stephen Curry
c) Steve Kerr
d) Dennis Scott
6. Curry was selected as the regular-season MVP. Who was the Warriors’ last player to win the regular-season MVP award?
a) Rick Barry
b) Wilt Chamberlain
c) Nate Thurmond
d) Curry was the first.
7. During the playoffs, how many times did the Warriors trail in a series by a game or more?
a) 0
b) 1
c) 2
d) 3
8. During the Western Conference finals, Curry endured a scary fall. Over which Houston player did Curry tumble?
a) Trevor Ariza
b) James Harden
c) Dwight Howard
d) Josh Smith
9. Andre Iguodala was named the Finals MVP. In how many games of the Finals did he start?
a) 0
b) 1
c) 2
d) 3
10. Before Iguodala, who was the Warriors’ last MVP of the NBA Finals?
a) Rick Barry
b) Wilt Chamberlain
c) Nate Thurmond
d) Iguodala was the first.
11. The Warriors opened this season with an NBA-record 24 consecutive wins. What was the previous mark for a winning streak at the start of a season?
a) 13
b) 15
c) 17
d) 19
12. After Milwaukee ended the Warriors’ winning streak, the Bucks came to Oracle Arena six nights later and lost 121-112. A Bay Area company printed T-shirts for that game. What was the message on those shirts?
a) 26-1
b) 10-18
c) Cry in Your Beer
d) Buck Off
13. Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey finished second to Alabama’s Derrick Henry in the Heisman Trophy voting? Who finished third?
a) Leonard Fournette, LSU RB
b) Baker Mayfield,
Oklahoma QB
c) Keenan Reynolds, Navy QB
d) Deshaun Watson, Clemson QB
14. In the Pac-12 title game against USC, McCaffrey set a Stanford record with 461 all-purpose yards. Who held the previous mark of 389?
a) Christian McCaffrey
b) Brad Muster
c) Darrin Nelson
d) Tommy Vardell
15. Quarterback Jared Goff set several Cal records in 2015, including most TD passes in a season with 43. Who held the previous record of 35?
a) Pat Barnes
b) Jared Goff
c) Mike Pawlawski
d) Aaron Rodgers
16. Tyler Ervin set the San Jose State record by rushing for 300 yards in a game, the most rushing yards by an FBS player in a game this season. Against which team did Ervin hit the 300 mark?
a) Boise State
b) Fresno State
c) Georgia State
d) San Diego State
17. Khalil Mack tied the Raiders’ franchise record for sacks in a game when he recorded five — all in the second half — of a 15-12 win at Denver on Dec. 13. Who shares the record with Mack?
a) Roderick Coleman
b) Howie Long
c) Anthony Smith
d) Greg Townsend
18. Carlos Hyde has had the 49ers’ top two rushing games of this season, with 168 yards and 93 yards, respectively. Who had the third-most rushing yards in a game this season with 75?
a) Shaun Draughn
b) Blaine Gabbert
c) DuJuan Harris
d) Colin Kaepernick
19. Who threw the Giants’ one no-hitter of 2015?
a) Madison Bumgarner
b) Chris Heston
c) Tim Lincecum
d) Jake Peavy
20. That no-hitter against the Mets had an oddity. What was it?
a) The no-hit pitcher issued three walks.
b) The Giants committed three errors.
c) Three N.Y. batters were hit by pitches.
d) The Mets stole three bases.
21. Who led the A’s in homers with 20 in 2015?
a) Mark Canha
b) Josh Reddick
c) Marcus Semien
d) Stephen Vogt
22. The Sharks and Todd McLellan parted ways in April. For how many seasons was he San Jose’s head coach?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8
23. Which woman repeated as champion of the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic at Lake Merced Golf Club in April?
a) Juli Inkster
b) Lydia Ko
c) Stacy Lewis
d) Michelle Wie
24. Which man did Rory McIlroy beat in the final of the Match Play Championship at Harding Park in May?
a) Paul Casey
b) Jim Furyk
c) Jordan Spieth
d) Gary Woodland
25. McIlroy’s success in the Match Play prevented him from going to a sporting event that he planned to attend on the Saturday of the tournament. Which event was it?
a) Dodgers-Giants game at AT&T Park
b) Flames-Ducks playoff game in Anaheim
c) Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas
d) Grizzlies-Warriors playoff game at Oracle Arena
26. Who won the Honda Cup, which goes to the best female college athlete in the country?
a) Brittany Boyd, Cal basketball
b) Missy Franklin, Cal swimming
c) Andi Sullivan, Stanford soccer
d) Carol Zhao, Stanford tennis
Answers
1. b
2. a
3. c
4. a
5. b
6. b
7. c
8. a
9. d
10. a
11. b
12. b
13. d
14. a
15. b
16. b
17. b
18. b
19. b
20. c
21. b
22. c
23. b
24. d
25. c
26. b
Grading
0-5: Have you even heard of The Sporting Green, SFGate.com, Comcast SportsNet, KNBR or 95.7 The Game?
6-10: You can keep your membership card as a Bay Area sports fan, but you might be headed to probation.
11-15: You’re a solid Bay Area sports fan, but could pay attention a little more closely.
16-20: You’re in that desirable niche of being an excellent Bay Area sports fan but still having a life outside of ballparks, stadiums and arenas.
21-26: Your knowledge of Bay Area sports is both impressive and a little scary.
