By Jacky Gerzema
Levy, a self-proclaimed die-hard sports fan, didn't pay a pretty penny for game tickets or fly down to Louisiana to bribe a scalper on game day. His extensive knowledge of football won him two free tickets to Superbowl 36.
Each year, WFAN-AM 660 sports radio station in New York airs a Superbowl trivia game, where five all-expense paid Superbowl trips for two are awarded to callers who can answer four consecutive questions related to the annual football championship games.
Thirty-five-year-old Levy said he has called the radio station in the past to play the Superbowl trivia, but never won because he either was unable to answer one of the questions or the line was busy.
This year though, Levy wasn't going to lose. He sat in his Manhattan office and wore out his phone's redial button.
"This time I stuck with it," Levy said. "I just pushed redial a bunch of times and finally got through."
Levy was able to answer four consecutive questions, securing a trip for two to New Orleans.
The questions and answers were as follows:
Q: What two Hall of Fame players brought touchdowns in Superbowl Six?
"I'm a freak of nature, so I knew this at the top of my head," Levy laughed.
A: Lance Alworth and Mike Ditka.
Q: Who were the Giants starting wide receivers in Superbowl 21?
A: Lionel Manuel and Stacey Robinson.
Q: What player played in Superbowl 32 and 33 for two different teams?
A: Eugene Robinson for the Green Bay Packers in Superbowl 32 and the Atlanta Falcons in Superbowl 33.
The fourth question was a sound byte where Levy had to listen to someone talking and guess the identity of the speaker.
"The last one was a little tricky," Levy said. "He [talker] said stuff that led me to believe it was one of a couple of guys. I knew it was a Minnesota Viking offensive lineman, and I guessed Ron Yary who was just voted into the [football] Hall of Fame."
Levy won the trivia contest with the last sound byte and flew to New Orleans Thursday morning for an extended four-day weekend with his brother, Evan Levy, also from Baldwin.
While there, he will attend a game-day brunch and a cocktail party, hosted by an NFL athlete whose identity will be revealed at the celebration.
"I'm excited, we're going to be partying it up," Levy said. "We'll get our tickets on game day."
Levy plans to frequent New Orleans' French Quarter which is world famous for its bars, restaurants and other night life, and might take in a museum exhibit or visit one of the city's famous cemeteries.
A lifelong Baldwin resident, Levy now lives in Baldwin Harbor with his wife of two years, Lisa Levy. The two expect their first child in April.
Lisa is not a huge sports fan, although she does know who her husband's favorite teams are and that he needs to watch as much of them as possible, Levy said. Television conflicts have been solved in the Levy household with two television sets with their own satellite connections.
Levy splits a Mets tickets package every year with his brother and names them, the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Islanders as his favorite teams. Though he loves watching sports and honing his knowledge, he said he'll stick to the sidelines.
"I'm strictly an armchair quarterback," he laughed. "I've always been much more of a musical guy. The closest to sports I ever came was in the marching band."
SIDEBAR:
H: The Herald Sports Trivia Quiz
Questions by Jerry Burke
The Herald decided to give Erik Levy its own ten-question sports trivia quiz based on his favorite sports teams. Out of ten questions, he answered three correctly. (Levy's answers appear directly after the questions. The correct answers appear at the bottom.) Looks like his special subject is football. Congratulations to Erik anyway.
1. Q: The Dallas Cowboys have had three number one picks overall in the NFL draft. Who did they take with those picks?
Erik's Answer: Tony Dorsett, Russell Maryland, Bob Lilly
2. Q: What was the overall record of Tom Landry-led expansion Cowboys in 1960?
Erik's Answer: 0-11-1
3. Q: The New York Islanders played their first home game on Oct. 7, 1972. What team did they face?
Erik's Answer: Atlanta Flames
4. Q: In 1983, the Islanders won their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup,
defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 4-2. The Isles jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first period when which three Islanders scored
three goals in a span of 97 seconds?
Erik's Answer: Mike Bossy, Greg Gilbert, Bob Bourne (I know Bossy scored, but I'm not sure about the others).
5. Q: When he joined the Knicks after being picked in the 1970 NBA Draft, he was the tallest Knick ever at 7-foot-1. Who was he?
Erik's Answer: Phil Jackson
6. Q: In the closing minutes of Game 3 of the 1999 Eastern Conference finals, Knick foward Larry Johnson pulled off a miracle four-point play to turn a 91-88 deficet into a 92-91 victory. Which Pacer fouled him as he released his three-pointer?
Erik's Answer: Dale Davis
7. Q: In 1989, the Knicks acquired rebounding specialist Charles Oakley
from Chicago prior to the season in exchange for which player?
Erik's Answer: Bill Cartwright
8. Q: What team had originally signed Tom Seaver in 1966 but had that
contract voided because USC's season had already began?
Erik's Answer: L.A. Dodgers
9. Q: In 1995, who became the 100th player to man third-base in a 9-6 loss in Montreal on May 5.
Erik's Answer: For the Mets, I'm assuming. I should know this, but I have no clue.
10. Q: How many no-hitters have been hurled by one-time Mets pitchers?
Erik's Answer: Eleven
H: The Correct Answers
1. Ed "Too Tall" Jones in 1974, Troy Aikman in 1989 and Russell Maryland in 1991
2. 0-11-1
3. The Atlanta Flames
4. Bryan Trottier, John Tonelli and Mike Bossy
5. Greg Fillmore
6. Antonio Davis
7. Center Bill Cartwright
8. The Atlanta Braves
9. Edgardo Alfonzo
10. 20
