"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" -- 02-26-05

Former Olympic ski champion Bill Johnson was recently charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest; during a traffic stop, a drunken Johnson reportedly produced his '84 gold medal and told cops, "You don't have one of these." If I'm the arresting officer, I tell Johnson THIS: "Maybe so, Bill, but I DO have a pair of THESE"--and show this raving lunatic a set of handcuffs before taking him into custody..........TRIVIA QUESTION #1: Who was the last Detroit Tigers pitcher to win 20 games in a season? Answer to follow..........New Red Sox shortstop Edgar Renteria is being referred to by some media members and players as simply "Rent." One thing's for sure: earning $10 million per year, he surely didn't acquire that nickname because he has troubling PAYING rent..........Red McCombs purchased the Minnesota Vikings for about $250 million back in 1998; it now appears he has sold the team for about $625 million. Geez, and to think I still get excited scratching off a $2 winner on a $1 Connecticut instant lottery ticket..........One wonders what is left for middleweight fighter Bernard Hopkins to accomplish after defeating Howard Eastman last weekend. He's now 40 years old, has defended his championship belt 20 times, and hasn't lost in the last ELEVEN years. A pretty ending? I'd like to see "The Executioner" fight 2000 Olympian Jermain Taylor in the next few months (Hopkins will win), then retire as one of the great fighters of his era..........Despite being diagnosed with mononucleosis, Louisville guard Taquan Dean will continue playing the rest of this season. Question: If Dean (the team's third leading scorer) was playing at a small, non-Top 25 school INSTEAD of "basketball factory" Louisville, would he still be on the court--or RESTING as he most likely should be? Hmmmmm..........Answer to trivia question #1: BILL GULLICKSON--who won 20 games for Sparky Anderson's second-place club in 1991..........Do you get the feeling that MUCH of N.Y. Giants quarterback Eli Manning's future success will rely A LOT on TE Jeremy Shockey finally living up to his potential?..........This week in sports history, February 28, 1981: During a 104-103 loss to the San Diego Clippers, Houston Rockets guard Calvin Murphy goes 5-for-5 from the free-throw line--raising his NBA record for consecutive free throws made to 78. Murphy had broken Rick Barry's previous NBA mark of 60 just nine days earlier..........Recently received my annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue--this year complete with model TRADING CARDS. Seriously, if I had collected these cards as a kid instead of Topps trading cards, I probably would have gone into the photography field--and saved myself a HELLUVA lot of writing..........If Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe is worth $2 million MORE per season than Milwaukee's Ben Sheets, then 50 Cent has ten times more musical talent than Stevie Wonder..........TRIVIA QUESTION #2: Five different coaches have led the Boston Celtics to world championships. Name them; answer to follow..........Jockey Calvin Borel recently became thoroughbred racing's 45th rider to reach 4,000 career wins. Geez, this guy has seen more horses' behinds than any reporter who covered the recent NHL lockout/labor negotiations..........This summer, actress (?) Lindsay Lohan will star in a movie about a Volkswagen bug competing on the NASCAR circuit. The odds of this gal winning an Academy Award are about the same as O.J. Simpson joining Pete Carroll's re-shuffled football staff at USC..........Did you know that, in 1936, outfielder Woody Jensen of the Pittsburgh Pirates set an all-time record with 696 at-bats--but only struck out 19 times? Remarkably, Jensen struck out only 100 times over a nine-year career that spanned well over 700 games..........Hey guys--agree or disagree: Trying to pick out a favorite model in the aforementioned SI swimsuit issue is like trying to do the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle with Nicollette Sheridan whispering "sweet nothings" in your ear..........Do you get the feeling that the 27 second-half points scored by Indiana Pacer Reggie Miller vs. Portland last week was his one last gift to all of us fans who've marveled at his scoring prowess over the years?..........Answer to trivia question #2: RED AUERBACH, BILL RUSSELL, TOMMY HEINSOHN, BILL FITCH, and K.C. JONES..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former Yankees catcher/outfielder Johnny Blanchard--who blows out 72 candles on February 26th. Blanchard--who also played briefly with the Athletics and Braves--spent the majority of his career as a third-string player. However, he'll be best remembered for slugging two home runs in the 1961 World Series--helping the Yankees defeat the Reds 4 games to 1. Best wishes, Johnny..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former major league pitcher Nelson Briles--who passed away recently of an apparent heart attack at the age of 61. Briles pitched 14 seasons for the Cardinals, Pirates, Royals, Rangers, and Orioles--winning 129 games. Briles' best season came in 1968 while pitching for St. Louis; he won 19 games and pitched to an ERA of 2.80. He also hurled a two-hit shutout in Game 5 of the 1971 World Series against Baltimore--helping the Pirates to become world champions. Rest in peace, Nellie.

Bob Lazzari

Reprinted by permission of the Valley Times.