"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" -- 03-19-05

Lazzari's "Question of the Week": Of the following, which has gone downhill the most in the last few years: yours truly's financial portfolio, the quality of American healthcare, or David Duval's golf game?..........TRIVIA QUESTION #1: What brother/sister duo teamed up to win the Mixed Doubles Championship at Wimbledon in 1980? Answer to follow..........Want some perspective about how outta whack players' salaries are these days? Approximately every THREE at-bats, Derek Jeter of the Yankees earns more than the mayor of Wilmington, Delaware, does in an entire YEAR..........The "Unwatchable NBA" Update: In a game in Miami last weekend, the Heat defeated the Nets 90-65. Need more evidence? The Nets shot 22 for 74 from the field, had a total of 10 assists as a TEAM, and committed 26 personal fouls..........Yankees first baseman Tino Martinez recently told the New York Post that his pet peeve is people who lie. Poor guy; he must have very few friends in the game of baseball at this juncture..........Do you get the feeling that the Arizona Cardinals’ signing of QB Kurt Warner is like putting a Band-Aid on an eight-inch surgical incision?..........Attention UCONN basketball fans: A "must-read" for you is Hoop Tales: UCONN Huskies Men's Basketball--penned by my good friend Wayne Norman, along with Robert Porter. This fine 2005 publication covers 50 years of UCONN hoops--from the early days of Art Quimby and Wes Bialosuknia through the 2004 championship season. Published by the Globe Pequot Press, it's a terrific read for ANY fan of college basketball..........If San Diego Chargers QB Drew Brees is worthy of a $6.5 million RAISE from last year's base pay, then David Schwimmer is a better actor than Al Pacino..........Gotta love ESPN's Dick Vitale--a man who consistently pokes fun at himself. Last week at the ACC tournament, he compared the chances of a slightly injured Georgia Tech player NOT suiting up the next day to himself growing HAIR..........Answer to trivia question #1: JOHN and TRACY AUSTIN..........Saw a picture of Jason Giambi last week receiving a teddy bear from a fan in Fort Meyers. Question: Would Giambi have accepted this gift if it had a syringe protruding from its backside?..........At press time, former heavyweight champ Riddick Bowe is scheduled to fight in Salt Lake City next week. If his fight vs. Willie Chapman comes off, then his last two opponents will have amassed a combined record of 47-45-4. Geez, this guy's been around more stiffs lately than the L.A. County coroner..........TRIVIA QUESTION #2: The 1968 Detroit Tigers, who won the World Series that year, had two future Hall of Famers on their roster. Name this duo; answer to follow..........This week in sports history, March 20, 1965: UCLA guard Gail Goodrich pours in a game-high 42 points--leading his team to a 91-80 victory over Michigan as the Bruins capture their second straight NCAA championship. Goodrich would hit 12 of 22 shots from the field--while converting an impressive 18 of 20 free throws..........What's a bigger circus these days: the Michael Jackson trial or the life of former figure skater/celebrity boxer Tonya Harding?..........With the steroid controversy surrounding baseball, shouldn't big league concession stands start selling a beverage called "Juiced Up"--one that is huge, overpriced, and has a big head on it?..........I've enjoyed Suzyn Waldman's work on WFAN over the years--but a full-time gig on WCBS-AM as the Yankees’ new color commentator? With a voice like that, I can assure you that many New York fans are scurrying around to buy cheap radios--in the hopes of hearing STATIC instead..........It's been almost 25 years now since Cesar Gutierrez of the Detroit Tigers went a phenomenal 7-for-7 in a 12-inning game. The amazing thing about Gutierrez' career? He played only FOUR major league seasons and amassed a grand total of 128 hits..........Answer to trivia question #2: EDDIE MATHEWS and AL KALINE--who were elected to Cooperstown in 1978 and 1980, respectively..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former big league outfielder/DH Tommy Davis--who blows out 66 candles on March 21st. A Brooklyn native, Davis played 18 seasons with ten different teams--finishing with an impressive .294 lifetime batting average. Davis' best year came in 1962 when he won the batting crown (.346) while with the Dodgers; his 153 RBI's that season were the most by anyone in the majors since Ted Williams' total of 159 in 1949. Best wishes, Tommy..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of Hall of Fame broadcaster Chuck Thompson--who died recently of a stroke at the age of 83. A Baltimore legend, Thompson called Orioles games for parts of five decades; he also broadcast Colts games for 30 years--as well as Navy and Bullets games. You may have left us, Chuck, but your voice will surely live on for a very long time. Rest in peace, Mr. Thompson.

Bob Lazzari

Reprinted by permission of the Valley Times.