"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" -- 05-21-05

I often wish NFL receivers Terrell Owens and Randy Moss would agree to donate $50,000 to a food bank each time they said/did something stupid. Believe me, a HELLUVA lot more people would NOT be going to bed hungry each night..........TRIVIA QUESTION #1: Who is the only basketball player to have won NCAA, ABA, and NBA scoring titles? Answer to follow..........Whenever former Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry donates to a charity, shouldn't it be called "Gator-Aid"?..........The "Unwatchable NBA" Update: In Game 3 of the Pacers/Pistons series last week, Detroit scored 28 points in the first half and had a total of 45 after three quarters. I have nothing more to add, folks..........Did you know that, in 1943, rookie outfielder Dick Wakefield of the Tigers led the AL in hits (200) and doubles (38)--but never came close to equaling those numbers again? Playing nine seasons, his next best seasonal hit total was only 106 (in 1946), while his second-best doubles total was just 20 (in 1948)..........Cowboys coach Bill Parcells recently called rookie DE Marcus Spears "Fats Domino" when he showed up at the team's mini-camp slightly overweight. Question: Will "Blueberry Hill" be played over the P.A. system in Dallas this coming season whenever Spears sacks the opposing QB?..........From the "Total Hypocrisy" Dept.: The Texas House of Representatives has passed legislation aimed at high school cheerleaders; the goal is to prevent them from being "too suggestive" during routines at football games. Pardon me, but isn't this the SAME state that houses the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders--who've made LIVINGS by being too suggestive? Go figure..........Listening to an interview with St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa is less exciting than watching a shuffleboard tournament at your local old folks home..........If Mets infielder Kaz Matsui is worth between $7-8 million per season, then ex-Grateful Dead member Jerry Garcia never put anything stronger than Kool-Aid in his body during his lifetime..........Ohio State kicker Jonathan Skeete has been arrested by university police for marijuana trafficking. Obviously, the turf at Ohio Stadium isn't the only "grass" this guy is familiar with..........Answer to trivia question #1: RICK BARRY--who won scoring titles with the following teams: Miami (FL) in 1964-65, the S.F. Warriors (NBA) in 1966-67, and the Oakland Oaks (ABA) in 1968-69..........This week in sports history, May 22, 1975: Artis Gilmore of the Kentucky Colonels scores 28 points and pulls down a remarkable 31 rebounds--leading his team to a 110-105 victory over the Indiana Pacers for the team's first ABA championship. The Pacers would be led by Billy Knight (40 points) and George McGinnis (31 points) in a losing effort; they would succumb to the Gilmore-led Colonels in five games..........TRIVIA QUESTION #2: What pitcher holds the Houston Astros team record for most wins in a season? Answer to follow..........The NCAA has placed Nicholls State on probation after a number of athletes in various sports claimed credit for course work that was actually done by other people. I swear, pretty soon colleges will be offering a class to athletes entitled "How To Be Successful In Intercollegiate Athletics--WITHOUT Getting Caught."..........Count yours truly among those who consider Tiger Woods' record of 142 consecutive cuts made (spanning SEVEN years) as one of the greatest sports streaks (if not THE greatest) in history. For this guy to demonstrate that kind of consistency (putting aside personal issues, sickness, etc.--in addition to just BEING Tiger Woods) for so long is beyond fathomable; it will most likely go down in history as one of the most underrated streaks, but certainly its enormity will not be lost in the minds of countless Woods admirers..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league pitcher Reggie Cleveland--who blows out 57 candles on May 23rd. A native of Canada, Cleveland pitched 13 seasons between 1969 and 1981 for the Cardinals, Red Sox, Rangers, and Brewers--winning 105 games and saving 25. Cleveland's best season came in 1973 with the Cardinals--a year in which he went 14-10 and compiled an impressive 3.01 ERA. Here's wishing you many more, Reggie..........I saw actress Teri Hatcher playing in Michael Douglas' celebrity golf tournament last weekend. Suffice it to say that some things on a golf course DO look better than the finely manicured fairways and greens..........Answer to trivia question #2: MIKE HAMPTON--who won 22 games in 1999 for Larry Dierker's first-place Houston ball club..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a high school baseball game here in Connecticut recently, Hall defeated Weaver 27-0 in five innings; Hall scored 20 runs in the first two innings while Weaver committed TEN errors during this debacle. I haven't seen that kind of mismatch since Lisa Marie Presley tied the knot with Michael Jackson..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former major league pitcher Earl Wilson--who died recently of a heart attack at the age of 70. In eleven seasons (1959-70) with the Red Sox, Tigers, and Padres, Wilson won 121 games--and threw a no-hitter for Boston in 1962 vs. the Angels. His best year came in 1967 with Detroit--when he won a league-leading 22 games. A good-hitting pitcher, Wilson also hit 35 home runs during his career. Rest in peace, Earl.

Bob Lazzari

Reprinted by permission of the Valley Times.