"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" ---- 08-27-05

Lazzari's "Question of the Week": Of the following, who/what experiences the most overall difficulty: the K.C. Royals pitching staff, any NASA shuttle mission, golfer David Duval trying to make a PGA tournament cut, or a Republican attempting to explain high gasoline prices?..........TRIVIA QUESTION #1: Name the five Heisman Trophy winners with exactly FOUR letters in their last names; answer to follow..........On last weekend's Fox telecast, it was revealed that Angels shortstop Orlando Cabrera's favorite food is stuffed turtle. I've since made a pact with myself to never EVER complain about broccoli and Brussels sprouts from this day forward..........Look no further than Sports Illustrated's new feature "Tale Of My Tattoo" as evidence to mindless, space filling--so prevalent in various sports publications. It also demonstrates the current mindset of "style over substance" in reference to the skewed preferences of countless young sports "fans" today..........If Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Russ Ortiz is worth more than $7 million per season, then there are more Rhodes scholars than tattoos in the NBA at this juncture..........This week in sports history, August 29, 1974: High school basketball phenom Moses Malone of Petersburg, VA, signs a multi-year contract to play for the Utah Stars of the ABA--thus becoming the first player to go directly from high school to the professional level. The 6' 11'', 19-year-old center would earn between $150,000 and $200,000 per season (plus incentives) after being pursued by more than 300 colleges..........So we now hear that Raiders WR Randy Moss has admitted using marijuana. Geez, shocking, huh? I was more surprised when gasoline went up another dime per gallon the other day..........Answer to trivia question #1: LEON HART (1949), JOHN DAVID CROW (1957), BILLY SIMS (1978), ANDRE WARE (1989), and CHARLIE WARD (1993)..........Former Shea Stadium groundskeeper Dominic Valila has been indicted on gambling charges; it's been reported that Valila took bets over the phone while at Shea. Gives an entirely new meaning to the phrase "RAKING in the money," huh?..........Can you imagine if LPGA golfer Sally Little married former Georgia Tech basketball player Jarrett Jack--divorced him--then married former major leaguer Bob Horner? Nursery rhyme aficionados would delight in her full name of Sally Little Jack Horner..........Without question, female jockey Chantal Sutherland is the only rider on the current horse racing circuit who would STILL look good covered in sweat and mud..........TRIVIA QUESTION #2: What Detroit Tigers player holds the team record for most home runs hit on the road in one season? Answer to follow..........To save money on transportation/booking costs, isn't it about time they put a mobile jail on the UCONN campus to accommodate that school's athletes' continued brushes with the law?..........Did you know that former Minnesota Twins pitcher Terry Felton--who went 0-13 in 1982--retired after that season without EVER having won a game? Felton finished 0-16 lifetime and pitched to a robust 5.53 ERA during his short four-year career. Though he did save three games toward the end of that famed '82 campaign, he was done with major league baseball at the tender age of 25..........The biggest question going into this year's college football season will be if USC can "3-peat" as national champions--having lost four assistant coaches in the off-season and returning only five starters on defense. The prediction here is that their high-powered offense (led by Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart) will continue to have little difficulty outscoring opponents. In addition, head coach Pete Carroll, a shrewd defensive coach himself, will adequately plug holes on that side of the ball--allowing this team to play in their third straight national title game..........The fact that guys like Alan Embree, Mike Remlinger, and Terry Mulholland were still on big league rosters as of late August proves that veteran lefties with a pulse never die--they just continue to cash paychecks..........Answer to trivia question #2: ROCKY COLAVITO--who slugged 27 of his 45 home runs on the road during the 1961 season..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league pitcher Mike Torrez--who blows out 59 candles on August 28th. Torrez pitched 18 seasons between 1967 and 1984 for a variety of teams (including the Yankees and Mets)--winning 185 games lifetime. Torrez' best year came in 1975 with the Orioles--when he went 20-9, pitched to an impressive ERA of 3.06, and led the AL in winning percentage. He is perhaps best known for his performance in the 1977 World Series--when he threw two complete games vs. L.A. (winning both) and helped the Yankees to garner another world championship. Best wishes, Mike..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former NFL offensive lineman Harry Boatswain--who died recently of heart failure in Las Vegas at the age of 36. A University of New Haven product who helped that school's football program gain national prominence in the late '80s, Harry was a member of the 1994 Super Bowl champion 49ers; he also played for the Eagles, Jets, and later in the XFL. Boatswain enjoyed great success on the gridiron but was always just as proud to have graduated from UNH with degrees in both marketing and business administration. You'll be greatly missed, Harry; rest in peace.

Bob Lazzari

Reprinted by permission of the Valley Times.