"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" ---- 05-13-06

Pete Rose Jr. has been sentenced to a month in prison and five months of home confinement for supplying a steroid alternative to his minor league teammates. Rumor has it that his father is giving 2 to 1 odds that his son will be released sooner for good behavior........
TRIVIA QUESTION: Who was the last American golfer to win back-to-back U.S. Opens? Answer to follow..........Lazzari's "Cheap Win of the Week": Has to go to Randy Johnson. In his last start in April, he pitched five innings, gave up four doubles, SIX runs, walked four, and threw a ridiculous 109 pitches--but STILL got the "W." Ah, yes, it DOES pay to have some offense behind you..........I was in a hospital waiting room the other day, and what do I see in front of me? A copy of Bowlers Journal International. Suffice it to say that my subscriptions to Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News are in no danger of being discontinued in favor of this newly found, "riveting" publication..........I see that the Ravenswood Winery of California is lending its name to NASCAR--sponsoring cars in three races this year. Can you imagine a guy like, say, Dale Earnhardt Jr. sipping wine in a dainty, sophisticated manner after a thrilling race victory? I didn't think so..........This week in sports history, May 15, 1971: Canonero II, who had won the Kentucky Derby two weeks earlier, wins the Preakness Stakes in record-breaking fashion at Pimlico. Guided by jockey Gustavo Avila, the Venezuelan-bred colt finished in a time of 1:54--a track record--and won by 1 1/2 lengths over Eastern Fleet..........From the "Jockocracy Lives" Dept.: Sterling Sharpe has just joined the lineup of NBC's Sunday night football coverage--joining Cris Collinsworth, Jerome Bettis, and Bob Costas. Yes, folks, 3 out of 4 ex-players in the studio--which gives further evidence to the sole qualification needed for sports broadcasters these days: If you once wore a jock, you're IN! I have just two words of advice for college-bound kids aspiring to be sportscasters: BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. Howard Cosell continues to stir from the grave..........Brett Favre--who should have retired LAST YEAR at this time--now says 2006 may NOT be his last NFL season. Either Favre's countless concussions are finally catching up with him or he's been spending too much time this off-season with newly suspended RB Ricky "Up In Smoke" Williams of the Dolphins..........Anyone out there catch the BRUTAL dye job/hairdo on Mets P Jose Lima last weekend? All I'll say is that it looked like a cross between a rusty Brillo pad and a Chia Pet that stayed out in the sun too long..........Answer to trivia question: CURTIS STRANGE--who won the only two majors in his career back in 1988 and 1989..........Can you imagine if former Lock Haven University track star Sandy Ritz married Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton, divorced, married PGA golfer Duffy Waldorf--divorced again--then married former big league outfielder Dave Hilton? Lovers of expensive hotels would delight in her married name of Sandy Ritz Carlton Waldorf Hilton..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a Connecticut girls high school softball game last week, Conard defeated Weaver 29-2--in FIVE innings. The victors scored 14 runs in the third inning ALONE; Weaver made a pathetic FOURTEEN errors during this fiasco. I haven't seen that many mistakes made since the last time I examined my dating history..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former big league pitcher Dick Tidrow--who blows out 59 candles on May 14th. A San Francisco native, Tidrow pitched 13 seasons between 1972 and 1984 for the Indians, Yankees, Cubs, White Sox, and Mets--winning 100 games and saving 55. "Dirt" began his career as a starter in Cleveland, but eventually spent most of his seasons in the bullpen. He was a key contributor to the Yankees '77 and '78 championship teams (he started 25 games in '78); he later led the NL in appearances--pitching in 84 games for the 1980 Cubs. Best wishes, Dick..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of Earl Woods--yes, father of Tiger--who passed away recently in California of prostate cancer at the age of 74. He was much more than the Dad of the best golfer in the world; he was a Green Beret in Vietnam who served two tours of duty there. What I'll remember most about Earl Woods is the unmatched mental strength and immense work ethic he instilled in his son--two qualities that still separate Tiger from his competitors. Quite frankly, in a society sorely lacking in overall discipline, Earl Woods NEVER compromised; thanks for that, Earl, and may you rest in peace.

Bob Lazzari

Reprinted by permission of the Valley Times.