"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" ---- 09-23-06

Congrats go out to Donald Kosakowski of Oxford (CT)—a member of the U.S. Paralympic Team—who, as part of a 4 X 100 relay team, recently won a gold medal at the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships in the Netherlands. Kosakowski, born without a right arm, teamed with Brian Frasure, Danny Andrews, and Marlon Shirley--finishing in a world record time of 43.06 seconds. Kosakowski is now hoping to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; terrific job, Don..........TRIVIA QUESTION: What player holds the San Diego Padres team record for most extra-base hits in a season? Answer to follow..........As N.Y. Yankees broadcaster Jim Kaat now walks away from the game to spend more time with his family, I offer this: If just ONE-FIFTH of the color commentators out there learned just a SMIDGEN from Kaat's gimmick-less, modest style over the years, the sportscasting business would be in a HELLUVA lot better shape..........Can you imagine if former Hillsdale College track star Trudy Chase married former NHL goalie Kelly Hrudey, divorced, married USC quarterback John David Booty--divorced again--then married golfer Charles Coody? She'd have the catchy, full married name of Trudy Hrudey Booty Coody..........Great point made by WFAN's Mike Francesa on his radio show last weekend before the Giants/Eagles game. He's leery about New York's chemistry/chances this season because of the number of loudmouths on the squad--the same guys who will drop passes/not deliver in clutch situations at times. I have to concur, Mike..........This week in sports history, September 25, 1962: At Comiskey Park in Chicago, Sonny Liston knocks out an overmatched Floyd Patterson in the first round to claim the world heavyweight title. Liston, outweighing Patterson 214 to 189, dropped the champion to the canvas 2 minutes, 6 seconds into the bout--making Patterson his 24th knockout victim in 35 fights..........Some athletes DO do it the correct way: RB Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks, despite all the recent accolades (an MVP award and a $62 million contract), DID NOT miss a practice this summer during the team's training camp--and also ran HARD during the team's preseason games..........I'm not a Red Sox fan, but I am STILL having recurring nightmares of relievers Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen lighting fires all over my neighborhood........
Answer to trivia question: STEVE FINLEY--who accumulated 84 extra-base hits in 1996 for Bruce Bochy's first-place ball club..........N.Y. Jets WR Laveranues Coles recently told the New York Post that his favorite part of his $8 million mansion in Jacksonville is the bowling alley. I have a bowling alley in my house, too. Yeah, I set up a couple of two-by-fours (length-wise) as side barriers about six feet apart and try to knock down old beer cans with a deflated basketball--all done in my dusty, dilapidated basement..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former big league pitcher Bobby Shantz--who blows out 81 candles on September 26th. Only 5 feet 6 inches tall and just over 140 pounds, Shantz pitched 16 seasons between 1949 and 1964 for a variety of teams--including the Yankees. A three-time All Star, Shantz' best year was undoubtedly in 1952 while with the Philadelphia A's when he won 24 games and pitched to an ERA of 2.48--winning the AL MVP Award. Shantz won 119 games in his career and was a good hitting pitcher, too--accumulating 107 hits at the plate during his playing days. Best wishes, Bobby..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of Heather Clarke--wife of pro golfer Darren Clarke--who died a few weeks ago of breast cancer at the age of 39. Diagnosed in 2002, Heather was a loving mother and a wonderfully supportive wife--who insisted that her husband continue playing golf throughout her devastating illness. Darren Clarke recently returned to golf with a heavy heart at the Madrid Masters after a month hiatus due to Heather's passing; besides her husband, she leaves two sons: eight-year-old Tyrone and five-year-old Conor. May Heather rest in peace.

Bob Lazzari

Reprinted by permission of the Valley Times.