Tuesday, May 08, 2007

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup"----5-12-07

For those of you who missed NBC's one-hour documentary "Barbaro: A Nation's Horse" last Saturday night, well, you missed OUT. Narrated by Bob Costas, it fully captured the life and legacy of a special thoroughbred--one who will go down as a true American hero. Without question, it was one of the best sports-related pieces I've ever viewed, but don't fret if you were tuned to another channel at the time: the DVD is now available for purchase from the NBC Sports Store at nbcsports.com--with part of the proceeds going to the Barbaro Fund. It's simply a "must-see" for the American public--whether one is a sports aficionado or not..........TRIVIA QUESTION: What player holds the all-time NBA playoff record for most points scored in one HALF? Answer to follow..........I'd like to see former Penn St. basketball coach Renee Portland hook up with Mets pitcher John Maine. If they ever tied the knot, residents of the Pine Tree State would surely delight in her married name of Renee Portland Maine..........If someone out there knows that Japan's Hozumi Hasegawa is the current WBC bantamweight champion of the world, then you have WAY too much time on your hands..........This week in sports history, May 13, 1976: The New York Nets come back from a 22-point deficit and defeat the Denver Nuggets 112-106 in Game 6--claiming the final American Basketball Association championship before its merger with the NBA. Trailing at one point 80-58, the Nets were led by Julius Erving (31 points) and John Williamson (28 points)--who combined to offset a magnificent 42-point effort by Denver star David Thompson..........Just saw a photo of O.J. Simpson hanging out at the Kentucky Derby last weekend. Yes, I'm sure he was there STRICTLY because he had some new, inside information that the killer of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman was thought to be in the Louisville area..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score(s) of the Week": In a CT girls high school softball doubleheader last week, Newington outscored Weaver 41-1--winning 23-1 and 18-0; the losing squad made a total of SEVENTEEN (not a misprint) errors over the course of this two-game nightmare. I haven't seen that many errors made since the days when yours truly would attempt to type term papers after returning from late-night fraternity parties while attending Fordham..........How 'bout LPGA golfer Virada Nirapathpongporn? I'm convinced that there are occasions when this gal can play a par-3 faster than she can sign an autograph.......... Answer to trivia question: ERIC "SLEEPY" FLOYD of the Golden St. Warriors--who scored 39 second-half points vs. the Lakers in May of '87..........ITEM: Baseball Hall of Famer/S.F. Giants employee Orlando Cepeda--who currently speaks to at-risk kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol-- is busted in California after marijuana, a "white-powdery" substance, and a syringe are found in his car. I'd now like to see some of those same, ANGRY kids go visit Cepeda in jail and talk to HIM about the dangers of HYPOCRISY..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league outfielder Juan Beniquez--who blows out 57 candles on May 13th. After struggling as a SS early in his career, he was converted to an outfielder by the Red Sox; he later won a Gold Glove as a member of the Texas Rangers in 1987. A versatile player, Juan kept his bags packed, too--playing for EIGHT different AL clubs over the course of a 17-year career between 1971 and 1988. A .274 lifetime hitter, Beniquez batted .300 or above for four consecutive seasons (1983-1986)--playing mostly vs. left-handed pitchers; best wishes, Juan..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former college athletic director Jim Garner--who passed away in April due to continued health problems following the removal of a brain tumor. Garner spent eight years at Appalachian St. before guiding Oklahoma St. as AD from 1990-1993. In his first year working in Stillwater, the school won eight Big Eight titles; he later served as an executive VP for the Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League. Rest in peace, Jim.

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