Sunday, May 13, 2007

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" ---- 5-19-07

I see that Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest will be forced to take anger management/fathering classes--stemming from a March 5th physical dispute with his wife while his 3-year-old daughter was present. Ummm, call me crazy, but wouldn't it be great if we lived in a society where individuals with track records like Artest were forced to take these classes BEFORE they decided to bring children into the world?..........TRIVIA QUESTION: During the 1980's, three K.C. Royals pitchers won 20 or more games in a season. Can you name these hurlers? Answer to follow..........I recently talked to Kermit Carolina, Hillhouse High (CT) basketball coach, about Mike Moore--the Hillhouse product/New Haven Register State Player of the Year who will attend my alma mater, Fordham. "As a basketball player, Mike hates to lose," he told me. "He is a competitor who raises his level of play whenever challenged by opponents that are considered superior. And Mike's strong work ethic in the classroom is a credit to his mother's constant emphasis on using education to advance in the world--and he refuses to let her down." Yes, a great addition to the Rams' program--who've often missed out on superior athletic talent in the tri-state area due to high academic standards; good luck, Mike..........Can you imagine if LPGA golfer Young Jo married former NFL offensive lineman Duval Love? Fans of country singer Sonny James would surely enjoy her strolling the links with the married name of Young Love..........This week in sports history, May 20, 1972: Bee Bee Bee, ridden by 44-year-old jockey Eldon Nelson, ends the Triple Crown hopes of favorite Riva Ridge--winning the Preakness Stakes in a time of 1:55 3/5. Riva Ridge seemed destined for history as he was in second place rounding the final turn. However, long shot Bee Bee Bee, who had taken a very early lead in the race, was able to hold on throughout as Riva Ridge faded late in the stretch--enabling the unlikely winner to claim victory by 1 1/4 lengths over No Le Hace..........Great point by my talented colleague Mike Vaccaro--who penned the following last week in the N.Y. Post: "The moment they (the Yankees) coaxed Clemens' signature onto the bottom of this perks-heavy contract, they did more than sell their soul. They sold their collective history....down the Harlem River." Can't argue, Mike; the only difference between Clemens' "modus operandi" at this juncture and that of a high-priced call girl is that Clemens' rates are higher--although the latter would look much better in a pair of heels..........Answer to trivia question: DENNIS LEONARD (1980), BRET SABERHAGEN (1985, '89), and MARK GUBICZA (1988)..........The current Florida Marlins hitters strike out more than yours truly did at singles bars during the 1980's..........Do you get the feeling that WR Randy Moss will either get cut by New England at the end of training camp or catch 80 passes and lead them to a Super Bowl--and that there is NO in-between?..........ITEM: Over-the-hill heavyweight Evander Holyfield will fight over-the-hill Lou Savarese on June 30th. I guess the loser of this bout will be considered WAY over-the-hill, huh? But think about it; doesn't it get to a point where, if one is THAT far over-the-hill, the individual is back on level ground again?..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former big league pitcher Bryce Florie--who blows out 37 candles on May 21st. Florie was a highly-touted pitcher after being drafted by San Diego in the fifth round of the 1988 amateur draft; however, he never experienced much major league success--compiling a record of 20-24 over an eight-year span between 1994 and 2001 and pitching to a not-so-spectacular ERA of 4.47 in his career. Used mostly in relief, Florie pitched for the Padres, Brewers, Tigers and Red Sox before being released by Boston in July of '01. Best wishes, Bryce..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former boxing champion Diego "Chico" Corrales--who died recently at the age of 29 after a high-speed motorcycle accident in Las Vegas. Corrales, a native of Sacramento, formerly held world titles in both the super-featherweight and lightweight divisions. He will be best-remembered for recovering from two 10th-round knockdowns to stop Jose Luis Castillo in May of '05 in what numerous boxing publications deemed the fight of the year. "Chico" put together a career ring record of 40-5 with 33 knockouts; rest in peace, "Champ."

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