"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 12-15-07

Once again, I must recognize my good friend Robert "Raven" Kraft of Miami Beach--one of the top "streak runners" in the nation and an individual whose devotion truly knows no bounds. At last look, the man has now run more than 12,000 days in a row--yes, without missing ONE day; he has now logged more than 96,000 miles on the beaches of Miami since he made a New Year's resolution to run 8 miles a day for one year starting on January 1st, 1975. Yes, 33 years later, he continues to run daily--regardless of conditions--and will happily celebrate his daily run with anyone game enough to join him. He recently told me that his back feels as if it belonged to an 85-year-old man--but also told me, "It'll pass, Bob--and at 4:00 P.M. tomorrow, I'll step it up for another 8 miles." Yes, just an amazing human being; learn more about his daily sojourn/amazing exploits at www.ravenrun.net.......... TRIVIA QUESTION: What player holds the NFL record for punting the most times in one game? Answer to follow..........Question: With a name like Madison Hedgecock, shouldn't this guy be operating a law office in downtown Manhattan instead of playing fullback for the New York Giants?..........Congrats go out to former NCAA golf champion Todd Demsey--who recently earned one of 26 full-exempt cards to play on the PGA Tour next season. After a 10-year absence and two surgeries to remove a brain tumor, if you're NOT rooting for Demsey, you better check your pulse.......... Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a Connecticut high school girls basketball game last week, Old Lyme annihilated Hale-Ray 69-9--with the winning team holding a 17-0 lead after one quarter. A pessimist points out that three players on the Old Lyme squad individually outscored the ENTIRE Hale-Ray team. An optimist will counter by saying that no player on the losing team scored more than two points--thus resulting in a "balanced" scoring attack complete with no accusations of "ball-hogging" whatsoever..........Obviously, I'm a HUGE sports fan, but I have to admit one thing: Supermodel Molly Sims appears in my thoughts MUCH more often than former NFL running back Billy Sims does..........This week in sports history, December 17, 1944: The Green Bay Packers score two second quarter touchdowns on their way to a 14-7 victory over the New York Giants in the NFL championship game played at the Polo Grounds; both teams featured war-depleted rosters. More than 46,000 fans saw Packers fullback Ted Fritsch score both TD's for Green Bay--one rushing and one receiving. The losing Giants squad had come into the title game having given up just 75 points all season--far better than any other defensive unit in the league..........I swear, Barry Bonds pleading not guilty to federal perjury charges is ALMOST as funny as the episode of "The Munsters" when Herman tried out for Leo Durocher's Brooklyn Dodgers..........The "Unwatchable NBA" Update: How' bout the pathetic Knicks losing by 28 points (105-77) AT HOME to Philadelphia last weekend? During this "laugher," the Knicks missed EIGHTEEN three-point attempts and nine foul shots; guard Jamal Crawford also tallied seven turnovers by HIMSELF. I'd venture to say that the best thing a Knicks fan can find under his/her Christmas tree this holiday season is a copy of the New York Post with the following headline: Knicks Clean House!..........Answer to trivia question: LEO ARAGUZ of the Oakland Raiders--who punted an astounding SIXTEEN times in a game vs. San Diego in October of 1998..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league pitcher Mark Dempsey--who blows out 50 candles on December 17th. Can't recall this Dayton, Ohio native? You're not alone, folks. Dempsey pitched in only ONE big league season--1982 with the Giants; he appeared in three games--pitching 5 2/3 innings while giving up 11 hits and five earned runs. Yes, Mark Dempsey had no wins or losses in his short career, but left the game of baseball with a career ERA of 7.94. Hey, they all can't be Juan Marichal, right? Best wishes, Mark...........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former NFL player/coach Dick Nolan (father of current 49ers coach Mike Nolan)--who died recently at the age of 75 after fighting Alzheimer's disease and prostate cancer for the last few years. Raised in White Plains, NY, Nolan played nine seasons in the NFL as a safety and later went on to be the head coach of the 49ers and Saints--compiling a lifetime record of 71-85-3. He led the 49ers to three division titles and two conference championship games during his tenure in San Francisco; he was fired by the Saints after New Orleans lost the first 12 games of the 1980 season. He is survived by his wife and six children; rest in peace, Coach Nolan.