"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 1-5-08

Lazzari's "Question of the Week": Of the following, who will be arrested FIRST in 2008: CB Adam "Pacman" Jones, a Florida St. football player, a member of the Spears family, RB Ricky Williams, or Courtney Love?..........TRIVIA QUESTION: What NFL team holds the record for fumbling the most times in a Super Bowl game? Answer to follow..........I was tuned into the UCONN/Wake Forest Meineke Bowl match-up on the ISP Network last weekend and witnessed one of the WORST "sportscasters"/color commentators I have ever come across: Sonny Randle (who makes Deion Sanders look like John Madden). My first reaction was to simply turn the sound off but there was one problem with that: I was listening on the RADIO..........Folks, let's put something to bed--once and for all: Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Jim Leyritz, Gary Sheffield, Jason Grimsley, Sidney Ponson, Darryl Strawberry, Jose Canseco, David Justice, Randy Velarde, Luis Polonia, Jason Giambi, Dwight Gooden, Mike Stanton, etc. etc. If you're one of those clueless Yankee fans out there that still believes this franchise prides itself on class and integrity (modeled after the "fine" Yankee tradition), then you were probably also on the O.J. jury..........I love QB Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, but it's become apparent that his height (around 6 feet) is a concern--regardless of the fact that he just broke the season record for completions. He has WAY too many passes blocked/batted down--true rally-killers. By the way, the heights of all the quarterbacks who've won the past SEVEN Super Bowls? Between 6'4" and 6'5"..........This week in sports history, January 7, 1980: The Minnesota North Stars defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 7-1--thus ending the Flyers' amazing 35-game unbeaten streak. Rookie Mike Eaves of the North Stars scored a goal and added two assists in front of a crowd of approximately 16,000 at the Metropolitan Sports Center; Philadelphia had not lost since October 13th--compiling a 25-0-10 mark during their remarkable stretch..........ITEM: The University of Michigan has dismissed Jerret Smith from the basketball team due to "not meeting the expectations for a student-athlete." Hey, I give the school credit for at least having some consequences. We all know that, at some schools/"sports factories," those "expectations" are limited solely to showing up for practice on time and not getting caught cheating on any exams..........Note to Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith and offensive coordinator Ron Turner: Spend a GREAT deal of your time this off-season thinking of ways to get superstar kick returner Devin Hester more involved in your offense; it may save your jobs in the long run..........Scenario: UCONN women's basketball player Tina Charles marries Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson, divorces, then decides she likes older men; she proceeds to marry Miami Heat coach Pat Riley. Fans of the old "Match Game" show would surely delight in her full married name of Tina Charles Nelson Riley..........Answer to trivia question: The BUFFALO BILLS--who fumbled a whopping EIGHT times in Super Bowl XXVII during a 52-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys..........The "Unwatchable NBA" Update: During the Lakers' 95-90 victory over the Knicks last week, the two teams combined to miss a ridiculous THIRTY-FOUR three-point attempts (that's not a misprint, folks). Yeah, let's get a sense of humor, Knicks brass: It would have been VERY appropriate if The Commodores' "Brick House" was played over the PA system at times that evening due to the vast amount of errant shots "clanging" all over Madison Square Garden..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league pitcher Ross Grimsley--who blows out 58 candles on January 7th. Grimsley pitched 11 years in the "bigs" between 1971 and 1982 for the Reds, Orioles, Expos and Indians--winning 124 games lifetime. His best year came in 1978 with Montreal--a season in which the All-Star pitcher went 20-11 with three shutouts and an impressive 19 complete games. Best wishes, Ross..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former major league player/coach Jim Beauchamp--who passed away last week of leukemia at the age of 68. An Oklahoma native, Beauchamp spent his entire 10-year playing career in the National League between 1963 and 1973; a first baseman/outfielder who hit .231 lifetime, he played for St. Louis, Houston, Milwaukee/Atlanta, Cincinnati, and St. Louis before ending his career with the Mets in '73. He later was a bench coach for the Braves between 1991 and 1998 and most recently served as supervisor of the club's minor-league field operations. He is survived by his wife, Pam, and five children; may he rest in peace.