"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 8-23-08

Folks, if you're looking to support a tremendous cause, consider the Christopher Potvin Scholar-Athlete Fund. Christopher, a young teenage boy, was killed in an automobile accident in 1987 and was both a good student and an outstanding athlete. This fund awards twenty $1,000 scholarships yearly to deserving student-athletes who possess the same qualities as Christopher did. If you'd like more information, you can email Wayne Potvin, president of the fund, at wlpotvin@yahoo.com; additional information can be found by logging on to www.ChrisPotvinFund.com.......... TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1986 Detroit Tigers, under manager Sparky Anderson, had SIX players on the team who hit 20 or more home runs. How many of these individuals can you name? Answer to follow..........Gotta love some of Bob Costas' quotes during NBC's coverage of the Beijing Games. Last week, he was talking to correspondent Mary Carillo after she had done some sampling of various authentic Chinese dishes--in particular, fungus soup. Costas: "Ah yes, just like Mom used to make!" The following evening, Costas remarked about swimmer Michael Phelps' overall accomplishments after he had just won another gold medal--this time in the 200m individual medley: "Yes, it's impressive--yes, it's historic--and yes, it's RIDICULOUS"..........It's not often when yours truly gets jealous of a 12-year-old kid, but when Shelton Little Leaguer Bobby Moretti was being interviewed on ABC last Saturday by the beautiful Stacey Dales (following a win over South Dakota), this columnist became one VERY jealous individual..........This week in sports history, August 26, 1989: Before a crowd of approximately 40,000 in Williamsport, PA, the American youngsters from Trumbull, CT defeat a heavily-favored Taiwan team in the 43rd Little League World Series championship game. In a nationally-televised game, the Trumbull squad was led by pitcher Chris Drury--who pitched a five-hitter; the 5-foot-1 hurler also drove in two runs while leading his team to a 5-2 victory. The win by Trumbull was the first title for an American team since 1983 (Marietta, GA); dominant teams from Taiwan had won an impressive 13 titles over the previous 23 years..........Sure, I respect water polo participants and their physical gifts. But watching that sport on TV (like I did last weekend during the Olympics coverage) is even more painful than viewing a Hilary Duff movie marathon..........Answer to trivia question: DARRELL EVANS (29), KIRK GIBSON (28), LANCE PARRISH (22), ALAN TRAMMELL (21), DARNELL COLES (20), and LOU WHITAKER (20)..........ITEM: Two University of Nebraska wrestlers, Paul Donahoe and Kenny Jordan, have been dismissed from the team after posing naked on a racy Internet site. Look on the bright side, guys: Your college athletic days may be over, but since you're already equipped with questionable morals along with a scandalous storyline, Vince McMahon and the WWE should be knocking VERY soon..........I'm STILL exhausted from watching the Red Sox' 19-17 victory over Texas last week--a four-hour marathon that featured 37 hits (16 for extra bases) and Boston blowing an early 10-0 lead. It seems that Sox announcer Jerry Remy felt the same way at one juncture toward the end of the game--which prompted him to say this: "I've already decided what the 'play of the game' will be in this one--the FINAL OUT!" Put it this way: That game was SO taxing on the viewer that even the lovely Heidi Watney of the NESN broadcast team looked like she aged 10 years by the ninth inning--thus bringing her down from a 15 to a 12 on a "good looks scale" of 1-10..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former Minnesota Twins pitcher Pete Redfern--who blows out 54 candles on August 25th. Used the majority of the time as a starter for Minnesota between 1976 and 1982, Redfern compiled a lifetime record of 42-48 with nine complete games. However, his best year came in 1979--a year in which he spent most of his time in the bullpen--when he compiled a record of 7-3 with an ERA of 3.49. A native of Glendale, CA, Redfern attended the University of Southern California. Best wishes, Pete.......... Finally, condolences go out to the family of former golf champion Orville Moody--who died recently in Texas at the age of 74; he had suffered a stroke earlier this year. Called "Sarge" because he spent 14 years in the military, Moody won the 1969 U.S. Open for his only PGA Tour title. He was a five-time runner-up on the Tour and won various competitions internationally. He joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1984--winning 11 tournaments including the 1989 U.S. Senior Open. A part Choctaw Indian from Chickasha, OK, Moody was a very good friend of golf legend Lee Trevino. Rest in peace, Orville.