"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 09-13-08

Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a college football game played last weekend in the Midwest, St. Francis (IN) defeated Trinity (IL) 67-0--with the winning squad holding a ridiculous 51-0 lead AT THE HALF. An optimist points out that Trinity now has this coming weekend off--and can thus regroup, get healthy, and make some necessary adjustments in order to execute a winning season. A pessimist/realist points out that the losing Trinity team has now been outscored 98-7 in its first two games, and its chances of having that desired winning season are about the same as Bob Lazzari having dinner dates with both Kathy Ireland and Christie Brinkley by the end of 2008..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1992 St. Louis Cardinals had only one player on the team with more than 75 RBI's. Can you name this individual? Answer to follow..........I must recognize the efforts of WFAN's Ed Randall--host of "Talking Baseball"--whose "Bat for the Cure" attempts to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research. Randall, a cancer survivor, often points out the importance for prostate exams on his show--which can't be stressed enough. More info can be obtained at www.erbatforthecure.org.......... My idea of a close-to-perfect afternoon? Watching old Pete Maravich videos with the female cast members of "Lipstick Jungle" at a bar overlooking Waikiki Beach--while The Who's "Quadrophenia" is playing in the background..........I see that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson has changed his name to Chad Ocho Cinco--to reflect the Spanish translation of the number on his uniform. Personally, I would have rather seen his name changed to "Estupido" or "Idiota" to more accurately reflect this guy's thinking patterns/behavioral concerns over the past few years..........This week in sports history, September 15, 1978: Fighting before a raucous crowd in New Orleans, Muhammad Ali beats Leon Spinks to claim the heavyweight boxing title for a record third time. Spinks, a former Marine, had upset Ali back on February 15th in Las Vegas. However, a more serious Ali dominated his 25-year old opponent this time as Spinks' punches lacked the intensity/power they had in the previous fight. Keeping Spinks at arm's length the entire bout while utilizing an effective jab, Ali won a unanimous 15-round decision..........Call me crazy, but seeing Brett Favre playing in the 90-degree heat of Miami last weekend just didn't LOOK right..........Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason recently told the New York Post that his favorite actresses are Jennifer Aniston and Meg Ryan. Well, I'm sure Boomer may complain about various aches and pains dating back to his playing days, but one thing's for certain regarding his health: There is NOTHING wrong with his eyesight..........Answer to trivia question: RAY LANKFORD--who drove in 86 runs while playing the outfield for Joe Torre's third-place ball club..........Listen--very few people enjoy watching high-level tennis more than yours truly. But I'm getting kinda tired of seeing some of these players--particularly Rafael Nadal--having to towel off after almost EVERY SINGLE point. My first thought is this: How come PITCHERS down in Texas aren't allowed to towel off after every few pitches or so when the temperature at game time is often hovering around the 100 mark? Go figure..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league pitcher Bob Chlupsa--who blows out 63 candles on September 16th. For those who remember Chlupsa, I commend you; he pitched just two years in the "bigs"--1970 and '71 with the Cardinals--appearing in a total of 15 games as a reliever. A New York native who stood 6'7" tall and attended Manhattan College, Chlupsa allowed 18 earned runs in 18 1/3 innings during his short major league tenure--thus rendering him with a robust, lifetime ERA of 8.84. Hey, they all can't be like the "other Bob"--Mr. Gibson--right? Best wishes, Bob..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former major league infielder Todd Cruz--who passed away recently while swimming at an apartment complex in Arizona; he was 52. Cruz played for six different teams between 1978 and 1984--appearing in 544 games. Todd was a member of the 1983 world championship Baltimore Orioles squad after being acquired by the team in a midseason trade with Seattle. Cruz' best year came in 1982 while with the Mariners--a season in which he hit 16 home runs and drove in 57 runs in 136 games. May Todd Cruz rest in peace.