"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 12-13-08

How 'bout that women's basketball game last week between Temple and Dartmouth--won by the Owls 65-29? Dartmouth shot 10-for-48 from the field (not a misprint, folks!)--including 3-for-15 from three-point range. I still say that the gals from Dartmouth beat Temple in a game of Trivial Pursuit..........TRIVIA QUESTION: During the 1980 NBA All-Star Game, two members of the Atlanta Hawks combined for 40 points to help lead the East to a 144-136 victory. Can you name these two players? Answer to follow..........I must mention the passing of a dear friend--George Humeniuk of Seymour (CT)--who died recently of cancer at the age of 56. Over the years, George and I spent many nights at various establishments throughout southern Connecticut--sometimes talking sports until the wee hours of the AM. He'd often talk about his beloved Cleveland Indians--but would also love interjecting conversation regarding the latest WWF storylines. Many of his friends called him "Big George" due to his imposing physical stature; I'll always remember the man's bellowing laugh and fun-loving demeanor. Yes, we've lost a "gentle giant" who was filled with kindness. My condolences to his wife of 22 years, Patty, and the entire Humeniuk family; he'll truly be missed..........Call me crazy/misguided, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that WR Plaxico Burress DID NOT major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as an undergraduate at Michigan State..........This week in sports history, December 15, 1973: In a game between two of college basketball's best teams, UCLA defeats North Carolina State 84-66--extending the Bruins' winning streak to a staggering 80 games. UCLA was forced to play without center Bill Walton for over 21 minutes due to foul trouble. However, forward Keith Wilkes truly picked up the slack--scoring 27 points for the Bruins while holding N.C. State's star player David Thompson to 17. UCLA had come into the '73-'74 season as the winners of an amazing SEVEN straight NCAA tournament crowns..........Good news and bad news for the New Jersey Tech men's basketball program. The BAD news is that the squad had lost 39 in a row going into last weekend--and not scored more than 48 points in any game this season. The good news is that the team's home court (Estelle and Zoom Flesher Athletic Center) has a seating capacity of just 1,500--thus limiting the amount of nausea experienced by fans in N.J. to a select few..........Walking through a local mall the other day, I gazed at a sporting goods store and a video store adjacent to one another--with about FOUR Times as many young people frequenting the latter establishment. Folks, that simply tells you TONS about the youth of today--and it brings obvious, disturbing attention to the sedentary lifestyle that many youngsters consider "normal" today.........ITEM: O.J. Simpson pleads for leniency while being sentenced on armed robbery charges. Putting this case aside, I look at it this way: Here's a guy who killed two people and most likely will STILL be back on the golf course in the year 2017. If I'm "The Juice," I continue to do a celebratory dance each evening due to the fact that I was able to beat the system; this slimeball (I'm being nice) should also thank his lucky stars that he's breathing daily--unlike some other people he was all too familiar with..........Answer to trivia question: Guard EDDIE JOHNSON (22 points) and forward/center DAN ROUNDFIELD (18)..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former NBA center Jeff Ruland--who blows out 50 candles on December 16th. In an eight-year career spent with Washington, Philadelphia, and Detroit between 1981 and 1993, Ruland averaged an impressive 17 points and 10 rebounds per game; foot injuries kept Ruland from playing between 1987 and 1991 before he made a comeback with Philadelphia. After his playing days were over, Ruland coached at his alma mater, Iona--leading the team to three 20-win seasons; he currently is an assistant coach with the 76ers. Best wishes, Jeff..........Finally, condolences also go out to the family of former NHL player Hubert "Pit" Martin--who passed away November 30th in a snowmobile accident in Quebec. Martin played 17 seasons in the NHL from 1961-79 as a member of the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, and Vancouver Canucks. In his fine career, Martin posted 324 goals and 485 assists while appearing in over 1,100 games; he played in four NHL All-Star games and won the Bill Masterson Trophy in 1970 (perseverance and sportsmanship). Martin would have turned 65 on December 9th; may he rest in peace.